Sustainable Society Research Articles

Tough, Waterproofing, and Sustainable Bio‐Adhesive Inspired by the Dragonfly Wing

AbstractThe development of multifunctional bio‐adhesive plays a critical role in achieving a sustainable society, where the intrinsic sensitivity to water and poor dynamics severely bottlenecks its scale‐up application. Inspired by the microstructure of dragonfly wings, a strong and tough adhesive with excellent reprocessability is designed and developed by creating a dynamic network consisting of a lignin polyurea (LPU) framework with soybean protein (SP). The LPU framework act as the rigid nervures to slow crack propagation and transfer stress, while the SP dissipate the strain energy through the interplay from the graded hydrogen and imine bonds generated between LPU and SP. The bio‐adhesive achieves significant enhancements in fracture toughness and water resistance by ≈7 and 23 folds, respectively, compared with SP. Furthermore, the capacity for diffusion and restoration of dynamic network endows the adhesive with superior reprocessability, enabling recycled particleboard to achieve high retention of modules (over 80%). This sustainable bio‐adhesive approach offers a promising eco‐friendly alternative to the conventional petrochemical adhesive.

Understanding interrelated practices and their climate-related consequences: exploring food, mobility and housing in everyday life

Everyday lives are made of many practices, often more intricately intertwined than recognised. Fundamental practices, like how we eat, move around and live, have profound impacts on the climate and adaptability towards sustainable societies. While the impacts of these practices in isolation may be well understood, the interrelatedness of how these practices foster, constrain or change one another has been scarcely examined. In response, this paper serves a dual purpose. First, to empirically demonstrate a relationship between food-, mobility- and housing-related consumption. It does this by investigating shared practices among young adults living in Denmark. Findings reveal that home location plays a significant role in prefiguring mobility- and food-related practices. Mobility-related practices, like the daily route or mobility mode, adapt to the home’s location, while grocery shopping is conveniently integrated into daily commuting routes. Hence, this study offers empirical evidence of how certain practices not only influence but often prefigure other practices within the context of everyday life. The second purpose of this paper is to reflect on the climate-related consequences of these interdependent practices. The location of the home creates a locked-in situation for various daily practices, such as commuting and grocery shopping, influencing the degree of climate-friendly consumption. For instance, longer commutes resulting from housing relocation may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, or the availability of climate-friendly food products is contingent on the grocery stores near the home’s location. This empirical knowledge highlights how policies targeting food, mobility or housing can have far-reaching effects in multiple consumption domains.

Co3O4 derived ZnO: An effective electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

The growing accessibility of hydrogen and renewable energy sources has led to a rising significance of cobalt oxide (Co3O4)-based electrocatalysts in the context of effective electrochemical water splitting. Among two-half cell reactions, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is more complicated and sluggish in behaviour. We present a composite material based on cobalt oxide-derived zinc oxide (Co3O4@ZnO) prepared through a wet chemical technique to overcome this challenge. The as-prepared materials are analyzed for crystallinity, morphology, and chemical bonding through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), high resolution transmission electron spectroscopy (HRTEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The optimized electrocatalyst reveals higher electrochemical performance for OER with an overpotential value of 262 mV at 10 mA/cm2 current density, Tafel slope value of 59 mV/dec, and charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 72 Ω. Moreover, the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) is calculated as 320 cm2. Notably, the desired electrocatalyst shows the stability of 50 h at 10 and 20 mA/cm2 current densities. The as-prepared catalyst (Co3O4@ZnO) with effective electrochemical features can be a potential candidate for energy conversion applications toward a sustainable society.

Impacts of in-vitro zebularine treatment on genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptomic profiles in Salix purpurea L.

