National Sustainable Development Strategies Research Articles

Research Possibilities for Efficient Capitalization in Construction Eco-Products, of Mineral Additions Generated by the Local Romanian Industries as Wastes or By-Products

The current paper intends to present the directory lines and paths for the development and implementing construction eco-products, with advanced functionality (materials, elements and structures, models and technologies), considering the efficient and customized valorization of by-products and generated waste of local industries, in the context of National Strategy for Research, Innovation and Smart Specialization 2022-2027 regarding the transition to Circular Economy (EC). This represents one of the two main axes of the research project Nucleu Programme of the National Research Development and Innovation Plan 2022-2027, supported by MCID, "ECODIGICONS" project no. PN 23 35 04 01: “Fundamental-applied research into the sustainable development of construction products (materials, elements, and structures, as well as methods and technologies) that utilizes current national resources to enhance the eco-innovative and durable aspects of Romania's civil and transport infrastructure”, financed by the Romanian Government starting with the beginning of 2023. One of the novelties of the proposed approach of the project is considering the entrepreneurial environment of construction industry or complementary branches as essential stakeholders for the future results of the current scientific research. This dramatically changes the dynamic of the project, in terms of specific objectives, namely their focus on solving the current wastes’ problem by innovatively integrating them into competitive construction products with fast applicability and in accordance with support market requests. By the use of strategic management specific methods (e.g., External Environment (EE) and Internal Environment (IE) evaluation, SWOT analysis and derived specific strategies, etc.), four research directions have been identified for the valorization, at regional or even national level, of mineral additions (inert/hydraulically latent/pozzolanic, etc., derived from waste and industrial by-products (metallurgy, processing industry, construction/demolition, etc.)) by development of eco-smart materials and products for construction. The three directions are related to the considered mineral additions: Power plant ashes (fly ash and/or bottom ash), Steel slag and Garnet type residue Hence, the paper is willing to present the identification and the preliminary analyses of the specified research axes, plotted as necessary steps for achieving an intelligent and sustainable transition of the Romanian construction infrastructure. This approach implicitly ensures in the short and medium term, the increase of the degree of implementation of the principles of the Circular Economy (EC) in Romania, in the existing context which includes relevant factors like: geo-political, industrial and economic, urban and demographic, scientific, socio-cultural and environmental, in accordance with the imperatives of National, European and World Sustainable Development strategies.

Interaction of political elites and state institutions in the context of sustainable development of Ukraine

The article analyzes the mechanisms of interaction between political elites and state institutions in the process of forming and implementing sustainable development policy in Ukraine. The role of civil society and business in supporting sustainable development is explored, as well as the importance of involving broad segments of the population in decision-making. The transition to sustainable development is a process of changing the value orientations of many people. It was found that close cooperation between representatives of the political elite, state institutions, the public sector and business is necessary to achieve the strategic goals of sustainable development. The priority areas of Ukraine’s sustainable development are environmental safety, energy efficiency, infrastructure development and ensuring social justice. Public administration plays an important role in the implementation of the main principles of sustainable development. Political elites, in turn, are the ones who determine the general strategic vision and make decisions on the implementation of reforms aimed at creating a socio-economic system that meets the principles of sustainable development. The main mechanisms of interaction between the political elite and state institutions in the context of the sustainable development of Ukraine are the development and implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development until 2030, the creation of a system for monitoring and assessing the state of the environment, supporting the development of ecologically clean production, conducting an information and educational campaign on sustainable development, decentralization of power. An important aspect of the interaction between political elites and state institutions is the provision of a comprehensive approach to the implementation of reforms aimed at sustainable development. The effectiveness of the interaction between political elites and state institutions depends on many factors, including the presence of broad public support, the availability of necessary resources, and institutional capacity.

China's endeavor to reduce energy intensity: Does the green financial reform and innovation pilot zones policy matter?

The implementation of green financial reform and innovation pilot zones is a pivotal initiative aimed at directing financial resources more effectively towards green transformation and national sustainable development strategy. To this end, this study adopts a dual machine learning model to examine the effect of this pilot policy on energy intensity and the underlying mechanisms, drawing upon data from 254 cities in China spanning from 2006 to 2019. The conclusions obtained confirm that the establishment of these pilot zones has exerted a substantial impact on mitigating energy intensity. This inhibitory effect is particularly evident in cities with lower administrative levels, cities in western regions, smaller and medium-sized cities, and cities dominated by the secondary industry. It should be emphasized that the reduction in energy intensity is achieved through fostering green technology innovation and enhancing green financial development. The results not only provide empirical evidence for the effectiveness of green finance pilot policies in reducing energy intensity, thereby enriching the inclusive impact of financial innovation, but also offer practical insights for strengthening the green financial system and replicating and expanding the pilot zones.

THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF FORMATION FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The article aims to study the mechanism of financing sustainable development to ensure a balanced approach to economic, social, and environmental development. The article examines the theoretical aspects of forming financial resources necessary for sustainable development. Sustainable development involves a balanced approach to economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection, which requires adequate funding. The main conceptual approaches to defining sustainable development and financial resources are analyzed, focusing on their interrelationship. One of the key issues of the concept of sustainable development is the search for effective sources of financing for the implementation of sustainable development projects. The article considers the possibilities of attracting both public and private funds, including investments, grants, loans and other financial instruments. However, it also emphasizes the crucial role of international financial institutions and organizations in supporting national sustainable development strategies, highlighting the global nature of the issue and the need for international cooperation. The question of the distribution of financial resources between different economic sectors was studied to achieve the maximum effect from their use. Financial planning and management tools that can ensure optimal use of resources are considered separately. The positive dynamics of the growth of expenses for financing sustainable development in Ukraine are shown; however, a negative trend can be observed in terms of the direction of funds from 2022, namely, the volume of financing has decreased in all directions except for the allocation of funds for social protection and social security. The impact of financial resources on the implementation of sustainable development programs is analyzed, including issues of efficiency and transparency of their use. The importance of creating favorable conditions for attracting investments, developing partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as the need to increase the financial literacy of the population was determined. This underscores the need for education and empowerment in financial matters, as it is a key factor in the successful implementation of sustainable development strategies. Based on the conducted research, it was concluded that the effective formation and management of financial resources is a key factor in the successful implementation of sustainable development strategies. It is recommended to develop a comprehensive system of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the use of financial resources to ensure the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Resilience in action: Kosovo's National Development Strategy to incorporate sustainable development goals

AbstractThrough resilience theory, this paper explores the integration and alignment of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) within Kosovo's National Development Strategy (NDS). It highlights how adaptability and strategic planning underpin sustainable development in emerging national contexts like Kosovo, offering a qualitative analysis to identify gaps and suggest improvements for SDG integration. Utilizing a qualitative analysis, this study identifies gaps and provides recommendations for better SDG integration within Kosovo's national development agenda. Data analysis involves the thematic coding of qualitative data and synthesis of case study findings by examining existing documents, strategies, and plans as manifestations of Kosovo's commitment to fostering resilience and achieving a sustainable future. Key insights include recommendations for enhancing governance, environmental protection mechanisms, and social inclusivity to achieve resilient and sustainable economic growth. The study contributes to the discourse on resilience theory in national sustainable development strategies amidst political uncertainty.

Evolution of ESG Principles in the Context of a Sustainable Development Strategy: Main Stages and Directions

The study has found that the concept of sustainable development proposed by the United Nations was from the very beginning focused on finding a balance between the current and future needs of the population of different countries, taking into account limited resources. The principles of practical implementation of the concept initially provided for the broad participation of the political, scientific and business community. The authors have identified 2 main stages in the development of ESG principles reflecting the current state of the concept of sustainable development: the first, from 1987 to 2004, consisted in the direct formation of the concept of sustainable development, combining the problems of economic, environmental and social spheres. The second stage, from 2004 to the present, is characterized by the introduction into scientific circulation of the concept of ESG - Environmental, Social, Governance, and substantiation of the principles of its practical implementation. In the second stage, the ESG principles are widely recognized, drawing public attention to environmental, social and managerial aspects. At the same time, it has been revealed that despite the increased interest of the international community in the topic under consideration, there is a significant lag in the implementation of the ESG principles in domestic practice. According to the authors, further research on this topic is required, which should focus on analyzing the practice of implementing ESG standards in Russia and substantiating a national strategy for sustainable development that takes into account the specifics of the country, its management system and the interests of society.

