Idea Of Sustainability Research Articles

The problem of assessing the sustainability of adapted historic buildings with BREEAM certification using examples in Poland and Great Britain

ABSTRACT The aim of the article is to show the problematic issues of the BREEAM certification system, when assessing historic buildings from Poland and Great Britain. The research hypothesis is to analyse the disparities in the results of BREEAM for historic buildings, and to examine whether the criteria are adequate for a reliable assessment of the degree of sustainability in their adaptation. The first part of the article outlines the idea of sustainability and presents methods for assessing the degree of sustainability of buildings, and the main assumptions for BREEAM adaptation projects. Research methodology includes quantitative and qualitative research. The study involved statistical analysis. The scheme for adaptation projects was discussed. The second part of the study included a case study of four certified historic buildings from Poland and Great Britain. The results showed excessive generalisation and the favouring of individual categories of the BREEAM scheme. The authors pointed to disproportions and inconsistencies in the assessment of the degree of sustainability of objects, with regards to sustainability sectors. The possible exemplary solutions were presented, which include the modification of the BREEAM document, to assess in a more proper way the level of sustainable use of the architectural cultural heritage.

People, Planet, and Profits: Comparing Media Treatment of Dubai Sustainable City

There is a growing acknowledgment by segments of the global population that it is becoming extremely difficult to ignore the negative production externalities of industrial processes. In this regard, the related concept of “sustainability” has been gaining traction, with use of the word rising considerably since the 1990s. The term itself has been defined in many different ways, however, the core components are becoming common knowledge: economic, environmental, and social—informally referred to as profits, planet, and people. As Borden has aptly noted: “Sustainability ideas are growing and maturing at many levels worldwide”. One way that people come to know about sustainable development and its importance is through media coverage of the movement via various projects and initiatives that have been proposed on a theoretical or conceptual basis, as well as those models which have already been concretely realized. One such project established in 2015 is Dubai’s “Sustainable City’, the emirate’s first net-zero energy working model, which received attention in the world press. This paper investigates and compares the coverage that the Sustainable City has received in the global and local media by utilizing a content analysis methodology guided by framing theory. The research joins the discussion on issues regarding how the media discuss aspects of “sustainability” and how it takes hold within a society, whether it be by grassroots or government policy.

‘Being’ and ‘doing’: interconnections between researcher identity and conceptualizations of sustainability research

Sustainability research is characterized by a plurality of interests, actors, and research traditions. Sustainability is a widely used concept across multiple disciplines and often a cross-cutting theme in different research projects. However, there is a limited understanding of how researchers from multiple disciplinary backgrounds approach sustainability and position themselves in sustainability research as a part of their researcher identity. Previous studies among sustainability science experts have indicated diverse approaches and definitions of the socio-political, epistemic and normative dimensions of sustainability. In this study, we use semi-structured interviews with researchers (N = 7) and a survey distributed to two academic institutes in Finland (N = 376) to examine how researchers relate to sustainability research through the notions of identity as ‘being’ and ‘doing’ and how the differing ways to relate to sustainability research shape preferred definitions and approaches. The examination of perspectives among researchers enables the identification of diverse views related to sustainability and, consequently, sheds light on what kinds of ideas of sustainability get presented in the research. We conclude that understanding different identities is crucial for negotiating and implementing sustainability and developing sustainability research, requiring more attention to researchers’ positionality and reflexivity.

Psychological Acceptance of Sustainable Architecture in Lithuania: A Qualitative Study

The concept of sustainable development has been applied to the field of architecture since the end of the 20th century and has become an official paradigm for planning, design, and construction policies. However, a lot of researchers notice the lack of attention to cultural, place-based, and aesthetic aspects in the field of sustainable architecture. Moreover, the efforts to implement sustainability ideas sometimes lead to very unusual designs that can even be provocative experiments, and may sometimes lead to conflicting assessments in the general public. This study investigates the architectural language of sustainable design and how the aesthetics of sustainable architecture are distinguished and psychologically accepted by people. An online sociological survey was prepared and conducted, the results of which were analysed by general statistical calculations. The study analysed respondents' preferences towards sustainability in architecture, opinion towards sustainable architecture trends, and their features. The results of the study are illustrated by comparing opinion between professionals in the field of architecture and general public.

Sustainability, population and reproductive ethics.