Renewable energy resources such as biomass are crucial for a sustainable global society. Trees are a major source of lignocellulosic biomass, which can vary in response to different environmental factors owing to epigenetic regulation, such as DNA C-methylation. To investigate the effects of DNA methylation on plant development and wood formation, and its impacts on gene expression, with a focus on secondary cell wall (SCW)-associated genes, Salix purpurea plantlets were cloned from buds derived from a single hybrid tree for both treatment and control conditions. For the treatment condition, buds were exposed to 50 μM zebularine in vitro and a combined strategy of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA-seq was employed to examine the methylome and transcriptome profiles of different tissues collected at various time points under both conditions. Transcriptomic and methylome data revealed that most of the promoter and gene body demethylation had no marked effects on the expression profiles of genes. Nevertheless, gene expression tended to decrease with the increased methylation levels of genes with highly methylated promoters. Results indicated that demethylation is less evident in centromeric regions and sex chromosomes. Promoters of secondary cell wall-associated genes, such as 4-coumarate-CoA ligase-like and Rac-like GTP-binding protein RHO, were differentially methylated in the secondary xylem samples collected from two-month potted treated plants compared to control samples. Our results provide novel insights into DNA methylation and gene expression landscapes and a basis for investigating the epigenetic regulation of wood formation in S. purpurea as a model plant for bioenergy species.

Thank You to Our 2023 Reviewers

AbstractOn behalf of the journal, AGU, and the scientific community, we, the editors of Earth's Future, are delighted to publish the names of the 817 peer reviewers who provided 1,242 reviews for our journal in 2023 (italicized names have contributed three or more reviews). Your diligent efforts to provide timely comments on our submissions have significantly improved the manuscripts and elevated the scientific rigor of future research. As a unique transdisciplinary journal, Earth's Future delves into the state of the planet and its inhabitants, sustainable and resilient societies, the science of the Anthropocene, and predictions of our shared future through research articles, reviews, and commentaries. In the face of observed and anticipated global environmental and climatic changes, the need for high‐quality scientific theories, assessments, and projections about the future of our planet has never been more pressing. To safeguard research integrity in this crucial area, we rely on our reviewers' expertise and selfless cooperation. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each of the individuals listed below for their contributions to our journal and the broader scientific discourse. Your dedication is immensely appreciated.

City of Leafcutter Ants: A Sustainable Society of Millions by Amy Hevron (review)

City of Leafcutter Ants: A Sustainable Society of Millions by Amy Hevron (review)

Interpretation of sustainability philosophies into product design for awareness, cohesion, and equity

AbstractThroughout time, the definition of sustainability has been interpreted differently and different philosophies have consequently emerged, each with its own vision of a sustainable society. At the same time, manufacturing firms have focused on environmental improvements, but social aspects have often been neglected. This study identifies 11 philosophies and 51 product design strategies contributing to sustainability awareness, cohesion, and equity, set to ensure social sustainability integration at a manufacturing firm level.

Incorporating transition design in the education of an established design subject to empower design students with systems thinking

AbstractDesigners’ roles are at a turning point of transforming design from an expert-driven design process within an assumed social and economic order to design practices that advocate design-led societal transition toward more sustainable futures. Design education should be adapted accordingly. Introducing the transition design concept into established design education promotes the sustainable society transition by involving more systems thinking from designers in various sectors. This study reports on a pilot practice and reflection on introducing the transition design concept to design students.

Menyelami Wawasan Buddhayana dalam Kehidupan Masyarakat Modern: Transformasi dan Tantangan

This research explores Buddhist values as a Buddhistic heritage that highlights inclusiveism, pluralism, and universalism, as well as beliefs in dharmakaya, in response to the challenges of modern times. The research method used is qualitative by adopting a library study approach, by collecting primary and secondary information from various sources such as books, articles, and the Internet. Analysis suggests that acceptance of Buddhist values can provide significant benefits to individuals and contemporary societies, including improved spiritual and emotional well-being. Practices of compassion, social harmony, and simplicity in everyday life are thought to strengthen human relationships and shape more sustainable societies. The promotion of Buddhist values is seen as becoming increasingly important in building a more powerful, harmonious, and cultural society.

SOCIAL CAPITAL IN INDONESIA: LITERATURE REVIEW

Social capital and human capital are two interconnected and mutually reinforcing concepts. Social capital refers to social networks, interpersonal relationships, social norms, and trust within a community, while human capital emphasizes knowledge, skills, education, experience, and individual attributes that enhance productivity and economic value. Recent research indicates that an increase in human capital, such as higher education, improved skills, and broader experiences, can enhance the development of social capital within communities. This is because individuals with high human capital are more likely to engage in social activities and build relationships with others. Strong social capital can also promote the development of human capital through cooperation, access to information, and extensive social networks. This is because social capital can facilitate the sharing of information, resources, and support. Therefore, social capital and human capital are two crucial concepts that should be considered in economic and social development efforts. By enhancing both of these concepts, we can create more productive, prosperous, and sustainable societies.

