Sustainable Development Capacity Research Articles

Multiscale coupled development and linkage response evaluation of China's carbon neutrality and sustainable development capability–A quantitative analysis perspective

The carbon neutrality is closely related to ecological environment quality and sustainable development. But the coupling mechanism between the carbon neutral capacity (CNC) and the sustainable development capacity (SDC) is currently unclear. In this research, we innovatively proposed a quantified carbon neutral capacity model (QCNCM) based on net ecosystem productivity to assess regional CNC, and established a framework for quantifying the relationship between CNC and SDC by integrating the gravity model, coupled coordination degree model, Moran's index and Spatial Durbin Model (SDM). Meanwhile, the synergistic development trend and coupling mechanism between CNC and SDC of China were explored. The results show that (1) China's CNC high-value zones are mainly located in the northeast and southwest, while SDC high-value zones are mainly located in the more developed cities, most of which are located in the southeast coastal region. (2) The coupled coordination degree between CNC and SDC is at a high level, indicating a high correlation between the two and a trend of coordinated development. (3) The sustainable development goals have significant spatial-temporal responses to CNC, and also exhibit differentiation in regional heterogeneity analysis. By establishing a quantitative relationship framework between CNC and SDC for the first time, this study provides a deep insight into the synergistic development process of sustainable development goals and carbon neutrality target, which is of great significance to the study of the spatial-temporal coupling and synergistic development of CNC and SDC in China.

Energy access challenge and the role of fossil fuels in meeting electricity demand: Promoting renewable energy capacity for sustainable development

The energy access challenge remains a significant barrier to sustainable development, with millions of people still needing access to modern energy services. Fossil fuels have played a crucial role in meeting electricity demand, but they face challenges and drawbacks in terms of environmental sustainability, energy security, and climate change. This study examines how renewable and non-renewable energy generation capacity impacted the environment in 53 upper-middle-income countries from 1990 to 2020, using energy access and alternative energy sources as mediating variables. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between renewable energy generation capacity, energy access, alternative energy sources, and environmental conditions in upper-middle-income countries. The positive relationship between renewable energy generation capacity and environmental conditions emphasizes the importance and potential of renewable energy sources in mitigating environmental degradation. Additionally, the findings indicate that energy access also plays a crucial role in shaping energy generation patterns, with higher levels of access being associated with increased renewable energy generation and decreased reliance on non-renewable energy sources. These findings highlight the urgent need for policies and measures to promote renewable energy adoption and prioritize energy access to mitigate environmental degradation and achieve sustainable development goals.

Eco-Efficiency Evaluation of Integrated Transportation Hub Using Super-Efficiency EBM Model and Tobit Regressive Analysis – Case Study in China

The transportation industry is a key area for ecological civilisation construction and low-carbon development. As the core support of the national integrated transportation system, the ecological development level of integrated transportation hub (ITH) is crucial for enhancing the sustainable development capacity of the national integrated transportation. An eco-efficiency evaluation index system of ITH is established in this study and the eco-efficiencies of twenty international ITHs in China are comprehensively evaluated based on the super-efficient epsilon-based measure (EBM) model. Then the panel Tobit regression model is adopted to analyse the influencing factors of eco-efficiency. The results show that the average eco-efficiency of ITHs in China during 2011–2021 declines first and then rises, with a relatively high level overall but not efficient yet, and there is an obvious gradient distribution characteristic in all eco-efficiencies. Among them, Guangzhou ranks first, followed by Haikou, and Harbin ranks last. It is found that integrated transportation efficiency, urban green coverage, level of opening-up and economic development improve eco-efficiency significantly, while urbanisation rate, industrial structure and technology input have a negative impact. The results are consistent with the actual situation, verifying the practicality of models, and can be used to promote the sustainable development of integrated transportation.

