Opportunities For Sustainable Development Research Articles

Biofriendly design: arrangement of sustainable and smart environment

The subject of this research is application of the principles and techniques of biofriendly design in various environmental situations – open urban and interior spaces. The relevance of this research is defined by the need for new paradigms and conceptual solutions in order to change the relationship between urbanized environment and nature. Biofriendly design is of particularly demand in the conditions of such global challenges to modern society as the 2020 pandemic, as it opens additional opportunities for sustainable development. The research methodology is based on the unity of theory and practice. The theoretical part of the work consists in consideration of the current state of the question, analysis of the key principles of biofriendly urbanism and techniques of biofriendly design. The practical part reviews the examples of projects of the open and interior spaces, in which biofriendliness is one of the fundamental principles of arranging the environment, and simultaneously, the space organization techniques. The empirical framework is comprised of such methods as observation and analysis of the results of creative works that allow assessing  the effectiveness of forms and methods of the development of creative component of professional activity. The research is conducted at the premises of the department of Design of Architectural Environment of the Pacific National University within the framework of educational course “Environmental Factors in Design” and is of applied nature. The novelty of this work consists in implementation of the obtained results in practical architectural and design engineering of environmental objects.

Innovative Use of Self-Healing Concrete for Sustainable Infrastructure

Self-healing concrete has emerged as a promising technology in the field of sustainable infrastructure due to its ability to repair cracks and prolong the lifespan of structures. This innovative material has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by reducing maintenance costs, minimizing environmental impact, and enhancing the durability of infrastructure. In this abstract, we explore the concept of self-healing concrete, its mechanisms, and its application in creating sustainable infrastructure. The concept of self-healing concrete involves the incorporation of various healing agents within the concrete matrix, which are activated upon the occurrence of cracks or damage. These healing agents can be in the form of capsules, fibres, or other admixtures. When cracks occur, these agents are released and react with the surrounding environment to initiate the healing process. The healing agents can fill the cracks, restore the structural integrity, and prevent further deterioration, thus extending the service life of the infrastructure. The innovative use of self-healing concrete presents significant opportunities for sustainable infrastructure development. By incorporating healing agents, this technology enables autonomous repair of cracks, reduces maintenance costs, and extends the lifespan of structures. Furthermore, self-healing concrete contributes to sustainability by minimizing environmental impact and enhancing durability. Its wide-ranging applications make it a promising solution for creating resilient infrastructure that meets the challenges of the future. Embracing self-healing concrete in construction practices will undoubtedly revolutionize the industry and pave the way for a more sustainable built environment.

The Uncertainty Factor in the Market Economic System: The Microeconomic Aspect of Sustainable Development

Opportunities for sustainable development of the business entity largely depend on the uncertainty factor, which, in particular, is expressed in the asymmetry of information. Due to the influence of this factor, forecasting the efficiency of enterprises becomes a difficult task. Every company must meet the requirements of modern reality and be open to new solutions. The purpose of this study is a microeconomic analysis of factors that affect the sustainable development of enterprises. The uncertainty condition is considered as an integral element of the modern concept of company management. Based on the analysis of the literature, personal observation and interviews with managers, the guidelines for building a modern microeconomic model of a market economy were identified, which can further become the basis for creating new organizational management models.

Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems

For millennia, coastal and marine ecosystems have adapted and flourished in the Red Sea’s unique environment. Surrounded by deserts on all sides, the Red Sea is subjected to high dust inputs and receives very little freshwater input, and so harbors a high salinity. Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves flourish in this environment and provide socio-economic and environmental benefits to the bordering coastlines and countries. Interestingly, while coral reef ecosystems are currently experiencing rapid decline on a global scale, those in the Red Sea appear to be in relatively better shape. That said, they are certainly not immune to the stressors that cause degradation, such as increasing ocean temperature, acidification and pollution. In many regions, ecosystems are already severely deteriorating and are further threatened by increasing population pressure and large coastal development projects. Degradation of these marine habitats will lead to environmental costs, as well as significant economic losses. Therefore, it will result in a missed opportunity for the bordering countries to develop a sustainable blue economy and integrate innovative nature-based solutions. Recognizing that securing the Red Sea ecosystems’ future must occur in synergy with continued social and economic growth, we developed an action plan for the conservation, restoration, and growth of marine environments of the Red Sea. We then investigated the level of resources for financial and economic investment that may incentivize these activities. This study presents a set of commercially viable financial investment strategies, ecological innovations, and sustainable development opportunities, which can, if implemented strategically, help ensure long-term economic benefits while promoting environmental conservation. We make a case for investing in blue natural capital and propose a strategic development model that relies on maintaining the health of natural ecosystems to safeguard the Red Sea’s sustainable development.

