Agenda For Sustainable Development Research Articles

Human rights in education implication schema based on the study of the UN Economic and Social Council’s 2030 agenda

Human rights in education are an essential area that needs to be the highest priority for improving almost the entire world, especially for the 2030 agenda. This research analyzed the human rights in education values inside the UN Economic and Social Council’s declaration goal 4 of the official document entitled “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The data are analyzed through a critical discourse approach in qualitative design and discourse organization analysis method. There are nine main human rights in education found inside the declaration including ensuring and protecting education equality, education, and learning development acceleration, preparing and providing sufficient education funding, cultural diversity in education, providing a safe environment for physical and mental health, providing safe, modern and convenient infrastructure and teaching-learning facilities, gender equality in education, internet literacy in education, involving every country as to the world’s global meeting and cooperation of education. The focus of improvement on human rights in education is concluded to be dynamic, which is influenced by economic, welfare, politics, IT, and other integral aspects of development and depends on the world’s and a country’s needs and future desire.

ESG and economic growth: Catalysts for achieving sustainable development goals in developing economies

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) dimensions and economic growth on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries. The research utilizes a quantitative approach, analyzing panel data from 12 developing nations from 2010 to 2022. The Panel ARDL (Pooled Mean Group) method is applied to assess both short‐term and long‐term effects of disaggregated ESG components—environmental, social, and governance scores—on SDG attainment. Robustness is confirmed through endogeneity tests conducted using Instrumental Variable (IV) regression analysis with the Two‐Stage Least Squares (2SLS) method. The results reveal a positive relationship between ESG dimensions and SDG attainment, with economic growth also contributing significantly to SDG progress. The study highlights the importance of integrating ESG principles with economic growth strategies to enhance SDG fulfillment in developing countries, offering valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders in advancing sustainable development agendas.

WeAreEurope SD – A playful Sustainable Development Education Approach for Primary School Level

Sustainable Development (SD) has been in the EU’s political Agenda for the past decades. In 2001, the EU established a SD Strategy and more recently contributed to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for SD, reaffirming the political importance it attributes to this pressing matter. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a vital role in pushing forward the Agenda for SD. The WAE-SD project has been designed so as to offer a variety of complementary learning solutions that use active learning, game-based learning, and storytelling, among others. These solutions have the potential to engage children, address more complex concepts in a comprehensive manner, contribute to the development of other XXI century and basic competencies, like literacy, teamwork, social competences, ICT skills, among others. The WAE-SD project addresses the educational needs of children (6-10 years old) at 3 levels: a) Envision the future: depict what might happen if we don’t change our lifestyles, so that they better understand what’s at stake, b) What needs to change: learn about the UN’s SD Goals, so that they better understand what should be addressed/emended to create a more sustainable world, and c) Call to Action: learn what we can do as individuals and as part of a community to reach the UN’s SD Goals, and act. To this purpose, the project delivers three results: a) an eBook to illustrate a future scenario for the Planet if we keep up with our lifestyle, b) A Game Add-on to the pre-existing WeAreEurope Digital Game, to introduce and explore the UN’s SD Goals, thus presenting children with what needs to be changed for a more sustainable Planet, and c) an Action Kit, consisting of guidelines for the implementation of SD projects/activities for schools and other settings, thus promoting real change in behaviours and attitudes. This paper focuses on the designed material and the proposed ways of utilizing them in classroom settings

Ethnicity and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in Bangladesh: a study using MICS data and policy reviews.

Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are crucial to human health. Reducing inequalities and ensuring universal access to WASH are essential to achieving the agenda of sustainable development. We aimed to measure access to WASH among ethnic minority populations in Bangladesh and understand the situation and factors affecting WASH practices among them. Additionally, we reviewed policy related to WASH to highlight the inequality faced by ethnic minority populations. We utilized data from the multiple indicator cluster survey-2019. We used the chi-square test for bivariate analysis and multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analyses to identify the effect of ethnicity on WASH in Bangladesh after controlling selected covariates. Furthermore, we systematically reviewed Bangladesh's WASH-related policies and programs. While 98.5% of Bengalis had access to basic drinking water services, the percentage is 60.6% for the ethnic minority population. For improved sanitation facilities not shared with others, the difference between Bengali and ethnic populations was 22.3% (64.6% vs. 42.3%). On the other hand, 75% of the Bengali population had a handwashing facility with water and soap, and 50% of the ethnic population had them. Ethnicity appeared to be a statistically significant predictor of every component of WASH. Compared to Bengali, the ethnic population had 87%, 45%, 31%, and 45% less access to water (aOR = 0.13, p ≤ 0.001), sanitation (aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001), and handwashing (aOR = 0.69, p ≤ 0.05), and WASH facilities aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001), respectively. Among the policies of Bangladesh, only one identified action for WASH rights of ethnic minorities. The government should identify the issues of WASH among ethnic minorities and represent them adequately in policies to achieve the aim of 'leaving none behind' of sustainable development goals.