Review of Studies on Performance of Dowel Connections Loaded Perpendicular to Grain

Wood as a sustainable building material demonstrates significant advantages in terms of environmental protection, economy and functionality. Studies showed that adding 1.0m3 of wood could absorb 1.0kg of carbon dioxide, produce 730kg of oxygen, and fix 270kg of carbon, which plays an important role in ecological environment protection. In addition, in addition, wood has good thermal insulation performance, can adjust indoor humidity, beneficial to human health.China's wooden structure architecture has a long history. As an important technology in China's traditional architecture, mortise and tenon connection technology constitutes an important part of Chinese traditional architectural heritage through the insertion of wood components. As a prefabricated building form, modern wood structure has a history of more than 100 years in developed countries. The main forms include heavy wood structure, light wood structure, square wood wood structure and wood mixed structure. In recent years, wood structure architecture has attracted wide attention in scientific research and application in China. Whether for new construction or large-scale reconstruction projects, wood structure buildings are widely adopted because of their design flexibility, high strength and aesthetics, as shown in Figure 1.1. Modern wood structure buildings show the advantages of energy conservation and environmental protection, good earthquake resistance, convenient construction and safety and comfort, and its development is fully in line with the national sustainable development strategy.

Cluster Model for Establishing Special Economic Zones in Ukraine under Modern Conditions (Global Experience)

Object: Clusters are a relatively new form of organization, risk and profit sharing, and competitiveness enhance ment for both the global and Ukrainian economies. The potential of the cluster development model is significant, and, most importantly, it has been justified in developed countries worldwide. In particular, global practice confirms that the functioning of the most prosperous economies is supported by advantages in modern production technologies and man agement. Therefore, successful development of any level is possible through the comprehensive application of modern strategic management concepts. Thus, the object of the study is to reveal and substantiate the effectiveness of cluster model in establishing special economic zones in Ukraine. Methods: The paper uses general scientific and special methods, that are: the dialectical method of understanding cluster model for establishing special economic zones; comparative analysis methods; methods of empirical research, methods of statistical and structural analysis; methods of historical and logical analysis; identifying individual parts of an object, methods of system approach, identifying cause-and-effect relationships. Findings: Custers are established on the base of a unique internal environment and infrastructure specific to a par ticular region. This allows leveraging the competitive advantages of enterprises in a specific area through integration. A cluster serves as a stimulus for economic development, and regionalism forms the basis for its sustainable growth. Re gionalism is of great significance in selecting priority investment areas, as it can influence the level of uncertainty risk during the assessment of regional investment projects. Its effectiveness is confirmed by cluster development of the child nutrition project presented in the paper (Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine). Conclusions: Cluster approach makes it possible to use available resources more efficiently. The cluster approach is connected with the policy of capacity-building as well as increasing competition profitability of national economies. There are also some cluster formations on the territory of Ukraine. Сluster is a convenient form of organizing a free economic zone. At the same time, each government develops its own approaches to the creation of clusters and regula tion of their activities, accordingly, organizes the activities of those responsible for the implementation of the national strategy of sustainable competitive development.

Sustainable Solutions to Mitigate the Negative Effects of Climate Change on Afghanistan

One of the most important global issues that face all countries is climate change. One of the nations most impacted by the effects of climate change is Afghanistan. The nation is more endangered due to its geographic location, delicate ecosystems, and socioeconomic difficulties. This article explores Afghanistan's vulnerability to climate change and highlights sustainable solutions to lessen its effects on the nation. Online surveys were used as part of the study, which comprised 136 lecturers and current students from several Afghani universities. The results showed that the main effects of climate change on Afghanistan are an increase in average temperature, more frequent and severe droughts, flooding and increased water scarcity, loss of food security and agricultural productivity, melting of glaciers and depletion of water resources, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters (such as storms and landslides). The main sustainable ways to lessen the effects of climate change are to promote renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and hydro), implement water management and conservation practices, improve agricultural practices for increased resilience, improve infrastructure for disaster preparedness, reforest and conserve forests, educate and raise awareness about the impacts of climate change, empower communities, create accountable policy and decision-making processes, and develop national strategies for sustainable development. Afghanistan.