Process Design and Sustainable Development—A European Perspective

This paper describes the state of the art and future opportunities for process design and sustainable development. In the Introduction, the main global megatrends and the European Union’s response to two of them, the European Green Deal, are presented. The organization of professionals in the field, their conferences, and their publications support the two topics. A brief analysis of the published documents in the two most popular databases shows that the environmental dimension predominates, followed by the economic one, while the social pillar of sustainable development is undervalued. The main design tools for sustainability are described. As an important practical case, the European chemical and process industries are analyzed, and their achievements in sustainable development are highlighted; in particular, their strategies are presented in more detail. The conclusions cover the most urgent future development areas of (i) process industries and carbon capture with utilization or storage; (ii) process analysis, simulation, synthesis, and optimization tools, and (iii) zero waste, circular economy, and resource efficiency. While these developments are essential, more profound changes will be needed in the coming decades, such as shifting away from growth with changes in habits, lifestyles, and business models. Lifelong education for sustainable development will play a very important role in the growth of democracy and happiness instead of consumerism and neoliberalism.

Sprawl and Congestion in Accra - Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Development in Ghana’s Capital City

Sprawl and Congestion in Accra - Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Development in Ghana’s Capital City

ИНДУСТРИЯ 4.0 И УСТОЙЧИВОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ: ОТ УСТОЙЧИВЫХ БИЗНЕС-МОДЕЛЕЙ К ЦИФРОВОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТИ

Industry 4.0, based on manufacturing systems using information technologies, includes a combination of smart factories, products, and the Internet of Things. It is aimed at providing re-al-time information on production, processes, equipment, products, flows, and integrating this in-formation to make effective decisions in terms of economic, environmental and social results. Originally created to solve the problems of unsustainable production, Industry 4.0 today is changing all spheres of modern society, being simultaneously a threat and an opportunity for sus-tainable development. In this work, a bibliographic analysis of the Scopus database publications devoted to Indus-try 4.0 has been conducted, technical and economic prerequisites for its emergence, its concepts and essential content have been clarified. The characteristics of Industry 4.0 and the technologies that shape it, their impact on society and the economy have been systematized. The main princi-ples and trends of Industry 4.0 have been highlighted, the features, components and principles of sustainable production and sustainable business models in Industry 4.0 at the micro-, meso- and macroeconomic levels have been systematized and refined. The transformation of the concept of sustainable development and the role of Industry 4.0 in achieving sustainable development goals, including the prerequisites for its emergence, new opportunities and threats associated with the implementation of digital business models have been investigated. The influence of business models and practices of Industry 4.0 on achieving the goals of social, economic and environmen-tal components of sustainable development has been analyzed. The IT problems of enterprises included in Industry 4.0 have been systematized, the need to include the fourth (digital) component of sustainable development and research on digital sus-tainability for ensuring sustainable development of economic entities in terms of digital economy has been substantiated.

РОССИЙСКИЙ ДАЛЬНИЙ ВОСТОК: УЙТИ НЕЛЬЗЯ ОСТАТЬСЯ. ИНФРАСТРУКТУРА КАК ФАКТОР МИГРАЦИОННОЙ ПРИВЛЕКАТЕЛЬНОСТИ РЕГИОНОВ ДФО

The problems of the demographic development of the regions of the Russian Far East are on the agenda of many federal and regional discussion platforms. Opportunities for sustainable demographic development in conjunction with socio-economic development were also discussed at the recent Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok. Unfortunately, the demographic results of 2020 showed that despite significant efforts from the Russian Government, the population decline in the federal district continues, and the coronavirus pandemic has given additional losses. In this context, the work discusses the prospects and barriers to the development of the macroregion, strengthening its position in national ratings. Particular attention is paid to the problems of infrastructure development, both social and transport. The availability of various social facilities for the local population, intraregional and interregional transport connectivity are important factors in securing the local population, as well as the formation of the migration attractiveness of the macroregion for Russians from other constituent entities of the Russian Federation and international migrants.

