A bibliometric analysis of information system development for environmental sustainability

The burden of chronic hepatitis B and C in 2022 and progress towards elimination: a global report.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are currently seen as an affordable and mainstream renewable energy option to support energy decarbonisation, aligning with commitments of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7). This technology prevails in high irradiance places such as deserts, where some of the largest PV systems are installed globally. However, harsh desert conditions reduce PV systems' efficiency and lifespan, among other negative effects. While research on designing PV systems that endure desert conditions is ongoing, little is known about the environmental impacts of these novel PV solutions. This study uses the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to assess the environmental impacts of four novel PV system designs (HJT 1–4) for desert conditions and compares them with three systems available in the current market (PERC, PERC+ and TOPCon). The functional unit of the study is ‘the production of 1 kWh of electricity AC, considering a PV system connected to a 570kWp grid in the Atacama Desert with a lifespan of 25 years’. The inventories were built using data from tested designs in the desert. 18 environmental impact indicators were included following ReCiPe method, and complemented with energy payback time (EPBT). Results show that the novel design (HJT 3) achieves up to 30% reduction in GWP 100 per kWh of electricity generated compared to conventional monofacial PERC modules, and a 15% reduction compared to TOPCon modules, primarily due to higher efficiency and reduced materials consumption. The Balance of System (BOS) and installation stage shows the greatest impact on PV systems, contributing 46% on average across all environmental burden, followed by the wafer manufacturing (25% on average) and module manufacturing stages (18% on average). Across all impact categories, including EPBT, PERC is the worst performer, and HJT 3 and HJT 4 are the best performers, followed by TOPCon. This study validates the effort of performing environmental impact assessments on new designs, to ensure both technical performance and the environmental and economic sustainability of renewable energy systems.

ABSTRACT This research employs a big data methodology to develop a Physical Infrastructure Index (PII) utilizing Points of Interest (POI) and create an urban sprawl index. The study investigates the correlation between physical infrastructure, urban sprawl, and poverty, providing policy recommendations for urban development. The model explains 46.7% of the variation and demonstrates a robust correlation, characterized by low error rates (RMSE of 0.13, MAE of 0.08, and MAPE of 4.48%). The findings validate that enhancing infrastructure and regulating urban growth are efficacious ways for alleviating urban poverty, consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing the global demand for eco-friendly technologies, this study reports a sustainable 'green' route for the synthesis of cerium oxide (CeNPs), zinc oxide (ZnNPs), and their synergistic Ce-Zn nanocomposite (Ce-Zn Nc) using Rhazya stricta leaf extract. By replacing hazardous chemical reductants with renewable phytochemicals, this approach directly aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). GC-MS profiling identified 24 bioactive stabilizers, including Palmitic acid and Quebrachamine, which eliminate the need for toxic synthetic capping agents. Structural characterization (UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, Raman, SEM/TEM) confirmed the successful synthesis of highly stable, crystalline particles, with the Ce-Zn Nc exhibiting a superior reduced average size of 10.7 nm and enhanced thermal stability compared to individual nanoparticles. Critically, the nanocomposite demonstrated enhanced synergistic efficiency in addressing challenges related to SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 6 (Clean Water). The Ce-Zn Nc showed superior antioxidant potential (Total Flavonoid Content: 342 ± 2.4 µg QE per mg) and robust antibacterial activity (26.7 ± 1.5 mm against E. coli). Furthermore, the composite provided an effective solution for environmental remediation, achieving 67.3 ± 4% catalytic degradation of methylene blue dye under solar irradiation. Hemolytic assays revealed a dose-dependent activity peaking at 59.1 ± 1.3%, indicating that while these materials possess significant membrane-disrupting potential, they offer a specialized bio-active alternative to traditional industrial catalysts. This research provides an evidence-based framework for scaling up multifunctional, bio-inspired nanomaterials to solve pressing sustainability challenges. Future research should focus on the multi-cycle stability and pilot-scale optimization of these green-synthesized nanocomposites to facilitate their practical implementation in industrial environmental remediation and clinical diagnostics.

