Abstract The analysis of the finance-development nexus is mainly limited to the banking sector and capital markets, and the potential of the insurance sector seems to be ignored in the literature. The aim of this paper is to investigate the other neglected effects of the insurance sector by examining how it affects sustainable development in a sample of 31 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000–2022. To achieve this, we mobilized two main parametric methods, namely IV-Tobit and GMM, and a non-parametric method like Quantile Regression. The results revealed that insurance fosters sustainable development. Furthermore, the distinction between life and non-life insurance confirms this result, with a greater effect for non-life insurance. The results remain valid when the type of governance is distinguished, but are mixed when the income level is taken into account. The mediation analysis revealed that international trade and information and communication technologies are transmission mechanisms through which the insurance sector impacts sustainable development. Consequently, political decision-makers should also make use of the insurance sector to seek the financing needed to implement programs that will help achieve the objectives of sustainable development.

This study aims to construct a conceptual model integrating value-based governance, value-based reputation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the context of global Islamic banking. The research is motivated by the need to bridge Islamic ethical values with modern governance and sustainability paradigms that emphasize the balance between profitability, moral integrity, and social responsibility. Employing a systematic literature review and thematic synthesis through qualitative analysis, this study identifies, categorizes, and synthesizes key conceptual themes relevant to the research focus. The findings reveal that value-based governance serves as an ethical foundation that strengthens value-based reputation, while the latter functions as a catalyst for achieving sustainable development objectives. The synergy among these three elements produces a governance model that positions the principles of maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah as a normative framework for ethical, transparent, and sustainable Islamic financial practices. The primary contribution of this research lies in the simultaneous integration of the three major frameworks—value-based governance, value-based reputation, and SDGs—which enriches theoretical discourse on Islamic financial governance and provides strategic direction for the development of policy, sharia auditing, and sustainability reporting systems oriented toward ethical values and global welfare.

Rapid urbanization, rising worldwide energy demand, and expanding environmental concerns have all influenced the development of the idea of "green buildings." A comprehensive approach to attaining sustainability, environmental resilience, and energy efficiency is provided by incorporating smart energy systems into green building design. Green buildings integrate sophisticated technologies, renewable energy sources, and contemporary design techniques to maximize resource usage, lower energy consumption, and improve occupant well-being. Real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and adaptive energy management are made possible by the integration of smart energy systems, which include smart grids; Internet of Things based sensors, automated controls, and data analytics. These technologies make sure that energy is used effectively, that renewable resources like solar and wind are used to their full potential, and that building systems run with little assistance from humans. Decentralized energy generation and storage are also supported by the integration, which lessens dependency on traditional power grids and cuts carbon emissions. Interoperability problems, significant upfront expenditures, and technical complexity are some of the difficulties associated with putting such systems into place. With a focus on their vital role in accomplishing the objectives of smart cities and sustainable urban development, this paper explores the architecture, technologies, and advantages of incorporating smart energy systems into green buildings.

Universal Basic Education (UBE) was introduced in Nigeria in 1999 as a major educational reform to ensure free, compulsory, and quality education for all children of school-going age. Rooted in the 1999 Constitution and backed by the UBE Act of 2004, the programme was designed to reduce illiteracy, address inequality, and promote human capital development. Despite these policy intentions, the implementation of UBE has been fraught with challenges. Public administration structures, which are expected to guarantee effective service delivery, have been undermined by weak institutional capacity, inadequate funding, corruption, and poor monitoring. This article examines the implementation of UBE through the lens of public administration, interrogating its successes, failures, and prospects. Drawing on empirical data and relevant theoretical frameworks, the study highlights the contradictions between policy design and actual practice in Nigeria’s education sector. Findings reveal that while UBE has increased enrollment, learning outcomes remain poor due to systemic administrative bottlenecks. The article also emphasizes the need for stronger accountability mechanisms, decentralized governance, and evidence-based policy reforms. In conclusion, the paper argues that UBE remains a policy of promise but not yet of performance. Strengthening public administration institutions is essential if Nigeria is to achieve the objectives of universal education and sustainable development.