顶山市城市社区养老托育服务供给状况研究——基于QCA 方法的组态分析

Population ageing has always been a topic of great concern, and in recent years, with the emergence of the declining birthrate, China's population structure is also facing new challenges. With the national policy of intergenerational integration of old-age care and childcare, Pingdingshan City has also begun to face the problem of how to develop old-age care and childcare. Among them, the problems are mainly manifested in the insufficient supply of professionals, medical and health services, and early childhood enlightenment education services. In view of these problems, this paper puts forward a number of suggestions to strengthen the construction of talent team, publicize the advantages of urban community elderly care services, connect multiple resources to enhance sustainable development capacity, and increase government financial and policy support, so as to promote the sustainable development of elderly care in Pingdingshan City.

Evaluation of sustainable development capacity of water sources: a case study of China.

The issue of water scarcity has drawn attention from all over the world. The coordination of the interaction between ecological and environmental development of water sources and socio-economic development is currently an essential issue that needs to be solved in order to safeguard the water resources environment for human survival. In this essay, we suggest a paradigm for assessing the sustainable exploitation of water resources. First, three ecological, economic, and social factors are investigated. Twenty essential evaluation indexes are then constructed using the Delphi approach, along with an index system for assessing the potential of water sources for sustainable development. The weights of each evaluation index were then determined using the combination assignment approach, which was then suggested. The coupled degree evaluation model of the capability for sustainable development of water sources was then developed. In order to confirm the viability and validity of the suggested model, the model was used to assess the Liwu River water source's capacity for sustainable growth in the context of the South-North Water Transfer in Shandong, China. It is believed that the aforementioned study would serve as a helpful resource when evaluating the capacity of water sources for sustainable development.

Science Advisory to Governments and Regional/Sub-Regional Organizations in West and Central Africa

Science advice to governments and regional and sub-regional organizations in West and Central Africa has been reviewed. The objectives were to analyze its evolution and characterize the sources of advice. During the colonial period, it was by the colonial administrations and for their needs. At independence, in general, the new nations (particularly French speaking) entered into agreements with the former colonial powers to develop science, technology and innovation capacity for sustainable development. English speaking nations sought more partners outside the colonial experience. Colonial research institutes were increasingly transformed into national research institutes/institutions with national development mandates. Governments increasingly turned to science advice from consultants, inter- ministerial committees, advisory bodies, ad hoc experts’ groups, or a combination of these. Regional/sub-regional organizations sought advice from consultants, ad hoc technical experts’ groups, advisory bodies or a combination of these. Increasingly, science advice is delivered by Africans. Science advice by science academies is most rigorous. The arrival of more science academies, with varying links with governments, indicates that evidence-based science advice is growing in the region.

Community capacity building and indigenous tourism in Iran

ABSTRACT Enhancing community capacity is crucial for sustaining tourism benefits in marginalized areas, yet remains underexplored. This study focuses on community capacity building in a nomadic community in Iran, utilizing qualitative methods. Twenty participants, including locals and tourism stakeholders, were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed key factors like governance, social capital, and community cohesion impacting capacity building. Challenges such as distance from power centers and cultural biases hindered progress. The research highlights the significance of factors like local leadership and access to resources in bolstering community capacity for sustainable tourism development. Addressing obstacles like religious biases and nomadic lifestyles is crucial for effective capacity building in marginalized communities. The study offers significant practical and theoretical implications for tourism industry stakeholders.

Spatial differences of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among counties (cities) on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains

The county (city) located on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains is the primary area to solidify and extend the success of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China in poverty alleviation. Its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intertwined with the concerted economic and social development of Xinjiang and the objective of achieving shared prosperity within the region. This study established a sustainable development evaluation framework by selecting 15 SDGs and 20 secondary indicators from the United Nations’ SDGs. The aim of this study is to quantitatively assess the progress of SDGs at the county (city) level on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains. The results indicate that there are substantial variations in the scores of SDGs among the nine counties and one city located on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains. Notable high scores of SDGs are observed in the central and eastern regions, whereas lower scores are prevalent in the western areas. The scores of SDGs, in descending order, are as follows: 62.22 for Minfeng County, 54.22 for Hotan City, 50.21 for Qiemo County, 42.54 for Moyu County, 41.56 for Ruoqiang County, 41.39 for Qira County, 39.86 for Lop County, 38.25 for Yutian County, 38.10 for Pishan County, and 36.87 for Hotan County. The performances of SDGs reveal that Hotan City, Lop County, Minfeng County, and Ruoqiang County have significant sustainable development capacity because they have three or more SDGs ranked as green color. However, Hotan County, Moyu County, Qira County, and Yutian County show the poorest performance, as they lack SDGs with green color. It is important to establish and enhance mechanisms that can ensure sustained income growth among poverty alleviation beneficiaries, sustained improvement in the capacity of rural governance, and the gradual improvement of social security system. These measures will facilitate the effective implementation of SDGs. Finally, this study offers a valuable support for governmental authorities and relevant departments in their decision-making processes. In addition, these results hold significant reference value for assessing SDGs at the county (city) level, particularly in areas characterized by low levels of economic development.

Traversing the Evolution of Research on Engineering Education for Sustainability: A Bibliometric Review (1991–2022)

Engineering education plays a pivotal role in cultivating the engineering capacity for sustainable development. Nonetheless, there has been no comprehensive review that examines sustainability as a distinct knowledge domain within engineering education. This review filled this gap by conducting a bibliometric review to document the research landscape, analyze the intellectual structure of the literature, and identify emerging research themes. The review sourced 2738 Scopus-indexed documents published between 1991 and 2022. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis. The study identified consistent growth in research output and geographic diversity. Four predominant conceptual themes were identified in the literature: (1) Engineering Education Reform, (2) Engineering Competencies, Pedagogy, and Curriculum, (3) Curriculum Assessment and Benchmarks, and (4) Sustainable Technologies. Findings emphasize the need for defining precise engineering competencies related to sustainability, incorporating diverse teaching methods, and ensuring that sustainability learning outcomes align with changing industry norms, regulations, and accreditation criteria. The study also highlights a growing focus on the use of Industry 4.0 technologies as a means of achieving sustainability outcomes. The review underscores the need for sustained curriculum reform to successfully transform engineering education toward sustainability.

Ecological governance of Hainan coastline from the perspective of one health: A case study of the sustainable development of people’s livelihood after the coastline of Qionghai city was repopulated

Purposes It aims to discuss how to effectively carry out the ecological governance of the coastline of Qionghai City, Hainan Province under the concept of One Health [1] to promote the sustainable development of residents’ income and provide practical cases and theoretical references for the ecological governance of the Hainan Coastline. Methods Use field research and random interview methods to obtain relevant data and conduct quantitative analysis. Results and shortcomings Residents’ income has stable growth, water pollution control effects are outstanding, and the governance of air pollution is obvious. However, there are still problems such as serious degradation of coral reef ecosystems and lack of effective funding for ecological compensation, mainly due to the threat of insufficient capital investment and human activities. Conclusions It is recommended to improve the sustainable development capacity of the township governments, build a reasonable ecological compensation mechanism, accelerate the transformation of the township governments to the ecological government, increase the implementation of green GDP, form a virtuous circle of compared to achieve ecological environmental protection and economic development. Department decision -making provides a scientific basis.

Framework structure design based on porous permeable concrete material in expressway tunnel drainage system

