Sustainable Development Research Research Articles

Two decades of sustainable development studies in higher education management: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study aims to identify the growth pattern of research literature, most influential authors, most impactful documents and most relevant topics on sustainable development (SD) in higher education management (HEM) from 2000 to 2023. Design/methodology/approach The research approach used descriptive quantitative and bibliometric analysis. Scopus was used to retrieve data from 811 selected documents from 2000 to 2023. Data analysis used VOSviewer and R Biblioshiny. Findings The results showed intense development of sustainable development research in higher education management, especially in 2013–2023. Core literature was identified based on the volume of publications or citations from the perspective of authors, documents and keywords. Global research topics on SD in HEM focus on curriculum development and sustainable learning, sustainable higher education management and enhancing research and development of SD in HEM. The results of this research reveal the emerging intellectual structure in the field of educational management and provide reference points for academics who wish to study this discipline. Originality/value This study offers a valuable knowledge map for future research on sustainable development in higher education management. As a map, researchers can find core documents and current topics and identify potential research issues in this study.

How to measure the impact of landsenses ecology on sustainable development? A review of people-oriented emerging approaches

At present, the research of sustainable development is developing from a single local problem to a multi-scale, transdisciplinary and comprehensive study. The evaluation and monitoring of its progress need to adopt multi-disciplinary research methods and multi-dimensional, multi-scale identification mechanism. Landsenses ecology is an emerging scientific system that uses the basic principles of ecology to study the sustainable development of land-use planning, construction, and management from the aspects of natural elements, physical senses, psychological perceptions, social economy, process and risk. It provides an effective way for the multi-disciplinary integration research of the relationship between human and ecosystem, and provides an important method and theory for the sustainable transformation research of environmental system and social–economic system, and plays an important role in guiding and realizing the beneficial impact of human on natural ecosystem. This study describes 57 articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2016 and 2024, using qualitative content analysis, and discusses the impact of landsenses ecology on the way sustainable development is perceived and practiced. The results suggest that the role of landsenses ecology in the creation of sustainable vision resonance and behavior is crucial to the study of sustainable transformation and will help to explore effective strategies for using intrinsic sustainable transformation as a deep leverage point.

Research on Urban Expressway Design Based on New Transportation Concepts

This article is based on the Suzhou Central Expressway project, adhering to the principles of "safety, comfort, ecology, wisdom, and harmony", adhering to the comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development concept, guided by the new concept of transportation construction of the Ministry of Transport, integrating the design concept of traffic safety first, resource conservation, environmental friendliness, technological innovation, and intelligent collaboration, and organically combining nature, culture, and roads. The design strives to achieve road aesthetic design, tolerant design, humanistic design, flexible design, and creative design, which is of great significance for the research of ecological smart road design, transportation industry, and sustainable development of nature and culture.

Effects of manure and nitrogen fertilization on soil microbial carbon fixation genes and associated communities in the Loess Plateau of China

The effects of long-term fertilization on soil carbon (C) cycling have been a key focus of agricultural sustainable development research. However, the influences of different fertilization treatments on soil microbial C fixation profiles are still unclear. Metagenomics technology and multivariate analysis were employed to inquire changes in soil properties, soil microbial C fixation genes and associated bacterial communities, and the influence of dominant soil properties on C fixation genes. The contents of soil C and nitrogen fractions were signicficantly higher in manure or combined with nitrogen fertilization (NM) than other treatments. The composition of soil microbial C fixation genes and associated bacterial communities varied among different fertilization treatments. Compared with other treatments, the total abundance of microbial C fixation genes and the abundance of Proteobacteria were significantly higher in NM than in other treatments, as well as the abundances of C fixation genes involved in dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle and reductive citrate cycle. Key functional genes and main bacterial communities presented in the middle of the co-occurrence network. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and microbial biomass nitrogen were the dominant soil properties influencing microbial C fixation genes and associated bacterial communitis. Fertilization increased the abundance of C fixation genes by affecting the changes in bacterial communities abundance mediated by soil properties. Overall, elucidating the responses of soil microbial C fixation genes and associated communities to different fertilization will enhance our understanding of the processes of soil C fixation in farmland.