This study presents an experimental comparison between Direct Torque Control (DTC) and Finite Control Set–Predictive Torque Control (FCS-PTC) for a three-phase induction motor (IM) drive, emphasizing their implications for energy efficiency and sustainable industrial operation. Both control methods aim to regulate torque and stator flux yet differ in voltage-vector (VV) selection principles. DTC employs a fixed look-up table with hysteresis controllers, while FCS-PTC evaluates all inverter states through a cost-function-based prediction. Experimental implementation using a dSPACE DS1104 platform was carried out at three operating speeds—286 r/min, 764 r/min, and 1432 r/min—to quantify torque and flux ripples using statistical analysis. At low speed (286 r/min), FCS-PTC achieved a torque ripple of 0.0948 N·m and a flux ripple of 0.0072 Wb, compared with DTC’s 0.2350 N·m and 0.0109 Wb. Similar improvements were observed at medium and high speeds, confirming FCS-PTC’s superior ability to minimize electromagnetic ripple. Voltage-vector analysis revealed that DTC’s avoidance of radial vectors contributes to higher flux variation, whereas FCS-PTC’s balanced use of tangential and radial vectors yields smoother electromagnetic response and improved control accuracy. From a societal perspective, the enhanced efficiency of FCS-PTC supports reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions in motor-driven systems, directly aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). The experimental framework also provides a practical platform for engineering education and workforce training in advanced control methods. The findings demonstrate that predictive torque control not only improves technical performance but also contributes to broader objectives of sustainable industrial development and capacity building.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a predictive tool that enables urban facilities managers and transportation authorities to forecast transverse cracking in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) with high accuracy. By integrating Genetic Algorithm (GA) with Support Vector Regression (SVR), this study seeks to enhance pavement maintenance planning, reduce infrastructure deterioration and support sustainable asset management practices in urban environments. This study contributes to data-driven decision-making aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a hybrid machine learning model combining SVR with GA optimization to predict transverse cracking in CRCP. A data set comprising 395 records from 33 pavement sections in the Long-Term Pavement Performance database is used. Predictor variables include structural, climatic and traffic-related features. The model’s performance is evaluated using five-fold cross-validation and benchmarked against traditional models such as Linear Regression and Decision Trees to assess accuracy and reliability in forecasting pavement distress. Findings The GA-SVR model achieved a mean root mean square error of 4.37 and an R² of 0.921, significantly outperforming Linear Regression and Decision Tree models. Variables such as pavement age, total thickness, precipitation and initial roughness were identified as key predictors. Three-dimensional (3D) interaction plots revealed how these factors jointly influence pavement performance over time. Residual analysis confirmed the robustness of the model, showing randomly distributed errors without systematic bias. These results demonstrate that GA-SVR is a reliable and accurate tool for forecasting pavement cracking in urban infrastructure systems. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to apply GA-optimized SVR for predicting transverse cracking in CRCP within the context of urban facilities management. This study bridges a gap between pavement engineering and smart infrastructure planning by integrating machine learning with sustainable development objectives. The model’s high accuracy and practical utility provide a novel contribution to proactive urban asset management, aligning technological innovation with citizen-focused outcomes. Its methodological framework can be adapted to other infrastructure systems, offering a scalable solution for smart city initiatives.

This study investigates the relationship between green technological innovation, renewable energy consumption, regulatory quality and carbon dioxide emissions in developing economies. Using a balanced panel dataset of 52 countries over 21 years, the analysis applies a panel quantile regression with mean group and common correlation effects to capture heterogeneous dynamics and GMM model for checking endogeneity further Heterogeneous panel causality results shows the perfect relation among them. The findings reveal that green technological innovation significantly reduces carbon emissions, while renewable energy consumption also mitigates emissions; however, its interaction with GDP displays an inverted U-shaped pattern, indicating that economic expansion combined with higher renewable energy use may initially increase emissions before improving environmental outcomes. These results highlight the importance of prioritizing technological innovation and strengthening renewable energy infrastructure to achieve long-term sustainability goals. The study provides policy-relevant insights for regulators and governments in developing countries to balance economic growth with environmental preservation, offering a practical framework to support global sustainable development objectives.