Natural Tourism planning and sustainable tourism in Libya The case of the Derna region

The Derna region experienced a violent hurricane in 2023 that destroyed much of the infrastructure and residential neighborhoods. The area requires extensive reconstruction that takes into account the natural and touristic qualities of the place, beyond the obvious shortcomings in tourism planning processes. It is time to pay attention to this important sector, by adopting urban plans that are updated and modified according to circumstances in order to create a sustainable tourism project.
 The Derna region in eastern Libya is one of the cities that, if it benefits from tourism urban programs adopted within a national strategy for sustainable tourism development, will constitute a tourism pole not only in Libya but also at the regional level. The area is coastal, characterized by stunning natural landscapes with the presence of the sea, valley and plateaus. It is also located within a rich tourism field that provides the practice of various types that attract tourists at different levels, capabilities and ambitions, and establishes true sustainable tourism. However, the effectiveness of the tourism sector in the region and in all cities of the Libyan country is still modest in its practice compared to the opportunities and capabilities available. It also does not have sustainability requirements, as it does not have an effective tourism plan. This requires a redoubled effort to overcome various challenges and create a sustainable future tourism project.

The Italian National Strategy for Sustainable Development and the Covid-19 impact: a regional analysis

The Italian National Strategy for Sustainable Development plays an important role in the national implementation of the 17 Goals for sustainable development set globally through the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. The achievement of such goals in Italy is linked to the strategic choices and objectives established at the national level. The purpose of this work is to monitor the performance of the 20 Italian regions in 4 of the 5 areas of the Agenda (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace) over a period of time ranging from the implementation of the National Strategy to the post-pandemic. To do this, a set of representative indicators was created and a geographical sustainability assessment tool (SSAM) was used, which operates through a multicriteria analysis model perfectly integrated into a GIS environment. The results showed a strong regional variability and a radicalized North-South gap. Moreover, the monitoring between the different years (2017-2019-2021) showed the initially positive impact of the strategy, mainly due to the Planet dimension, but also the negative one that COVID-19 caused to all the regions, with different intensity depending on the dimensions considered.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES OF ROMANIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE 2030 AGENDA CONTEXT

Sustainable development represents a new paradigm about the functioning of society, an approach that involves peaceful societies where the benefits are accessible to all. In addition, this context promotes access to justice for all and the creation of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Analyzing mainly the social dimension, the paper investigates the contribution of justice in the sustainable development approach, comparing from several perspectives the progress made by Romania in the context of joining the UN 2030 Agenda and supporting the implementation of the set of 17 SDGs. Starting from the consideration that ODD 16 is one of the most innovative aspects of the sustainable development framework, we propose an analysis of the efforts to improve the quality of judicial services in accordance with the National Strategy of Sustainable Development.

Unveiling complementarities between national sustainable development strategies through network analysis

The 2030 agenda of the United Nations provides a framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 232 indicators for its members to fulfill. The overall achievement critically depends on how nations understand the interactions between these SDGs and set priorities for development pathways. This study provides a comprehensive network analysis of global SDG complementarities, measured by the co-occurrences of SDG pairs' comparative advantages in the same region by adopting the ‘product space’ concept from economics. We construct the ‘SDG space’ at goal and indicator levels with the most recently available data and then validate its robustness by comparing it to the commonly used correlation network and confirm its predictive power using historical data. Network analysis reveals a strongly connected socioeconomic-related core and an environmental-related periphery, with ‘bridge’ indicators connecting different clusters. The goal-level space identifies the ‘bridge’ goals as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 15 (Life on Hand) in the environmental-related cluster, while identifying SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 6 (Clean water and Sanitation), and SDG 16 (Justice and Strong Institutions) in the socioeconomic cluster. The indicator-level space provides details to explain how they act as ‘bridges’ in the network. In particular, 16–9: Free Press Index is the ‘bridge’ indicator with the highest betweenness centrality value and acts as the bottleneck indicator in China for its overall sustainable development. Improving it can enhance connected indicators' performance, leading to positive cascading effects on different aspects of sustainability.

Application of forecasting methods in harmonising strategic planning for sustainable development of the state

