Sustainability Nexus Research Articles

Water resources management for a sustainable nexus of hydrogeoethics and societal well-being

Water resources management for a sustainable nexus of hydrogeoethics and societal well-being

Killing with care? The potentials at the sustainability/masculinity nexus in an ‘alternative’ Danish slaughterhouse

AbstractIn this paper we investigate the connection between forms of sustainability and masculinity through a study of everyday life in a Danish alternative slaughterhouse. In contrast to the predominant form of slaughterhouses today in Western contexts, the ‘alternative’ slaughterhouse is characterized as non-industrial in scale and articulating some form of a sustainability orientation. Acknowledging the variability of the term, we firstly explore how ‘sustainability’ is understood and practiced in this place. We then illuminate the situated manifestations of masculinities, which appear predominantly- though not exclusively- hegemonic in nature. We next reflect on how the situated and particular sustainability of this site come to bear on a workplace long characterized as a masculinized site of, e.g., violence and repression, showing how the sustainability of the alternative slaughterhouse has potential to nourish alternative masculinities. We finally call for more attention at this nexus of sustainability and masculinities studies, to examine how the broad sustainability turn in food systems needs to be further examined in relation to what masculinities it perpetuates, as well as how a focus on masculinities may enhance our understanding of varying forms of sustainability, especially their potential for ecologically and socially just food systems.

The nexus of sustainability and damping: A quasi-zero stiffness and pseudo-piecewise inerter damper for vehicle suspension

This paper proposes a vibration control-energy harvesting damper (VCEHD) for vehicle suspension. The principles used in the proposed VCEHD include quasi-zero stiffness (QZS), mechanical motion rectifier (MMR), and semi-active control. In the dynamic analysis, the authors found that the inherent disengagement and engagement properties of the MMR can undermine the robustness of the system, that is, the inherent properties of the MMR as an energy harvesting device are not conducive to vibration isolation. Therefore, it needs to be restrained. According to the numerical simulation results, VCEHD cannot simultaneously achieve the minimum body displacement and the maximum energy harvest, and the energy harvest performance needs to be partially sacrificed. The experimental results show that the maximum energy output is 14.70 mW/kg, and the minimum displacement transmissibility is 24.32%. Combined with the numerical simulation results, VCEHD can harvest 8.82–97.79 W of power in actual vehicle running, which can provide auxiliary power for intelligent vehicles.

Generation and Transmission Expansion Planning: Nexus of Resilience, Sustainability, and Equity

The problem of power grid capacity expansion focuses on adding or modernizing generation and transmission resources to respond to the rise in demand over a long-term planning period. Traditionally, the problem has been mainly viewed from technical and financial perspectives. However, with the rise in the frequency and severity of natural disasters and their dire impacts on society, it is paramount to consider the problem from a nexus of resilience, sustainability, and equity. This paper presents a novel multi-objective optimization framework to perform power grid capacity planning, while balancing the cost of operation and expansion with the life cycle impacts of various technologies. Further, to ensure equity in grid resilience, a social vulnerability metric is used to weigh the energy not served based on the capabilities (or lack thereof) of communities affected by long-duration power outages. A case study is developed for part of the bulk power system in the state of Colorado. The findings of the study show that, by considering life cycle impacts alongside cost, grid expansion solutions move towards greener alternatives because the benefits of decommissioning fossil-fuel-based generation outweigh the costs associated with deploying new generation resources. Furthermore, an equity-based approach ensures that socially vulnerable populations are less impacted by disaster-induced, long-duration power outages.