Currently, an active debate is underway among the academic community, urban planners, and policymakers regarding optimal models of urban development, given that the majority of the population now resides in cities. One concept under discussion is the 15 min city, which posits that all urban residents should be able to reach key, frequently used services within a 15 min walk or cycle. Although the literature suggests numerous potential benefits, debate persists about whether such cities would be optimal from the standpoint of sustainable development objectives and residents’ quality of life. The ongoing discussion also concerns the extent to which existing cities are capable of aligning with this concept. This is directly linked to the actual spatial distribution of individual services within the city. The literature indicates a research gap arising from a shortage of robust case studies that would enable a credible assessment of the practical implementation of this idea across diverse cities, countries, and regions. This issue pertains to Poland as well as to other countries. A desirable future scenario would involve comprehensive mapping of all cities, with respect to both the spatial distribution of specific services and related domains such as the quality and coherence of linear infrastructure. This article presents an analysis of the spatial accessibility of basic urban services in the context of implementing the 15 min city concept, using the city of Koszalin (Poland) as a case study. This city was selected due to its representative character as a medium-sized urban centre, both in terms of population and area, as well as its subregional functions within Poland’s settlement structure. Koszalin also exhibits a typical spatial and functional layout characteristic of many Polish cities. In light of growing challenges related to urbanisation, climate change, and the need to promote sustainable mobility, this study focuses on evaluating access to services such as education, healthcare, retail, public transport, and green spaces. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools enabled the identification of spatial variations in service accessibility across the city. The results indicate that only 11% of Koszalin’s area fully meets the assumptions of the 15 min city concept, providing pedestrians with convenient access to all key services. At the same time, 92% of the city’s area offers access to at least one essential service within a 15 min walk. Excluding forested areas not intended for development increases these values to 14% and 100%, respectively. This highlights the extent to which methodological choices in assessing pedestrian accessibility can shape analytical outcomes and the interpretations drawn from them. Moreover, given this article’s objective and the adopted analytical procedure, the assumed pedestrian walking speed is the key parameter. Accordingly, a sensitivity analysis was conducted, comparing the reference scenario (4 km/h) with alternative variants (3 and 5 km/h). This approach demonstrates the extent to which a change in a single parameter affects estimates of urban-area coverage by access to individual services reachable on foot within 15 min. The analysis reveals limited integration of urban functions at the local scale, highlighting areas in need of planning intervention. This article proposes directions for action to improve pedestrian accessibility within the city.

The ecological suitability of urban underground spaces (UUS) is critical to sustainable urban development. This study develops a PROMETHEE II-based evaluation framework to assess UUS projects by integrating environmental, economic, and social criteria. A structured survey involving 25 experts was conducted to determine the relative importance of 11 sustainability criteria, with energy efficiency (18%) and carbon footprint reduction (16%) identified as the most influential factors. The PROMETHEE II method, which provides a complete ranking based on net preference flows, was applied to evaluate five real-world UUS projects in China. The underground green park (Φ = 0.82) emerged as the most sustainable alternative, while the multilevel parking facility (Φ = 0.54) ranked lowest due to high construction costs and limited environmental benefits. PROMETHEE II enabled the apparent prioritization of alternatives, thereby enhancing the model’s decision-support capacity. The findings highlight the importance of integrating green infrastructure and transit-oriented underground developments to improve urban sustainability. This framework provides urban planners with a practical tool for aligning future UUS projects with ecological and sustainable development objectives.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become a hallmark of the digital transformation in the world, and it is fundamentally changing the way societies create value, provide services, and compete in a globalised world. In Africa, AI is a developmental challenge and a transformative opportunity in the emerging economies. The intersection of mobile technologies, data analytics, and machine learning is allowing African countries to skip the conventional industrial development trajectories, improve the delivery of social services, and trigger inclusive economic development. However, the potential barriers to the implementation of AI are structural flaws in the form of the lack of digital infrastructure, ineffective data management, and the absence of human capital. The paper will critically analyse the role of AI in enhancing the pace of digital transformation in the emerging African economies with interdisciplinary support of evidence in development economics, technology policy, and African innovation studies. It combines the knowledge of (Strusani and Houngbonon, 2019), Aly (2022), Ifeanyi et al. (2025), and Arakpogun et al. (2021) to give a more refined view of the way AI promotes innovation, productivity, and resilience. The paper argues that AI in Africa holds a future in context-sensitive policies to balance between the ambition of technology and ethical governance, inclusive participation and sustainable development objectives.

