Tool For Sustainable Development Research Articles

Waterfront Transit-Oriented Development: A Comprehensive Review of Urban Revitalization

Waterfront Transit Oriented Development (WTOD) is a pioneering urban development strategy that harnesses the allure and utility of water banks to foster vibrant, mixed-use communities. At its core, WTOD embodies a place-making philosophy, leveraging the natural attraction of waterfronts to stimulate social and economic activities. As urban populations continue to grow, the need to develop sustainable, livable cities becomes ever more pressing. WTOD offers a promising avenue to address this need. However, a comprehensive understanding of its multifaceted impact, challenges, and best practices is essential. This necessitates a thorough review of WTOD concepts from various angles - economic, environmental, social, and cultural. Globally, cities are leveraging their waterfronts for economic rejuvenation and social enrichment, while in India, initiatives like inland water transit projects illustrate WTOD's potential for urban renewal. The research navigates through the historical, practical, and design aspects of WTOD, unraveling its potential as a transformative tool for urban revitalization and sustainable development. Through a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative historical analysis with case study evaluations, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of WTOD. It offers insights into the transformative power of integrating waterfront development with transit-oriented design, presenting WTOD as a viable strategy for sustainable urban growth, increased density, and enhanced community well-being. The findings and discussions presented in this paper contribute significantly to the ongoing discourse on urban development, place-making, and environmental sustainability.

Natural resources, economic complexity and growth nexus: Role of digital governance in addressing the resource curse

The nexus between natural resources and economic growth can be significantly influenced by digital governance. Effective digital governance enhances transparency and efficiency in managing natural resources, reducing the risks of mismanagement and corruption. This can lead to more sustainable economic growth and support economic diversification. Understanding these dynamics is essential for policymakers and researchers aiming for inclusive growth in resource-dependent economies. Therefore, this study explores the relationship between natural resources, economic complexity and economic growth of BRICS countries from 2003 to 2022. It also explores the moderating role of digital governance in realizing the relationship between resources and growth. The research utilizes the Method of Moments Quantile Regression, which accounts for non-linearity and addresses concerns related to slope heterogeneity. The findings reveal that natural resource rents adversely affect economic growth, with a significantly negative impact at the lowest quantiles, while digital governance fosters economic growth at the middle to highest quantiles. The moderating effects of natural resources and digital governance suggest that digital governance helps break the cycle of the resource curse. Countries can enhance the marginal contribution of resources towards growth by increasing the digitalization of their systems and processes. Additionally, economic complexity contributes to higher economic growth, with its impact gradually increasing from lower to upper quantiles. Policymakers should consider digital governance as an effective tool for sustainable development.

Fuzzy Analysis of Financial Risk Management Strategies for Sustainable Public–Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects in Ghana

Public–private partnership (PPP) is a prominent tool for sustainable infrastructure development. However, the positive contributions of PPPs toward the attainment of sustainable, climate resilience and zero-carbon infrastructure projects are hampered by poor financial risk management. This problem is more prevalent in developing countries like Ghana where private investment inflow has plummeted due to the COVID-19 recession and poor project performance. Thus, this study aims to assess the key financial risk management strategies in ensuring sustainable PPP infrastructure projects in Ghana. The study utilised primary data from PPP practitioners in Ghana solicited through survey questionnaires. Factor analysis, mean scores and fuzzy synthetic analysis are the data analysis techniques for this study. The results revealed that sustainable and green funding models, effective cost-reduction initiatives, a competent team with committed leadership and emerging technologies and regulations constitute the key strategies for managing the financial risks of sustainable PPP infrastructure projects. Although future studies must expand the scope of data gathering, the findings of the study enrich the theoretical understanding of financial risks in sustainable investments in PPP infrastructures. Relevant remedies that will aid the development of practical financial risk management guidelines are also provided in this study for PPP practitioners.

The Future of Chemical Sciences is Sustainable

AbstractChemistry, a vital tool for sustainable development, faces a challenge due to the lack of clear guidance on actionable steps, hindering the optimal adoption of sustainability practices across its diverse facets from discovery to implementation. This Scientific Perspective explores established frameworks and principles, proposing a conciliated set of triple E priorities anchored on Environmental, Economic, and Equity pillars for research and decision making. We outline associated metrics, crucial for quantifying impacts, classifying them according to their focus areas and scales tackled. Emphasizing catalysis as a key driver of sustainable synthesis of chemicals and materials, we exemplify how triple E priorities can practically guide the development and implementation of processes from renewables conversions to complex customized products. We summarize by proposing a roadmap for the community aimed at raising awareness, fostering academia–industry collaboration, and stimulating further advances in sustainable chemical technologies across their broad scope.

The Future of Chemical Sciences is Sustainable.