The paper explores the links between sustainability, population and reproductive ethics, because sustainability goals and population matters both imply ethical commitments. This article is based on a critical analysis of current scientific and philosophical literature on sustainability, population and reproductive ethics. The idea of sustainability, as enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is a concept whose goal is to protect the environment, strengthen human communities and foster prosperity; in other words, to create a world in which all can thrive and prosper. However, humanity is moving quickly in the opposite direction. The main causes of unsustainability are excessive human numbers and the excessive human economic activity to which they lead. Sustainability is achievable, but it requires a sustainable human population. According to the latest studies, that is somewhere around three billion humans. Reaching this goal requires targeting all four reachable roots of the population's growth. Supportive measures, such as voluntary family planning, education and empowerment, combat (1) unwanted fertility and (2) coerced fertility. However, (3) population momentum and (4) wanted fertility also must be addressed. The latter two can be approached through promotion of reproductive ethics of small families, ideally one-child families, as a new global ethical norm.

Assessment the Health Sustainability using Neutrosophic MCDM Methodology: Case Study COVID-19

As a result of the severe difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, a holistic response is required, one that takes into account both the urgent needs of patients and the long-term viability of healthcare institutions. This study aims to give a complete knowledge of the tactics and techniques necessary to maintain the continuing well-being of people and communities by examining the idea of health sustainability in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducts a literature review to investigate the many facets of health sustainability, such as emergency preparedness, mental health care, health workforce support, health education and communication, research and innovation, international cooperation, and resilience in the face of pandemics. This study's results call attention to the necessity for universal healthcare access, mental health services, the upkeep of critical services, and international coordination as part of the COVID-19 response strategy. Societies may construct robust healthcare systems that can deal with the short- and long-term effects of the pandemic if they use a comprehensive strategy that takes into account social, economic, and environmental aspects. So, we used the concept of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to deal with various criteria of health sustainability. The AHP MCDM method is used to deal with various criteria and give the weights of these criteria. The AHP used a comparison between various criteria, so we used the neutrosophic environment to deal with the vague data in the comparison process. The proposed framework is applied in the application of COVID-19.

Inclusive urban space production model for sustainable development in South Africa

The year 1994 marked the dawn of the new, democratic South Africa. It also brought its own sets of challenges to the country. One such challenge was urban space. Regrettably, the new dispensation inherited still very much race-based urban areas. The distinguishing feature of urban space in South Africa is the phenomenon of exclusion, which causes deformity, and disappearance of urban structure. Exclusion has become a permanent visual reality in cities in which walled and gated communities divide the urban tissue and take up a large part of the urban space. The aim of this paper is to present results of a study that sought to examine the factors that influence urban space production, and with particular focus on the roles of the state, private sector, and community. Participation by all of them is essential to enhance inclusive urban space production for sustainability. The study demonstrated a concurrent mixed method design (case study and survey questionnaire). Results from these two concurrent approaches were merged to yield the final model. Both sets of results indicated that the intention to promote inclusive developments is predicted by seventeen dependent variables categorically presented under urban development characteristics, exclusive development enablers, inclusive development barriers, and sustainability criteria. The results of this inquiry are significant because they bring together the interdisciplinary perspectives to discern comprehensively the idea of inclusivity and sustainability in urban space production. The responsive model developed as a key product of this study aims to assist policymakers, planners, designers, landscapers, and developers as a guideline for facilitating inclusive and sustainable urban development.

Preparation of multifunctional composite materials based on PEDOT via enzymatic cascade polymerization

Bioenzyme-catalyzed conductive polymer polymerization is an ecological and environmental protection method that aligns with the current sustainable development plan. Hence, a new strategy of in situ assembly of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on the surface of fabrics via free radical polymerization initiated by the cascade reaction of glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was introduced. With excellent photothermal conversion capability and sensitive humidity response, PEDOT endows the fabric with remarkable photothermal performance, humidity sensing performance, and UV resistance capability. It is worth noting that the PEDOT-coated fabric can reach a fantastic 54.2 °C within 20 s under 2 sun irradiation intensity and finally reach 98.4 °C. In addition, it can maintain stable and fast responses in repeated and long-term operations. Moreover, the PEDOT-coated fabric has a fast response and long-term working ability in high humidity. This work provides a new environmental protection and sustainability idea for designing and developing conductive polymer-based high-performance composites.