Mapping development potential and priority zones for utility-scale photovoltaic on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Sustainable renewable energy is a critical goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The scientific and rational development of solar power in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is vital for China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. However, more accurate, high spatial resolution assessments are needed to evaluate the utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) development potential on the QTP. To address this, we integrated geographical and technical potentials into a unified framework for assessing PV development potential. Using the spatial multi-criteria decision analysis technique, supported by the Bayesian Best-Worst method, we generated a 30-m suitability map for assessing geographical and technical potentials, along with priority zones. We found that approximately 35.22 % of the study area is suitable for utility-scale PV development, mainly concentrated in the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai and the northern Tibet Plateau in Xizang. The estimated PV technical potential for highly suitable and suitable classes is approximately 42.34 million GWh/a, which is equivalent to reduction of approximately 31.43 billion t/a of carbon emissions. We also formulated four priority development strategies using a spatially explicit model to meet the urgent 2030 target for utility-scale PV installations. Moreover, validation of existing PV projects and sensitivity analysis were conducted, confirming the accuracy and robustness of the results. This study provides practical guidance for informed decision-making by the government, investors, and stakeholders.

Kenya: Socio-Demographic Determinants of Intractable Communal Land Use Conflicts in the Squatter Enclaves of Mount Elgon Region

In the post-Cold War world order, the African Continent has been a stage for some of the most violent intra-state conflicts arising from natural resources and land distribution. These contes tations have often been inter-communal and take the violent extremism route. The consequences of these devastating contestations have been apocalyptic in most of these conflicts. In Kenya’s Mount Elgon Region, the emergence of extremism Sabaot Land Defence Forces and counter-extremist groups is rooted in a long historical struggle for equitable distribution of land rights. Despite efforts by state and non-state actors, sustainable peace remains a distant mirage. Socio-economic deter minants have emerged as fundamental determinants in these extremist contestations, yet, extant literature has been silent on this subject matter. This paper sought to interrogate socio-demographic determinants as pathways for homegrown extremism in the Mount Elgon Region. Study findings revealed strong support for the interplay between ownership of land, source of income, level of education, and sustenance of homegrown extremism over land-use conflicts in the study area. The paper recommends the need for the Ministry of Lands to expedite the management of the historical land question to contain the socio-demographic determinants as pathways for homegrown ex tremism in the study area. The findings under score the importance of land tenure security in pursuit of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies as advocated for in the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. Keywords: Demographic, extremism, home grown, land-use, Mt. Elgon.

Digital voluntourism and sense of place: volunteers’ responsibility towards an ‘imaginary locality’

Digital volunteer tourism (DVT) has emerged as a viable alternative to positively impact destinations when travel is impossible during times of crisis. This leaves volunteers, the ‘agents’ in volunteer projects and development work, who might often identify with a destination or specific cause, without a tangible link to the locality. Raising the important question of what role being physically connected to the locality plays in voluntourism; this study focuses on volunteers’ perception of their own impact in an out-of-reach destination. Through online fieldwork during an eight-week internship with a volunteer organisation in Fiji, this paper offers first insights into the phenomenon of digital voluntourism by discussing the role that a link to the destination and a sense of place play in still feeling to be making a difference. Furthermore, this debate reveals whether and how DVT intends to stimulate a sense of belonging of those volunteers to foster their sense of responsibility, while juxtaposing these digital programmes to in-situ voluntourism. This paper, therefore, constitutes one of the first contributions conceptualising the geography of digital voluntourism, arguing that while DVT has its merits in contributing to the sustainable development agenda, the physical distance and isolation from the place where this impact should be felt compromise their feelings of achievement and understanding of the locality even more than in usual voluntourism projects.