The Urgency of Stakeholder Roles and Environmental Politics in Achieving SDGs through Environmental Management in Malaumkarta Village, Sorong

This study examines the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the traditional egek/sasi practices in Malaumkarta Village, Sorong Regency, Indonesia. It explores the roles of various stakeholders in integrating indigenous ecological knowledge with modern conservation efforts to achieve sustainable development. Using a qualitative case study approach, it highlights the role of a multi-stakeholder collaboration, including local youth, NGOs, religious institutions, local government, and the customary council. The study reveals that the successful localization of SDGs in Malaumkarta is attributed to a robust multi-stakeholder collaborative framework, encompassing local youth, NGOs, religious institutions, local government, and the customary council. The inaugural Egek Festival in 2023 exemplifies this collaboration, symbolizing the Moi tribe's commitment to sustainable resource management and cultural preservation. The research highlights the potential of integrating traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation efforts and the importance of adapting global sustainability goals to local contexts. While the study's geographical scope and timeframe present limitations, its findings have significant implications for policy, practice, and future research in sustainable development, particularly in indigenous contexts. The Malaumkarta case offers valuable insights for achieving SDGs while preserving cultural heritage and ecological integrity, potentially informing similar initiatives worldwide

Advances in sustainable development research and the seven year itch

This issue of the <i>European Journal of Sustainable Development Research</i> is part of its seventh year, and it is clear that since publishing its first issue in 2017 the journal has had a notable impact on the field of sustainable development through having published research on many recent advances. The topics covered in the <i>European Journal of Sustainable Development Research</i> have in large part, but not exclusively, centered around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The topics likely to be addressed in the future will probably continue to focus on the Sustainable Development Goals and what follows them, but are also likely to embody numerous new trends in society.

A study of the impact of urban spaces on social resilience in case of natural disasters: Insights from citizens affected by March 2019 flood in Aq Qala City, Iran

The number of urban crises has been notably on the rise all around the globe during the past few decades due to shifts in ecological cycles and social challenges, among other reasons. These crises have had a more pronounced impact on urban areas, which are more vulnerable. The various aspects of resilience have become the focal points in sustainable development research and other related studies, and some solutions have been proposed within the concepts and framework of sustainable development for countering these crises, among which urban resilience is more prominent owing to its inherent functional principles. Among the various aspects of resilience, social resilience is linked to the social capacities of urban regions. A review of the related literature reveals the shortage of studies about the relationship between urban spaces and social resilience. This study aims to uncover the mechanisms through which urban spaces influence social resilience following natural disasters through the perceptions of the citizens affected by the March 2019 flood in Aq Qala, Golestan Province, Iran. To achieve this, we first developed a conceptual model grounded in a review of relevant theoretical literature. Subsequently, a structured 5-point scale questionnaire was designed and distributed for data collection. The collected data was then subjected to structural equation modeling to analyze the conceptual model. The findings highlight the critical factors in forming social resilience from the perspective of Aq Qala residents, with a specific emphasis on city structure, activity, social capital, and social cohesion as integral components.

Key Factors Influencing Sustainable Population Growth: A DEMATEL-ANP Combined Approach

This study highlights the importance of sustainable social demographic growth. It uses a model that combines the Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) with the Analytic Network Process (ANP) to examine key factors affecting this growth and their interactions. The analysis focuses on six critical factors: economic development, education and gender equality, health services, environmental sustainability, immigration policies, and technological advancement. Experiments using government and international organization databases include comparative experiments with deep learning prediction models, ensemble learning models, Causal Inference Models, complex network analysis models, and agent-based models. Comparison metrics cover accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results indicate that, with a data volume of 4000, the optimized model achieves an accuracy of 0.973, precision of 0.981, recall of 0.969, and an F1 score of 0.89, demonstrating the model's superior performance. The DEMATEL method analyzes the direct relationships among the factors. The results show that economic development and technological advancement have impact scores of 3.91 and 3.43, respectively, indicating their strong influence on other factors and their role in promoting sustainable demographic growth. Education and gender equality, health services, and technological advancement each have impact scores of 3.39, meaning they are significantly affected by other factors and are sensitive in the growth process. Finally, the ANP method is used to calculate the weights of each factor, determining their relative importance in sustainable social demographic growth. The results highlight that economic development level and technological advancement and innovation are core factors influencing sustainable social demographic growth, with significant direct and indirect impacts on other factors and a crucial role in the overall system. These findings provide a scientific basis for formulating relevant policies and interventions, particularly in prioritizing and strengthening economic and technological development strategies. This study offers valuable insights for research in demography, sustainable development, and social policy formulation.

