Current trends of water use in Brazil are dangerous and unsustainable. This fresh-water-endowed country’s nearly 30-year old legal framework is conducive to sound governance, in principle. In practice, fair and sustainable freshwater governance faces steep obstacles and requires new institutions. Too much responsibility is left to voluntary processes and to a disempowered and largely demobilized public as the motor for change, while national decision makers allow dangerous wastefulness and prioritize large-scale use of water as a commercial commodity over the legally sanctioned purpose of sustaining human and animal well-being. Purely voluntary processes are insufficient to counter this. Top-down governmental authority and enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure wise use and compliance by all, as is greater general access to system-critical knowledge. Needed collective pressure for fair and sound water governance is obstructed by power-inflected information and education structures that leave Brazilians uninformed about the true costs of Brazil’s commodities-centered economic model and about the reality of water insecurity and its avoidability. New institutions are vitally needed to empower the citizenry and generally improve decision-making in the public interest.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting faces persistent challenges, including fragmented standards, inconsistent metrics, misalignment with global sustainability goals, and limited stakeholder usability. Numerous studies prove that ontology-based solutions can address several challenges that occur during ESG reporting activities. Although semantic technologies offer valuable benefits for ESG reporting, their utilization in this field remains constrained. Most ontology-based solutions remain in developmental stages, and they are not broadly utilized since organizations lack an understanding of how these tools would help address their reporting problems. This study performs a systematic literature review (SLR) that investigates 19 peer-reviewed studies obtained from Scopus and Web of Science under Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) standards. The SLR identifies critical gaps: (1) existing ontology-driven solutions can address key problems in current ESG reporting; (2) quantitative evaluation methods are rarely integrated with semantic tools, limiting actionable insights; and (3) alignment with evolving standards like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains superficial. Based on the SLR insights, this research develops a novel framework through SLR findings by combining ontology-driven methods with quantitative assessment techniques. The framework achieves standardization of various reporting standards through an ESG ontology system that maps essential concepts to build an extensive taxonomy. SDG targets become mutually compatible through established SDG ontologies to allow businesses to measure their activities against international sustainability goals. Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques used in combination with an ESG maturity model create quantitative measures to assess ESG performance. The method produces measurable performance indicators that are supported by clear semantic links that allow valid benchmark assessments combined with better data unification and improved decision-making capabilities. The research creates operational frameworks that enable ESG information interoperability, which advance sustainability governance innovation and guide ESG ontology transformations.

This review synthesizes recent research on the emergence of agentic artificial intelligence in food, agricultural, and nutrition systems. While AI tools are increasingly deployed across domains from crop monitoring and processing to personalized nutrition and supply-chain optimization, current systems remain predominantly task-based, predictive, and narrow in scope. Recent scholarship highlights limitations in contextual reasoning, multi-objective decision-making, and the integration of ethical or governance constraints. This review organizes the literature across agricultural production, food processing, nutrition and health, food safety, and sustainability governance, and assesses how emerging agentic AI architectures may address existing shortcomings. Illustrative examples from food fermentation and personalized nutrition demonstrate persistent challenges when AI systems attempt to operate in real-world contexts characterized by social, ecological, and institutional complexity. The review concludes with implications for transparency, interoperability, and responsible governance, emphasizing the need for AI systems capable of deliberation, adaptive reasoning, and alignment with human and societal values.

Unveiling the co-occurrence of fluoride-arsenic and nitrate retention in Wujiang cascade reservoirs by a hybrid hydrochemical, PMF model and multi-isotopic method.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly recognized as a strategic instrument for strengthening public governance and advancing sustainable development, particularly in emerging economies such as Vietnam. In the construction sector, which is characterized by high environmental and social risks, the integration of CSR remains largely voluntary, with limited regulatory enforcement and weak monitoring systems. This institutional gap creates urgency to investigate how CSR contributes to local governance effectiveness, especially within the context of ongoing digital transformation. This study examines the impact of CSR dimensions on local governance effectiveness in Vietnam’s construction sector using 110 survey based observations from firms, government officials, and experts collected between 2022 and 2024. A quantitative approach was applied, including Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression using SPSS 26.0. The results indicate that all CSR components significantly enhance governance effectiveness, with legal and ethical responsibilities exerting a stronger influence than economic and philanthropic dimensions. The novelty of this research lies in positioning CSR as a complementary governance mechanism rather than merely a corporate obligation. The study contributes empirical evidence to the limited literature on CSR and public governance in developing contexts and offers policy relevant insights to strengthen legal frameworks, improve multi stakeholder coordination, and promote ethical business practices for sustainable governance outcomes.