Holistic Methodology of Hypersoft in Tandem with Uncertainty-based Triangular Neutrosophic for Wave Energy Converter Optimization

Global warming, environmental degradation, and climate change have recently emerged as compelling arguments against the combustion of fossil fuels. As well Eliminating and forgoing the intake of fossil fuels is also encouraged by the Sustainable Development Agenda's goals. The healthy substitute for fossil fuels, renewable energy is one of the main devoid power sources found in our natural surroundings. An effective proposition for harnessing wave energy with an emphasis on increasing energy and efficiency are wave energy converters, or WEnCos. It contributes to producing a clean, limitless energy source that might drastically lessen our need for fossil fuels. Generally speaking, the selecting of the appropriate converter is an important endeavor that this study takes on. The process of selecting the optimal converter has been conducted based on effective benchmarks or criteria and its attributes. Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques seem to be effective tools when it comes to handling the complex issue of benchmarking WEnCos. These approaches consider a variety of criteria, allowing for a comprehensive and nuanced examination. Each utilized technique plays vital role in our decision problem. Hence, CRiteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method—which determines the weights of criteria and its attributes in decision making problems. These weights are utilized in Weighted Sum Product (WISP) method. Totally, these techniques are implemented under uncertainty theory of Neutrosophic which combined with soft sets notion to generate Triangular Neutrosophic HyperSoft (TrNSHSS). Totally, all these techniques are contributed to constructing soft decision-making model for analyzing and recommending optimal WEnCo.

Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceived Competence Regarding Sustainable Development Among Physical Education and Health Teachers in Sweden

Purpose: Literature suggest that physical education and health (PEH) may contribute to the sustainable development (SD) agenda, yet little is known how PEH teachers relate SD to their teaching practices. This paper explores Swedish upper secondary PEH teachers’ experiences and perceived competence regarding teaching SD as part of PEH. Method: An online questionnaire was used to examine SD competence. Data from 702 PEH teachers were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Results: PEH teachers perceive higher competence regarding the social dimension of SD compared to the economic and environmental dimensions. Female teachers and those with more than 15 years teaching experiences reported the highest perceived competence. Seventy percent of the respondents perceived that they lacked competence to teach SD. Discussion/Conclusion: PEH teachers struggle to relate SD to PEH practice and call for support to increase their competence in terms of how to conceptualize and transform SD into PEH teaching practice.

Does Mobile Payment Raise the Poverty‐Alleviation Resilience of Chinese Households?

ABSTRACTConsidering the complex environment facing the future poverty reduction process in China, and it is increasingly urgent to shift the conversation from the poverty vulnerability to poverty‐alleviation resilience of households. Coinciding with poverty‐alleviation progress, mobile payment has experienced explosive growth, resulting in significant and far‐reaching influences on production and lifestyle. This study constructs a theoretical framework to analyze the impact of mobile payment on poverty‐alleviation resilience (splitting into poverty‐eradication resilience and development resilience). Meanwhile, the impact is empirically investigated using the China Household Finance Survey for 2017 and 2019. The findings reveal that, first, mobile payment significantly increases both poverty‐eradication resilience and development resilience. According to the quantile regression results, mobile payment has a larger contribution to households with a lower poverty‐alleviation resilience, with the contribution diminishing as poverty‐alleviation resilience improves; second, mobile payment significantly increases poverty‐alleviation resilience by increasing self‐insurance capacity and participation in commercial insurance (ex ante), alleviating financial exclusion (ex interim), and promoting entrepreneurship and improving entrepreneurial performance (ex post); and third, social trust significantly improves the effect of mobile payment on poverty‐alleviation resilience, whereas the age of the household head has the reverse effect. Since risk and shocks play a more pronounced role in the persistence of poverty, our research helps to understand poverty alleviation and offers insights into how to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, thus realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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.

New dimensions in dining: A review of the gastronomic evolution of 3D printed foods from 2013 to 2024 and beyond

The development of 3D food printing is evolving, particularly in high-end restaurants, since 2013 when the first complex 3D printed chocolate concept for gastronomy was developed. In 2014, several 3D food printers were launched specifically to suit requirements from the culinary sector. These technology companies often partnered with renowned chefs who developed recipes, showcased the printers and served their food products in their restaurants. Chefs often worked in teams with e.g. food designers, technologists, engineers, and nutritionists to create dishes for events and for their own restaurant customers. From Michelin starred restaurants, pop-up events to pizzerias, 3D food printers were starting to make an appearance from 2015. Then with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, the type of 3D printed foods that chefs started to develop and serve would take a new direction. By 2017 3D printed foods which were suitable for specific diets, were emerging, such as those for people with dysphagia, allergies or intolerances. While some chefs, bakers and pâtissiers focused on designing foods to meet nutritional requirements, others were involved in the reduction of food waste in restaurants, or recipe development and design of sustainable protein-based foods. Other culinarians undertook to design novel and innovative foods for customers to enjoy as a dining experience. The gastronomic evolution of 3D printed food (3DPF) from 2013 to the present day is reviewed and developments which are likely to influence the culinary sector in the coming years are explored.