Business Trends of Entrepreneurial Behavior in Ensuring Sustainable Development of the Region

The main criterion for the sustainable development of social-andeconomic systems is the efficiency of functioning, taking into account the current environmental conditions. At the same time, favorable opportunities for carrying out activities, performing a certain role, confirming the significance in the future period are created. The analysis of the organization of enterprises’ innovation activities made it possible to establish the main trends in entrepreneurial behavior, to identify the features of innovation implementation, taking into account modern business conditions. As a result of the study, the authors found out the reasons for the low innovation activity at the enterprises in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, identified restrictions on the introduction of new technologies, the promotion of innovative products, the influence of factors on changes in the structure of financing innovations. Based on the opinions of specialists, the article highlights favorable opportunities for sustainable development of the region in the course of technological transformation, its resource provision, taking into account the increase in the innovation potential of organizations with the active assistance of the state to the innovation infrastructure development. The ongoing innovation processes determine environmentally oriented social changes leading to the development of society, contribute to increasing the innovations’ receptivity, the life quality and become the main tasks of sustainable development of the regional economy.

The Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites (AUCHS) as a sustainable tourism development opportunity in the Mediterranean Region

This article is about the multi-dimensional value of the Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites (AUCHS) for coastal areas and islands in the Mediterranean Region, especially as an opportunity for sustainable blue growth. It is an attempt to underline the need for the broad promotion of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) and to highlight the contribution of innovative technologies for direct and indirect accessibility to underwater cultural heritage remains. The paper further demonstrates how the AUCHS can become niches of touristic development for an area whilst offering multifaceted socioeconomic benefits to the local communities.

Stakeholder Perceptions of Eco-Cultural Resorts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Eco-cultural projects are initiated in host communities to create livelihood opportunities linked to tourism and concurrently supporting conservation efforts. Research tends to focus on the sustainability of the projects after implementation with limited understanding of stakeholder issues during the planning stages. This study focuses on stakeholder perceptions of the proposed Eco-Culture Resort (ECR) in the Chelmsford Nature Reserve (CNR) at Ntshingwayo Dam in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa in relation to tourism potential. The methodological approach adopted entailed interviews with 50 respondents purposively selected from the ranks of three key stakeholder groups - government, business and community members. The main findings reveal that the stakeholders linked ECRs with conservation, sustainable development and tourism-related opportunities. Respondents also viewed the proposed resort as a tourist destination with huge economic development potential. The study reveals that ECRs have stakeholder support and perceived to have the potential to increase tourism opportunities and enhance the level of environmental awareness among both would-be visitors and the broader community. However, challenges arise that foreground the importance of extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure that tourism benefits are realised. There is limited research on examining stakeholder perceptions of tourism-related aspects of ECRs despite the growing recognition that understanding of different views, interests, opinions, expectations and concerns results in greater success of nature-based conservation and tourism projects. This research addresses this gap in the literature and addresses the issue of better understanding stakeholders' perceptions and concerns during the planning stages of ECRs.

Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development and management of marine recreational and sport fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean

In the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, information and data on marine recreational fisheries (MRF) is lacking, which undermines efforts towards their sustainable development. Our paper reviews the challenges and opportunities for sustainably developing marine recreational fisheries in the WIO. We identified several challenges that are discussed in two broad categories: (i) governance and (ii) socio-cultural and economic. We also show that addressing these challenges requires a holistic understanding of the socio-ecological complexities and the multi-scale nature of WIO MRF. Realizing the potential for sustainable development of this sector calls for the involvement of coastal communities in the sharing of benefits and decision-making. Further, coordinated efforts between the multi-government agencies and non-governmental organizations is critical for integrating recreational fisheries into local and national agendas. We conclude that the sustainable development of MRF in the WIO region is possible. Still, such growth will be dependent upon the sustained capacity building of coastal communities and indigenous fishers, collaboration from stakeholders, and the long-term sustainability of the resource.