Understanding spatial disparities in traffic accident severity is essential not only for improving transport safety but also for advancing sustainable and inclusive transportation systems. Road crashes represent a persistent public health and equity challenge, directly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities). This study proposes an explainable, spatially segmented machine learning framework to examine urban-rural heterogeneity in crash outcomes, using disaggregated accident data from Kent, UK (2022-2024). By treating urban and rural systems as separate analytical units, the study captures risk heterogeneity that conventional pooled approaches often obscure. Among five tested models, Random Forest achieved the best performance and was further interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to uncover how key factors differ in influence across spatial contexts. The results reveal a behavioral risk profile dominating in urban areas and infrastructure-driven risks in rural environments. These findings highlight the need for context-sensitive, evidence-based interventions that ensure transport equity across regions. Additionally, the study contributes to sustainable governance frameworks, enabling spatially adaptive risk mitigation, inclusive policy design and the long-term resilience of transport infrastructures.

This study examines the implementation of the Triple Helix model, which facilitates collaboration among academia, industry, and government, in advancing sustainable tourism and promoting peace at Mount Bromo, Indonesia. The swift expansion of tourism in this region has generated economic advantages while underscoring the necessity for strategic, sustainable governance to reconcile development with environmental and social equilibrium. The study investigates governance challenges and the roles of various stakeholders in tourism development, highlighting the necessity for integrated management practices to enhance local community engagement, innovation, and economic advancement. This study employs descriptive qualitative methods to achieve three primary objectives: enhancing partnerships for tourism governance, creating tourism clusters, and promoting innovation in tourism management. Research indicates that although the Triple Helix model effectively aligns stakeholder initiatives, enhanced integration, especially in education and community involvement, is necessary to realize the model's potential fully. This research enhances the tourism governance literature by illustrating how the Triple Helix model can facilitate sustainable tourism, stimulate economic development, and cultivate peaceful, inclusive societies.

This study aims to map the development of research on leadership styles and higher education performance through a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications indexed in Scopus. The dataset comprised 2,872 articles published between 2019 and 2024. Bibliometric methods were employed to identify publication trends, patterns of scholarly collaboration, dominant themes, and the conceptual evolution shaping the relationship between leadership style and institutional performance in higher education. The findings indicate that leadership studies in higher education are no longer confined to leadership typologies but have expanded into broader dimensions, including organizational dynamics, human resource management, institutional culture, and organizational communication. The principal finding confirms that communication constitutes a central element of leadership practice, as it plays a vital role in articulating institutional vision, fostering a conducive working culture, and aligning actions across academic and administrative units. In addition, leadership effectiveness is influenced by external factors, including government policy and institutional context. This study concludes that communication serves as a strategic mechanism linking leadership to the improvement of higher education performance. The implications of this study highlight the importance of strengthening leaders’ communication competence as a foundation for developing adaptive and sustainable governance in higher education institutions.

Abstract The escalating frequency of human-wildlife conflicts presents formidable challenges to global biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. To map the intellectual evolution of this critical field, we conducted a systematic bibliometric analysis of 2,997 publications from 340 journals (Web of Science Core Collection, 1981–2025). Our analysis reveals exponential growth in research output alongside pronounced geographic disparities, with the United States, the University of Oxford, and Macdonald DW dominating production. Co-word and thematic evolution analyses identify a decisive paradigm shift: while early research focused on species-specific conflicts and direct mitigation, the field has progressively coalesced around the integrative concept of human-wildlife coexistence. Contemporary scholarship is characterized by the strong integration of social-ecological frameworks, emphasizing participatory governance, urban ecology, and movement ecology. Notably, the intellectual foundation remains anchored by seminal syntheses bridging ecological and social sciences, yet geographic leadership in publication volume does not directly correlate with broader scientific influence. These findings underscore the maturation of human-wildlife conflict research into a solution-oriented, interdisciplinary science. The field is now positioned to advance coexistence as a cornerstone of sustainable landscape governance and community resilience, providing a clear, consolidated knowledge base for fostering equitable and sustainable shared futures.