Complicating the connections between curriculum, sustainable development and socially engaged design

The relationship between design education and sustainable development has come a long way since the Stockholm Conference in 1972. Today, universities worldwide acknowledge the critical role of education in progressing the United Nations’s (UN) 2030 Agenda for sustainable development launched in 2019. This article argues that art and design educators must refocus on addressing and problematizing the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) in post-pandemic curricula. To substantiate this call for action, we provide an overview of key shifts in both Australian design education and design for sustainable development (ESD). We report on the contradictions in our audit of references to SDGs in course descriptions for the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Bachelor of Design (Integrated) and student’s project descriptions in the Design Honours programme. Contextualized within the frameworks of social reconstruction and the pluriverse, we outline plans for further initiatives to turn the rhetoric of SDGs into action and develop design education that contributes to just and equitable societies for all people and the planet.

Corrosion-induced thickness diminution of an ageing bulk carrier

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has endorsed connections between the maritime sector and SDGs, emphasising sustainable production in the marine environment. Consequently, technical considerations, such as ship structure sustainability, are crucial for marine safety. The impact of corrosion influences the structural degradation of vessels and the risk of structural failure and fuel oil spills significantly. The formulation of predictive corrosion models, grounded in historical data accumulated during vessel operations, emerges as an optimal strategy for designing structural elements and guaranteeing their structural integrity. This paper analyses non-linear deterministic and stochastic corrosion models, focusing on an ageing bulk carrier, to provide design-phase information for sustainable structures. Utilising data on measured steel plate thickness over a 20-year operational period, non-linear models are employed to calculate the millimetres of thickness diminution. Assuming corrosion onset at 7, 8, and 9 years, corresponding coefficients are computed, based on the developed model. A model is also considered, in which there were no assumptions about the beginning of corrosion initiation. The corresponding annual corrosion rate was observed separately in each of the models, as a deterministic variable and as a probabilistic random variable. This approach aims to enhance the understanding of the causal relationship between corrosion processes and structural performance, contributing to the development of sustainable design practices in the maritime industry.

Quantifying energy transition vulnerability helps more just and inclusive decarbonization.

The COP28 agreement signals "beginning of the end" of the fossil fuel era, calling on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner. While a quantitative assessment of country's vulnerability in energy transition is a prerequisite for national and international policy makers to ensure a just and inclusive transition, it is notably absent in the existing research. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on the vulnerability scoping diagram (VSD) method to assess differences in energy transition vulnerability across countries, with a specific focus on the challenges associated with transitioning away from fossil fuels. The resulting energy transition vulnerability index (ETVI) scores reveal that countries in the Global South generally exhibit higher vulnerability in their energy transition compared to those in the Global North, and this gap has widened over the past decade. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the decade-long trend of continuous decline in global energy transition vulnerability. This study also provides two important applications of ETVI scores, aligning them with major global sustainable development agenda. Firstly, we identify substantial differences in the dynamics of transition vulnerability across seven major party groups in the international climate change negotiations and distinguish four energy transition statuses in relation to achieving global climate goals: Stressful, Leapfrog, Potential Challenges, and Less Painful. Secondly, we demonstrate crucial synergies between energy transition resilience and the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Niche Sustainable Agricultural Production in Colombia: The Case of Territorial Development Agendas and Development Planning in the Province of García Rovira

This article addresses the emergence of a niche for sustainable agricultural production in the province of García Rovira, Colombia. It examines the intervention of the Colombian planning regime, which implements agendas for sustainable territorial development. However, these agendas are not adequately aligned with provincial realities, resulting in a productive decline. From a multi-level perspective, a production niche linked to the landscape has been identified, emphasizing sustainable practices and innovation. This study aimed to explore how planning influences the emergence of such niches and identified factors that promote their transition towards sustainability. Through a mixed methodology, growing sectors were accentuated and the profiles of the producers involved were outlined. The main conclusion is that the planned intervention is inefficient as the niche of sustainable production emerges without a clear influence. Therefore, it is proposed to re-evaluate planning using alternative analysis frameworks to detect emerging productive dynamics, serving as a basis for future plans.

