Sustainable Policies Research Articles

Research on the Accounting and Spatial Effects of Emergy Ecological Footprint and Industrial Green GDP--The Case of Yangtze River Economic Belt

The booming development of industrial enterprises at the cost of ecological resource consumption has inevitably harmed the ecological environment, especially since the phenomenon of water resource pollution is more serious. Exploring the relationship between the ecological environment and the industrial economy is crucial to the green and sustainable development of the region. This study uses the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to investigate the impact of emergy ecological footprint on the industrial green of gross domestic product (GDP) under the perspective of water resources, based on the panel data of 11 provinces in Chinas Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2012 to 2021. The results show that first, the overall industrial green GDP of the YREB has increased year by year, and the effect of water resource protection is outstanding. Second, the emergy ecological footprint has a significant positive effect on industrial green GDP, and the spillover effect is also significant. Third, heterogeneity analysis shows that the spatial relationship between emergy ecological footprint and industrial green GDP is different in different regions, and the local effect and neighborhood effect of the high industrial green economic development areas are consistent with those of the YREB, while the relationship between the low industrial green economic development areas is not obvious. This paper is of great significance for the green development of industrial enterprises in the YREB and guides the formulation of sustainable development policies.

GreenR: An open-source framework for quantifying urban greenness

How do we quantify the levels of greenness within urban street networks? Numerous attempts to quantify this factor have been made through survey methodologies, remote sensing data, and street view imagery. The results are promising, but are often limited by scalability constraints, including limited data availability, high requirements of computational power, and validation challenges. This study introduces a comprehensive framework for urban greenness assessment, leveraging open-source data to overcome these limitations. Central to this framework is the development of the greenR R package and an accompanying Shiny app, designed to compute, visualize, and analyze a novel proximity-based green index for individual street segments. Beyond this, the framework innovatively extends its analytical capability by integrating accessibility analysis, Green View Index quantification as well as introducing the Green Space Similarity Index, a novel metric that evaluates and compares the characteristics of urban green spaces across different regions. This extension enriches the proposed framework, providing not just a measure of proximity to green spaces, but also insights into their spatial connectivity and distribution. The efficacy of greenR is demonstrated by studying urban greenness patterns across several cities, highlighting the potential impact of such an open-source framework for citizens, urban planners, and policy-makers. This study not only advances our methodological approach to quantifying urban greenness but also provides practical tools and metrics that can inform sustainable urban planning and policy decisions.

Strategic implications of carbon pricing on global environmental sustainability and economic development: A conceptual framework

This study critically evaluates the strategic implications of carbon pricing mechanisms on global environmental sustainability and economic development. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research synthesizes recent findings from peer-reviewed articles, reports, and policy documents published between 2010 and 2024. The study's objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, assessing its economic impacts, exploring environmental benefits, and understanding the role of international cooperation in enhancing the efficacy of carbon pricing policies. The methodology hinges on a structured search strategy, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the literature reviewed. The analysis reveals that carbon pricing, encompassing both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems, serves as a pivotal tool for mitigating climate change while fostering economic growth and structural transformation. Key findings highlight the potential of carbon pricing to drive innovation in green technologies, the importance of addressing social equity concerns, and the critical role of international policy coordination in mitigating cross-border carbon leakage and competitiveness issues. The study concludes that carbon pricing mechanisms, when effectively designed and equitably implemented, can align environmental sustainability with economic development goals. Recommendations for policymakers emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies that integrate carbon pricing with broader economic and environmental policies, underscore the importance of international cooperation, and advocate for continued research to refine carbon pricing models and strategies. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on carbon pricing, offering insights into its potential as a cornerstone of global climate governance and sustainable economic policy. Keywords: Carbon Pricing Mechanisms, Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, International Cooperation.