Does Environment Really Matter for Economic Sustainability: Exploring the Role of Green Energy in Pakistan's Economy

The key objective of the study is to investigate empirically the long-run Environment and Growth Sustainability nexus in Pakistan economy. To empirically achieve the objectives of the study, the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bound testing method was employed from 1990 to 2022. Green energy is used to signify environmental performance indicators and GDP growth rate along with other conventional growth factors; physical capital and human capital are used as potential economic sustainability indicators. To rationalize the findings of ARDL, restricted and unrestricted models are also estimated. The findings of the study disclose that the series under consideration are co-integrated which directs the existence of the long-run relationship. It is found that green energy enhances economic sustainability in the long run however it adversely impacts economic sustainability in the short run in the case of Pakistan's economy. The empirical outcomes of the study validate the widespread concern of the literature on the existence of the “growth hypothesis” which supports, that there is a systematic positive causation running from green energy to economic sustainability. The study findings suggest that regulations in the energy sector can encourage the applications of green energy resources, particularly in the real sector of the economy, leading to reduced emissions. It is important to adopt international standards for firms and industries and an international collaboration framework is required to ensure economic sustainability to prevent environmental degradation.

Sustainable Silk roads future: Examining the nexus of inflation, regional integration, globalization and sustainability in BRI economies

This study investigates inflation's influence on sustainability by taking regional integration and globalization index as moderating variables. The inflation rate is an important indicator to measure economic performance and evaluate any country's sustainability goals. Globalization and regional integration are important due to connectedness among regions and countries. This study analyzed data collected from 64 Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) countries from 2005 to 2020 using the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments method and the robustness tests for the validation. The results suggested that the inflation rate negatively impacts sustainability. BRI countries need to control the inflation rate to attain sustainability goals. However, the robust impact of the globalization index on the relationship between the inflation rate and sustainability is positive and the moderating impact of regional integration is also significantly positive on the connection between the inflation rate and sustainability. The globalization index and regional integration index have a positive impact because the global world is connected, and every country designs economic policies based on global data that is available to them. Countries are investing to enhance local manufacturing and production capacities and economic teams make decisions accordingly. Inflation rates can be managed, and sustainability can be attained by taking benefit from the concepts of globalization index and sustainability. Due to these phenomena, countries import cheap raw materials, clean and renewable technologies, and cheap goods and services from other countries to manage the supply-demand and control the inflation rate, ultimately resulting in sustainability.

The nexus of ESG and environmental sustainability: Does gender diversity make a difference in Asian companies?

The nexus of ESG and environmental sustainability: Does gender diversity make a difference in Asian companies?

Coal consumption-environmental sustainability nexus in developed and developing major coal-consuming economies

Coal is crucial for economic progress but equally baneful to the environment. Thus, the coal consumption-environmental sustainability nexus attracted the attention of both policymakers and scholars. This study evaluates the coal consumption-environment nexus in developed and developing countries over the period 2000–2020. We used panel data econometric techniques and the Augmented Anderson–Hsiao (AAH) two-step GMM estimator to assess and compare the impact of coal consumption on CO2. The findings revealed that the consumption of coal aggravates environmental pollution and hinders environmental sustainability. Thus, this study confirms the environment-destroying effect of coal consumption. However, the findings reveal that the negative consequence of coal consumption on the environment is more for the sample of developed countries than that of developing countries. This suggests that coal use harms the environment developed economies than the developing countries. Specifically, we found that the carbon emissions emanating from a one percent (1%) increase in coal consumption of the developed countries is about six-fold more than that of the developing countries. Therefore, this study suggests a gradual phase-out, rather than sudden phase-out, of coal consumption with greater emphasis on developed countries. The implementation of the coal phase-out policy and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies should start with the developed countries or be made more stringent in such countries than the developing economies. The developed countries should relinquish a greater proportion of their coal consumption than the developing countries.