Determinants of Sustainable Land Use Change in Agricultural Utilization and Environmental Performance

This paper aims to analyze the determining factors in the use of sustainable agro-industry by implementing renewable energy and environmental management performance. The paper also aims to investigate environmental policies carried out by the local government to minimize land-use conversion of agricultural utilization to non-agricultural functions. This study uses a data driven empirical approach in examining agro-industrial utilization in land-use conversion in Boyolali, Indonesia. The nature of the study was by employing sociology of law to analyze policy aspects in social interactions in environmental performance and sustainability ideas in land-use coversion cases. The results of the study show that the orientation of economic growth by implementing a renewable system and preserving agricultural land is the basis for regional policies to protect agricultural land. The findings also highlight spatial planning as the most important aspect in technical implementation of sustainability pratices in the cases of land-use conversion to non-agricultural functions. The findings would imply the need for optimization and control of agricultural land protection through environmentally-friendly local policies to control land-use conversion and maintain sustainable functions of land. The findings also imply to the importance of environmentally-friendly policies ranging from preparation of regulations, determination of regional spatial plans, environmental permits, and incentives in managing sustainability of environmental performance in land-use policy in local context.

Ameliorating the Special Education Teacher Crisis: Systems Thinking and Innovative Approaches

Chronic and pervasive special education teacher (SET) shortages have interfered with state, district, and school efforts to recruit and retain effective teachers for students with disabilities. Unfortunately, these shortages have worsened post-pandemic due to early retirements, low unemployment rates, and career changes. The purpose of this article is to provide a systems thinking (ST) framework to help stakeholders consider the complex and interacting systems in which these shortages occur (i.e., teacher preparation, district and schools, society). We consider specific elements within these systems, their interconnections, with a focus on identifying steps and ideas stakeholders can use to understand contributors to the shortage crisis, while providing strategies and innovative ideas for greater sustainability. We also offer real examples of ST solutions used within teacher education programs, schools, and other professions. To further bolster ST, we conclude with examples of innovations outside of education with ideas to bridge these concepts into potential pathways to address SET shortages.

Increased wheat yield and soil C stocks after silica fertilization at the field scale

Increased crop production is a main goal to feed the predicted human population in future. The current management practice is, however, not sustainable as it depends on high amounts of fertilizer application and is highly vulnerable to decreased soil water availability. At the same time it becomes more and more crucial to reduce or even mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A possible way to enable this, might be the increase of the soil C sequestration and thus the C sink function of arable lands. A recent and potentially more sustainable idea is the single time fertilization with amorphous silicon (ASi) which is known to increase both nutrient and water availability. Here we show for the first time on the basis of a field plot experiment how a fertilization with ASi is affecting both, crop yield and the C sequestration of the soils in an agricultural system cultivating wheat. We found a strong increase in wheat yield and biomass production after ASi fertilization by increasing soil moisture during the whole growing season. Additionally, despite a relatively short growing season, Si fertilization increased the net C uptake by soils, i.e., C sequestration with both Si fertilized treatments showing a negative net ecosystem C balance (soil C gain) during the measurement period, while the control showed a small positive net ecosystem C balance (soil C loss). To our best knowledge, this is the first time such effect has ever been observed. In summary, our study demonstrates a new management strategy for crop production increasing yield and biomass production as well as soil C uptake on a more sustainable basis, by a single time fertilization with ASi.

Statistical analysis of the university sustainability in the higher education institution a case study from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan

Educational institutions can incorporate the idea of sustainability at the grass root level for any society. This study is part of an effort to get insight into the campus sustainability in one of the Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Aim is to investigation university students' and faculty members insight regarding sustainability. Thus, questionnaire-based survey followed by statistical inference was conducted for the potential outcomes. The questionnaire is comprised of 24 questions, 05 of which are on demographics and the remaining 19 are about sustainability. The sustainability related questions focused mostly on the respondents' knowledge, understanding, and interest in sustainability. A handful of the other questions in the questionnaire were tailored to the university input to achieve sustainability. The dataset is manipulated with basic statistical and computational approaches, and the results are analyzed using mean values. The mean values are further classified into flag values of 0 and 1. Flag value 1 indicates a good marker of the received response, while flag value 0 indicates the least amount of information included in responses. The results show that respondents' knowledge, awareness, interest, and engagement in sustainability are significantly sufficient, as we obtained a flag value of 1 for all questions about sustainability. The study's findings, on the other hand, indicated that the institution is lagging in terms of supporting, disseminating, and implementing campus-wide sustainability-related activities. This study is one of the first initiatives to provide a baseline dataset and substantial information to go a step further in achieving the bottom-line target of being and acting sustainable in the HEI.

