Requirements Of Sustainable Development Research Articles

The gap dynamics in the U.S. between urban areas in the current trend and in sustainable scenario

The gap between the projected urban areas in the current trend (UAC) and those in the sustainable scenario (UAS) is a critical factor in understanding whether cities can fulfill the requirements of sustainable development. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on this cutting-edge topic. Given the extensive and rapid urbanization in the United States (U.S.) over the past two centuries, accurately measuring this gap between UAS and UAC is of critical importance for advancing future sustainable urban development, as well as having significant global implications. This study finds that although the 740 U.S. cities have a large UAC in 2100, these cities will encompass a significant gap from UAC to UAS (approximately 165000 km²), accounting for 30% UAC at that time. The study also reveals the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the gap. The gap initially increases before reaching a inflection point in 2090, and it disparates greatly from -100% to 240% at city level. While cities in the Northwestern U.S. maintain UAC that exceeds UAS from 2020 to 2100, cities in other regions shift from UAC that exceeds UAS to UAC that falls short of UAS. Filling the gap without additional urban growth planning could lead to a reduction of crop production ranging from 0.3% to 3% and a 0.68% loss of biomass. Hence, dynamic and forward-looking urban planning is essential for addressing the challenges of sustainable development posed by urbanization, both within the U.S. and globally.

Planning the customer service process of a logistics company based on implementing green technologies

The peculiarities of planning environmentally oriented customer service for a logistics company based on implementing "green" technologies are discussed in the article. It has been researched that planning is an integral part of the successful management of any company, especially in the logistics sector, where customer satisfaction and operational efficiency are key factors. Under modern conditions, to respond to customer requests, logistics companies must take into account the impact of their activities on the environment and implement appropriate methods to minimize the negative impact on the environment, and accordingly, the process of planning customer service in a logistics company should include an environmental component. Given this, the importance of integrating environmental factors and business processes at each stage of planning to ensure sustainable development of a logistics company based on forming a cyclic approach to planning environmentally oriented customer service is substantiated. The method of iterative planning that allows a logistics company not only to improve the quality of customer service but also to integrate environmental practices into its activities, which meets the modern requirements of sustainable development and social responsibility of business has been established. The developed model of environmentally-oriented planning of customer service combines business processes of logistics service and "green" technologies, transforms the operational efficiency of a logistics company in the context of sustainable development, substantiates the integration of environmentally sustainable solutions at all stages of the logistics chain - from initial planning to the final delivery of goods to consumers. To support the proposed model, the implementation of Power-to-X technology is recommended, which allows the conversion of excess renewable energy into energy specifically for logistics and transportation purposes. The implementation of this measure enables the logistics company to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency, to form a comprehensive approach to the development and integration of environmentally friendly technologies in the company's logistics operations to increase efficiency and competitiveness. It is emphasized that the proposed model demonstrates a comprehensive approach to building a highly efficient and at the same time environmentally sustainable logistics system of the company by integrating innovative "green" technologies.

Exploring the Pathways of Achieving Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Targets in the Provinces of the Yellow River Basin of China

Achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is an intrinsic requirement for sustainable development. The industrial structure primarily characterized by the chemical and energy industries poses a hindrance to the attainment of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals in the provinces of the Yellow River Basin of China. Predicting the time of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and exploring the pathways of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is an urgent issue for the government to address. The STIRPAT and InVEST models were used for the carbon emissions and carbon sequestration estimation in the nine provinces and regions of the Yellow River Basin from 2010 to 2060. The results show that the study area will realize carbon peaking in 2030 under the baseline scenario, with the carbon emission of 4146 million tons. Under the high-emission scenario, the study area will realize carbon peaking in 2035, with the carbon emission of 4372 million tons. Under the low-carbon energy-saving scenario, the study area will realize carbon peaking in 2025, with the carbon emission of 3909 million tons. The entire study area cannot achieve carbon neutrality in 2060 under the three scenarios. Under the baseline and high-emission scenarios, only Qinghai and Sichuan can realize carbon neutrality by 2060, and under the low-carbon energy-saving scenario, Sichuan, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Gansu will achieve carbon neutrality on time. This research indicates that attaining carbon peaking and carbon neutrality can be accomplished by implementing strategies such as encouraging the growth of clean energy, managing energy usage, refining the industrial structure, and strengthening the ecosystem’s carbon sink.

