Sustainability Perspective Research Articles

Decommissioning and restoration: early planning is critical to an efficient and risk-minimised process

Over the next 7 years, according to Wood Mackenzie, it is estimated that as many as 380 fields oil and gas facilities will be decommissioned across Asia–Pacific (Wood Mackenzie 2018). Many companies leave Decommissioning and Restoration (D&R) up to the respective project groups using their normal project management and control systems. However, managing D&R requires a different approach and mindset, as the value drivers and risk profiles for D&R projects are different compared to conventional construction projects. For D&R to be efficient – from operational, sustainability, regulatory compliance, environmental and financial perspectives – delivery must not be limited to an isolated project group. Rather, it must leverage corporate and operational knowledge, lessons learned from other decommissioning projects and industry best-practice to support the identification and management of the decommissioning risk profile and successful delivery thereof. Planning for D&R is essential at every stage of the life of an asset and should start as early as possible. Ideally, facilities are designed with D&R in mind at the project conception stage as the scope of D&R is often broader and more complex than operators realise, contributing to D&R projects often exceeding original cost estimates and timelines. Decommissioning and restoration opportunities may be missed or associated risks increased without timely recognition and management. In this paper, dss+ will provide companies with pragmatic guidance on how to plan and implement a D&R process that is managed well from an operational, risk, financial, contractor management and importantly, a stakeholder management point of view.

Local Government’s Role in Bridging Investment Disparities in Indonesia: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective

The decentralization within Indonesia's governmental system was established to facilitate equitable development and economic growth by devolving authority to local governments that better understand their region's potential and challenges. An integral aspect of achieving development and economic growth parity lies in investment, an arena still marred by disparities across various regions in Indonesia. This normative study, employing a legal approach to legislation, aims to analyze the legal issues influencing investment disparities, which in turn affect the implementation of SDGs in Indonesia. The analysis reveals limitations faced by local governments in providing incentives and support to attract investment due to their lack of authority in pioneering industries, which are also not linked to the local economy. Additionally, there exists legal uncertainty surrounding local government collaborations with external parties, particularly in the context of investment. These findings reflect a regulatory framework in Indonesia that fundamentally diverges from the spirit of decentralization enshrined in the constitution.

Striving for just sustainabilities in urban foodscape planning: the case of Almere city in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT As cities increasingly adopt diverse ethnic, social, and cultural characteristics, there is an emerging logic for planning and policy to reflect this hyper-diversity (inclusion) while resolving the looming sustainability-related challenges. However, what is not adequately addressed in the current literature on urban planning – which could also solidify the justification for more citizen inclusion – is what happens when citizens are involved in planning from the perspective of sustainability. In response, this paper asks a key question: “What are the implications, in the case of urban foodscape, when citizens are involved in planning from the perspective of sustainability?” This question is investigated in this paper in the domain of urban foodscapes and through qualitative interviews, with the support of maps, in the Dutch city of Almere. A novel theoretical combination of just sustainabilities and social licence to operate (SLO) was utilised to frame citizen inclusion in foodscape planning. The findings showed that based on everyday practical experiences of food access in the city, citizens were more concerned about social interaction, the representation of food from cultural origins, and local food production. This theoretical combination, as a way of deepening inclusion, would help avoid the tendency of urban planning being used as an instrument for glossing over social injustice under the guise of citizen participation. This paper, therefore, argues that SLO can be a key pathway for actualising just sustainabilities in both urban planning research and policy.

Light on the sustainable preparation of aryl-cored dibromides.

Both aryl and benzyl polybromides have gained significant importance as reactive building blocks in polymer and materials chemistry. Their preparation primarily relies on established synthetic methods using molecular bromine or N-bromosuccinimide, known for their reliability and effectiveness. However, from a sustainability perspective, these methods suffer from the generation of stoichiometric amounts of byproducts and often encounter selectivity troubles. To mitigate these issues, we extended the greener peroxide-bromide halogenation method, initially developed for monobromides, to afford aryl-cored polybromides in high yields. The same method can be employed in two variants modulated by light irradiation. This external switch can be used to selectively trigger side-chain or core halogenation.