Public Understanding, Conflict and Power in the Population and Sustainability Nexus

Public Understanding, Conflict and Power in the Population and Sustainability Nexus

Evaluating the nexus of HRM and sustainability in green supply chains: A comprehensive literature review

Background: Sustainability is paramount across all fields, especially in supply chains. The role of human resources is crucial in achieving organizational sustainability standards. However, the impact of human resources on supply chain sustainability has been underemphasized. Purpose: This paper explores the critical nexus between Human Resource Management (HRM) and sustainability within green supply chains, identifying gaps in the current body of knowledge and emerging trends. Study design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted, emphasizing sustainability in supply chains and its intersection with HRM's "green" aspects. Web of Science and Scopus databases served as the primary sources. The research involved documentation and content analysis, leading to the development of guidelines for future studies. Findings/conclusions: The study reveals a significant yet underexplored interaction between green HRM and supply chain sustainability. It highlights the need for more focused research in this area, providing a foundational framework for future studies. Limitations/future research: The study primarily focuses on the conceptual linkage between HRM and green supply chains, suggesting the need for empirical research to further validate and expand upon the findings. Future research should investigate specific HRM practices that effectively contribute to sustainable supply chains.

Fossil gas lock-in risks: analysis of Algeria’s electricity sector and implications for a renewable energy transition

Algeria's electricity sector is dependent on fossil gas. Domestic gas demand is growing, and gas-fired power plants are projected to make up 84% of total installed capacity by 2028. This brings the country into a Sustainability Nexus dilemma: on the one hand, Algeria is committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of the gas sector, whereas on the other hand, the energy and export revenue derived from gas would need to be substituted in order to ensure social and economic development in the country. Socioeconomic tradeoffs and alternatives must therefore be understood and managed in a way that ensures continued political and public support for the country's energy transition and fossil fuel exit. This paper aims to (a) identify fossil gas lock-in factors and (b) explore the opportunities to overcome these obstacles in order to facilitate a transition into renewable energy. Using a deductive approach, we draw on theoretical assumptions regarding carbon lock-in theory and the 2020 framework of Trencher et al. to study (1) technological and infrastructural conditions, (2) actors and agency, (3) formal and informal institutions, knowledge and competences, and (4) exogenous context. Between November 2021 and March 2022, a total of 23 semi-structured interviews were conducted in Algeria with stakeholders from the government, power and industry organizations, civil society organizations, and scientific institutions. The interview transcripts were then thematically analyzed to get a picture of recurrent themes and patterns. Our analysis identified several factors contributing to the fossil gas lock-in in Algeria's electricity system: economic dependence on oil and fossil gas; the significant influence of oil and gas actors, and the governmental support for fossil gas; gas and electricity subsidies, which lock out all other energy alternatives; and an overall lack of attention to climate change in energy policy formulation and in political and societal debate, despite the major capacity expansion plans prompted by heatwaves. The paper ends with a brief discussion of how Algeria's gas lock-in may worsen due to the war in Ukraine.

Exploring Research Development on Renewable Energy Technology Innovation in Sustainable Development

This research conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore the development of renewable energy technology innovation research in the context of sustainable development. Through an examination of scholarly publications, citation patterns, and keyword occurrences, this study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the current state of research in this critical field. Seminal works, influential authors, thematic clusters, and keyword frequencies are examined to uncover the multidimensional aspects of renewable energy technology innovation and its intersection with sustainable development. The synthesis of these insights informs researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, guiding them toward a holistic approach in addressing the challenges and opportunities at the nexus of renewable energy, technology innovation, and sustainability.

Documenting the Perspectives of Sub-Saharan African Policy Makers, Researchers, and Activists on the Reproductive Rights, Population Dynamics, and Environmental Sustainability Nexus

While high fertility levels in sub-Saharan Africa pose multiple challenges for economic, social, and environmental prospects, the perspectives of actors from this region have not been well documented. We offer a selection of viewpoints from 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa along four main dimensions: perceptions of the role of population growth for broader societal implications; the representation of sub-Saharan Africa in discussions of population growth; the integration of population dynamics and reproductive health and rights in environmental considerations and instruments; and the sensitive nature of the topic of population growth. A mixed-methods qualitative project was conducted, using an online survey of 402 participants followed by 18 in-depth interviews, to collect the views of policy makers, researchers, and activists in sub-Saharan Africa. We find overwhelming agreement that population growth has negative implications for environmental sustainability and other social welfare outcomes. We find broad support for the integration of population dynamics and reproductive health and rights dimensions at international environmental meetings and in environmental sustainability instruments. Participants also stressed the under-representation of sub-Saharan Africa in discussions of population dynamics and in international environmental governance. Overall, this paper contributes to a better understanding of sub-Saharan African perspectives and attitudes on the interconnectedness of reproductive health, population dynamics, and environmental sustainability.