The Role of Websites in Promoting Wine Tourism: An Evaluation of Romanian Wineries

While aspiring to become internationally valued producers of high-quality wines, certain Romanian wineries recently turned towards wine tourism. Given the increasing role of smart devices and online-based information in holiday selection and planning, the main objective of the paper is to evaluate the online presence, informational content and effectiveness of Romanian wineries’ websites for the promotion of wine tourism. This evaluation comprised 53 features tested in previous research and organized into four categories: main website characteristics, wine tourism, marketing, and education. Based on content analysis conducted on 154 websites of wineries identified in all Romanian regions, scores were computed and, subsequently, wineries were classified, mapped, and evaluated. The findings show that certain basic features are overall available, while exclusive features that could positively influence tourist preferences and experiences are insufficient in terms of design, education, and marketing characteristics. Less than 50% of the analysed websites inform about wine tasting activities, less than 35% specify visiting hours, and less than 20% mention tourist amenities. The websites that indicate other local wineries, allied industries or tourist attractions represent exceptions. This study underlines the importance of leveraging digital tools within the marketing strategy of wineries and the need to enhance networking among regional stakeholders as prerequisite for sustainable development.

The Path of Rural Social Capital Improvement in China from the Perspective of Planners: A Case Study of Hongtang Village in Yunnan Province

China’s rural areas have long been backward in development, and many villages have completed poverty alleviation with the help of the government. Facing the requirements of sustainable development, it is necessary to change the development path, continuously increase social capital, and effectively connect with government investment resources. The existing research and practice mostly construct the strategy of social capital from the inside of the village, lacking interaction with the superior government. This paper argues for the method of planners’ intervention. The advantage is that it links the power of government and villagers, creates a perceptible, experiential, valuable material environment, and promotes collective action. Through this process, the knowledge interaction and social relations in the village can be improved. The purpose of this paper is to study how participatory planning affects the content and mechanism of this process mentioned above. Taking Hongtang village as a case study, we analyze the in-depth changes that participatory planning has brought to the rural space and social level. In the participatory planning practice of Hongtang village, college rural planners took a small vegetable garden as the breakthrough point to stimulate villagers’ participation. In the process of the upgrade, planners evolved the interaction between the village committee and villagers in the path of IMEE, which is “Intervene, Motivate, Enable, Empower”. Moreover, planners always maintained contact with the higher-level government. Through the upgrade of small vegetable gardens, the villagers’ initiative was brought into practice, the social capital was fully explored, and an effective link with the government’s resource allocation was realized.

Новітні технології в екологічно безпечних полімерних покриттях: дослідження, технології, перспективи

The scientific work is aimed at the study of environmentally friendly polymer coatings in the automotive industry, which constantly attracts the attention of scientists and practitioners. The article analyzes the current state of technology in this area, reviews the latest research and technological developments, and discusses their prospects for implementation in production. Starting with a review of the latest research on paints and coatings, the paper goes on to discuss self-healing materials and microcapsules that have the potential to create resistant and durable coatings.The paper also discusses anti-corrosion coatings, which are an important part of protecting automotive structures from the effects of negative environmental factors. Particular attention is paid to the development of environmentally friendly polymer coatings that meet the requirements of sustainable development and reduce the environmental impact of the industry on the environment.In addition, the latest trends in the industry are analyzed, which allows us to predict further directions of technology development and implementation of innovative solutions. The work has important practical application in the automotive industry, contributing to improving the quality of automotive coatings protection against corrosion and extending their service life in various operating conditions. The work is aimed at highlighting relevant aspects of research in the field of environmentally friendly polymer coatings and provides a valuable contribution to the development of this important industry. The results will improve the quality and duration of corrosion protection of paintwork, metal structures and other products.The use of the latest materials and technologies in the manufacture of coatings is driven by the need for their environmental friendliness, efficiency and durability. However, the introduction of some new technologies faces limitations, in particular, related to their economic feasibility and scalability. In this regard, further research is needed to optimize technologies and materials to achieve greater efficiency in road transport.