This article examines intergenerational social mobility as a driver of sustainable development on the case of Lithuania, a country in Eastern Europe. Using data from the European Social Survey (2020), the analysis explores how parental education and occupation shape individual educational and occupational outcomes. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses reveal that while structural mobility has been facilitated by Lithuania’s transition from Soviet rule to a market economy and subsequent European integration, family background remains a decisive factor. The study also highlights the key factors that promote or constrain social mobility in contemporary Lithuania. The interaction between mothers’ and fathers’ education fosters the attainment of higher levels of education, whereas mothers’ occupational status and respondents’ gender (male) appear to limit it. Similarly, the achievement of a higher occupational level is positively influenced by the interaction between parental education and the respondent’s own highest educational attainment, while negatively influenced by gender. These findings demonstrate that education not only determines social mobility but also supports the broader objectives of sustainable development by reducing inequality, fostering human capital, and advancing gender equality. The results underscore the importance of inclusive social policies that ensure equitable access to quality education and align educational opportunities with labor market demands, thereby reinforcing social mobility as a foundation for long-term social resilience and sustainability.

The repercussions of climate change and land use change on water resources are becoming increasingly evident, particularly in the context of transboundary water resources research. This field necessitates the integration of various factors into research methodologies to achieve sustainable development objectives. The Tumen River Basin, a paradigmatic transboundary basin in Northeast Asia, has been confronted with the challenge of stabilizing water resources in view of the increased frequency of hydrological disasters in recent years. Therefore, in this study, a coupled model (M-S-C) combining the Mixed Cell Cellular Automata (MCCA), Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) meteorological data was utilized to predict the annual runoff intervals from 2025 to 2070. Furthermore, the study sought to analyze the impacts of different factors on runoff in different countries, and to propose the concept of Contribution of Transboundary River Volume (CTRV). The findings indicate that the impact of climate is significantly more substantial than that of land use change within the study area. Forest land and cultivated land emerge as the predominant land types exerting influence on runoff. Geodetector q-statistics reveal interpretation rates of 58.21% and 48.85%, respectively. The runoff volume is estimated to range from 83.062 billion to 149.696 billion m3, with a decrease on the Chinese side and an increase on the North Korean side, as indicated by the CTRV slopes of − 0.023 and 0.005, respectively. The M-S-C coupled model and the CTRV concept offer novel insights for the monitoring of water resources in transboundary basins and the adaptive regulation of water-ecological coupling systems. These models provide significant guidance for the sustainable development of water resources in transboundary basins.

Due to climate change, pressures from civil society and national and international bodies, the objectives of sustainable development, social responsibility and ethical governance have become an integral part of companies' management strategy. Thus, if in the past, the main objective of business was to maximize profit or economic growth by any means, nowadays, to be successful in the long term, firms must integrate the principles of sustainability and corporate governance into their strategic objectives. In this sense, the aim of this article is to analyze the main paradigm shifts in the business world in the context of implementing sustainability and corporate governance principles in business models, while identifying the motivations for sustainability reporting and the impact on firm performance. The research methodology is theoretical and documentary, focusing on literature review and international regulations on sustainability and corporate governance. The research results consist in highlighting the main paradigm shifts in sustainability reporting and its implications on firm performance.