As an important construction material for drainage system construction, permeable concrete has the characteristics of porous and breathable, but the existing mix preparation technology makes it difficult to prepare high-strength porous permeable concrete material. The study introduces a permeable concrete skeleton structure that considers compressive strength and permeability coefficient. Moreover, the proportion design method is adjusted based on the spherical characteristics of the aggregates, which are analyzed using Image Pro-Plus image processing technology. The parameters of the permeable concrete skeleton structure, such as the number of contact points, width of the contact zone, and thickness of the inter-aggregate slurry, are quantified. Additionally, the proportion design method is refined by incorporating the target mechanical properties and water permeability performance of the permeable concrete, aiming to enhance its mechanical properties and water permeability. To enhance the mechanical properties and water permeability of pervious concrete, modifications are made to the proportion design method based on target mechanical properties and water permeability. This includes balancing the mechanical properties and water permeability through the design of the concrete's skeleton structure, the composition of the cement slurry, and the adjustment of additive mixing amounts. The use of a single-graded pyrophyllite aggregate enables the preparation of high-strength and high-permeability concrete. The experiment showed that the minimum deviation of compressive strength of group A was 15.29%, the average was 18.17%, and the minimum deviation of compressive strength of group B was 42.59%, the average was 45.27%. The minimum deviation of the water permeability coefficient in group A was 10.60%, with an average of 16.50%, and the minimum deviation of the water permeability coefficient in group B was 11.35%, with an average of 19.18%. In addition, the correction coefficient relationship between aggregate sphericity and the number of contact points, contact zone width and paste thickness between aggregates was established. Through the correction of the coefficient, the high strength, and high permeability concrete with permeability coefficient, compressive strength, and effective porosity of 1.15, 23.6mpa, and 18.5% can be obtained. The mix proportion design of permeable concrete using a skeleton structure in this study has economic and social benefits for construction engineering, "sponge city" construction, and urban sustainable development. In terms of economic benefits, permeable concrete, as an ecological and environmentally friendly concrete, has low production costs and good bearing capacity and permeability, reducing construction costs. In terms of social benefits, the application of permeable concrete can make urban floors more breathable and permeable, alleviate the pressure on urban drainage systems, and improve the ecological balance and environmental quality of the city. The application of permeable concrete can reduce reliance on traditional drainage materials and reduce negative impacts on the environment. Materials can also be recycled and reused, which helps to enhance the sustainable development capacity of cities.

Participatory Design Study in the KOTAKU Program Using Settlement Environmental Management Plan Document (RPLP) Review in increasing Community Capacity for Sustainable Development

This study aims to analyze the impact of implementing the Settlement Environmental Management Plan Document (RPLP) in strengthening community capacity in the KOTAKU Program for environmentally sustainable development. The KOTAKU program is a government initiative that aims to improve access and quality of urban settlements, with a focus on slum settlements. RPLP is a planning document that provides guidance in structuring an integrated, sustainable and participatory settlement environment. This research uses a qualitative method by conducting case studies at several locations that have implemented RPLP in the KOTAKU Program. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, including local communities, local governments and other relevant institutions. The analysis is carried out by identifying changes that have occurred in community capacity after the implementation of the RPLP, including increased knowledge, skills, and participation in decision-making related to the settlement environment. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of the RPLP in the KOTAKU Program has a positive impact on strengthening community capacity. Community participation in planning and decision-making processes increases, resulting in a better and more sustainable living environment. Communities also acquire new knowledge and skills in managing the residential environment, such as waste management, energy saving and utilization of local resources. This research makes an important contribution in understanding the importance of implementing RPLP in environmental sustainable development. The recommendations resulting from this research can be used by local governments and other related institutions to increase the effectiveness of the KOTAKU Program and strengthen the community's role in environmentally sustainable development.

Model of Digital Marketing Communication of Sprite Rebranding

Sprite is a widely recognised beverage brand renowned for its popular carbonated soft drinks worldwide. Among the various marketing models available, there exists a multitude of models that include diverse data. However, Sprite is demonstrating a distinct approach. While the consumption of soda is not widely prevalent in Indonesia, Sprite has implemented extensive promotional strategies to target and captivate the market, particularly the younger demographic. This study employed the Krippendorf Content Analysis approach to examine the Sprite Digital marketing Communication operations on Social media. According to the official Instagram account of the corporation in question, there appears to be a singular focus on promoting sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the efforts undertaken by the Sprite brand. Therefore, Sprite's commitment to a specific marketing strategy aimed at a significant objective demonstrates their capacity for sustainable development. The intricacy of Sprite's operational processes is once again demonstrated through the utilisation of digital content analysis

A comparative study on the measurement of sustainable development of marine fisheries in China