Forecasting municipal solid plastic waste generation and management policy using system dynamics: a case study of Khulna City in Bangladesh

A comprehensive analysis of municipal solid plastic waste (MSPW) management while emphasizing plastic pollution severity in coastal cities around the world is mandatory to alleviate the augmenting plastic waste footprint in nature. Thus, decision-makers’ persuasion for numerous management solutions of MSPW flow-control can be met through meditative systematic strategies at the regional level. To forecast solutions focused on systematic policies, an agent-based system dynamics (ASD) model has been developed and simulated from 2023 to 2040 while considering significant knit parameters for MSPW management of Khulna City in Bangladesh. Baseline simulation results show that per-capita plastic waste generation will increase to 11.6 kg by 2040 from 8.92 kg in 2023. Eventually, the landfilled quantity of plastic waste has accumulated to 70,000 tons within 18 years. Moreover, the riverine discharge has increased to 834 tons in 2040 from a baseline quantity of 512 tons in 2023. So the plastic waste footprint index (PWFI) value rises to 24 by 2040. Furthermore, the absence of technological initiatives is responsible for the logarithmic rise of non-recyclable plastic waste to 1.35*1000=1350 tons. Finally, two consecutive policy scenarios with baseline factors such as controlled riverine discharge, increased collection and separation of plastic waste, expansion of recycle business, and locally achievable plastic conversion technologies have been simulated. Therefore, policy 2, with 69% conversion, 80% source separation, and 50% riverine discharge reduction of MSPW, has been found adequate from a sustainability perspective with the lowest PWFI ranges of 3.97 to 1.07 alongside a per-capita MSPW generation of 7.63 to 10 kg from 2023 till 2040.Graphical abstract

Constructing sustainable halal tourism composite performance index for the global halal tourism industry

ABSTRACT This study constructs a Sustainable Halal Tourism Composite Performance Index (SHTCPI) to evaluate the progress of the global halal tourism industry from a sustainable tourism perspective. To create the SHTCPI, this study uses four dimensions (environment, social, economic, and halal tourism) and 24 indicators covering the 2010 to 2020 period and 116 countries. The findings suggest that halal tourism is still in the development stage. Interestingly, most of the Muslim-majority countries are far behind the top score. The developed SHTCPI will guide policymakers and destination managers to formulate strategic policies for more sustainable halal tourism development.

Do we have enough space for the trees we need?

In 2021, two guidelines were introduced with the purpose of increasing cities’ tree canopy coverage (TCC): Konijnendijk’s 3–30–300 rule, where 30 represents the goal to achieve at least 30 % TCC, and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s (SEPA) guideline, aiming for all Swedish cities to increase their TCC by two percentage points (%pts) within a period of 10 years. While these ambitious goals are positive, not least from a sustainability perspective, there is a lack of research on whether these goals are feasible and how to reach them in practice. The overall TCC in Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth largest city, is 28 %, with considerably lower TCC in the eastern parts of the city. In this study, we will investigate, and visualise, how a 2 %pts increase as well as 30 % TCC could be achieved in two areas in eastern Uppsala: Fålhagen, a residential area, and Boländerna, a commercial and industrial area. We used geographical information systems (GIS) and a scenario approach to calculate the number of trees needed, and possible locations for them, to achieve a 2 %pts increase or the 30 % TCC goal. The results show that an increase of 2 %pts seems possible in both areas, particularly if the municipality and private property owners collaborate. However, it is difficult to estimate the time needed until the canopies of the proposed trees have become large enough to reach the 2 %pts increase. It does not seem likely to reach 30 % TCC in eastern Uppsala with today’s land use. To be able to reach the goals presented in this paper, it seems necessary to include them in municipality policies. Perhaps Konijnendijk’s and SEPA’s guidelines can be starting points for such policies and applied as rules-of-thumb rather than applicable planning tools.

Punica granatum and Citrus limetta biowaste-derived sorbents for the removal of heavy metals and organic compounds: sustainability perspectives

Punica granatum and Citrus limetta biowaste-derived sorbents for the removal of heavy metals and organic compounds: sustainability perspectives

Exploring the linkages among green digital transformation capability, ambidextrous green learning and sustainability performance: a case study of manufacturing firms in Taiwan