P2P Energy Trading of EVs Using Blockchain Technology in Centralized and Decentralized Networks: A Review

Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading has attracted a lot of attention and the number of electric vehicles (EVs) has increased in the past couple of years. Toward sustainable mobility, EVs meet the standard development goals (SDGs) for attaining a sustainable future in the transport sector. This development and increasing number of EVs creates an opportunity for prosumers to trade electricity. Considering this opportunity, this review article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of P2P energy trading of EVs using blockchain in centralized and decentralized networks, which enables prosumers to exchange energy directly with one another. The paper is aimed to provide the reader with a state-of-the-art review on the P2P energy trading for EVs, considering different blockchain algorithms that are practically implemented or still in the research phase. Moreover, the paper presents blockchain applications, current trends, and future challenges of EVs’ energy trading. P2P energy trading for EVs using blockchain algorithms can be successfully implemented considering real-time scenarios and economically benefits smart sustainable societies.

Analysis of International Carbon-Neutrality Campus Cases -A Case Study on Research Universities in the United States-

This study aims to contribute to the spread and promotion of discussions on carbon-neutral campuses by examining cases of carbon-neutral campus development in major research universities in the United States (Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley). To achieve this, an analysis was conducted on the carbon emissions status, climate conditions, carbon-neutral campus goals and strategies, emission quantification status, and progress of each university. The background for achieving carbon-neutral campuses at each university was explored, and the possibility of adoption in domestic universities was investigated. The universities effectively reduced greenhouse gases using PPAs and cooperative governance systems to create carbon-neutral campuses. PPAs were funded via government grants, university endowments, and fund creation. Sustainability departments were established, engaging internal and external stakeholders in carbon-neutral planning. In particular, the sustainability offices of each university demonstrate leadership both in reducing carbon and improving overall quality of life by setting goals related to reducing water consumption, promoting health, culture, food, and connecting with local communities. Korean universities face challenges in reducing building emissions, with limited use of mechanisms like PPAs. Thus, Policy backing is vital for procuring renewable energy. Additionally, although some domestic universities have ESG committees or sustainability committees, there are limitations in their roles, authority, and member participation. Thus, for the creation of carbon-neutral campuses and transition to sustainable society, it is imperative to establish relevant governance structures and systemic climate/environmental education, research collaboratively for institution value and talent development.

Exploring the Islamic Approach to Halal Science: Analysis of Ijtihad Methodology for Determining Permissibility and Prohibition of Blood Plasma in Food Additives

The significance of the Islamic principles of Halal and haram to a sustainable society cannot be overemphasized in the current global struggle against socio-economic, medical, and environmental issues. Halal science products and services are becoming attractive to corporate industries, especially in the food industry. Although related studies in the Halal industry have been gaining attention in recent times, with the global economic outlook to hit $4.96 trillion by 2030, little is known about the research that speaks to the fundamental Islamic principles of halal and haram in the food and services industries. Modern industries are conscious of employing workers who can contribute to the sustainability of the business amid the emerging contemporary realities. This study explicates contemporary Ijtihad methodology of Taḥqīq manāt al-hukm (verifying causal effect existence) and takhrīj manāt al-hukm (coming up with effective cause) in food additives like blood plasma content. To this effect, the study employs qualitative methodology in data gathering and analysis of classical and contemporary literature reviews. This study found that comprehensive Ijtihad methodology and application is a necessity for understanding the modern realities of Halal and Haram in food additives using blood plasma contents.

지속 가능한 미래를 향한 인식이 환경 행동 의도에 미치는 영향

To address the climate crisis, government policies and ethical business practices must be complemented by conscious environmental behaviors at the individual level. This study aims to understand how perceptions of a sustainable society influence the formation of intentions toward environmental behavior. It examines the impact of an individual's current status on their intention to engage in environmentally responsible actions. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted using Stata 18 SE, with variables including active social participation, general social perception, awareness of social issues, and sustainable social and environmental issues. The findings reveal that while general social perception did not significantly influence active social participation, awareness of social issues, and perceptions related to sustainable social and environmental issues, had a significant positive impact on active social participation. This study empirically validated the perceptions of individual environmental behaviors that are formed based on diverse backgrounds.