Achieving thermal comfort in social housing under variable and changing climates presents a critical challenge for sustainable building design and energy efficiency. This study develops a simulation-based multi-objective optimization framework to support early-stage design of climate-resilient social housing in Brazil, aiming to reduce thermal discomfort and associated mechanical conditioning energy demands. The goal is to identify building envelope configurations that minimize total construction cost while maximizing annual thermal comfort hours, thereby reducing the need for active heating and cooling systems. A reference single-room prototype is simulated in EnergyPlus for five cities representing distinct climatic zones. A wide range of construction alternatives for walls, roofs, slabs, and glazing are evaluated, with costs derived from the national SINAPI database and comfort assessed using the ASHRAE adaptive model based on operative temperature. The optimization, performed with the NSGA-II algorithm (via PyMOO), generates city-specific Pareto fronts that quantify the inherent trade-off between cost and comfort. Results show that optimal solutions range from approximately R$4800 to R$8900 in cost, achieving between 1350 and 3550 annual comfort hours, heavily influenced by local climate. Frequency analysis reveals that wall and roof assemblies are the most influential design variables. The proposed framework provides a transparent, data-driven decision-support tool for defining cost-effective, climate-adapted construction standards, contributing directly to sustainable housing policy, energy poverty reduction, and the development of resilient, low-carbon built environments aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

This study analyzes the possibility of producing glass-ceramics from chromite tailings, coal fly ash (Class F), and red mud industrial wastes in Türkiye. Unlike previous studies that typically used binary mixtures or different compositional ratios, this study introduces a novel ternary combination with a fixed 1:2:3 ratios (fly ash: chromite tailings: red mud). This specific ratio was optimized through experimental trials and found to enhance sinterability, mechanical strength, and microstructural stability. The glass-ceramics obtained using this ratio demonstrated compressive strength, water absorption, and density of 12.21 MPa, 0.44%, and 2.05 g/cm³, respectively. The resultant products were analyzed by XRD and leaching tests, which confirmed quartz-based crystalline phases and negligible leaching of toxic metal ions. These findings propose a new strategy for environmentally benign waste recycling, aligned with green chemistry principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.

Statistically characterized and experimental validation based guidelines for the use of computational fluid dynamics for the prediction of performance in Francis turbines

Early and accurate plant disease detection is crucial for sustainable agriculture and crop productivity. This review critically evaluates the artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, including machine learning (ML), deep neural networks (DNNs), and computer vision (CV) for automated disease detection across diverse horticultural crops. By analysing and synthesizing implementations in strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, grapes, apples, squash, and others, we identify transferable knowledge and benchmarks applicable to raspberry ( Rubus idaeus ) monitoring within Western Norway's “FutuRaPS” project. Our study introduces following primary novel contributions: (a) the conceptualization and quantification of the ‘Algorithmic and Data Lag’ for raspberries disease detection, revealing a significant knowledge gap despite rapid DL advances and diverse imaging modalities (RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral for pre-symptomatic detection); (b) a tailored ‘knowledge transferability matrix’ that maps potential AI architectures and sensing strategies directly to raspberry-specific challenges; and (c) the ‘first actionable research roadmap’ for building intelligent, autonomous raspberry disease-monitoring framework applicable to Nordic and global environments. Our synthesis highlights promising AI-driven robotics and edge computing for real-time, in-field monitoring and targeted interventions, offering pathways to overcome persistent challenges like dataset limitations and environmental variability. By enabling scalable, field-validated solutions, this work provides a strategic contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 12, and 13), fostering resilient and sustainable berry production in Nordic regions and globally. This systematic, PRISMA-compliant review rigorously maps progress and gaps, to guide operational Agriculture 4.0 solutions for raspberry horticulture worldwide. Here is a set of complementary highlights for this review article. • AI monitoring of raspberry diseases: gap analysis and cross-crop synthesis. • Benchmarks DL models (YOLO, CNN, ViT) and HSI for efficient field deployment. • Identifies critical data deficit and algorithmic lag in current raspberry research. • Proposes integrated FutuRaPS roadmap for resilient, edge-AI robotic monitoring. • Enables sustainable raspberry production using actionable AI framework.