Improving the Strategic Benchmarking of Intellectual Capital Management in Logistics Service Providers

This research developed a new integrated method for addressing the deficiencies and gaps generally found in past studies on benchmarking and for benchmarking intellectual capital (IC) in the underdeveloped domain of logistics. To resolve the lack of consideration of relationships among past benchmarking concepts and the impacts of their managerial factors, as well as to examine the wide range of elements and indicators of IC influencing the sustainable development of organizations, the proposed approach integrated the analytic network process and the concept of thinking and non-thinking assets with the generic benchmarking procedure. This new hybrid method was implemented in four commercial companies in courier service. The proposed method prioritized and identified the magnitudes of the factors focused upon, including the IC elements, and their performance measures by considering the fundamental characteristics of intangible assets. The obtained results highlight that management focuses on the IC of the best performer and other companies. This benchmarked outcome showed gaps and improvement as well as sustainable development opportunities for inferior logistics companies. The improved framework provides more systematic and specific benchmarking processes to consider, obtain, and compare the in-depth details of IC management. Moreover, ours is the first research on benchmarking that specifically focused on IC management in logistics service providers.

Fishing Tourism as an Opportunity for Sustainable Rural Development—The Case of Galicia, Spain

The functional diversification of coastal fishing communities has been a central objective of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) since the early stages of its implementation. A large part of the initiatives financed throughout Europe have been linked to the creation of synergies between the fishing sector and tourism. This paper analyses the opportunities for the development of fishing tourism at the regional level, considering the investments of European and regional funds on the development of fishing tourism in Galicia. Special attention is given to the incorporation of the territorial perspective and Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) for the sustainable development of fishing areas. The results show limitations of this form of tourism in terms of employment and income, especially those developed by fishermen, despite the significant support of the regional government for this activity. This situation allows a critical reflection on the opportunity to convert fishermen into tourist guides, based on the need to diversify the economy and income of fishing communities.

Setting-up of ecological settlements to promote sustainable development of urban areas

Urbanization has a dual effect on the opportunities of sustainable development. On the one part, urbanization gives rise to favourable living conditions for the population, on the other part, man-induced impact on the environment and humans themselves grows because of the increased urban infrastructure and population density. Taking into account the diversity of land resources and regions in a country, it is necessary to work for the highest possible population distribution throughout the country. The adverse urbanization effect might be reduced and, consequently, sustainable development will be supported. Besides, land resources might be developed more effectively, the fact having a positive effect on the sustainability as well. The highest potential is seen in developing ecological settlement types based on rural settlements. The article demonstrates the statistical analysis of ecological settlements designed as a sustainable territorial unit. Such type of settlement contributes to the region’s economic base development while the environment factors are taken into account. Thus, in general, it facilitates the sustainable development of urban areas by means of making the population less concentrated and the man-induced impact reduced.

Education for Sustainable Development: Deficiency and Construction of Disaster Education in Universities

After the outbreak of SARS, Chinese State Council published “Master State Plan for Rapid Response to Public Emergencies”. After the outbreak of Wenchuan earthquake, May 12 of each year is designated as the “National Day for Disaster Prevention and Reduction”. Modern society is transforming from industrial society to risk society. With the widespread of human-made risks, we are facing the world out of control. Emergencies may occur at any time and sometimes cause catastrophic damage to our life in a sudden. However, Chinese universities’ disaster education did not get enough attention yet. Based on the theory of risk society and discontinuous education, this research analyzed the potential deficiency in crisis education and proposed to establish a systematic crisis education curriculum as soon as possible. Also, universities should actively carry out emergency drills to simulate the real scene of disasters to the maximum extent, so university students can develop disaster instinctive response and strengthen disaster survival skills. University students should be well-prepared for the survival challenges. Disaster education plays a critical role in transforming a crisis into a real opportunity for sustainable education development.