Mapping the trends of sustainable supply chain management research: a bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed articles

This bibliometric analysis explores the scope and knowledge base of scholarly efforts on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and how it has evolved in different economies and businesses to advance circular economy (CE) discourses in theory and practice across economies and businesses. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and search syntax, a total of 2,574 peer-reviewed articles from journals indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest were analyzed. The results show an exponential growth in SSCM research since 2013 with 6,306 authors from 83 countries published in 675 journals; however, less attention is given to developing economies (DEs) and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The findings provide a useful direction for future research and theory development in SSCM, allowing scholars and businesses to implement true CE by addressing practical sustainability issues relevant to their operations and supply chains. This bibliometric analysis is the first study providing a holistic overview of SSCM research trends in developed countries (DCs), DEs, and MSMEs, and arguing for inter-disciplinary CE discourses and inter-organizational collaboration in SC to update and implement CE. This study makes important contributions to SSCM research and practice by providing multiple snapshots of the increasing growth trajectory of the idea of sustainability in SC and how its different aspects have evolved over the period.

Between conspicuous and conscious consumption: The sustainability paradox in the intermediary promotional work of an online lifestyle site

This article examines the representation of sustainability on the online lifestyle site Goop as a case study of how promotional media deal with environmental and social concerns. Specifically, the paper presents how promotional intermediaries address or conceal a tension between (1) the promotion of conspicuous consumption and (2) the advocacy of sustainable living. The paper contributes to cultural intermediary scholarship by showing how promotional intermediaries attempt to reconcile this tension, advocating consumerism favorable to them while still enhancing critical cultural citizenship. By presenting sustainable brands and environmental advocates, and different—at times, incommensurable—narratives on the relationship between sustainability and consumption, promotional intermediaries signal that sustainability is important while promoting actions that can be considered to contradict the idea of sustainability, such as excessive consumption. In this way they produce a safe space for brands and consumers but arrive at a sustainability paradox.

EXAMINING STAKEHOLDERS’ ROLES IN ESTABLISHING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM-AN INTERNATIONAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

Planning and development for the tourism industry have focused on sustainability ideas and problems. It has grown more difficult to address issues of sustainability, environmental protection, and local community involvement. However, the past studies are limited in terms of how stakeholders in the tourist industry interact and how this engagement might help achieve sustainability goals. Today the era has changed and the audience are now available on virtual or online modes rather than the physical ones. Based on this and existing frameworks, we propose an extended framework along with roles and responsibilities of each, adding the online communities including travel vloggers in this. A systematic literature is done to identify the role of new stake holder, online communities, in creating sustainable tourism in the market.

KÜRESEL TEKSTİL TEDARİK LOJİSTİĞİNDE SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİRLİK İÇİN YAKIN TEDARİKÇİ (NEARSHORING) STRATEJİSİNİN KULLANIMININ CO2 EMISYON ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

The new world order, in which company interests do not conflict with social interests, and social and environmental issues become the responsibility of companies, has revealed the concept of sustainability. In this context, according to the statements of the European Parliament, sustainability is also important for the textile sector, which is one of the most environmentally harmful sectors according to the amount of production and waste. On the other hand, the textile industry has a complex supply chain in which many distant chain members try to act together under globalization and cost constraints. This situation makes the sustainability studies of the textile sector difficult. However, businesses that create a sustainable supply chain structure and continuously improve this structure are expected to create a competitive advantage. In this study, the nearshore supplier strategy is adopted to improve environmental sustainability. Therefore, old inbound transpostation has calculated to understand reduction of CO2 emissions. Used calculation methods are placed in EN 16258. With this new sustainable idea, the textile company used %30 nearshore suppliers are called FM (Full Merchandised) at first two years. The reduction of CO2 emissons rate for inbound transportation became 669 t CO2 e at the end of 2022. The total emission reduction during the next 10-years period is 20122 tons CO2 e for transportation. It is obvious that this research will be a sustainability study that will create value in terms of the inbound supply process.