ABSTRACT Achieving sustainable development remains a central objective in contemporary policy discourse, with the transformation of production systems toward greener, low-emission alternatives emerging as a major priority for governments aiming to address environmental issues. As a result, green production processes have gained strategic relevance; however, the empirical insight into the environmental implications of green production processes, particularly in advanced economies remains limited. This study’s objective addresses this gap by exploring the impact of green production processes, energy transition and environmental policy stringency on sustainable development, measured by the load capacity factor (LCAP), in G7 nations. Using panel estimators complemented by distribution-sensitive checks, their empirical findings establish that green production processes, energy transitions and economic globalization significantly contribute to LCAP, suggesting that the improvement in ecological sustainability can be achieved through the promotion of green industrial practices, economic globalization and energy transition initiatives. Meanwhile, environmental policy stringency exhibits a negative impact on ecological quality in G7 nations. Furthermore, the result of the causality test shows that green production processes, energy transition, environmental policy stringency, and economic globalization play important roles in influencing LCAP, with environmental policy stringency also being shaped by feedback effects from LCAP. We offer valuable policy insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to advance sustainable development objectives.

Assessing Mine Emergency Rescue Capability (MERC) is critical for ensuring mining safety and advancing sustainable development. However, existing MERC assessments often lack a holistic sustainability perspective. To bridge this gap, this study develops a MERC assessment model grounded in the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, integrating the relative difference function (RDF) to address the fuzziness and subjectivity in evaluation processes. A hierarchical indicator system is constructed, comprising 5 primary factors and 25 sub-indicators across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, reflecting both immediate rescue effectiveness and long-term sustainability performance. Indicator weights are derived from a hybrid approach that combines the subjective G1 method with the objective entropy weight method. RDF is employed to compute membership degrees, and the final MERC level is determined by level characteristic values. The model is validated through an empirical study of six green mines in China. Results demonstrate robust performance and consistency with alternative methods and reveal the environmental dimension as the dominant driver within the TBL framework. This finding supports the ecology-first principle of green mining and underscores the alignment of high-level emergency preparedness with sustainable development objectives. By explicitly embedding sustainability principles into safety assessment, the proposed model provides a scientifically grounded tool to guide the green transformation of the mining industry. Future work will adapt the model to diverse mining contexts and refine the indicators to better support global sustainability goals.

By evaluating how well these programs fit with local, national, and international regulations as well as university aims and sustainable development objectives, this study investigates the efficacy of CES implementation in state universities. Through the provision of information and technologies to address societal issues, CES programs are essential in bridging the gap between academic institutions and underserved populations. The study assesses CES implementation across many campuses and departments using a mixed-methods approach that includes both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Key elements such discipline-specific methods, community engagement, research integration, teamwork, sustainability, and volunteers are the focus of the investigation. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from CES coordinators, staff, students, and community stakeholders on several university campuses. The Kruskal-Wallis test and descriptive statistics were used to compare the efficacy of CES across campuses, and thematic analysis was used to find recurrent themes about implementation issues and strengths. According to the findings, CES initiatives are implemented to a moderate to high degree, with metropolitan campuses showing higher levels of engagement since they have more resources. However, issues like poor funding, little research integration, and sustainability problems were noted. In order to guarantee long-lasting community effect, the study suggests strengthening research-driven CES projects, encouraging closer cooperation with outside stakeholders, boosting CES coordinator training, and creating sustainable frameworks.

Buildings account for a significant portion of global energy demand and carbon emissions, with space heating and cooling being primary contributors to operational energy use. Despite growing awareness of energy conservation imperatives, the integration of energy-efficient measures in newly constructed buildings remains limited, underscoring the substantial improvement potential within the existing building stock. This study focuses on Pakistan, where persistent energy shortages and frequent load shedding necessitate immediate and practical efficiency interventions. The research evaluates the effectiveness of passive retrofitting strategies in enhancing the thermal performance of an existing institutional building. A simulation-based approach was employed using Autodesk Ecotect 2011 to assess baseline thermal loads and quantify the impact of selected retrofit measures. Key interventions, including insulation enhancement, window upgrades, optimization of window-to-wall ratio, and energy-efficient lighting, were analyzed individually and collectively to determine their influence on annual thermal load reduction. An economic assessment was also conducted to evaluate feasibility based on cost and projected energy savings. The findings demonstrate that targeted passive retrofitting can significantly reduce building thermal loads while improving indoor comfort and economic viability. By incorporating climate-responsive strategies tailored to local conditions, this study provides practical recommendations to strengthen energy performance across Pakistan’s building sector and supports broader sustainable development objectives.