Enhancing the contribution of higher education institutions to sustainable development research: A focus on post‐2015 SDGs

AbstractSustainable development (SD) research is vital in providing a basis for progress in this rapidly growing field of inquiry. In this context, higher education institutions (HEIs) and leading top researchers belonging to them are playing a key role. Despite this being widely acknowledged by the academy, it is largely unclear how individual HEIs, and their researchers contribute to sustainability research efforts. Based on the need to unveil this landscape, our article reports on a study that identified the leading HEIs and researchers involved in sustainability research and how they contribute to moving the field forward. A bibliometric assessment of the literature (performance analysis) was conducted to identify the number of publications of leading authors and institutions. The results reveal some interesting trends. First, the co‐occurrence analysis technique revealed what the top 10 authors in SD are exploring. Also, the study identifies diverse thematic clusters, covering areas like technology, sustainability assessment, integrative education, and corporate practices. The paper advances SD theory by illustrating how these themes interconnect and complement each other. The article concludes with suggestions of how universities may engage further in sustainability research. The theoretical and practical implications of the research, as well as its limitations, are also addressed.

Global Carbon Emission Reduction for Sustainable Development Research Hotspots and Frontiers – An Econometric Analysis Based on the Last 10 Years of WOS Literature

Global Carbon Emission Reduction for Sustainable Development Research Hotspots and Frontiers – An Econometric Analysis Based on the Last 10 Years of WOS Literature

A Megacities Review: Comparing Indicator-Based Evaluations of Sustainable Development and Urban Resilience

Urbanization is defining global change, and megacities are fast becoming a hallmark of the Anthropocene. Humanity’s pursuit toward sustainability is reliant on the successful management of these massive urban centers and their progression into sustainable and resilient settlements. Indicators and indices are applied assessment and surveillance tools used to measure, monitor, and gauge the sustainable development and urban resilience of megacities. Unknown is how indicator-based evaluations of sustainable development and urban resilience of the world’s largest 43 cities compare. In response, this review paper used the PRISMA reporting protocol, governed by 33 established and 10 emerging megacities, to compare and contrast evaluations of sustainable development and urban resilience. Results reveal that applied assessments of sustainable development of megacities appeared earlier in time and were more abundant than those of urban resilience. Geographically, China dominated other nations in affiliations to scientific research for both sustainable development and urban resilience of megacities. Among the 100 most recurrent terms, three distinct key term clusters formed for sustainable development; seven budding key term clusters formed for urban resilience suggesting breadth in contrast to sustainable development depth. The most cited assessments of sustainable development emphasize topics of energy, methodological approaches, and statistical modeling. The most cited assessments of urban resilience emphasize topics of flooding, transit networks, and disaster risk resilience. Megacities research is dominated by few countries, suggesting a need for inclusion and international partnerships. Lastly, as the world’s people become increasingly urbanized, sustainable development and urban resilience of megacities will serve as a key barometer for humanity’s progress toward sustainability.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of net primary productivity and the economic value of Spartina alterniflora in the coastal regions of China