In contemporary debates on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, there is growing recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) may contribute meaningfully to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), particularly by enhancing the efficiency of food aid distribution and resource allocation. However, such optimism must be critically situated within the broader institutional and ethical contexts in which AI operates. This study argues that the effectiveness of AI in conflict-affected settings is contingent not only on technical capacity but also on governance structures, ethical safeguards, and institutional trust, dimensions closely aligned with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Using the Gaza Strip as a case study, this article demonstrates that AI-driven food assistance mechanisms may inadvertently reinforce structural vulnerabilities. Specifically, algorithmic targeting of aid risks deepening dependency, exacerbating digital exclusion, and weakening already fragile governance systems. The absence of robust data accountability frameworks further complicates these dynamics, raising concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and long-term sustainability. The findings caution against privileging technical efficiency at the expense of socio-political stability. Rather, they highlight that the sustainability of AI interventions in humanitarian contexts fundamentally depends on the credibility and legitimacy of institutions. Accordingly, this study proposes a conceptual model for AI in hunger relief and digital humanitarianism that integrates technical innovation with institutional accountability and social trust. This study presents a narrative review informed by structural searching that examines the influence of AI on food security interventions in fragile contexts. This analysis applies a combined ethical governance and sustainability lens to assess current applications and risks. This research advances a broader analytical framework that moves beyond purely technical interpretations of AI, emphasizing its role as a socio-political tool, through identifying five key pillars for sustainable AI governance: data sovereignty, algorithmic accountability, inclusive system design, community-led governance, and market integrity.

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThe study examines the nexus between environmental tax revenues, renewable energy adoption, transport research and development expenditure, and green growth across EU-27 countries from 2000 to 2024. The study addresses the critical gap in understanding how fiscal environmental instruments and technological innovation in transport sectors contribute to sustainable development outcomes. Using panel data analysis, the paper employs cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) models to analyze both short-run and long-run relationships while accounting for cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. Results reveal that environmental tax revenues positively influence green growth with a long-run elasticity of 0.358, indicating that a 1% increase in environmental taxes enhances adjusted net savings by 0.358%. Renewable energy adoption demonstrates a stronger positive effect with an elasticity of 0.531 in the long run, while transport R&D expenditure exhibits a coefficient of 0.289, suggesting significant contributions to sustainable outcomes. The MMQR analysis demonstrates heterogeneous effects across quantiles, with stronger impacts observed at higher green growth levels. Cross-sectional dependency tests confirm significant spatial spillover effects among EU member states. The findings provide empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of coordinated environmental fiscal policies and targeted innovation investments in transport sectors.

Hospitality and tourism firms are central actors in sustainable tourism transitions because their operations are resource intensive and highly visible to consumers and local communities. This study examines whether board-level governance mechanisms—board independence, gender diversity, a sustainability committee, CEO duality, and board size—are associated with environmental performance, and whether environmental performance is related to firm value in global hospitality firms. Using a panel of 10 large publicly traded hospitality companies across North America, Europe, and Asia from 2013–2022 (100 firm-year observations) and fixed-effects estimation, we find positive associations between board independence, board gender diversity, and the presence of a sustainability committee and environmental performance, while CEO duality is negatively associated. Environmental performance is positively associated with firm value (Tobin’s Q) after controlling for profitability and firm size. Because the sample is intentionally bounded to large listed firms and the Refinitiv Environmental Pillar Score is disclosure based, the results should be interpreted as sector-specific associative evidence rather than as definitive causal estimates of operational environmental outcomes. To support longitudinal research on emerging practices in sustainable tourism, we also document a public-source protocol that enables researchers to extend the panel beyond 2022, broaden firm coverage, and incorporate direct environmental indicators over time. The findings highlight board sustainability governance as a potentially important private-sector practice for strengthening environmental citizenship in hospitality, while also clarifying the measurement and generalizability limits of the present design.

ABSTRACT This study examines how, after adopting digital twins, manufacturing supply chains shape members' decision reconfiguration to strengthen pollution governance and build sustainable development capability. Survey data were collected from manufacturing supply chains in China, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test a decision transformation framework. The results show that digital twins promote shared situational clarity about pollution and perceived controllability of predictive interventions among supply chain members. These conditions consistently and differentially strengthen Decision Synchronization and anticipation, both directly and indirectly through a Proactive Pollution Intervention Orientation, with perceived controllability exerting a stronger influence on anticipatory decision‐making than on synchronization ( β = 0.318 vs. 0.241). All hypothesized relationships were statistically supported. This is driving governance decisions to shift from fragmented responses toward more centralized patterns and thereby substantially enhancing sustainable pollution governance resilience. This study provides evidence on how digital twins reshape decision‐behavior pathways that advance sustainable pollution governance resilience and offers practical implications for related research.