Predictors of Adopting a Sustainability Policy in Museums

Predictors of Adopting a Sustainability Policy in Museums

STRATEGI PEMBERDAYAAN EKONOMI MELALUI INOVASI TEKNOLOGI AIR BERSIH: STUDI KASUS PENERAPAN REVERSE OSMOSIS DAN PERINTISAN BISNIS

The helplessness of coastal communities in processing salt and brackish water into drinking water is a great irony of modern society, in the midst of technological advances and the industrial era 4.0. The problem in the coastal areas of Sungai Kakap subdistrict, Kubu Raya district, is the lack of availability of clean water and the absence of clean water infrastructure. Peat groundwater in coastal deltas cannot support the use of groundwater sources due to high levels of acid and organic substances. This can trigger problems of poor community sanitation and cause the community's inability to optimize the potential of villages that have abundant natural resources. This activity aims to empower and increase community participation in designing and processing brackish/salt water into drinking water using Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology to meet the need for hygienic ready-to-drink water. Small scale water treatment system design using ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The raw water used comes from river surface water in coastal areas. The small-scale water treatment design consists of two FRP tubes containing filter media, three filter cartridges, and UF and RO membranes. Two thrust pumps, with a minimum pressure specification of 40 m, are used to provide pressure that exceeds osmosis pressure so that raw water can be filtered through the RO membrane. The results of the activity show that the implementation of the RO system has succeeded in increasing the availability of clean water in Sungai Itik Village, which previously experienced challenges in providing adequate water supply. In addition, the integration of local business startups with RO technology opens up new opportunities for local residents to participate in the local economy and increase family income. Key factors supporting the success of this economic empowerment strategy were identified, including active community involvement in planning and implementation, collaboration between local government and local stakeholders, and adoption of new technologies and skills by local communities. This activity provides an important contribution in understanding the role of clean water technology innovation as a catalyst for local economic transformation in coastal areas. The practical implications of these findings can help decision makers in designing sustainable and effective policies to improve the welfare of coastal communities through sustainable economic empowerment. The use of this technology can help increase the availability of clean water in areas that previously experienced difficulties in this regard.

Policy and Institutions for Environmental Sustainability and Green Growth: The Moderating Effect of Renewable Energy and CO2 Emissions

Reducing environmental degradation due to the waste of natural resources and increasing global warming have been the main sustainable development goals for preserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable growth established by the United Nations since 2015. Elucidating these goals requires effective and efficient environmental policies, substantial financial resources, and technological innovation to ensure an energy transition and reduce fossil fuel divestment and polluting technologies. In this context, this paper aims to examine the impact of environmental sustainability policy and institutions on green economic growth. Using a CS-ARDL panel model for a sample of 69 low-income countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America over the period 2005-2020, we find that the effect of environmental sustainability policy and institutions on green GDP per capita is positive and statistically significant. The intensity of this effect is moderated by increases in renewable energy consumption and decreases in CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the subsample analysis indicates that the relationships between environmental sustainability policy and institutions and green growth remain positive for the four continents. In the long run, the intensity of this effect is stronger in Europe and Asia than in America and Africa. Moreover, these impacts are more effective as renewable energy increases and CO2 emissions decrease. It seems to be more important in Europe and Asia than in America and Africa. Overall, low-income countries should pay particular attention to policy and institutional index for environmental sustainability to promote green growth, taking into account the moderating effect of renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions reduction.

Evaluation of the Pathway of Contaminants in the Environment: A Case Study of Different Aquatic Environmental Compartments

The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in several environmental compartments has raised significant concern given the extensive array of compounds and their consistent detection across various environmental matrices. Monitoring all potentially harmful compounds and identifying their sources is nearly impossible. However, providing data on their occurrence is crucial and lays the groundwork for decision makers to craft mitigation strategies toward a more sustainable water policy. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to conduct an evaluation study on CECs occurrence in the environment. The main novelty relies on understanding their specific pathway in three different environmental aquatic compartments. For that, a combined study of a systematic review and systemic analysis was performed. Initially, the five most common types of CECs found in aquatic ecosystems (groundwater and surface water) and wastewater were considered. For each group of CECs, five contaminants were identified. A bibliographic portfolio was generated through the application of a systematic review. Finally, a systemic analysis of the bibliographic portfolio was conducted. All classes of contaminants studied were identified in the environmental compartments evaluated. Except for pesticides, the degree of contamination by CECs followed a sequence based on the aquatic compartment (i.e., WW–SW–GW).