With an emphasis on biologically based, environmentally safe processes that follow the principles of green chemistry, this thorough review critically assesses contemporary green synthesis methods for nanomaterials. It draws attention to the limitations of traditional synthesis methods, which usually involve potentially hazardous materials, require a significant amount of energy, and produce harmful byproducts. The study explores the evolutionary role of several biological agents in the continuous production of a broad variety of nanoparticles (e.g., Ag, Au, ZnO, CuO, Fe), including plant extracts, microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae), and enzymes. This review focuses on biologically mediated nanoparticle synthesis; green physicochemical techniques are discussed only in relation to benchmark sustainability, mechanistic insight, and scalability. The fundamentals of nanoparticle creation are examined, along with the role that enzymes and phytochemicals play. The article also discusses important characterization techniques for evaluating the properties of green-synthesized nanoparticles, as well as their numerous uses in energy and sensor technologies, water treatment, air purification, soil remediation, antibacterial and medicinal applications, and among other applications. By highlighting its potential to promote scalable, low-toxicity, and financially viable solutions for global sustainable development in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the circular economy, this study offers helpful advice for advancing green nanotechnology by identifying research gaps, scaling issues, and new opportunities. • Explores biogenic nanomaterial synthesis as a sustainable alternative process. • Critically reviews plant-, microbe-, and biomolecule-mediated pathways for nanoparticle fabrication. • Renewable resouces, minimizes waste and energy through AI/ML model. • Identifies current limitations, knowledge gaps, and standardization issues hindering industrial-scale implementation.

<p>The UN Sustainable Development Goals emphasise the importance of balanced progress for promoting mental health, full productive employment, and decent work for all, including those with mental conditions. Mental health issues are prevalent and growing, leading to alarmingly immense and increasing costs for the workforce. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the complex relationship between mental health and work (including work environment) and assess the detrimental socioeconomic consequences in the workforce to various market participants. The results indicate that (1) workers with mental conditions impair productivity and the work environment impacts mental health; (2) mental health problems generate enormous costs for the economy and society, employers and employees; (3) the indirect burden of mental disorders vastly outweighs the direct cost.</p>

ABSTRACT This study analyses the educational and promotional activities carried out by the Italian State Archives in the decade 2013–2023, evaluating their distribution by region and assessing the impact of the National Plans for Cultural Heritage Education launched in 2015. The analysis classifies the activities according to two main functions training and promotion and examines their territorial distribution across three macro-areas (North, Centre, South and Islands) in relation to the international framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention. The results reveal that the National Plans produced a significant catalytic effect, particularly in the South and Islands. However, when data are normalized by number of archives, the territorial disparities prove to be qualitative rather than quantitative: the Centre and the South record more activities per archive than the North, but with a less diversified offer concentrated in fewer typologies. The temporal analysis shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had an asymmetric impact, disproportionately affecting regions with fewer digital infrastructures and a more in-person-dependent offer. These findings suggest that the challenge for the Italian archival system is not merely to increase the volume of activities but to diversify the offer, strengthen inter-institutional networks, and build resilience through the integration of digital technologies.

ABSTRACT Carbon emissions are growing priority for policy makers, investors, and financial institutions. This study examines their impact on credit risk, as measured by distance to default, for listed financial institutions in emerging markets over 2013–2020, and distinguishing between Scope 1 (operational) and Scope 3 (financed) emissions. Our methodology uses quantile regression to analyze the impact of CO2 emissions on distance to default, which is estimated under the structural model using the maximum likelihood method proposed by Duan and Wang (2012). We find that financial institutions have reduced emissions, particularly after the 2015 Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals. While CO2 emissions generally increase credit risk, their effect varies by institutional risk, financial development, and governance quality. In less developed regions, higher emissions are associated with financial stability, particularly for riskier financial institutions prioritizing growth and cost efficiency. Conversely, for healthier institutions under strong financial systems, regulatory pressures and investor scrutiny amplify the credit risk implication of both Scope 1 and Scope 3. Governance quality further shapes this relationship, with stronger enhancing environmental accountability in credit assessments. Our findings highlight the need for clear policies that incorporate sustainability into financial risk management.