Chemistry, a vital tool for sustainable development, faces a challenge due to the lack of clear guidance on actionable steps, hindering the optimal adoption of sustainability practices across its diverse facets from discovery to implementation. This Scientific Perspective explores established frameworks and principles, proposing a conciliated set of triple E priorities anchored on Environmental, Economic, and Equity pillars for research and decision making. We outline associated metrics, crucial for quantifying impacts, classifying them according to their focus areas and scales tackled. Emphasizing catalysis as a key driver of sustainable synthesis of chemicals and materials, we exemplify how triple E priorities can practically guide the development and implementation of processes from renewables conversions to complex customized products. We summarize by proposing a roadmap for the community aimed at raising awareness, fostering academia-industry collaboration, and stimulating further advances in sustainable chemical technologies across their broad scope.

Beekeeping as a Tool for Sustainable Rural Development

The symbiotic relationship between bees and the environment underscores the potential of apiculture as a sustainable practice. Bees, as pollinators, play a crucial role in ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. Their pollination services are essential for the reproduction of numerous plant species, including many crops that constitute the backbone of agricultural economies. Beekeeping can diversify income sources, reducing dependence on single crops and enhancing household resilience to economic shocks. The aim of this paper is to explore the multifaceted role of apiculture as a tool for sustainable rural development. In conclusion, apiculture holds immense promise as a tool for sustainable rural development, offering a pathway towards economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship. By harnessing the synergies between bees, biodiversity, and community development, beekeeping has the potential to transform rural landscapes and livelihoods. However, realizing this potential requires concerted efforts to address the challenges and barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of beekeeping practices. Through collaborative action and integrated approaches, it can unlock the transformative power of apiculture and build resilient, vibrant, and sustainable rural communities for generations to come.

Demoeconomics: the interconnection of water resources and demoethical values

Object: Application of conceptual analysis within the framework of the concept of demoeconomics to study the relationship of water resources with the values of “Demoethics” as a tool for society sustainable development. Methods: This work uses a systematic approach to research, which includes a wide variety of techniques, such as the method of logical synthesis, goal setting, goal decomposition, etc.
 Findings: The implementation of the demoeconomics concept, based on the demoethics values in the context of “spirituality and morality”, “rationality”, “responsibility”, “justice” and “security” contributes to the effective provision of rational use of water resources and basic needs of the population. The results of the Concept are aimed at achieving ethical rationality. Harmonizing with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), they not only promote economic growth and meet the needs of society, but also create the preconditions for reducing socio-economic inequality, increasing economic responsibility and respect for cultural and spiritual values.
 Conclusions: The sustainability of ethical rationality requires the transformation of the values of members of society when using natural resources based on the concept of demo-economics, based on the values of demo-ethics in the context of “spirituality and morality”, “responsibility”, “justice”, “rationality” and “security”, which can provide a balance between economic, social and environmental needs of humanity, to the manifestation of moral behavior in any life situation, contributing to the sustainability of the quality of life of members of society and the competitiveness of the region.

Barriers and Challenges Affecting Quality Education (Sustainable Development Goal #4) in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030

Education is a fundamental human right and a crucial tool for sustainable human capacity development, which can advance the economic growth of a country. Yet for many children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), quality education remains out of reach. This study aimed to identify the barriers and challenges to enacting Sustainable Development Goal 4: “Ensuring Inclusive, Equitable, and Quality Education and the Promotion of Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All”. Through a content analysis of the relevant literature, we identified three themes: funding constraints, access and inclusion, and teacher education. Regarding funding, issues of resource allocation, technical capacity, and accountability were identified as primary factors requiring intervention strategies to become fully realized in SSA. When exploring access and inclusion, we found that incorporating students with disabilities, gender disparities, physical barriers, and inadequate curriculum are essential factors limiting quality education in SSA. Finally, teachers’ conditions and training emerged as crucial challenges to reach quality pedagogy. Some SSA countries have improved their efforts for quality education, but these barriers and challenges continue to impact education for all children. A new perspective on mitigating these impediments can address several factors responsible for the exclusion of diverse groups from accessing quality education in the SSA region.

The impact of green finance on persistence of green innovation at firm-level: A moderating perspective based on environmental regulation intensity

Amid escalating global climate change and environmental degradation, green finance has emerged as a crucial tool for sustainable development and environmental protection. This paper examines data from Chinese A-share listed manufacturing companies (2004–2021), exploring the relationship between green finance, firms' persistent green innovation, and environmental regulation intensity. Key findings include: 1. There is a positive correlation between green finance and persistent green innovation; 2. Environmental regulation intensity moderates this relationship; 3. Heterogeneity analysis reveals a stronger promotion of persistent green innovation by green finance in large-scale and state-owned enterprises.