Rational capacity investment for renewable hydrogen-based steelmaking systems: A multi-stage expansion planning strategy

To improve energy efficiency and mitigate environmental impact, the iron and steel industry (ISI) is responsible for implementing a low-carbon transition. The renewable hydrogen-based steelmaking system (RHSS) has emerged as an innovative energy system in the pathway of reducing the carbon footprint of ISI. Nonetheless, the sustainable development requirements of RHSS emphasize the critical need for well-planned capacity investments to boost its economic viability. This study introduces a novel planning strategy for RHSS referred to as a multi-stage expansion planning (MSEP) model, which is aimed to minimize the levelized cost of crude steel over the planning horizon from 2025 to 2050 (EU climate neutrality year). The MSEP model incorporates the construction sequence and dynamic techno-economic parameters to formulate investment strategies that adapt to changing system requirements and external conditions over the planning horizon. To address the complexity of the MSEP model, a rolling-horizon approach (RHA) is proposed to solve the model sequentially while integrating updated information. The proposed approach is benchmarked against both the single-stage approach and the perfect-sight approach through case studies. The numerical results show that the proposed RHA (i) guarantees a rational capacity investment strategy for RHSS considering the construction sequence and dynamic techno-economic parameters over multiple planning stages; (ii) achieves a reduction in the levelized cost of crude steel by approximately 50% relative to the single-stage approach; (iii) resolves the convergence issues encountered with the perfect-sight approach while achieving an optimal solution in a reasonable time frame. Additionally, sensitivity analysis evaluates the uncertainties of multiple factors on the planning results, while the robustness analysis confirms the applicability and adaptability of RHA across various scenarios.

Review on the application of renewable energy in green chemistry

Green chemistry, often referred to as environmentally friendly chemistry, or clean chemistry, aims to minimize or eliminate the utilization of harmful compounds and promote the development of chemicals and process designs that are environmentally sustainable. Renewable energy is a significant area of study within the realm of green chemistry. Given the phenomenon of global warming and the growing energy requirements, there is an increasingly pressing need for environmental consciousness and the promotion of sustainable development. This study will explore the application of renewable energy in green chemistry, along with the associated technologies for production and utilization. To effectively address the requirements of sustainable human development, it is crucial to prioritize the rational utilization of resources, maintain ecological equilibrium, and ensure environmental preservation. This will enable the achievement of a harmonious and coordinated relationship between mankind and the natural world.

Methodology for Researching the Synthesis of Transport and Logistics Systems of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article discusses the research methodology for the synthesis of transport and logistics systems, adapted to the specific conditions of the Kyrgyz Republic. The relevance of the study is due to the need to increase the competitiveness of the national economy and realize the country’s transit potential through the creation of an effective logistics infrastructure. The proposed methodology is based on the integrated application of modern theories and concepts from the field of transport logistics, modeling, geographic information systems, intelligent transport systems, as well as the principles of green logistics and sustainable development. Particular attention is paid to taking into account the features of the mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan and the need to integrate various modes of transport into multimodal transportation. The methodology provides for the creation of an optimal network of logistics centers and transport hubs that concentrate cargo flows and ensure their efficient processing. The implementation of information technologies and systems is considered as a key factor in the integration of supply chain participants, monitoring of transport flows, modeling and optimization of logistics processes. Successful implementation will create a competitive transport and logistics system, integrated into global supply chains and meeting modern requirements for efficiency and sustainable development.