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & DEMOCRACY IN INDIA A POLICY ANALYSIS FROM TRIPURA & WEST BENGAL

This research article delves into the intricate relationship between sustainable development and democracy, with a specific focus on the states of Tripura and West Bengal in India. Through a comprehensive policy analysis, it examines the extent to which democratic governance influences sustainable development initiatives in these regions. Tripura and West Bengal offer contrasting socio-political landscapes, making them ideal case studies to explore the interplay between democratic principles and sustainable development policies. By scrutinizing the implementation, effectiveness, and outcomes of various sustainability initiatives in both states, this study aims to identify key factors that either facilitate or hinder the integration of sustainable development goals within democratic frameworks. Furthermore, it evaluates the role of governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and grassroots movements in promoting sustainable development practices amidst democratic governance structures. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of how democracy can serve as a catalyst or a constraint in fostering sustainable development at the regional level, offering valuable insights for policymakers, development practitioners, and scholars alike.

Optimizing tourist flows through operative carrying capacity assessment: The case of Bakkhali coastal tourism, W.B., India

<p>Carrying capacity assessment of nature-based tourist destinations is important for keeping the consumption of natural resources and anthropogenic pollution levels within environmentally safe and sustainable limits. With the mostly rural character of such destinations, the local community's well-being also needs to be prioritized. Exposure to natural hazards and climate crises have further exacerbated concerns about the long-term sustainability of these locations. The interrelationship between tourism intensity and its impacts clearly reflects in Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle model of 1980. The ‘elements of capacity’ and their ‘critical range’ mark a significant threshold in the model that leads us to the concept of Carrying Capacity. The capacity may be physical, spatial, ecological, environmental, social, economic, management, and governance, among others. This is also linked with the quality of touristic experience and satisfaction. In this context, aiming to understand the optimum level of tourist traffic flow in Bakkhali, one of the popular beach destinations of the deltaic island system of the Indian Sundarbans, this study assesses its visitor carrying capacity at three levels—physical, real, and effective. It also briefly introduces the idea of ‘operative’ carrying capacity at the fourth level. The study is based on tourist data till 2019 and adopts the well-established methodological framework of carrying capacity assessment applied widely in several settings. The result suggests that tourism operations at Bakkhali may optimally handle 2040 visitors per day, which may be stretched to a maximum of 2267 visitors per day. This may be used as baseline information for sustainable coastal tourism policy framing in long term while planning for tourism management and infrastructure development in the Sundarban region in immediate terms.</p>

Bibliometric Analysis of Key Issues and Objectives in Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainable Project Management

The environmental, economic, and social sustainability of construction project management was researched through a literature review in this study. This paper aimed to analyze the trends in studies about issues in sustainable project management and to research the importance and components of environmental, economic, and social sustainability and their interrelationships. In the scope of the bibliometric analysis, the articles were analyzed by their publication years, authors, authors' countries, authors' organizations, and keyword occurrences. Then, the problems in ensuring the sustainability of construction project management and suggestions for overcoming these problems were reviewed. In previous studies, high energy and raw material consumption and waste became the main factors that prevented environmental sustainability. A strong relationship was found between economic sustainability and life cycle cost assessment, and effective stakeholder engagement is considered the major contributor to the social sustainability of construction management. Sustainability regulations and policies, managerial capabilities, and organizational learning also have critical significance for achieving sustainable construction. The dimensions of sustainability in construction management are closely related to one another, and each one is crucial to achieving the other aspects of sustainability in construction projects. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy that takes into account social, economic, and environmental sustainability criteria should be adopted in construction project management.

The Impact of Islamic Finance on Carbon Emissions: Lessons from OIC Countries

Environmental degradation especially the spread of emissions per capita in OIC countries has increase very rapidly with one of the factors being sharia bank financing. This study aims to know the financing of sharia banking and the other common factors in influencing emissions per capita in OIC countries. The method that will be used is panel data analysis with the Generalized Least Square (GLS) weighting model Fixed Effect Model (FEM). The results of this study indicate that Islamic bank financing, real GDP per capita, and trade openness have a positive and significant effect on emissions per capita. Then from the results of this study indicate that urbanization has a negative but it’s not significant effect on emissions per capita. The results of this study can be used as a basis for sustainability policies in the government and company regulations such as the application of the concept of green industry and the development of clean and environmentally friendly technologies and sharia banking in OIC countries can provide sustainable financing so that the financing provided is not only profit-oriented but also realizes green financing for the community and companies in general.