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Operations of a Live-Streaming Supply Chain

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is widely noticed as an essential tool for business operation and sustainable development. Meanwhile, the fiercely competitive external environment and unpredictable events prompt enterprises’ cooperation to prevent supply chain collapse. We investigate the cooperative strategy in a live-streaming supply chain (LSC) consisting of a dominant brand owner, a retailer, and a live streamer, where the brand owner considers CSR by considering the welfare of stakeholders. We construct one non-cooperative and three cooperative Stackelberg game models to explore the impact of CSR on cooperative strategy and LSC operations. The results show the following. (1) When the brand owner considers CSR, LSC members and systems are more profitable in the four models than when the brand owner does not consider CSR. (2) When the flow effect is small, the brand owner tends to cooperate with the retailer; otherwise, the brand owner prefers to cooperate with the live streamer. (3) The grand coalition C (the brand owner cooperates with the retailer and live streamer) is the consistent strategy for the LSC system, consumers, and society. These findings help enterprises recognize the importance of CSR and collaboration, thus further providing reference opinions on engaging in CSR and how to achieve collaboration.

Unleashing circular economy potential in agriculture: Integrating social impact assessment with the ReSOLVE framework as a tool for sustainable development

AbstractThe circular economy concept has grown in popularity in recent decades as a potential method to offset the waste produced by the linear economy model. In this study, the authors proposed an update to the ReSOLVE framework that includes social impacts and uses decision variables based on the ECOGRAI methodology to facilitate a system‐wide analysis to support sustainable decision‐making. After the updated framework was outlined, it was employed in a theoretical case study to evaluate the current state of the poultry industry and determine hotspots where circular economy metrics could be implemented to benefit affected stakeholders. While the poultry sector was used as a case study, the proposed framework can be applied with modified indicators in other agricultural sectors. This work demonstrated that decision makers can improve the agriculture sector's high social and environmental impact by applying a framework that integrates ReSOLVE circular economy principles and social impact assessment methods.

Are there limits to growth of tourism on the Caribbean islands? Case-study Aruba

Mass tourism is a major driver of economic growth in the Caribbean. One major trade-off of this economic growth model is the loss of natural areas due to tourism activities and increasing urbanization. Aruba is one of the most tourist intense destinations within the region with a total of 1.1 million stay-over tourists in 2019. Moreover, this island has one of the largest population densities in the Caribbean and high-speed urbanization takes place in this formerly rural island state. Therefore, this study aims to assess the islands' carrying capacity in relation to its limited land resources by means of a geospatial methodological analysis coupled with a correlation analysis between socio-economic indicators and statistics. First, the past and present drivers and characteristics of urbanization are analyzed. Second, the correlation between socio-economic indicators and the number of tourists was assessed. Third, two future scenarios were developed to assess the maximum carrying capacity. From 1986 till 2020, Aruba's built environment increased from ~29–60 km2 and translates to one-third of the island. Expansion was characterized by sprawl in the earlier years and changed to infilling in the latter. Furthermore, the results indicate that all socio-economic indicators are strongly positive correlated to tourism. Lastly, the possible maximum physical carrying capacity for yearly visitors and number of inhabitants was calculated to be ~1.7 million and 150.000, respectively. We conclude that the proposed methodological framework is robust and adequate to serve as a low budget decision-making tool for sustainable tourism development on islands.

Corporate social responsibility, sustainable environmental practices and green innovation; perspectives from the Ghanaian manufacturing industry

As the discourse around business ethics and sustainable development intensifies, many organizations are adopting initiatives in corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a strategic tool to satisfy regulatory requirements and also stakeholder expectations. While exploring the relationship between sustainable environmental practices and green innovation, this study identifies four critical stakeholder-centered CSR activities as precursors to sustainable environmental practices using data from 404 manufacturing firms in Ghana. The data was analyzed using the partial least squares method to structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results established a positively significant relationship between employee-centered CSR initiatives and sustainable environmental practices while the relationship between community-centered CSR, consumer-centered CSR and environment-centered with sustainable environmental practices CSR were each not significant. However, sustainable environmental practices were found to advance green innovation. The study further recommended a multi-dimensional stakeholder-centered approach to the practice of CSR as a strategic tool for sustainable environmental development by the leadership of manufacturing firms, policy makers and regulatory bodies.