Translating the sustainability commitments into people-oriented practices: the sustainability commitment in hospitals is translated into green recruitment, training, performance appraisal, rewards and employee engagement that contributes to pro-environmental behaviour. The medical industry is crucial to ensuring a sustainable environment, yet hospitals are still struggling to adopt sustainable environmental practices. The article will examine the prevailing trends, issues and future of (GHRM) in hospitals, in the context of moving the awareness to practical integration. Using quantitative data of 150 hospital employees, the research evaluates the significant obstacles which prevent the implementation of the GHRM practices. Descriptive statistical results reveal that fragmentation and responsibilities (Mean = 3.87, SD = 0.950) and cultural and behavioural inertia (Mean = 3.66, SD = 0.858) are the most prominent obstacles, followed by resource and capacity constraints (Mean = 3.25, SD = 1.009) and measurement and attribution problems (Mean = 3.10, SD = 1.023). These findings indicate that while awareness of sustainability has increased among hospital staff, systemic barriers continue to impede its full integration into human resource policies and daily operations. The article underscores the importance of cross-functional cooperation, leadership dedication and alignment policies in entrenching GHRM in hospital management systems. The healthcare facilities can cultivate a culture of environmental mindfulness and can optimize their operations, as well as contribute to the overall objectives of sustainable development. Synthesizing the recent evidence on trends, practical barriers, organisational outcomes and research gaps, this article provides an implementation checklist to hospital managers and suggests a future research and policy agenda to transform awareness to concrete action by hospitals.

In the current economic context, characterized by multiple challenges and vulnerabilities, the capacity of financial systems to absorb shocks and maintain stability becomes a determining factor of sustainable development. The European integration process of the Republic of Moldova requires strengthening the monetary policy framework and increasing the efficiency of response mechanisms to economic disturbances. The research relevance stems from Moldova's strategic objective of sustainable economic development and the need to align with European Union standards, a context in which strengthening the resilience of the financial system becomes essential. The research aims to evaluate the monetary system's capacity to maintain macroeconomic stability during periods of financial stress and to identify the mechanisms through which monetary policy contributes to the economy's adaptability and recovery after disturbances. The research methodology combines theoretical analysis of specialized literature with a quantitative analysis focused on key monetary indicators. Using a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, the study analyzes the interaction between main monetary and macroeconomic variables to evaluate the effectiveness of monetary transmission mechanisms. The results highlight significant volatility in economic growth, persistence of inflationary shocks, and limited effectiveness of monetary transmission, suggesting the need for complementary structural reforms.

Sustainable development is now a very important worldwide issue since it is important for the health of future generations without harming the environment or generating social injustice. In this context, the Maqāṣid al-Syarī‘ah method can provide an essential foundation for fostering sustainable development, grounded in the principles of Islamic law. This study seeks to examine the correlation between Maqāṣid al-Syarī‘ah and sustainable development through the lens of Islamic law. The methodology employed is a literature research utilizing a normative-qualitative approach, examining both primary and secondary texts pertinent to Islamic law and Maqāṣid al-Syarī‘ah. The study's findings indicate that Maqāṣid al-Syarī‘ah, which emphasizes the safeguarding of religion, life, intellect, lineage, and wealth, corresponds with the objectives of sustainable development, including social justice, environmental conservation, and economic empowerment. Further debate indicates that the incorporation of Maqāṣid al-Syarī‘ah principles into sustainable development strategies can establish an equilibrium between economic advancement and the safeguarding of human rights and the environment. In conclusion, the implementation of Maqāṣid al-Syarī‘ah in sustainable development can fortify a just and enduring legal framework and offer a resolution to the contemporary global difficulties confronting the world.