Construction materials testing laboratories play a strategic role in ensuring the quality of infrastructure development. The implementation of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 as a quality management system is a crucial instrument to guarantee technical competence and the validity of test results. However, the effectiveness of this standard's implementation in achieving strategic performance in government laboratories remains underexplored. This study was conducted at the Construction Materials Laboratory Unit (UPTD) of the Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR), North Sumatra Province, with the objective of evaluating laboratory performance through the integration of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) approach. A mixed methods design was employed with purposive sampling involving 60 respondents—30 internal personnel and 30 external service users. Data were collected through questionnaires, structured interviews, and document-based observations. Multiple linear regression analysis of 16 ISO-related variables identified three significant predictors of performance: Traceability Investment (β=0.044), Method Validity (β=0.023), and Management Transparency (β=0.030). Four additional variables with strong beta coefficients derived from interviews and observations were also considered in defining strategic objectives. The BSC-based performance evaluation yielded an overall score of 77.35% ("fairly good"), with the highest contributions from the customer and financial perspectives. The resulting evaluation model offers a practical reference for strengthening accountable and sustainable governance in public laboratories. Future research is recommended to apply this model to government laboratories of varying scale, complexity, and organizational structure in order to assess its external validity and contextual adaptability.

Urban forests are strategic components of urban green space systems because they provide ecological, recreational, and educational functions that collectively support sustainable urban environmental quality. This study aims to formulate an ideal model of an urban forest concept as a sustainable educational tourism site based on empirical findings derived from visitor perceptions and the ecological conditions of the Pekanbaru Urban Forest. The research employed a simple mixed-method approach dominated by descriptive quantitative analysis involving 96 respondents, complemented by ecological observations and in-depth interviews with site managers. The results indicate that cleanliness and comfort received positive assessments (scores 4.21 and 4.12), whereas environmental education facilities (3.88), educational activities (3.45), and promotional efforts (3.22) fell within the moderate to low categories. These findings highlight a significant gap between the ecological potential of the area and the development of its educational functions. A synthesis of empirical data and theoretical insights produced six components of the ideal urban forest concept: (1) adaptive ecology, (2) environmental education facilities, (3) interpretive trails, (4) sustainable educational tourism programs, (5) inclusive accessibility, and (6) collaborative governance. Policy analysis further demonstrates that strengthening the educational function aligns with the mandates of Law No. 26/2007 on Spatial Planning, SDG 11.7 targets regarding inclusive green spaces, and the Pekanbaru Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS) emphasizing the enhancement of environmental quality. This study concludes that the integration of ecological planning, educational development, and collaborative governance forms the essential foundation for positioning urban forests as centers of sustainable environmental learning

Abstract This paper examines the public controversy surrounding the deployment of 5G networks in France. Situated at the intersection of Science and Technology Studies and the sociology of public problems, it analyzes how an issue initially framed through technocratic and industrial discourse evolved into a multidimensional public debate structured by health, environmental, and democratic concerns. Based on press and document analysis, and on material collected through participation in an expert assessment process, the study highlights the emergence of environmental concerns as a central framing operator , reshaping what was at stake in the controversy, which actors were recognized as legitimate participants, and the conditions under which technological futures were publicly legitimized. Within this contested space, the paper identifies two competing sociotechnical imaginaries : one portraying 5G as a “green” and efficient infrastructure supporting ecological transition; the other framing it as a marker of unsustainable digital acceleration. It also shows how the temporal sequencing of regulatory decisions and expert assessments contributed to sustaining contestation by weakening the perceived capacity of expertise to inform decisions upstream. Overall, the findings clarify how controversies over digital infrastructures reflect broader societal tensions around innovation, sustainability, and technology governance.