Decarbonization of Production Systems in Foundries

The article discusses the growing importance of decarbonization of production systems in the foundry industry as a response to climate challenges and increasing requirements for sustainable development. The process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in foundry production is caused by a number of reasons. Decarbonization of the foundry industry refers to actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is increasingly being considered as a key element of the strategy of both small and large foundries around the world. Foundry is one of the industries that generates significant amounts of carbon dioxide emissions due to the energy consumption in the process of melting and forming metals. There is virtually no manufacturing industry that does not use elements cast from iron, steel or non-ferrous metals, ranging from elements made of aluminum to zinc. The article presents various decarbonization strategies available to foundries, such as: the use of renewable energy, the use of more efficient melting technologies, or the implementation of low-energy technologies throughout the production process. Application examples from different parts of the world illustrate how these strategies are already being put into practice, as well as the potential obstacles and challenges to full decarbonization.

How Military Executives Shape Digital Transformation of Firms—The Moderating Role of Symbiosis Orientation and Market Power

The requirement of sustainable development has led to challenges for DTF (i.e., digital transformation of firms). Extensive studies have been conducted on how the personality traits of executives influence the behavior of firms. However, the effect of military experience on DTF has yet to be determined. This concern is addressed in this study from the imprinting theory (IT) and upper echelons theory (UET) perspectives. We aim to investigate whether and how military executives impact DTF. Analysis of data from listed firms in China between 2010 and 2020 indicates that military executives positively enhance DTF. This research also evaluates the moderating effects of symbiosis orientation and the market power of firms on the above relationship. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the impact of executives’ military experience on DTF is only significant in non-regulated, high-technology, and low-pollution industries. Our findings expand the literature on leadership and DTF. We introduce the concept of symbiosis orientation and examine the moderating roles of symbiosis orientation and market power in the above effect, which elucidates the interplay between organizations and the external environment. Our findings provide insights into enhancing digital transformation efforts by strategically selecting suitable military leadership for firms and further promoting the sustainable development of firms.

The role of civil society organizations in achieving the requirements of sustainable development

The role of civil society organizations in achieving the requirements of sustainable development

Exploring the perceived effects of Destructive Leadership on employees' psychological empowerment: An Azerbaijan retail context

Azerbaijan's dynamic and diverse retail landscape is driving an escalating demand for motivated personnel, both locally and globally, to address sustainable development requirements. In competitive and demanding retail environments, the success of organizations can rely on confident, skilled, motivated, and informed employees to meet challenging business demands and inclusive growth. As Azerbaijan's retail competitive edge continues to expand, there is a heightened need for effective employer-employee interactions and strategic human capital to navigate intricate organizational hurdles. The targeted population for this study included current retail employees, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 participants from 15 different retail service organizations were conducted. Hence, this research study addresses a crucial gap in leadership literature by examining the interplay between destructive leadership and employees' psychological empowerment, encompassing dimensions like meaningfulness, self-determination, competence, and impact. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study delves into the real-life experiences of employees within the Azerbaijani retail sector. The study concludes that destructive leadership can significantly hamper employees' psychological empowerment, resulting in negative impacts on their work role orientation, engagement, productivity, and commitment.

Measurement and evaluation of agricultural technological innovation efficiency in the Yellow River Basin of China under water resource constraints