Exploring the Nexus of Sustainability and Project Success: A Proposed Framework for the Software Sector

In the last two decades, there have been many calls to integrate sustainability into projects. However, there are conflicting views about the relationship between sustainability and project success. Some contend that project sustainability could adversely affect project success, while others maintain the contrary. Yet, the exploration of this relationship has been insufficient thus far. Notably, no existing work specifically investigates this relationship within the software domain. Therefore, this paper aims to contribute significantly by introducing a conceptual framework that assists in inspecting the relationships between software project sustainability (SPS) and project success. The proposed framework was developed based on well-defined aspects of both concepts. The findings show that most of the relationships between the two concepts are expected to be significant and positive. Our propositions were built after analysing the best of relevant contributions. However, an empirical examination is needed, especially with the presence of control variables such as country, company size, and project complexity. This work could be an initial motion for future empirical studies and provide a significant theoretical foundation for researchers and practitioners in this domain.

Introduction: Mapping the Research Field on the Democracy–Sustainability Nexus

With each new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the urgency to address climate change seems to increase. As the pressure to act rises, debates are intensifying regarding whether democracies can move toward sustainability fast enough. In this introduction to the special issue, we argue that current debates about the democracy–sustainability nexus revolve around the question of who should decide. Much of the recent debate can be structured along three opposites: experts versus laypersons, less versus more participation, and state versus market/private actor solutions. The first distinction asks whether climate change necessitates a shift of decision-making powers to scientists and experts rather than politicians or citizens. In the second debate, those who favor more participation in environmental policymaking face those who demand less. For example, whereas some promote new forms of deliberative forums, others doubt that these can be effective. Finally, there is a debate on whether markets and private actor networks might provide more efficient and effective ways to deal with the climate crisis than state regulation. While these perspectives are highly diverse and even contradictory, they are united in the belief that standard procedures of liberal democracy are insufficient to achieve sustainability.

Does green innovation moderate between FDI and environmental sustainability? Empirical evidence from South Asia.

The study aims to investigate how foreign direct investment (FDI) and green innovation (GI) impact environmental quality in South Asia. Moreover, this study examines the moderating role of GI between FDI and environmental sustainability. We use panel data from 1995 to 2018 for five South Asian nations namely, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. For the empirical analysis, we used 1st generation cointegration like Pedroni and Kao, and 2nd generation cointegration tests like Westerlund. Moreover, for the long-run relationship, we employ fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) estimation. The study's empirical results suggest that GI significantly enhances ecological sustainability in South Asian economies; however, FDI degrades the environmental quality. Furthermore, the results suggest that GI significantly moderates the nexus of FDI and ecological sustainability in South Asia. It is recommended that South Asian countries increase green innovation with FDI so that environmental quality can be assured for the region's sustainable development.

Sustainability and the politics of the body in alternative food consumption: An embodied materialist perspective

Health is a key dimension of contemporary food consumption. This preoccupation is beginning to overlap with ecological concerns, as healthy diets are said to largely correspond with sustainable diets. Nevertheless, this link remains rather vague and under-researched in practice. This article adopts an ‘embodied materialist’ perspective to inquire into how the health–sustainability nexus is articulated in the everyday labour of people engaging in alternative food consumption. The interviews, carried out in Milan (Italy), suggest that focusing on health might not always be straightforwardly effective for the promotion of deep and systemic changes. The analysis finds three ways in which the health–sustainability nexus is articulated in daily life. If framed within the dominant articulation of labour and value, health is an individualistic preoccupation with limited potential for socio-ecological transformation. When food labour is guided by the very different logic of care, which emphasises relationality, fragility and the search for a shared wellbeing, more ecological practices emerge, but with some ambivalent implications especially with regards to social justice. Collective engagement in alternative food networks politicises the body more deeply, making it a concrete site of struggle against unsustainable food regimes.