Freelancing platforms are increasingly becoming digital labour infrastructure, encoding how work is found, priced, contracted, and governed across borders. This paper examines how platform mechanisms and institutional contexts jointly shape progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 5/10 (Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and the cross-cutting climate dimension of SDG 13 (Climate Action). Using a conceptual-comparative design and desk research (peer-reviewed literature, policy reports, platform documentation, and regulatory texts), Fiverr (USA) and Useme (Poland/EU) are contrasted as illustrative cases representing market-driven and compliance-oriented models. The case evidence shows that platforms can widen market access and enable capability recombination for firms and freelancers, while also reproducing precarity, unequal visibility and pay, limited social protection, and rising environmental burdens via expanding data infrastructures. The comparison indicates that sustainability trajectories depend less on technology than on governance: transparency and due process in algorithmic management; benefits and contributions aligned with multi-client work; data rights and interoperability; and climate accountability for digital operations. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for regulators, platforms, and buyers to translate platform scale into inclusive, secure, and low-carbon outcomes.

2,5-Dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF), a renewable biofuel with promising properties, highlights the importance of biomass conversion as a key strategy for sustainable energy production. In this study, we report a facile synthesis of 2,5-DMF from 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF) using polymer-supported nano-composite material (Pd@PS) as a catalyst at 35°C in 3 h under a H2 atmosphere. The developed methodology provides an excellent tentative carbon conversion efficiency percentage (90%), high atom economy (64%), and low environmental factor (E-factor) (1.15, normalized value 50%), indicating sustainability and a green chemistry matrix. These studies also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 12, contributing to the global transition toward cleaner and more sustainable chemical manufacturing by valorizing biomass-based feedstocks. Additionally, the CMF has been synthesized from raw biomass sources, like banana peel waste, sugarcane bagasse, rice straw, and corn cobs, with yields ranging from 8 to 15 wt% and carbon conversion efficiency (tentative) between 25% and 54%. Furthermore, the developed protocol offered an efficient and scalable process (up to 5.0 g) for the production of biofuel, with superior catalytic activity and high recyclability up to six cycles. Moreover, total turnover and turnover frequency numbers were found to be 59.89 and 59.89 h-1, respectively.

This paper delves into the escalating risks faced by urban coastal communities due to tidal and storm flooding, exacerbated by climate change-induced Sea Level Rise (SLR). Projections indicate a potential increase in sea levels by at least 3 feet by 2100, with historical data revealing an average annual rise of 1.2–1.7 mm since the 1900s. With over 300 million individuals inhabiting coastal areas, low-lying regions emerge as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of SLR. This accelerated rise amplifies the significant challenge of nuisance flooding, a local-scale issue aggravated by high tide and winds, leading to inundation, road closures, infrastructure deterioration, the jeopardizing of essential systems such as sewage networks, and much more. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, this paper aims to explore innovative resilience solutions within coastal urban communities, acknowledging the complex interplay among environmental, social, and economic factors. Through a comprehensive literature review, it examines various topics including SLR, adaptation strategies, retreat options, storm surge flooding, and rainfall-induced inundation. These topics are analyzed across different scales of intervention, encompassing planning, city, and architectural design, to identify optimal pathways for adapting to rising seas and ensuring a sustainable future. Serving as a framework for architects, urban designers, planners, and policymakers, this paper provides insights into the sustainable development of coastal urban communities by promoting adaptive and forward-thinking design approaches. By aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13, this paper ultimately contributes to the advancement of more resilient urban development in response to the challenges posed by climate change, thereby striving toward a sustainable future.