This study employs an improved Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model to calculate the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of Spartina alterniflora (SA) and various other land use/land cover types (LULC) across coastal China over multiple years. The research aims to provide significant theoretical and practical insights into carbon sink research in coastal zones, sustainable development, and resource management. Key findings include identifying the first εmax value of 2.219 g C/MJ for SA, addressing a critical data gap in CASA modeling research on invasive plants. SA's NPP exhibited higher values in Shanghai and Zhejiang due to factors such as genetic diversity, invasion duration, and tidal dynamics. In contrast, other LULC exhibited higher NPP values in southern and inland regions, characterized by greater vegetation cover and favorable growing conditions. In 2020, SA and other LULC sequestered 16.352 kt C and 0.821*106 kt C, respectively. From 2000 to 2020, the average annual NPP and total carbon storage of SA and other LULC increased significantly, primarily driven by Shanghai and deciduous needleleaf forests, respectively. Seasonal NPP trends followed summer> spring> autumn> winter, influenced by climate conditions and plant life activities. Economic assessments in 2020 estimated SA's carbon storage value at RMB0.409 billion (Market Value method) or RMB5.562 billion (Carbon Tax method), with RMB2.054 billion attributed to oxygen release values, underscoring its economic and ecological potential. Among other LULC, evergreen broadleaf forests showed the highest carbon storage value (RMB183.463 billion). The study emphasizes the critical role of all LULC in carbon storage and oxygen release, advocating for targeted conservation and land management strategies. It suggests that managing SA should balance stringent control in high-risk areas, lenient measures in low-risk areas, eradication of scattered populations, and maximizing ecological benefits in retention areas, with continuous monitoring and adaptive management strategies to balance conservation and development efforts.

The Effect of Distance between Jet Fans on Gas Transport, Energy Conservation, and Emission Reduction in Long Highway Tunnels

With the rapid development of the national economy, China’s transportation industry is experiencing accelerated development, and, at the same time, the number of long tunnels is constantly increasing. In order to examine the influence of jet fan spacing on gas transport law during the construction of long highway tunnels, this study used the Baima Highway Tunnel in Sichuan as an engineering prototype and established a numerical tunnel ventilation model based on Fluent numerical simulation software. The gas transport characteristics of jet fans in tunnels at different spacings (200 m, 400 m, 600 m, and 800 m) were studied. The results showed that with the increase in jet fan spacing (200 m, 400 m, 600 m, and 800 m), the gas concentration at the tunnel face showed a trend of decreasing and then increasing. Moreover, by analyzing the gas distribution cloud map and the wind flow line diagram, it was determined that the ventilation system effect was the best when the jet fan spacing was 600 m, which met the requirements of a gas concentration of less than 0.5% at the tunnel face and a minimum wind speed of 0.25 m/s. At the same time, according to the optimal spacing for the optimization of the site ventilation system, it was observed that after the ventilation was stabilized (after 600 s), the minimum value of the gas concentration in the left and right tunnel holes diminished from 0.38% to 0.31% and from 0.41% to 0.31%, with rates of reduction of 18.42% and 24.39%, respectively. This indicated that after optimizing the ventilation system at the tunnel site, the concentration significantly decreased compared with before the optimization. Moreover, when the jet fan spacing was 600 m compared with 200 m and 400 m, the annual energy savings were 1900.8 MW·h and 950.4 MW·h, respectively. The research results clarified the optimal layout parameters of jet fans in the Baima Highway Tunnel, providing a reference for the rational layout of jet fans in long-distance tunnels. In addition, the results of this study provide an important theoretical basis for the gas prevention and safe construction of long highway tunnels. Furthermore, this study contributes to research in energy conservation, emission reduction, and sustainable development of energy in the ventilation process during tunnel construction.

Application prospects of graphene in environmental science

Nanomaterials and graphene, as cutting-edge materials, have play a crucial role in environmental governance. The introduction of nanomaterials brings new hope to environmental governance. Graphene not only improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of water treatment but also drives innovation and development in environmental technologies. This article provides a summary and analysis review starting from the characteristics of nanomaterials and Graphene, comprehensively reviewing Graphenes advantage in environmental technologies and discovered its application in this area. The research summarized the conclusion that Graphenes characteristics make it suitable for addressing environmental issues such as water pollution, its composites can play an important role in water treatment process including water purification, heavy metal adsorption, organic compound adsorption and removal through different preparation and reaction mechanisms. By introducing Nanopore structures and artificially designed stacking structures on graphene membranes, the permeation performance could be modulated and improved. By the way of physical and chemical adsorption, ion exchange, electrochemical and photocatalysis, Graphene and its oxide could be applied to remove heavy metal ion and organic substances from polluted water. The article also introduced the main preparation methods of Graphene and its potential secondary pollution problem. This article provides valuable insights for scientific research and engineering practices in environmental protection and sustainable development.