Improving the efficiency of agricultural technology innovation is an inevitable requirement for ecological protection and sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River Basin. Under the background of prominent water resources constraints in the Yellow River Basin, the actual level and regional differences of agricultural technology innovation efficiency in the basin are analyzed, which will provide theoretical basis and data reference for the development plan of agricultural modernization in the Yellow River Basin. The construction of evaluation index system and the choice of method are the main factors that affect the measurement results. Therefore, this paper first selects input indicators such as water-saving technology level and output indicators such as total agricultural output value to construct an innovative evaluation index system of agricultural technology innovation efficiency in the Yellow River Basin under the consideration of water resources constraints. Secondly, the three-stage DEA model was used to eliminate the interference of external environmental variables, and the overall and regional agricultural technology innovation efficiency of the Yellow River Basin during 2011–2020 was measured with the data of prefecture-level cities under the constraint of water resources. Finally, from the perspective of the whole and the region, the spatio-temporal dynamic evolution law is analyzed and evaluated. The results show that: on the whole, the agricultural technology innovation efficiency in the Yellow River Basin is good and rising in a wave trend, the adjusted pure technology efficiency increases, while the scale efficiency decreases. From the regional perspective, although there is regional heterogeneity, the overall development trend is good, and the lower Yellow River has the highest efficiency, followed by the upper reaches and the middle reaches. From the perspective of the change law, the spatio-temporal evolution distribution shows a multi-polarization trend, and the different regions in the upper, middle and lower reaches show great differences. Therefore, promoting the innovation of water-saving technology and the integration of agricultural science and technology, promoting the integration of production, study and research, and strengthening the regional linkage mechanism are helpful to improve the competitiveness of agricultural science and technology and achieve sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River Basin.

ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN HOT-DRY AND HOT-HUMID REGIONS OF IRAN

Iran is characterized by a diverse climate spectrum, covering a temperate and humid climate in the north of the country and in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, a cold climate in the west and in the Zagros mountain range, as well as hot dry and hot-humid conditions prevailing in the central part , in the east, in the Persian Gulf region and in the south of the country. This article focuses on the analysis of architectural features of school buildings in hot-dry and hot-humid regions of Iran, taking into account the specifics of the climate of these areas. The main attention is paid to effective orientation of buildings in relation to the sun, optimization of air conditioning systems, adaptation of lighting to the needs of educational spaces, use of green spaces to create shading, as well as selection of the form and design of school interiors and selection of appropriate building materials. Architectural solutions determined by the climatic features of these regions are being considered in order to increase energy efficiency and ensure user comfort. Considering that schools belong to the category of buildings with a high level of energy consumption, such as electricity, water and gas, adaptation of architectural design to climatic conditions can significantly reduce energy costs. The article offers an overview of suitable climate-adapted architectural solutions for school buildings in certain regions of Iran, emphasizing the importance of an integrated design approach in the context of modern requirements for energy efficiency and sustainable development.

The synergistic evolution of supply-demand composite system for airport green development: A case study in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China.

Given the pressing requirements for sustainable development in civil aviation, conducting a synergistic evolution analysis of the supply and demand aspects in the airport green development holds great significance. This analysis helps achieve sustainable airport development and facilitates the green transformation of civil aviation development. Taking a collaborative learning approach and utilizing historical data from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport spanning 2008 to 2019, the supply-demand composite system for airport green development was deconstructed into two subsystems-demand and supply-and relevant evaluation index systems were established in this paper. A screening and optimization model of supply and demand synergy indicators for airport green development was constructed, and it was solved using a simulated annealing genetic algorithm. The Haken model was constructed to analyze the synergistic evolutionary relationship of the composite system of supply and demand for green airport development in two stages. The results indicate a shift in the order parameter of the co-evolution of the supply-demand composite system at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, moving from the demand subsystem in the first stage (2008-2015) to the supply subsystem in the second stage (2016-2019). The co-evolution of the airport supply-demand composite system has entered a new stage, but has not reached a high level of synergy. The study not only contributes theoretically by explaining the interaction mechanism between supply and demand for airport green development, but also offers targeted suggestions for achieving high-quality synergistic evolution of supply and demand for airport green development.