Clarifying the relationship between green investment, technological innovation, financial openness, and renewable energy consumption in MINT

The importance of Renewable energy has been well documented in the literature, especially in the nexus of renewable energy-led environmental sustainability. The purpose of the study is to gauge the effects of green investment (GI), technological innovation (TI), and financial Openness (FO) on Renewable Energy Consumption (REC) in MINT for the period 1996–2019. Several econometric tools have been considered in documenting the target nexus, including the panel unit root test following CADF and CIPS, Error correction Cointegration test, CS-ARDL, nonlinear ARDL, and directional causality test by employing the D-H Causality test. The panel unit root test revealed that all the variables become stationary after the first difference. The long-run association in the target model is unveiled with the panel cointegration test. A positive and statistically significant connection regarding FO, TI, and GI coefficients on REC has been exposed. It suggests that the progress in RE development and inclusion in economic activities could be amplified through FO, TI, and GI. Inferring the results of asymmetric valuation, the test statistics of a standard Wald test document asymmetric association in the long run and short run. Furthermore, the coefficients of positive and negative innovation in explanatory variables, i.e., TI, GI, & FO, divulge a positive statistically significant tie to REC, which is valid in long-run and short-run assessment.

The Emergence of Alternative Sociotechnical Imaginaries in Argentina’s Agricultural Sector: Lessons for Democracy and Sustainability

The question of how various actors envision sustainability transitions and which visions are translated into policy agendas is an important aspect of the sustainability–democracy debate. Applying Jasanoff’s concept of sociotechnical imaginaries, this paper examines how three alternative imaginaries of agricultural production—agroecology, organic production, and biodevelopment—have emerged in Argentina, as well as how they have established themselves economically and politically despite the dominance of the well-established soybean imaginary. Argentina’s return to democracy in 1983 was crucial for the emergence of alternative imaginaries because it enabled a new kind of relationship between the state and civil society that opened participation channels for alternative visions. Reflecting patterns that are also relevant to other South American countries, our analysis of the Argentinean case draws attention to the role inequality plays at different levels and its importance as an area for further research on the democracy–sustainability nexus.

Sustainability of lettuce production: A comparison of local and centralized food production

Communities are considering local food production in response to the pressing need to reduce food system greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, local food systems can vary considerably in design and operation, including controlled environment agriculture (CEA), which refers to agricultural production that takes place within an enclosed space where environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and light, are precisely controlled. Such systems require a considerable amount of energy and thus emissions; therefore, this study seeks to quantify these environmental impacts to determine how local CEA systems compare to alternative systems. For this study's methods, we apply life cycle assessment methodology to quantify the cradle-to-store-shelf GHG emissions and water consumption of four lettuce production systems: local indoor plant factory, local greenhouse, local seasonal soil, and conventional centralized production in California with transportation. Using geographically specific inputs, the study estimates the environmental impact of the different production systems including geospatially resolved growth modeling, emissions intensity, and transportation distances. The results include the major finding that baseline CEA systems always have higher GHG emissions (2.6–7.7 kg CO2e kg−1) than centralized production (0.3–1.0 kg CO2e kg−1), though water consumption is significantly less owing to hydroponic efficiency. In contrast, local seasonal soil production generally has a lower GHG impact than centralized production, though water consumption varies by crop yield and local precipitation during growing seasons. Scenario analyses indicate CEA facilities would need to electrify all systems and utilize low-carbon electricity sources to have equivalent or lower GHG impacts than California centralized production plus transportation. We conclude that these results can inform consumers and policy makers that local seasonal production and conventional supply chains are more sustainable than local CEA production in near-term food-energy-water sustainability nexus decision making.