PurposeThis study proposes an innovative concept of green digital transformation capability (GDTC) and explores the interrelationships among GDTC, ambidextrous green learning (AGL) and sustainability performance (SP) from multiple perspectives.Design/methodology/approachSurvey questionnaires were distributed to Taiwanese firms engaged in various sectors, including electrical and information, metal and precision machinery, rubber material, chemical, daily necessity and food and beverage manufacturing, resulting in 306 valid responses. Structural equation modeling in SPSS v26 was used to test the hypotheses. Furthermore, we analyzed the mediating effects using SPSS PROCESS.FindingsThe results demonstrated that GDTC affected SP both directly and indirectly through exploratory and exploitative green learning. Furthermore, this study revealed the pathways through which GDTC influenced the SP of Taiwanese manufacturing firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to Taiwanese manufacturing firms. Future studies should expand their sample size to explore digital transformation (DT) practices in various regions and industries.Social implicationsThe DTs in manufacturing have profound social implications, emphasizing that companies should consider economic, social and environmental sustainability during digitalization.Originality/valueThis study introduces a novel concept of GDTC and provides important theoretical insights and practical implications for the intersection of DT and sustainability perspective. These findings will offer valuable guidance to companies seeking sustainable development in the digital era.

Generational Differences in Sustainable Consumption Behavior among Chinese Residents: Implications Based on Perceptions of Sustainable Consumption and Lifestyle

To deal with the challenges posed by generational differences in China’s sustainable consumption transition, this study’s pioneers using a mixed-methods approach with data mining and literature research to classify Chinese residents into four generations based on the sustainable consumption perspective. We developed a conceptual model of generational differences and conducted an empirical study using structured interviews with a multi-stage random sampling approach. The results highlight significant differences and distinct influencing mechanisms among the four generations regarding perceptions of sustainable consumption, lifestyle, and sustainable consumption behavior. Based on this, multi-generational differentiated green marketing strategies, green product development and green marketing practices, as well as consumer education systems and strategies for stakeholders including the government, enterprises, and society are proposed. The findings contribute to advancing theoretical perspectives in sustainable consumption research, serving as a valuable reference for sustainable consumption research worldwide.

Sustainability through the use of Building Information Modelling in infrastructure planning

This study examines the role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in infrastructure planning from a sustainability perspective. It emphasises how BIM can contribute to the promotion of ecological, economic and social sustainability. Interviews with experts have shown that BIM can not only optimise the energy consumption of infrastructure projects, but also lead to precise material quantification and optimisation. Despite the benefits, the use of BIM in infrastructure planning is limited, especially in small and medium-sized projects and with local authorities. The study identifies challenges such as the complexity of BIM software systems and the additional costs of implementing them. Recommendations for action include training clients and engineering firms in the use of BIM for cost forecasting and extending the digital twin concept beyond the construction and planning process. The results show that widespread BIM application is only possible if both clients and planning offices share sustainability goals and are prepared to bear the additional costs for BIM planning. The work emphasises the need to use BIM beyond building construction for sustainable infrastructure development and provides insights into the practice of engineering firms in the infrastructure sector.

Reducing Artisanal Fishery Impact on Marine Community: New Data from Comparison of Innovative and Traditional Gear

Fishery resources overexploitation, together with bycatch and discards, have an impact on marine ecosystems. The adoption of technologically innovative gears is a possible solution to reduce the discard and to enhance the sustainability of fishery, mainly in artisanal fisheries that represent about 80% of the EU Mediterranean fleet. In the perspective of fishery sustainability, it is necessary to study and test alternative gears to the traditional ones, also with collaboration of fishers. In the present study, results of experimental fishing activities carried out in two Mediterranean areas with traditional and innovative gears of small-scale fishing are reported. Thirty-four hauls were carried out to compare the catch of two types of trammel nets: a traditional one and experimental guarding net. Additionally, 12 hauls were carried out to compare collapsible pots and traditional pots. No significant differences were recorded between trammel nets in terms of commercial catch and discard. However, interesting differences in discard composition were recorded, with higher Elasmobranchs presence in trammel nets, including species assessed as critically endangered and vulnerable. The use of trapula pots in place of traditional ones showed a lower discard of specific resources and an advantage for fishers in terms of space occupied on board.