Towards an agenda for information education and research for sustainable development

Towards an agenda for information education and research for sustainable development

Responses of Ecosystem Services to Land Use/Cover Changes in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration

The rapid expansion of built-up land, a hallmark of accelerated urbanization, has emerged as a pivotal factor contributing to regional climate change and the degradation of ecosystem functions. The decline in ecosystem service value (ESV) has consequently garnered significant attention in global sustainable development research. The Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration is crucial for promoting the construction of the Yellow River Economic Belt in China, with its ecological status increasingly gaining prominence. This study investigated the ESV response to land use/cover change (LUCC) through the elasticity coefficient in order to analyze the degree of disturbance caused by land use activities on ecosystem functions in the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration. This analysis was based on the examination of LUCC characteristics and ESV from 1990 to 2020. The findings reveal that (1) the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration experienced a continuous increase in the proportion of built-up land from 1990 to 2020, alongside a highly complex transfer between different land use types, characterized by diverse transfer trajectories. The most prominent features were noted to be the rapid expansion of built-up land and the simultaneous decline in agricultural land. (2) The analysis of four landscape pattern indices, encompassing Shannon’s diversity index, indicates that the continuous development of urbanization has led to increased fragmentation in land use and decreased connectivity. However, obvious spatial distribution differences exist among different districts and counties. (3) The ESV was revised using the normalized difference vegetation index, revealing a slight decrease in the total ESV of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration. However, significant differences were observed among districts and counties. The number of counties and districts exhibiting low and high ESVs continuously increased, whereas those with intermediate levels generally remained unchanged. (4) The analysis of the elasticity coefficient reveals that LUCC exerts a substantial disturbance and influence on ecosystem services, with the strongest disturbance ability occurring from 2000 to 2010. The elasticity coefficient exhibits obvious spatial heterogeneity across both the entire urban agglomeration and within individual cities. Notably, Qingdao and Jinan, the dual cores of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration, exhibit markedly distinct characteristics. These disparities are closely related to their development foundations in 1990 and their evolution over the past 30 years. The ESV response to LUCC displays significant variation across different time periods and spatial locations. Consequently, it is imperative to formulate dynamic management policies on the basis of regional characteristics. Such policies aim to balance social and economic development while ensuring ecological protection, thereby promoting the social and economic advancement and ecological environment preservation of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration.

The Significance of Cultural Capital in Enhancing the Efficiency and Long-Term Viability of Village Credit Institutions in Bali

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of cultural capital on financial performance, marketing performance, and financial sustainability. Additionally, it investigated the influence of financial performance and marketing performance on financial sustainability. The study focused on Village Credit Institutions in Bali, specifically those categorised as healthy or fairly healthy, totalling 1,145 units. Using the Slovin formula, a sample size of 100 units was determined. Stratified proportional random sampling, based on the number of units in each district/city in Bali, was employed to collect the sample. The analysis technique used was the Smart-PLS. The findings indicated that cultural capital had a favourable impact on financial performance, marketing performance, and financial sustainability. Moreover, both financial performance and marketing performance positively influenced financial sustainability. Additionally, financial performance mediated the influence of cultural capital on financial sustainability. The scientific novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of the interplay between cultural capital and various performance metrics within Village Credit Institutions, an area that has been underexplored in existing literature. The practical significance is evident in its implications for policymakers and managers within these institutions, suggesting that the enhancement of the cultural capital can lead to improved financial and marketing outcomes, ultimately supporting long-term financial sustainability. This study provided valuable insights for strategic planning and resource allocation in similar financial institutions globally. The findings underscored the critical role of cultural capital in driving institutional performance and sustainability. This combination of theoretical exploration and methodological rigor enhanced the scholarly contribution of the study, offering insights that can inform both academic research and practical strategies for sustainable development in microfinance institutions.