Innovation factors for the development of sustainability policies that help the environment

Introducción: La innovación es un elemento que ofrece a los empresarios ventajas competitivas en productos y procesos. Objetivo: Examinar los factores de la innovación para desarrollar políticas de sostenibilidad en los sectores productivos. Metodología: Cualitativa con un enfoque deductivo, que se aplicó en una investigación documental utilizando la innovación y la sostenibilidad como fuentes primarias de información. Resultados: Los resultados revelan hallazgos significativos sobre el desarrollo tecnológico e innovación, identificando factores clave para la competitividad y el crecimiento tanto a nivel regional como nacional, destacando, además, una estrecha relación entre la innovación y los sectores productivos. Conclusiones: El análisis sugiere que las políticas de sostenibilidad están estrechamente vinculadas con niveles más altos de productividad en las organizaciones, por lo que este estudio resalta la importancia de fomentar la innovación como un medio para promover la sostenibilidad y mejorar la competitividad en los diferentes ámbitos empresariales.

Nudging intensive care unit personnel towards sustainable behaviour.

The health care sector is among the most carbon-intensive sectors, contributing to societal problems like climate change. Previous research demonstrated that especially the use of personal protective equipment (e.g., aprons) in critical care contributes to this problem. To reduce personal protective equipment waste, new sustainable policies are needed. Policies are only effective if people comply. Our aim is to examine whether compliance with sustainable policies in critical care can be increased through behavioural influencing. Specifically, we examined the effectiveness of two sets of nudges (i.e., a Prime + Visual prompt nudge and a Social norm nudge) on decreasing apron usage in an intensive care unit (ICU). We conducted a field experiment with a pre- and post-intervention measurement. Upon the introduction of the new sustainable policy, apron usage data were collected for 9 days before (132 observations) and 9 days after (114 observations) the nudge interventions were implemented. Neither the Prime + Visual prompt nudge, nor the Social norm nudge decreased apron usage. While previous studies have found that primes, visual nudges and social norm nudges can increase sustainable behaviour, we did not find evidence for this in our ICU field experiment. Future research is needed to determine whether this null finding reflects reality, or whether it was due to methodological decisions and limitations of the presented experiment. The presented study highlights the importance of studying behavioural interventions that were previously proven successful in the lab and in other field contexts, in the complex setting of critical care. Results previously found in other contexts may not generalize directly to a critical care context. The unique characteristics of the critical care context also pose methodological challenges that may have affected the outcomes of this experiment.

Artificial intelligence and complex sustainability policy problems: translating promise into practice

Addressing sustainability policy challenges requires tools that can navigate complexity for better policy processes and outcomes. Attention on Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and expectations for their use by governments have dramatically increased over the past decade. We conducted a narrative review of academic and grey literature to investigate how AI tools are being used and adapted for policy and public sector decision-making. We found that academics, governments, and consultants expressed positive expectations about AI, arguing that AI could or should be used to address a wide range of policy challenges. However, there is much less evidence of how public decision makers are actually using AI tools or detailed insight into the outcomes of use. From our findings we draw four lessons for translating the promise of AI into practice: 1) Document and evaluate AI’s application to sustainability policy problems in the real-world; 2) Focus on existing and mature AI technologies, not speculative promises or external pressures; 3) Start with the problem to be solved, not the technology to be applied; and 4) Anticipate and adapt to the complexity of sustainability policy problems.

Evaluating Attitudes and Preferences towards Walking in Two European Cities

Evaluating Attitudes and Preferences towards Walking in Two European Cities

Catalyst or Obstacle? Green innovation and total factor energy efficiency

Catalyst or Obstacle? Green innovation and total factor energy efficiency

Optimisation of POME biodiesel with isobutanol additive to cater UN sustainable development goal on affordable and clean energy