Successful implementation of the global concept of sustainable development requires harmonising the strategic planning of sustainable development of the state to ensure effective monitoring of the progress of states in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose of the research is to actualise the problem of applying forecasting methods in the process of harmonising the strategic planning of the sustainable development of the state and to develop methodological tools for its solution. In the course of the study, based on the application of such methods as: literature review, hypothetical-deductive method, comparison method, empirical method and logical analysis, the expediency is substantiated, methodological tools are developed and the method of triple exponential Holt-Winters smoothing based on a long time series is tested using the Forecast Sheet in Microsoft Excel 2016. Within the framework of a harmonised approach to strategic planning for sustainable development, to assess the country’s progress in sustainable development, the indicators of decoupling of environmental pressure from economic growth are used, as they are simple, measurable and flexible. Based on the Tapio’s methodology, a norm of non-renewable resource decoupling and environmental impact decoupling indicators is determined as a benchmark for the development and analysis of the effectiveness of the national sustainable development strategy, and a forecast of the dynamics of these indicators in the EU as a whole until 2026 is made, as a leader in the greening of the economy. The findings allowed us to identify the main trends in the EU’s sustainable development, basing on the classification of the decoupling status. The results obtained contribute to the harmonisation of national strategies to ensure the successful implementation of the global concept of sustainable development, can be used at such a stage of strategic planning as the formation of a goal tree, which makes it possible to set both attainable and relevant goals, as well as in assessing the effectiveness of strategies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Cattle Genetic Improvement Strategies for Sustainable Development in Tropics: Review

Inefficient use of genetic variation among and within breeds of different breeds is an obstacle to enhancing the livestock population in underdeveloped countries. The best productive and adaptable animals for each environment must be identified for breeding objectives. Changing numerous aspects of production is required for successful livestock genetic improvement. In developing countries, genetic improvement efforts are unlikely to succeed unless they are supplemented by better diet, herd health, and management. Improvement strategies that are now taken for granted in developed countries are not implemented in most developing countries. The high expense of such procedures is one of the main reasons for their poor adoption rates. As a result, the economic evaluation of improvement programs is critical. Population increase, market development, technological change, and a shifting resource base are all examples. These dynamics that drive a specific livestock production system, as well as the entire subsector, must be anticipated and identified in development strategies. It is vital to understand the direction and speed with which these elements may change, both at the sectoral and farm levels, for future initiatives to respond appropriately. As a result, improving local cattle genetic value and devising genetic improvement methods accordingly is critical for the country's and sector's long-term development. Insufficient research has negative impacts on different breed types in diverse and dynamic livestock production systems assessment in developing countries, which creates significant knowledge gaps about breed-change interventions. Hence, supporting researchers, research institutions and higher education institutions is crucial to the success of policy in reducing the knowledge gap and strengthening the relationships between the livestock owners and government. Moreover, the development of national livestock strategies, effective policies, and the establishment of breeding cooperatives have an impact on the development and implementation of national livestock strategies for sustainable development.

Case report Montenegro

Abstract Montenegro is an upper-middle income country, with an estimated population of 620,739 (Eurostat, 2021). A national strategy for sustainable development until 2030 was adopted in July 2016, taking into account the implementation results of the Action Plan from the previous strategic document. Data for the period 2016-2021 are showing changes in a certain number of indicators, but also that Montenegro continued to face a large number of challenges (especially in No poverty and Gender equality goals), which became even more complex during the COVID-19 pandemic. Montenegro is reporting 69 out of 248 SDGs indicators. Indicators are not reported at all for 3 goals. Data similar to those required exist for some indicators, so a rough picture of trends in individual SDG goals can be obtained. For the remaining 14 goals, the median percentage of reported indicators is 31% (Range: 14%−58%). Some indicators are reported periodically, as part of research. Also, the UN methodology is not followed for all the reported indicators. For example, for the assessment of the first goal, 13 indicators were determined, and none of them are monitored by the UN methodology. However, since 2013, the Statistical Office of Montenegro has been calculating some indicators (based on the EU-SILC survey) that can be used for the same purpose. For SDG 3; Good health and well-being, there are improvements in certain segments: reduction in the infant mortality rate (2.8/1,000 from 2020) and mortality rate among children under 5 (3.7/1,000 from 2020) and reduction in the tuberculosis and malaria incidence. Numerous challenges are mainly reflected in the inequality of access and quality of health services, the high prevalence of current tobacco use among those over 15 years, and low air quality. Existing information system in healthcare is incomplete, fragmented and insufficiently interoperable to provide satisfactory data for monitoring the progress of indicators in this area.