Institutional Design for Sustainable Urbanization in the Caribbean

Essentially, sustainable urbanization is a political choice. Following this proposition, this paper seeks to critically assess the policy-institutional framework that is established or being proposed to shape the urban agenda in the Caribbean. Locating the research activity within a sample of countries in the region, desk analysis of the policies and legislation corresponding to urbanization in these countries is undertaken, complemented by lesson-drawing from case studies of international experience to determine the efficacy of the region’s policy-institutional framework and the extent to which it mirrors international norms. Preliminary findings suggest that sustainable urbanization remains a concept in the Caribbean as policies and legislation either predate ideas of urban sustainability, or do not target sustainability challenges adequately. The paper is part of a larger research project on sustainable urbanization in the Caribbean and therefore is intended to initiate debate and further research towards production of policy relevant information in this area of study.

Sustainability Challenges to Springshed Water Management in India and Bangladesh: A Bird’s Eye View

Springshed management across mountainous states, such as India and Nepal, has paved the way for the groundwater recharge process. In contrast, despite introducing several interventions, the Bangladeshi government has never been officially exposed to such sustainable ideas for a spring revival. Therefore, this study aims to diagnose water security for the Himalayan region by applying an environmental security framework. Community perceptions documented through focus group discussions and key informant interviews, as well as water sample testing, helped highlight the existing issues of water scarcity, accessibility, quality, and governance structure. Exemplifying the condition of Bandarban in Bangladesh, notable gaps were found in spring-related scientific understanding. Specifically, the lack of adequate reservoirs, institutional coordination, water supply, utility maintenance, and accessibility hurdles were identified as areas requiring immediate attention. As a recovery route, a six-step protocol of springshed management shows more promising outcomes. However, Sikkim communities in India raised questions over its efficacy due to the improper execution of said protocols. A limited understanding of hill science, including inventory and inadequate inspections before implementation, were found to result in only partial success. Upgrading remains a challenge as maladaptation might increase landslides. Therefore, development plans demand rigorous science-based investigation, consideration of local community knowledge, and (pilot) monitoring before the upscaling of springshed projects can be successfully conducted.

Urban Commons between Ostrom’s and Neo-Materialist Approaches: The Case of Lido Pola in Naples, Southern Italy

The main aim of the study was reflecting on performative implications of the urban commons and their relational ability (i.e., inter- and/or intra-actioning) within an inclusive governance model and policy design context through two interpretative keys: Ostrom’s idea of sustainability and the recent hybrid neo-materialist urban and organizational theoretical path grounded within the Metzger–Barad–Latour analyses. Firstly, we focused on defining the theoretical setting, background and selected codes. The resulting scheme was tested with a mixed methodology within the case study of the Lido Pola Commons in Naples, Southern Italy. Empirical analysis benefits from long-lasting research experience on the area and an action-research processes aimed at codesigning a living civic lab. The discussion illustrates the main pivots of the internal/external validation of the case study results, thus contributing to enhancing a participatory policy design by raising awareness regarding social intra/interactions.

The Implementation of Sustainable Finance: A Case Study in Bank Performance

The idea of sustainability was risen according to climate change since the beginning of industrialization in the 18th century. As consequence, the effect will be physical disasters that lead to disadvantages for businesses. The role of banking as an intermediary makes it an agent of trust. Thus, the proper business conduct of its practice is an obligation. Attempts for green finance can be seen by the SRI KEHATI index which has the 25 most favorable issuers that mostly apply ESG criteria. This study conducts an analysis of KBMI 4 banks and then analysis the relation of ESG score compared to the financial performance, i.e NPM, ROA, and ROE from the 2017 to 2021 periods. The result shows that there is a correlation between the performance indicated by the ESG score to the financial performance of each issuer. The results showed that ESG and NPM, ROA, and ROE do not have significant relation. It was because there was no direct correlation between the ESG and the independent variables. Both, ESG and independent variables are indicators of a company’s performance. Needs further study to connect those two to find how strong the scoring is affecting a company’s performance, especially in the profitability ratio. Keywords: Banking, ESG, Green Finance, NPM, ROA, ROE, SRI KEHATI Index, Sustainability.