Biodiesel is a suitable alternative to solve global pollution and declining non-renewable resources. This aligns with the sustainable climate goals and policies to cater to SDG 7. Sustainable technology and solutions have to be fostered. The higher blends of biodiesel will result in engine performance and emissions degradation. Therefore, this research aims to improve the engine performance and emissions of diesel engines operating with B20 POME biodiesel and isobutanol. The Central Composite Design (CCD) model was used to construct the RSM model to determine the optimised condition of the engine testing. Engine performance and emissions of diesel engines were tested on the Yanmar TF120M at 50 % load. Six fuel samples, diesel, B20 Palm Oil Methyl Ester (POME) biodiesel blended fuel, and another four B20 POME biodiesel blends added with 5–20 % in volume percentage of isobutanol, were tested. The optimised RSM obtained a desirability of 0.7. The optimal conditions for the engine testing were at 1868 rpm and a 10 % isobutanol additive percentage. The brake power, BSFC, and BTE of the B95IBU5 and B90IBU10 show an improvement compared to the B20. The exhaust emission shows the lowest CO emission for B90IBU10 at 50 % load. The lowest NOx emission was obtained by B95IBU5 and B90IBU10, with an improvement of 1.8 % and 2.4 %, respectively. Therefore, from this study, it can be concluded that a lower percentage of isobutanol additive of 5–10 % is a promising additive for biodiesel blended fuels.

Human Capital at the Regional Level: Population Forecast Insights into Latvia from a Long-Term Perspective

To remain prosperous and competitive, modern regions must meet the challenge of becoming smart and sustainable, and human capital has a key role in this context. Depopulation increases risks of human capital availability and emigration is a primary reason. Regions that are experiencing a decreased population must develop strategic sustainable regional development policies that consider scientifically based population forecasts. The youth population characterises regional potential for long-term human capital availability. First, children represent a region’s future employees and entrepreneurs. Second, children require availability of educational services at regional level, which promotes regional vitality. Third, the youth population indirectly demonstrates a region’s socio-economic attractiveness for living and working. This study employs the system dynamic method to forecast different population change scenarios at the regional level in Latvia. The results reveal a declining, long-term population tendency for working age and youth populations in Latvian regions. Overall, Latvian regions will remain extremely homogeneous in the long term, with minor differences in the short term. In conclusion, despite regional disparities in terms of quality of life with some leading examples, all regions will experience high emigration loss. Regional social, economic and environmental characteristics demonstrate a need to assess population change trends in a complex manner. This study provides data for understanding short- and long-term perspectives that must be addressed through sustainable regional development policies.   Received: 27 October 2023 / Accepted: 24 March 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF CSR INITIATIVES BY SECL ON THE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS OF THE ANUPPUR (M.P)

This paper examines the effects of SECLs sustainable CSR policy on rural livelihood in Anuppur (M.P). Structural equation modeling using the sustainable livelihood framework (DFID, 1999) was employed to analyze the policys impact. Both primary and secondary data were collected, including 260 responses through a structured questionnaire. Samples were gathered from villages within 10 km of the coal mines and beyond using purposive convivence sampling. Results reveal both positive and negative impacts of CSR on local livelihoods. Villagers near the coal mines were somewhat aware of SECLs CSR activities but expressed dissatisfaction with the services provided. The study suggests promoting sustainable livelihoods by ensuring environmentally and socially responsible mining practices through proper policies and procedures. Government intervention is crucial to ensure local villagers benefit from SECLs CSR initiatives. KEYWORDS: Sustainable Livelihood, CSR policy, SECL, Rural Livelihood, Structural Equation Modelling

A STUDY OF GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ADOPTED BY THE NEW AGE ORGANIZATIONS

This study looks at the Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) strategies used by Google, a company that is well-known throughout the world for its cutting-edge approaches to workplace culture and sustainability. The corporate agenda is starting to prioritize environmental issues more and more, thus it's important to understand how companies like Google incorporate sustainability into their HRM strategy in order to promote a more environmentally conscious and responsible business environment.Through a comprehensive review of literature and analysis of available resources, this study examines Google's environmental sustainability initiatives, policies, and employee involvement techniques through a thorough evaluation of the literature and analysis of the resources available. Recruitment and selection, performance management, workplace rules and procedures, supplier partnerships, community involvement, employee training and development, and measuring and reporting environmental performance are some of the key topics of inquiry. The results show that Google's GHRM policies are engrained in the company culture and demonstrate a dedication to social responsibility and environmental stewardship. The organization places a strong emphasis on the empowerment and participation of its workforce, promoting a sustainable culture through programs including training, rewards for success, and chances for community service. The implementation of GHRM techniques has several challenges, such as striking a balance between business and environmental objectives, guaranteeing alignment across various organizational roles, and surmounting resistance to change. Organizations may learn a great deal from Google's experiences and lessons gained when creating and implementing their own green HRM policies, which will encourage environmental responsibility and help create a more sustainable future.