Digitalization as a new factor of sustainable development of the Russian forest industry complex

Digital technologies break new ground for forest management and regeneration though the forest industry complex is behind many industrial sectors according to the digitalization speed. The goal of study is to study the essence, principles and opportunities to implement digital technologies for the purpose of sustainable development of the Russian forest industry complex providing for collective advance international practices. The proposed concept is based on the methods of analysis and synthesis within the framework of the study of the forest industry complex in the integrity, unity and interconnection of its constituent parts in order to analyze, generalize information and to identify the prospects for using digital technologies in the economic systems management. In the framework of the study the context of modern system of forest industry complex management has been brought to light, there have been highlighted the issues which are possible to solve in the course of digital technologies. The result of the research is the proprietary model of the digital platform functioning, taking into account its conceptual characteristics and technological features of the forest industry complex management. Digital technologies give the forest industry a wide range of opportunities for sustainable development.

Mountain Biodiversity Is Central to Sustainable Development in Mountains and Beyond

Rich biological diversity in mountains provides ample benefits to people locally and beyond. However, mountain biodiversity is decreasing rapidly, often as a result of geographically distant demands. We can achieve the transition to sustainable development only by accounting for the drivers and benefits of mountain biodiversity from a local to global level.

Autonomía energética local y desarrollo rural sostenible. Análisis de la pre-disposición a participar en comunidades energéticas renovables

Las comunidades energéticas renovables (CER) se han postulado en la literatura académica como una potencial fuente de oportunidades para el desarrollo rural sostenible. Las nuevas líneas estratégicas del Gobierno de la nación apuntan a que podrían empezar a incentivarse de un modo más contundente, haciendo necesario el análisis de los condicionantes de la predisposición a participar y/o invertir en este tipo de iniciativas. Con base en la información recogida a través de una encuesta en un pequeño pueblo de Galicia, analizamos mediante técnicas cuantitativas (análisis de componentes principales y de regresión múltiple) las características sociodemográficas y sociopsicológicas que determinan la predisposición a participar y/o invertir en una CER rural. Los resultados revelan que el género, el nivel de renta y un factor de capital social relacionado con la confianza y la cooperación resultan significativos. Estos resultados nos permiten formular conclusiones y recomendaciones para investigadores, promotores y legisladores.

Butterfly Conservation in China: From Science to Action.

Simple SummaryButterflies provide numerous ecological and socio-economic services and are important indicator species. China is home to over 2000 species of butterflies and in recent years has elevated biodiversity conservation on the national agenda. This manuscript reviews China’s butterfly conservation efforts and its legal and policy frameworks. We note some of the current limitations in butterfly conservation (inappropriate listing of protected species; over-reliance on inventories, rather than holistic research) and offer numerous recommendations to improve conservation efforts. Our recommendations include those related to integration of scientific data into policy (designation of scientifically-based protected areas; development of appropriate criteria for classifying protected species; use of umbrella species for conservation purposes), adoption of butterfly-friendly land use policies in rural and urban areas, butterfly ranching and farming, use of citizen science to improve data collection, and enhanced public outreach and environmental education campaigns. Our recommendations will help further the goals of China’s National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011–2030).About 10% of the Earth’s butterfly species inhabit the highly diverse ecosystems of China. Important for the ecological, economic, and cultural services they provide, many butterfly species experience threats from land use shifts and climate change. China has recently adopted policies to protect the nation’s biodiversity resources. This essay examines the current management of butterflies in China and suggests various easily implementable actions that could improve these conservation efforts. Our recommendations are based on the observations of a transdisciplinary group of entomologists and environmental policy specialists. Our analysis draws on other successful examples around the world that China may wish to consider. China needs to modify its scientific methodologies behind butterfly conservation management: revising the criteria for listing protected species, focusing on umbrella species for broader protection, identifying high priority areas and refugia for conservation, among others. Rural and urban land uses that provide heterogeneous habitats, as well as butterfly host and nectar plants, must be promoted. Butterfly ranching and farming may also provide opportunities for sustainable community development. Many possibilities exist for incorporating observations of citizen scientists into butterfly data collection at broad spatial and temporal scales. Our recommendations further the ten Priority Areas of China’s National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011–2030).