Advanced Vehicle Detection and Tracking on Roads Using Deep Learning

Abstract: The world has been overtaken by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning, which are affecting every aspect of our lives, including our need for companionship and the growth of smart cities and communities. Though tremendous progress has been made in fields like healthcare and education, transportation. Transportation is a significant barrier that has a huge financial and human cost on a worldwide scale. Traditional methods of assessing traffic on roads, which rely on inductive loops, don't give much information and can't control traffic in real-time. This study describes how the transportation sector could undergo a deep learning revolution. Deep learning techniques, including image and video analysis, have the potential to revolutionize road traffic monitoring by enabling computers to recognize traffic congestion, enhance road safety, and address various other concerns. The integration of deep learning technologies promises a new era of data-driven solutions for transportation-related issues, which could ultimately result in safer, more effective, and economically sustainable societies in the face of over a million annual fatalities and trillions of dollars in damages. In order to address these problems, this paper shows how well YOLOv3 detects automobiles and how well Darknet53 tracks these vehicles while they are on the road.

The Relationship Between Sustainable Consciousness and Environmental Awareness Sensitivity Level in the Context of Sustainable Development

In light of the changes and developments that have gained momentum in the 21st century, it is emphasized that the development process should be made sustainable and functional in today's rapidly globalizing societies. As a part of social life, it is important for individuals to adapt to sustainability. Within the scope of sustainable development goals, the issue of a sustainable environment for sustainable societies also comes to the fore. In this context, qualified education is emphasized for individuals and societies with sustainable awareness and awareness of environmental sensitivity. As a matter of fact, it is noteworthy that it is necessary to determine the levels of sustainable awareness and environmental awareness for sustainable development of teacher candidates who will be the educational veterans of the future. This study aims to examine the relationship between teacher candidates' sustainable awareness and environmental awareness levels for sustainable development. The research process was carried out with the relational screening model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, in accordance with the purpose and content of the study. In this study, the ‘Sustainable Consciousness Scale' prepared by Michalos et al. (2012), adapted by Yüksel & Yıldız (2019), and the ’Environmental Sensitivity Scale’ prepared by Yeşil & Turan (2020) were used. The data obtained were analyzed with the statistical analysis program. According to the descriptive statistics, it was seen that none of the data showed normal distribution, and group comparisons were made with the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis tests. As a result, it is understood that sustainable awareness and environmental awareness awareness levels for sustainable development are interrelated and reflected in the opinions of teacher candidates. It is thought that sustainable awareness and environmental awareness can be implemented by designing purposeful activities in schools to encourage the transformation of sustainable awareness and environmental awareness levels into behavior in individual and social life and that sustainable awareness and environmental awareness can be discussed in different education forums to support sustainable society.

Unveiling the health consequences of air pollution in the world’s most polluted nations

Air pollution poses a persuasive threat to global health, demonstrating widespread detrimental effects on populations worldwide. Exposure to pollutants, notably particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm (PM2.5), has been unequivocally linked to a spectrum of adverse health outcomes. A nuanced understanding of the relationship between them is crucial for implementing effective policies. This study employs a comprehensive investigation, utilizing the extended health production function framework alongside the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) technique, to scrutinize the interplay between air pollution and health outcomes. Focusing on a panel of the top twenty polluted nations from 2000 to 2021, the findings yield substantial insights. Notably, PM2.5 concentration emerges as a significant factor, correlating with a reduction in life expectancy by 3.69 years and an increase in infant mortality rates by 0.294%. Urbanization is found to increase life expectancy by 0.083 years while concurrently decreasing infant mortality rates by 0.00022%. An increase in real per capita gross domestic product corresponds with an improvement in life expectancy by 0.21 years and a decrease in infant mortality rates by 0.00065%. Similarly, an elevated school enrollment rate is associated with a rise in life expectancy by 0.17 years and a decline in infant mortality rates by 0.00032%. However, a higher population growth rate is found to modestly decrease life expectancy by 0.019 years and slightly elevate infant mortality rates by 0.000016%. The analysis reveals that per capita greenhouse gas emissions exert a negative impact, diminishing life expectancy by 0.486 years and elevating infant mortality rates by 0.00061%, while per capita energy consumption marginally reduces life expectancy by 0.026 years and increases infant mortality rates by 0.00004%. Additionally, economic volatility shock presents a notable decrement in life expectancy by 0.041 years and an increase in infant mortality rates by 0.000045%, with inflationary shock further exacerbating adverse health outcomes by lowering life expectancy by 0.70 years and elevating infant mortality rates by 0.00025%. Moreover, the study scrutinizes the role of institutional quality, revealing a constructive impact on health outcomes. Specifically, the institutional quality index is associated with an increase in life expectancy by 0.66% and a decrease in infant mortality rates by 0.0006%. Extending the analysis to examine the nuanced dimensions of institutional quality, the findings discern that economic institutions wield a notably stronger positive influence on health outcomes compared to political and institutional governance indices. Finally, the results underscore the pivotal moderating role of institutional quality in mitigating the deleterious impact of PM2.5 concentration on health outcomes, counterbalancing the influence of external shocks, and improving the relationships between explanatory variables and health outcome indicators. These findings offer critical insights for guiding evidence-based policy implications, with a focus on fostering resilient, sustainable, and health-conscious societies.