Developing Science, Technology, and Innovative Creativity to Meet the Requirements of Sustainable Development in Vietnam: Current Situation and Solutions

Developing Science, Technology, and Innovative Creativity to Meet the Requirements of Sustainable Development in Vietnam: Current Situation and Solutions

Enhancing fire safety, electromagnetic interference shielding, and photothermal conversion performances of wearable polyamide fabrics through eco-friendly coatings

The demand for smart textiles in wearable technology has significantly increased in the last decade. However, the inherent flammability of most textiles poses a big challenge, especially when exposed to elevated surface temperatures induced by electrical or optical stimuli, increasing the risk of fire. The process of synthesizing flame retardants involves the use of organic solvents, which is not in line with the requirements of sustainable development. This research focuses on establishing an eco-friendly and stable coating for polyamide 6 (PA6) fabric through a solvent-free synthesis and innovative alternating deposition method. It has been demonstrated that the treated PA6 fabric exhibits rapid self-extinguishing properties, eliminating melt dripping and achieving a remarkable limiting oxygen index of 25.5%. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate and total heat release rate of the treated PA6 fabric decrease by 32.9% and 22.7%, respectively, compared to that of the control PA6. Under simulated sunlight exposure at an intensity of 150 mW·cm−2, the treated PA6 fabric rapidly reaches a surface temperature of 78.6 °C within 300 s. Additionally, the treated PA6 fabric demonstrates an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency of 24.0 dB in the X-band, highlighting the efficacy of the innovative coating. This result is attributed to the conductive network formed by the alternating deposition of MXene and polyphosphamide. This work not only improves the fire safety in wearable textiles but also presents a promising and green strategy for developing multifunctional wearable textiles with enhanced safety features.

Meta-analysis of plant restoration impacts on soil microbial community structure in mining areas

Mining causes severe damage to soil ecosystems. Vegetation restoration in abandoned mine areas is an inevitable requirement for sustainable development. Soil microbes, as the most active component of soil organic matter, play a crucial role in the transformation of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other elements. They are often used as indicators to assess the extent of vegetation restoration in ecologically fragile areas. However, the impacts of vegetation restoration on soil microbial community structure in mining areas at the global scale remains largely unknown. Based on 310 paired observations from 44 papers, we employed the meta-analysis approach to examine the influence of vegetation restoration on soil microbial abundance and biomass in mining area. The results indicated that vegetation restoration significantly promotes soil microbial biomass in mining areas. In comparison to bare soil, vegetation restoration leads to a significant 95.1% increase in soil microbial biomass carbon and a 87.8% increase in soil microbial biomass nitrogen. The abundance of soil bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes are significantly increased by 1005.4%, 472.4%, and 177.7%, respectively. Among various vegetation restoration types, the exclusive plan-ting of trees exhibits the most pronounced promotion effect on soil microbial biomass and population, which results in a significant increase of 540.3% in soil fungi and 104.5% in actinomycetes, along with a respective enhancement of 110.3% and 106.4% in microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen. Model selection results revealed that soil satura-ted water content and vegetation restoration history contribute most significantly to the abundance of soil bacteria and fungi. Soil available nitrogen has the most significant impact on the abundance of actinomycetes and microbial biomass carbon, while soil available phosphorus emerges as a crucial factor affecting microbial biomass nitrogen. This research could contribute to understanding the relationship between vegetation restoration and the structure of soil microbial communities in mining areas, and providing scientific support for determining appropriate vegetation restoration types in mining areas.

Sustainable development and the degree of implementation of European Union environmental directives

EU Member States must implement environmental policy in accordance with the specified rules, including standards supporting the implementation of the adopted EU policies. The standards (target values) for the levels of environmental indicators are included in EU directives. Compliance with EU environmental standards is already bringing many benefits, but there is still much to be done. The aim of our study is to assess the current levels of environmental indicators in EU countries, since prompt achievement of their target values is a prerequisite for sustainable development in this area. A classical correspondence analysis was used to evaluate the degree of differentiation of the levels of indicators in the EU countries based on the data presented in a binary matrix of indicators. As a result, countries have been identified in which indicators monitoring the state of environmental protection have achieved a level in line with the target values indicated in EU directives, and those in which this level has not been achieved. The research procedure used in the article is universal in the sense that it can be used to assess the situation of the objects under study (countries, regions) regardless of the specifics of the phenomenon under study, provided that comparable data are available.