Since 1989, China has been the largest aquatic producer in the world. The marine ecological environment is the “price” for the rapid development of fisheries economy, therefore, the sustainable development of fisheries industry is of great concern at home and abroad. This paper carried out a scientific evaluation of typical coastal provinces and cities by constructing an evaluation indicator system and clarifies the regional differences in the sustainable development capacity of China's marine fisheries industry for the first time. The results showed that since the second decade of the 21st century, the sustainability of marine fishery industry has been rising with fluctuation, among which, Shandong Province and Fujian Province have obvious advantages in sustainable development, while Tianjin, Hebei Province, and Shanghai still have large room for improvement. Resource environment and scientific and technological management factors have a significant impact on the sustainable development of China's marine fisheries, while economic and social factors have relatively little influence. Suggestions are put forward to improve the sustainable development level of marine fisheries in China's coastal areas, such as biological resources protection, fishery technology promotion and fishery industrial structure optimization.

MEDIATION ROLE OF INTENTION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE-BEHAVIOR RELATIONSHIP

The issues related to environmental quality have plagued the minds, harmony and well-being of all humankind. The mentioned environmental issues involve crucial aspects directly related to the behaviour and lifestyle of societies that prioritize economic and material development over environmental conservation for future generations. Therefore, this study aims to assess the role of intention in the relationship between attitude and environmental behaviour. A survey design with a quantitative approach was used in this study. The study focused on rural area located in contaminated river basins in the state of Terengganu. Using a cluster sampling technique, cross-sectional self-report data were collected from residents living within a 500-meter radius of Terengganu's categorized polluted river (n = 373). This study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the proposed relations between the variables. The findings indicated that intention was a mediating variable in the relationship between attitude and environmental behaviour. The results also discovered that the information exposure through media does not act as a moderator between intention and environmental behaviour. Raising environmental awareness and practicing sustainable behaviors are essential to strengthening a country's capacity for sustainable development and cultivate a responsible and environmentally concerned society.

How does the environmental protection tax law affect firm ESG? Evidence from the Chinese stock markets

The serious environmental pollution problem has been proven to harm people's health and economic development in China. Chinese authorities implemented the Environmental Protection Tax Law (EPTL) in 2018—the first environmental tax law in this country—to solve the problem. Since firms are main objects of this policy, its effect on firms' sustainable development capacity is a worthwhile but not yet discussed question. Therefore, this study adopts the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) to quantify firms' sustainable development capacity and employs the difference-in-differences method to investigate the above research question using a sample of A shares listed in Chinese stock markets from 2014 to 2021. Benchmark regression and robustness tests demonstrated that the EPTL could promote heavily polluting firms' ESG, thus, confirming the Porter hypothesis' existence in China from a micro perspective. We conducted a series of additional tests to provide insight into the effects of the EPTL under different circumstances, and achieved the following important findings: a) although a time-lag effect exists, the policy effect increases over time; b) the boosting effect of this policy is stronger on higher ESG firms than on lower ESG firms; c) innovation compensation effect and government financial subsidies can exponentially increase the EPTL's effect on firm ESG; and d) this policy has an inhibiting effect on politically connected firm's ESG. Based on these findings, we provide theoretical and practical suggestions for academia and policymakers. The Chinese authorities should insist on enforcing the EPTL in the long run, encourage firms on research and development investments, and provide them more financial subsidies, so as to enhance the policy's effect. Moreover, the government should implement some supporting policies to improve the sustainable development capacity of politically connected firms.

Interprovincial Virtual Water-Energy Flow and Its Network Structure Resilience in Yangtze River Economic Belt

Water and energy are essential resources that flow between different regions in economic activities, forming a complex network that profoundly impacts sustainable development. Revealing network structural resilience allows for the identification of weak links, thus enhancing the capacity for sustainable development. This study employs a resilience-based method to examine changes in virtual water-energy transfers, combining input–output tables and total resource consumption coefficients (TRCC) to investigate the structural resilience of the virtual water-energy network. Case studies were conducted in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) in 2012 and 2017. The results show that the virtual water flow rate decreased by 28.66%, while that of virtual energy increased by 4.88% in YEB. The virtual energy network’s structural resilience is better than that of the virtual water network and shows significant improvement in later periods. The virtual water network structure has a clear hierarchical structure, while the virtual energy network structure is relatively flat. The transmission and connectivity of the two networks do not differ significantly, but the virtual energy network’s transmission is superior to that of the virtual water network. There is a significant improvement in the virtual energy network’s agglomeration in the later stages, while there is no significant change in the virtual water contact network.