Sociological diagnostics of the historical consciousness of Russians: Request for sustainable development and teaching of sociology

The article is a review of the book edited by M.K. Gorshkov Historical Consciousness of Russians: Assessments of the Past, Memory, and Symbols (Sociological Measurement) (Moscow: Ves Mir, 2022. 248 p.). The author identifies the key characteristics of the theoretical-methodological tools of this sociological diagnostics: analysis of civil identity through the national-state symbols; identification of specific features of the historical memory of social, regional and generational groups about the significant achievements of society and the state; representativeness of the sociological data provided by a multi-stage stratified sample. The article describes seven most significant characteristics of the historical consciousness of Russians as factors strengthening the civil identity and the country’s sustainable development. The author argues that the book has both theoretical and practical significance due to being based on a comprehensive multi-aspect analysis of the historical consciousness and to providing grounds for a national strategy for sustainable development and for new approaches to teaching sociologists. The author makes some proposals of courses that would help younger generations of sociologists to develop critical thinking, historical consciousness, and sociological imagination.

Research on Surface Strengthening Treatment and Performance of Sewing Machine Shaft Parts

In actual production, shaft parts are affected by the working environment, and are prone to failures such as wear, deformation, corrosion, etc. If the parts that are scrapped due to service damage can be repaired, it can not only save huge economic and time losses, but also It can also improve the utilization rate of resources, in line with the national sustainable development strategy. In this paper, laser cladding technology is used to strengthen the surface of the laser cladding coating for sewing machine shaft parts, and analyze the microstructure, hardness, friction and wear properties of the cladding layer after laser cladding. It is concluded that the average hardness of the cladding layer is about 740.3HV, which is about 2.9 times that of the substrate; the wear loss of the cladding layer is greatly reduced, which are 34%, 40% and 48% of the substrate, respectively, which are less than half of the wear amount. It can be seen that laser cladding on the surface of shaft parts can improve the surface quality of the parts and prolong the service life of the parts.

MODELIO „NUO ŪKIO IKI MOKYKLOS“ KŪRIMO PRIELAIDOS KLAIPĖDOS REGIONE: ŪKININKŲ ĮTRAUKIMO PERSPEKTYVA

The article analyses the prospects for small and medium-size farms relating to the development of the ‘From Farm to School’ model in the Klaipėda region. The research aimed to reveal the possibilities for involving farmers in the Klaipėda region in cooperation with educational institutions in order to provide them with farm products/services. Questions relevant to the study were discussed during a focused group discussion with representatives of small and medium-size farms in the Klaipėda region: Are farmers interested in providing services and products to educational institutions? How do they evaluate the public procurement system? What are the possible cooperation opportunities and obstacles? etc. The results show that the needs and expectations for cooperation between Klaipėda region farmers, municipal employees and educational institutions as buyers of services basically coincide. The participants in the research agreed that the food from local growers is good, and they would like children to be fed quality food from local farms in schools. However, the results of the study assumed the insufficient literacy of small and medium-size farmers in order to effectively develop cooperation with educational institutions. Therefore, the article aims to raise awareness of representatives of small and medium-size farms and all interested groups about the ‘From Farm to School’ model, which could have an impact on the better involvement of farmers, and strengthen the connection between local farming communities and educational institutions. Better awareness could help to develop targeted actions of interested parties in order to shorten food supply chains, improve the quality of food in school meals, and promote the supply of products from small and medium-size farms to educational institutions in the Klaipėda region. The research also aims to contribute to the goals of the national Sustainable Development Strategy, by developing knowledge on how it is possible to preserve or restore natural ecosystems with the help of the activities and services of small and medium-size farms.

A Hyperheuristic With Q-Learning for the Multiobjective Energy-Efficient Distributed Blocking Flow Shop Scheduling Problem.

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, which are the significant national strategy for sustainable development, have attracted considerable attention from production enterprises. In this study, the energy consumption is considered in the distributed blocking flow shop scheduling problem (DBFSP). A hyperheuristic with Q -learning (HHQL) is presented to address the energy-efficient DBFSP (EEDBFSP). Q -learning is employed to select an appropriate low-level heuristic (LLH) from a predesigned LLH set according to historical information fed back by LLH. An initialization method, which considers both total tardiness (TTD) and total energy consumption (TEC), is proposed to construct the initial population. The ε -greedy strategy is introduced to utilize the learned knowledge while retaining a certain degree of exploration in the process of selecting LLH. The acceleration operation of the job on the critical path is designed to optimize TTD. The deceleration operation of the job on the noncritical path is designed to optimize TEC. The statistical and computational experimentation in an extensive benchmark testified that the HHQL outperforms the other comparison algorithm regarding efficiency and significance in solving EEDBFSP.