This article presented a systematic literature review (SLR) to examine the role of local government in the cross-sectoral integration of waste management in the Special Capital Region of Jakarta. Waste management in Jakarta evolved into a complex governance issue involving public services, environmental health, spatial planning, and aquatic pollution control. This study synthesized scientific publications and policy documents published over the previous ten years using a structured review approach. The findings revealed that local governments performed four main roles: regulatory, coordinative, service delivery, and supervisory/accountability. However, policy implementation remained predominantly oriented toward downstream treatment rather than source reduction. Key policy instruments identified included plastic restriction regulations, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, community-based initiatives such as waste banks, and the development of waste processing infrastructure, including refuse-derived fuel (RDF) facilities. Major constraints included limited institutional capacity, weak inter-agency coordination, inconsistent enforcement, and low public compliance. The review highlighted that strengthening cross-sectoral integration required a strategic shift toward measurable source reduction, optimization of economic instruments and EPR mechanisms, integration of land-based waste management with marine litter prevention, and the development of data-driven monitoring systems to support sustainable metropolitan governance.

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of economic uncertainty on sustainable eco-financing in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, highlighting the mediating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Unlike traditional macroeconomic approaches, it adopts a corporate-level perspective, analyzing how firms integrate green financing and sustainability practices under uncertainty. This ensures alignment between theoretical conceptualizations of green corporate transition and empirical measures based on managerial perceptions. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative cross-sectional survey of 625 professionals across diverse sectors in the MENA region was conducted. Data collected through a structured questionnaire were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the conceptual framework and examine mediation effects. Sustainable eco-financing was assessed using firm-level green performance indicators, while macroeconomic factors, such as future economic prospects, were also considered. Findings Economic uncertainty restrains investment but encourages firms to adopt sustainable governance models. Companies reinforce CSR initiatives to maintain competitiveness and legitimacy, positioning green performance as a strategic lever that reconciles efficiency with environmental protection. Green financing plays a central role by directing capital toward environmentally positive projects and facilitating resource mobilization for sustainability. CSR significantly mediates the relationship between uncertainty and green performance, enhancing resilience and long-term sustainability outcomes. Practical implications This study addresses a research gap in the MENA context, showing that CSR strengthens access to green finance and supports firms in navigating economic uncertainty. Findings offer insights for business practice, policymaking and education, promoting sustainable investments, carbon reduction and green job creation. Originality/value Conceptually, this study integrates macroeconomic green economy perspectives with microlevel corporate finance measures, positioning CSR as a key mediator. Empirically, it contributes to understanding sustainability dynamics in an underexplored region, providing a framework linking green transition policies to responsible corporate financial behavior.

This study develops and validates the 5P–ESG Composite Index as a finance-oriented framework for assessing firm-level sustainable-financial performance in emerging markets. It addresses a persistent limitation in ESG measurement, namely the lack of conceptually integrated and decision-useful metrics capable of incorporating not only environmental, social, and governance dimensions, but also institutional and relational dimensions that are especially relevant in heterogeneous emerging-market settings. Conceptually, the proposed framework is grounded in the 2030 Agenda’s 5Ps (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships) and extends conventional ESG approaches by explicitly incorporating Peace and Partnerships into firm-level assessment. Methodologically, the index is constructed through sequential indicator selection, data cleansing, winsorization, normalization, pillar-level scoring, and PCA-based endogenous weighting, while its statistical robustness is assessed through internal consistency tests and factorability diagnostics. Empirically, the framework is applied to issuers in the MSCI COLCAP universe, where it proves operationally feasible and suitable for classifying firms into relative performance groups. In addition, a benchmark comparison against a conventional ESG-3 scheme shows that the broader 5P architecture can modify issuer rankings and tercile classification. Overall, the findings support the proposed index as a transparent, auditable, and context-sensitive tool for investors and decision-makers seeking more comprehensive sustainability metrics in emerging markets.

ABSTRACT This study examines how supplier and customer ESG performance drives firms’ green innovation through two asymmetric mechanisms: supplier-driven downward collaborative spillover rooted in Knowledge-Based View (KBV) and customer-driven upward coercive pressure stemming from Resource Dependence Theory (RDT). This reveals a strategic trade-off for firms between pursuing substantive green innovation (quality pursuit) and strategic green innovation (compliance response). External factors – green credit policy and supply chain relationship strength – amplify the effect, while internal factor – management myopia – attenuates it. Using Chinese A-share listed firms (2010-2023), we validate these propositions, advancing understanding of supply chain sustainability governance and heterogeneous green innovation drivers.