Measuring the knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behaviors of Filipino Teacher education students toward sustainability during the pandemic

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 crisis has immensely impacted the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. The integration of the SDG in the teacher education curriculum could contribute to the intensification of the SDG which is called for among higher education institutions. Hence, this article assessed 238 randomly selected pre-service teachers’ knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behavior toward sustainability during the pandemic. The study applied correlation design through an online survey complemented with a qualitative approach. ANOVA and multiple regression were applied as inferential statistics. Students who were actively engaged in sustainability efforts during quarantine served as discussants during the Focus Group Discussion. Findings revealed that a significant relationship exists among the variables of knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behavior toward sustainability. However, only awareness and attitudes can predict their behavior toward sustainability. Based on the illustrative examples in the qualitative results, students’ attitudes and beliefs about sustainability include engaging in sustainable teaching-learning practices, project-based learning, environmental practices, introspection, and school-community collaboration. In addition, the sustainability practices of the students during the pandemic included tree planting, conserving resources, recycling, and campaigning for the environment. Utilizing the proposed SUSTAINtegrate toolkit is a useful teaching resource to incorporate the critical principle of sustainability into the curriculum. Educational institutions can promote awareness about sustainability through project-based learning and integrate sustainability into the teaching syllabus, instructional materials, and teaching-learning practices. Environmental and educational sustainability attitudes should be fostered among the students through introspection, school-community collaboration, and a value-laden sustainable society.

Exploring the Nexus: Economics of Happiness and Quality of Life in College Students

A happy person will have a more active lifestyle, better career opportunities, and promote a more productive, cohesive, and lasting sustainable society. India is noted for having one of the world’s youngest populations. India has more than fifty percent of the population under 25. The primary objective of this study is to explore the levels of happiness and quality of life among college students in rural and urban areas of Karnataka. The sample comprises college students aged 18 to 25, drawn from different rural and urban colleges in Karnataka using a stratified random sampling method: the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for data collection. The collected data underwent analysis using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. It was observed in the present study that there was no significant difference between rural and urban students in Physical and Psychological quality of life. Results also indicate that in Social and Environmental domains urban students are better than rural students. The study revealed a significant relationship between happiness and different quality of life domains among urban and rural college students

Aggravating or alleviating? Smart city construction and urban inequality in China

A series of studies have been conducted in recent years to address the academic and policy debate on smart cities, some of which argue that the adoption of smart technologies to manage cities can exacerbate inequalities in urban development by favoring the classes that benefit from this model. However, to date, the links between smart cities and urban inequality (UI) has never been empirically tested at the city level of statistical inference. Therefore, with a combination of the difference-in-difference (DID) model and heterogeneity-robustness estimate, a quasi-natural experiment concerned with China's smart city policy was carried out. The following are the primary conclusions: First, smart city construction alleviates urban inequality. Following several robustness tests, the finding is still reliable. Second, the effect of smart city construction on inequality is heterogeneous. Third, there is a significant positive spatial spillover effect of the impact of smart city construction on inequality. Therefore, it is suggested to formulate targeted smart city development strategies from the following aspects: strengthening the overall planning and strategic layout of smart city projects, focusing on social equity and protecting the interests of vulnerable groups, improving regional cooperation mechanisms, attracting and cultivating innovative talents, giving priority to the impact of heterogeneous cities, and emphasizing the participation and autonomy of grassroots communities, so as to tap the potential of digital technology in sustainable cities and societies.