Mitigating Financial Risks in Sustainable Public–Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects: A Quantitative Analysis

Economic recession from the coronavirus outbreak continues to have negative rippling effects on local and international financial investments in public–private partnership (PPP) projects in Ghana, a developing country. Together with poor reports on operating cash-inflows for PPP projects such as those covering schools, hospitals, railways, fishing harbors, cocoa warehouses, recreational parks and affordable housing, there is an urgent need to develop and institutionalise sustainable and robust financial risk management measures. These measures are meant to mitigate financial losses, promote sustainability practices and prolong the longevity of infrastructure developments within PPP pacts. Therefore, this study aims to assess the mitigation measures of PPP infrastructure management in Ghana. Primary data from survey questionnaires were utilised in this study, with the data obtained from PPP practitioners and experts. Data were grouped into project type, sectors and practitioners of PPP projects to aid the analysis using tools such as the Kruskal–Wallis test, the Mann–Whitney U test and factor analysis. The results demonstrate sustainable and green finance, the innovative skills and competencies of project teams, green financial risk models and inclusive cost reduction strategies as crucial to minimising financial risks in PPP project delivery. These findings have significant implications for PPP practitioners and researchers in Ghana and similar developing countries to understand and develop measures to respond to financial risks for sustainable PPP project development and future research studies.

A dataset of spatio-temporal variations in the Pinglu Canal region from 2000 to 2023

The canal is a crucial water transportation channel for regional development, serving not only as a corridor for the circulation of goods but also as a vital link fostering the sustainable development of regional society, economy, and environment. The construction and operation of the canal are directly related to the development of the areas along its route. As one of the significant projects in the Western Land-Sea New Channel, the Pinglu Canal boasts enormous potential for social and economic benefits. Environmental factors are integral to ensuring the sustainability of regional development along the route. To conduct an environmental assessment of the canal basin and meet the requirements for monitoring regional spatio-temporal characteristic changes, we define the basin and administrative divisions of the Pinglu Canal region as the scope of the study area in the paper. By integrating currently available data on various factors including social, economic, and environmental aspects, we employed a standardized grid methodology to obtain a kilometer-level multidimensional, spatiotemporally consistent digital environmental dataset for the canal. The environmental dataset comprises four major categories of parameters: hydro-meteorological, ecological environment, atmospheric quality, and socio-economic. In total, it encompasses 26 sets of parameters, with 19 sets related to the watershed and 7 sets associated with township delineations. All parameters in the dataset are publicly accessible and have undergone rigorous data quality assessments. Leveraging these 26 sets of parameters, we conducted spatiotemporal characteristic analysis on 14 sets of long-time series parameters. We calculated the average annual variation of each parameter, and made 5 data files for the research area. This dataset can facilitate regional data visualization, comprehensive environmental assessments of the canal region, digital twinning of the applications, and provide a data foundation for future research on canal management and sustainable development research in the region.

A dataset of social-economic and environmental parameters at township and county levels in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is located in the southwest of China, boasting rich natural ecological resources and diverse social and cultural backgrounds. To carry out sustainable development research in the provincial (regional) area, it is essential to have accurate socio-economic and environmental data at township and county levels across spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we gathered environmental, infrastructure, and industrial and agricultural production data from various sources, and produced the environmental parameter data, infrastructure and industrial and agricultural production data for 1,241 township units through extracting parameters and superposing township boundary vectors with environmental parameters, infrastructure data as well as industrial and agricultural production raster data. Additionally, based on the statistical yearbook of Guangxi issued by Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Statistical Bureau, we compiled the socio-economic data for 111 counties in Guangx, resulting in the formation of a dataset of social-economic and environmental parameters at township and county levels in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The dataset maintains the accuracy of the original data and meets the requirements for data completeness, positional accuracy, and attribute accuracy, as verified by multiple reviewers in accordance with relevant technical regulations and standards. This dataset is publicly available, featuring a long time series and multiple types. The parameter dimensions as well as the spatial and temporal dimensions of the dataset can be expanded, providing data support for sustainable development in the region at multiple scales.