Investigating the relationship between health and gender equality: What role do maternal, reproductive, and sexual health services play?

Examining the causal nexus between health services and gender equality is of paramount significance in policy formulation and academic inquiry. This paper concentrates on maternal, sexual, and reproductive health, offering a critical narrative review of empirical research exploring the causal relationship between enhanced women's health, stemming from either overall healthcare amelioration or specific interventions, and broader gender equality objectives. A conceptual framework is devised to elucidate the causal pathways between health and gender equality across various dimensions. The final review encompasses 30 empirical papers, revealing both direct and indirect effects of improved maternal, reproductive, and sexual health outcomes on labour participation and educational investment, with fertility decisions and autonomy serving as primary intermediary factors. Evidence predominantly indicates that interventions like contraception, family planning, and abortion policies yield enduring effects beyond health, influencing reproductive choices. Specific medical procedures, such as caesarean deliveries and sterilization, also impact fertility and labour market outcomes. Furthermore, public healthcare infrastructure contributes to combating gender-based violence by facilitating incident reporting and access to protection. Recognizing, documenting, and monitoring these co-benefits arising from improved women's health are pivotal for delineating future health sector priorities and advancing the global gender equality and sustainable development agenda.

EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: (ANALYSIS OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN DEVELOPING NATIONS)

This research paper investigates the multifaceted Relation between Empowered women and Sustainable Development in developing nations. Through a comparative analysis of policies and practices across various countries, the study aims to elucidate the ways in which empowering women contributes to the attainment of sustainable development goals. Drawing on a diverse range of literature and empirical evidence, the paper examines the impact of women's empowerment on key areas such as economic growth, environmental sustainability, social equity, and community resilience. Additionally, the paper explores the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing women-centric policies and initiatives in different cultural, political, and socioeconomic contexts. By synthesizing insights from case studies and statistical data, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that women play in driving sustainable development agendas worldwide.

The Relationship between Financial Inclusion and Women’s Financial Worries: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Financial inclusion is essential in achieving sustainable development goals in emerging countries. Goal number five of the sustainable development agenda, “Gender equality”, depends on women’s financial empowerment. It enhances women’s ability to make decisions, access resources and income, and control benefits from economic gains and power. The paper investigates the relationship between financial inclusion and women’s financial worries, using the 2021 Global Financial Inclusion Survey recently published by the World Bank for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This paper examines the effects of several aspects of inclusive finance, access, usage, and quality on women’s financial worries. The research implements an ordered probit analysis and contributes to the literature on women’s financial empowerment and inclusion by demonstrating that having access to financial services empowers women to make decisions about their lives, which greatly improves their welfare and sense of security. These findings provide policymakers with different targeted policies and strategic management practices to substantially improve financial inclusion and alleviate financial concerns within the population, especially among women.

Legal Transformation for the Achievement of SDGs: Integration of Multidisciplinary Approaches towards 2030

This research aims to investigate and analyze the transformation of law in an effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the integration of a multidisciplinary approach. Along with dynamic global changes, the challenges in achieving the SDGs require innovative and adaptive legal strategies. This dissertation focuses on two main problem formulations: first, how the integration of multidisciplinary approaches in legal reform can support the achievement of SDGs; second, how the evaluation and monitoring of legal policies implemented can ensure the achievement of SDGs targets. Through literature review and case analysis, this research reveals that incorporating various disciplines-such as economics, sociology, environmental science, and politics-in the legal policy-making process is key to creating comprehensive and responsive regulations. A multidisciplinary approach not only broadens perspectives in the legal field, but also ensures that the resulting policies are able to address the complexity of sustainable development issues. The research further proposes that an effective evaluation and monitoring system is an essential element to ensure legal policies can be optimally implemented and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Suggested measures include the development of relevant performance indicators, stakeholder engagement, and the use of information technology to increase transparency and accountability. With this approach, it is expected that legal reform can adapt to changing conditions and make a positive contribution to the achievement of sustainable development goals, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. This research makes important theoretical and practical contributions to the development of legal policies that are in line with the global agenda for sustainable development.