The growth of the digital economy has challenged traditional tax principles and created difficulties for fiscal systems worldwide, particularly in developing economies. This paper examines international tax research published between 2005 and 2025, with a focus on the OECD/G20 Two-Pillar Solution and its implications for global tax policy. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 99 Scopus-indexed publications were analyzed using keyword co-occurrence mapping, citation tracking, journal quartile distribution, and co-authorship network analysis. The findings reveal an acceleration in publications after 2019, three thematic clusters, citation dominance by Q2 journals, limited alignment with the SDGs, and a need for simplified rules and capacity building in developing economies. This study contributes by tracing the evolution of international tax research from the BEPS project to the Two-Pillar framework, identifying thematic clusters and collaboration networks, assessing intersections with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and highlighting theoretical and practical implications for Indonesia and other developing economies.

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and large-scale data infrastructures are shaping environmental and chemical decision-making, accelerating materials discovery, informing regulatory assessments, and guiding industrial innovation. However, without deliberate safeguards, these systems risk reproducing and amplifying long-standing inequities in environmental exposure, data representation, and participation. Cheminformatics—the application of computational tools integrated with experimental data to model chemical structures, properties, and hazards—offers a concrete case study of how environmental data systems can both advance and undermine environmental justice. When datasets, models, or exposure assumptions omit certain geographies, populations, or use contexts, resulting blind spots can reinforce disparities in chemical risk assessment and protection, particularly for communities historically burdened by pollution and adverse health outcomes. In this Perspective, we argue that data equity—encompassing equitable access, representation, governance, and accountability across the chemical and environmental data lifecycle—is essential to ensure that AI-enabled chemistry supports, rather than hinders, sustainable development and environmental protection. We show how biased datasets, unequal access to modeling tools, and opaque decision-making architectures can entrench inequity in digital environmental systems. We then propose a six-element framework—Access, Transparency, Inclusive Design, Capacity, Shared Benefits, and FAIRness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability)—to embed equity into environmental and chemical data infrastructures. This framework positions data equity as a foundation for responsible governance of informatics across regulatory science, safer chemical innovation, and community protection, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

ABSTRACT Conservation of biodiversity rich protected areas is essential, particularly where local communities are dependent on natural resources. This study assessed forest resource dependence and conservation attitudes among 467 resident village households and 283 migratory herders from April to October, 2023 in and around Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir Himalaya. Using semi-structured interviews and statistical analysis, we found both the groups depended considerably on the sanctuary for fuelwood, medicinal plants, fodder, and raw materials, with women primarily responsible for resource collection. Average daily fuelwood consumption was 13 kg for villagers and 17 kg for migratory herders. A significant negative association between resource use and distance from the sanctuary (χ2 = 404.78, p < .001) highlights the role of spatial access in shaping the dependence. Migratory herders demonstrated a more positive conservation attitude (64.7%) than resident villagers (32.3%), with differences influenced by resource utilization, and location. These findings underscore the complex interplay of factors shaping resource dependence and conservation perspectives. The study aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships) – and calls for integrated, community-informed conservation planning that balances ecological protection with the livelihood needs of forest-dependent populations.

ABSTRACT The UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 advocates for peace, Justice, and stronger institutions. It further enforces equal access to justice for all. However, due to the high costs of accessing the formal legal system (court), many indigents are denied justice. Thus, establishing the Legal Aid Scheme (LAS) is seen as bridging the inequality gap to access to justice. Adopting a qualitative approach and guided by the theory of access, thirty-one participants were interviewed with the aim of examining the levels of accessibility of the LAS to the people of Northern Ghana, focusing on three key aspects: geographical, financial, and material accessibility. The paper argues that the geographical accessibility of LAS to clients in Northern Ghana is highly skewed toward urban areas. Financial accessibility of LAS remains free, except for indirect costs, whilst material accessibility continues to hinder the smooth operations of the institution, hence denying the poor access to civil justice. The paper recommends the extension of the services of the scheme to rural communities through the provision of infrastructure, personnel, and related logistics to enhance the smooth operations of the institution for the people, thereby narrowing the inequality gap between the rich and the poor in access to justice.