Developing a Measurement Framework for Ethiopian Dry Port Sustainability: An Empirical Study

Developing a Measurement Framework for Ethiopian Dry Port Sustainability: An Empirical Study

Traditional Village Morphological Characteristics and Driving Mechanism from a Rural Sustainability Perspective: Evidence from Jiangsu Province

(1) Background: The sustainable development of rural areas has become a critical factor in global economic and social transformation. As an essential part of China’s rural ecological and cultural system, traditional villages are now facing a crisis of yearly decline, and sustainable development has become a meaningful way to solve the problem. This study utilized morphological indicator analysis and the SDGs as an evaluation framework to reveal the correlation and driving factors between traditional villages’ spatial form and sustainability indicators. From the perspective of the spatial form, this approach has specific reference significance for improving the sustainability of traditional villages. (2) Methods: A framework for detecting the driving factors of rural sustainability based on four dimensions (morphology, environment, economy, and society) was constructed. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to analyze the geographic patterns and morphological indicator characteristics of traditional villages in Jiangsu Province, and GeoDetector was used to analyze the driving mechanisms of the spatial patterns of sustainability in traditional villages, providing the basis for spatial zoning and differentiated policy design for the construction, planning, and management of sustainable villages. (3) Results: ➀ The spatial patterns and morphological characteristics of traditional villages exhibit prominent geographical imbalances and significant cluster cores. ➁ The high-density and low-aspect-ratio rural form in the southern region (where rural industries are developed) promotes good economic sustainability in rural areas but also leads to poor environmental performance. The rural areas in the southwest and north (high-density forest areas) have medium density and a high aspect ratio, and the lack of agricultural space and external connections affects their social performance. The main focus is on poverty reduction and urban cooperation. The central and northern lakeside areas and the eastern coastal areas (important ecological protection areas) have low density and high aspect ratios, which have helped them to achieve excellent environmental performance but also led to contradictions in environmental, economic, and social performance. Maintaining low-density patterns, using clean energy, and protecting terrestrial and underwater biodiversity are essential to the sustainability of the rural environment. The agglomeration of spatial patterns promotes cooperation between rural and urban areas and improves industrial development, contributing to the sustainability of the rural economy. Improving social welfare and agricultural development contributes to the sustainability of rural societies. ➂ The impacts of various factors vary significantly; for example, Life below Water (SDG14), Climate Action (SDG13), and No Poverty (SDG1) are the most prominent, followed by Partnerships for the Goals (SDG17), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7), and Recent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8). (4) Conclusions: It is recommended that the government, with the driving mechanisms, divide the spatial management zoning of traditional villages in Jiangsu into three types of policy areas: environmental-oriented, economic-oriented, and social-oriented. Differentiated and targeted suggestions should be proposed to provide a critical decision-making basis for protecting and utilizing traditional villages in Jiangsu and similar provinces, as well as to help promote rural revitalization and sustainable rural construction in China.

Impact of renewable energy consumption on sustainable development in Central Asia

AbstractThe energy transition in Central Asia faces multiple risks while lacking empirical assessment of renewable energy use from a sustainability perspective. This paper examined the relationship of renewable energy consumption with energy intensity and carbon intensity in Central Asia during 1993—2019, using the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). Weighing the heterogeneity of countries in the region, the results showed that downstream countries build an inverted U‐shaped relationship between renewable energy consumption and carbon intensity, while the whole region indicates an inverted U‐shaped relationship between renewable energy consumption and energy intensity. Compared with hydrocarbon, nonfossil energy is expected to serve as a greater driving force for economic growth in the future, alleviating socio‐economic dependence on fossil fuels in downstream countries and generating additional revenues to ensure energy security in upstream countries. The findings suggest policymakers to considerably mitigate the risks of decarbonization across the region.

Evaluating Ghana’s Youth-Centered Food-Security Policies: A Collaborative Governance Approach

Food-security issues remain essential for decision-makers at all levels in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and youth-oriented food-security policies in Ghana are no exception. While there are no “one-size-fits-all” policy pathways to eradicate poverty and hunger, various governments, civil society, youth groups, and citizens can afford to ignore the present food policies’ status quo. This paper examines the perspective of sustainability when collaborative and open governance approaches are adopted by central governments and their sub-national departments, institutions, and agencies in youth-oriented food-security policymaking, implementation, and evaluation. The extent to which active stakeholder participation and collaboration, or the lack thereof, has either negatively or positively impacted food-security policies is another tangent this paper explores, including the sustainability of the youth-centered food-security policies in Ghana. Using qualitative documentary analysis technique through collaborative and open governance frameworks and drawing on the literature on multisectoral governance and youth-focused food-security policies, this paper identifies several disjointed youth-focused food-security intervention policies in Ghana with hazy institutional arrangements that have failed to ensure adequate implementation and assessment to promote cooperation, accountability, and transparency. The paper suggests the need for collaborative governance, effective policy monitoring, and evaluation strategies that involve government institutions, departments, agencies, civic societies, youth organizations, and citizens’ commitments to food security. This research finds that collaborative strategies and active youth participation in all food-security-related policies are essential for Ghana to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2.