Reinventing the African State: Issues and Challenges for Building a Developmental State

contentious issue of the state–market interactions in Africa’s development agenda and processes, particularly since the 1960s independence era. At the heart of this debate has been the contestation over the agency for development. The global wave of democratisation that swept through most parts of the developing world in the late 1980s and early 1990s revived this debate on the linkage between democracy, sustainable development, and state capacity in Africa (Leftwich 1996). The twenty-first century is witnessing a resurgence of confidence in a new type of activist state: democratic and developmental in character and content. The fundamental concern of this study is whether the exigencies of globalisation can be reconciled with democratisation andsustainable development. This provokes further questions such as: how can fragile democratic regimes improve their prospects for consolidation at a moment when the distributive impact of concurrent programmes of economic liberalisation and adjustment are highly contestable? Are the economic reforms prescribed by Bretton Woods Institutions (BWI) and bilateral donors compatible with democratisation and developmental processes? How can the state’s systematic loss of capacity to manage the economy be reconciled with demands for a more democratic polity? Finally, this paper examines the strategies forbuilding the capacity of the African state as agent of development and partnership in the democratisation process.

Senior High School Students Perception on Sustainability Literacy in Biology Learning

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global partnership's urgent call to action from all developed and developing countries to build a sustainable future. Students play an essential role in achieving this goal because they are the primary objects of formal education who can be involved through concrete actions and appropriate and effective decision-making. In order to achieve this goal, sustainable development capability and capacity, as measured by sustainability literacy, are required. The purpose of this study is to gather information about students' initial perceptions of environmental change subject in relation to students' sustainability literacy. The method used is a descriptive method with a quantitative approach. This study was conducted in February 2023 on 34 students from grade XI in SMAN 1 Bandung who had already completed the subject. Students' sustainability literacy was assessed using a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the data. Finding indicated that the indicator of knowledge was worth 43% within very bad category, knowledge of skills had a value of 44% with a very bad category as well and mindset was worth 55% with a bad category. As a result, it is possible to conclude that students' sustainability literacy is of very bad quality.

Spatial and temporal variation and prediction of ecological carrying capacity based on machine learning and PLUS model

Ecological carrying capacity is key to evaluating sustainable development capacity, and land use change has varying degrees of impact on ecosystems. This study explores the ecological carrying capacity based on land use change, which is important for the conservation and scientific and rational use of ecosystems. Therefore, in this study, three machine learning classification 3algorithms, namely support vector machine, random forest and artificial neural network, were selected for accuracy comparison and analysis based on multi-source data, using Southwest Guangxi Karst-Beibu Gulf as the study area. The Patch-generating Land Use Simulation Model is used to dissect the spatial and temporal changes in ecological carrying capaciyt from 1990 to 2040 and future trends. The results showed that (1) Coupling multiple sources of data and machine learning classification algorithms can ultimately improve land use classification accuracy. The RF is compared and found to be the optimal classification algorithm for this study. (2) The area of arable and grassland gradually decreases between 1990 and 2040, mainly encroached upon by build land; the area of forested land gradually recovers, the watershed fluctuates up and down, and the area of build land gradually increases. (3) The ecological carrying capacity from 1990 to 2040 shows a trend of decreasing and then increasing, and the area of low and medium–low decreases from 2020 to 2040, with arable land and forest land having a stronger potential to increase ecological carrying capacity. Nanning City, Qinzhou City and Chongzuo City are severely damaged. The framework provides an effective tool for exploring future ecological carrying capacity to support the ecological conservation and future sustainable development of the region.