CONSTRUYENDO LA SOSTENIBILIDAD: APORTACIÓN MULTIDISCIPLINAR DESDE LA UNIVERSIDAD

The university, due to its work in the generation and dissemination of knowledge, is a very relevant part of the development of the SDGs. The Civil Engineering and Fundamentals of Architecture degrees play a key role in contributing to sustainability through the development of skills aimed at proper environmental management and administration of natural resources in accordance with them. This article shows the development and application of an initiative to increase the mastery of competences related to sustainability in different subjects of their study plan. The approach includes a framework with actions carried out both in regular subjects and in end-of-degree projects. Didactic activities have been designed using different methodologies and students have been involved in their learning process, bringing them closer to the real world from an environmental and sustainable perspective. Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Project-Based Learning, competence-based approach, university.

Approaching road design from a sustainability perspective

The construction industry began emphasizing the three major pillars of sustainable development after the 1987 Brundtland Report. Sustainable design methodologies focus on life-cycle costs and the associated impacts of construction, operation, and maintenance. Maintaining road infrastructure accounts for a significant portion of the development budget owing to recurring costs, construction, and material extraction, while also resulting in other difficulties for the society. Poor road quality induce increased cost of living and degraded quality of life. Owing to front-end costs, road owners are typically motivated to pursue designs focused on the project’s initial cost. This is primarily attributable to a lack of understanding of sustainable development parameters. Life cycle cost attempts to quantify the environmental costs of sustainable construction. However, societal factors have been generally ignored. Currently, road section design is open to the designers’ choice of conventional unreinforced sections or a wide variety of planar and three-dimensional geosynthetic reinforcements. This study defined quantitative and scaled qualitative measures for designing road infrastructure using a sustainable approach. The methodology was explained using a full-scale real-life road project.

Sustainability criteria for introducing new technologies in low-income contexts

AbstractIntroducing new technologies in low-income contexts have potential for positive social impact, and such efforts are made by humanitarian engineering non-govermental organisations (NGOs). The impact can increase if a systemic sustainability perspective is considered in the design process. Sustainability criteria are identified using a literature study combined with an empirical study together with a Swedish NGO. These criteria are synthesized into a simplified Sustainability Fingerprint tool which is evaluated and deemed to be useful when introducing new technologies in low-income contexts.

Performance and Emission Analysis of Ethanol-Petrol Blends in Single-Cylinder Engines: A Sustainability Perspective

This study investigates the blending of ethanol and petrol in the Indian subcontinent, addressing the urgent need for sustainable fuel alternatives amid rising energy demands and environmental concerns. Ethanol, as a renewable biofuel, presents a viable option for enhancing the efficiency of internal combustion engines while reducing harmful emissions. Given the significant air pollution issues prevalent in urban areas of India, optimizing fuel blends can substantially improve engine performance and contribute to cleaner air. The primary objectives of this research include analyzing the impact of different ethanol-petrol blends on the performance of a single-cylinder petrol engine, assessing key performance metrics such as brake power, Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP), Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP), and Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTHE). Emission analysis was conducted to measure hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen (O₂), and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) across various blends, quantifying the environmental impact of each. Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) was employed to rank the fuel blends based on their performance and emissions, helping identify the most effective blend for optimal engine operation. Additionally, the sustainability of ethanol blending as an alternative fuel solution in the Indian automotive sector was assessed. The study recorded key performance indicators and emissions using standardized techniques, with GRA calculating Grey relational coefficients to measure the degree of similarity between observed data and desired outcomes. This approach facilitated the ranking of blends, ultimately identifying the optimal ethanol-petrol blend. The findings revealed significant variations in both performance and emissions across different blends, indicating that ethanol blending holds substantial promise as a sustainable solution for the Indian automotive sector. These insights align with recent studies on the benefits of biofuels in enhancing engine performance and reducing emissions, providing valuable guidance for optimizing ethanol-petrol blends to improve sustainability in energy consumption.