The Role of Ecotourism in Promoting Sustainable Economic Development in Indonesia

This study investigates the role of ecotourism in fostering sustainable economic development in Indonesia, a country renowned for its rich biodiversity and unique cultural heritage. With the dual challenges of preserving its natural environment and promoting economic growth, Indonesia presents a compelling case for the potential benefits of ecotourism. The research aims to elucidate how ecotourism can serve as a sustainable development strategy that benefits both the environment and the economy. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews and case studies from various Indonesian ecotourism sites. This methodology enables a comprehensive examination of ecotourism’s economic, environmental, and social impacts. The analysis focuses on key indicators such as income generation, job creation, environmental conservation efforts, and community involvement in ecotourism projects. Findings reveal that ecotourism significantly contributes to local economies, particularly in rural and remote areas, by providing sustainable livelihoods, enhancing local capacity, and fostering entrepreneurship. Additionally, ecotourism initiatives have been instrumental in promoting environmental conservation through community-based projects, wildlife protection, and habitat preservation efforts. Importantly, the study highlights the critical role of policy frameworks and stakeholder collaboration in maximizing the benefits of ecotourism. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to the understanding of ecotourism as a viable tool for sustainable economic development in developing countries, with Indonesia serving as a model. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, tourism developers, and conservationists seeking to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. By highlighting successful practices and identifying challenges, this study provides a roadmap for optimizing the benefits of ecotourism in Indonesia and similar contexts globally.

IoT Enabled Smart Homes in Tropical Regions as a Means of Sustainable Development

Abstract Internet of Things (IoT) in the context of Smart Homes has been an emerging area of study. IoT technology-enabled provides Integrated and centralized monitoring and control system where the inhabitants can remotely adjust access in the house, temperature and lighting etc., but also functions of the smart TV, refrigerator, oven etc. A step forward to this, Smart 2.0 can be achieved by integrating greeneries maintenance atomization, energy and water conservation, etc., with the IoT technologies to maintain a healthy indoor environment. The study focus on how IoT enabled Smart Homes can contribute, enabling a new era of development and growth aimed at achieving Sustainability. A critical literature review and factors are identified that will align the development catering to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015 and the UN-Habitat New Urban Agenda, 2016 which are today’s International Agendas aimed at achieving Sustainable Development. Well-planned and well-managed IoT enabled Smart Homes in the context of urbanization, can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed nations. Achievement of SDGs especially, Goal 3, 6, 7 and 11 is impossible without the role of technology. With the proper delivery and implementation of IoT enabled Smart Homes, safeguarding the sustainability of Cities and Communities is possible. IoT in Smart Home keep the power, water, temperature, ventilation systems, solar power, greeneries and waste in check which in turn leads to sustainability. An IoT enabled Smart Home model for Sustainability has been proposed.

Research on the Effectiveness of Virtual Endorsers: A Study Based on the Match-Up Hypothesis and Source Credibility Model

In the digital era, businesses are actively integrating advanced technology and innovative marketing strategies to achieve sustained growth. Notably, virtual endorsers play a key role in driving enterprises towards digital transformation in the field of digital marketing. Understanding consumer attitudes towards the use of virtual endorsers in digital marketing is especially important for enterprises employing digital tools to realize a sustainable business model. To this end, this research adopts the match-up hypothesis and source credibility model as its theoretical framework, delving into the impact of virtual endorser–product fit and credibility features (attractiveness, expertise, and trustworthiness) on product attitudes, as well as the interactive effects of these features with product types. We collected feedback data from 376 participants through an online questionnaire and validated our hypotheses using the PLS-SEM model. The results demonstrate that virtual endorser–product fit positively affects credibility, with higher credibility further enhancing consumers’ attitudes toward products. Additionally, the source credibility model partially mediates the relationship between the match-up hypothesis and product attitudes, with attractiveness exerting the most significant impact. Finally, we observed variations in consumer attitudes toward products endorsed by virtual endorsers based on product types. The findings of this study provide a solid theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of consumer attitudes towards the application of virtual endorsers in marketing and offer practical suggestions for businesses to leverage digital tools for sustainable development.

Adoption of tools for sustainable tourism development: role of environmental vulnerability

ABSTRACT There is consensus on the need to develop indicators as tools for assessing progress toward sustainable tourism. This effort is constrained by limitations related to data that allow for comparisons across space and time. A proxy indicator exists but its adoption differs significantly among countries. In this paper, we explore possible reasons for this variation. Specifically, we examine the degree to which environmental vulnerability determines the likelihood of adoption. We apply the panel Bayesian and Negative Binomial random-effects models to data for the period 2008–2021. Results show that environmental vulnerability is a statistically significant determinant of the decision of countries to adopt accounting tools for sustainable tourism development. We also find evidence that the absorption capacity and size of the tourism sector explain adoption. Further analysis reveals that these results are stronger for developed countries relative to developing countries. These results have important implications for sustainable tourism policy design, especially in developing countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change.

CRISPR-Cas9 and beyond: identifying target genes for developing disease-resistant plants.

Throughout the history of crop domestication, desirable traits have been selected in agricultural products. However, such selection often leads to crops and vegetables with weaker vitality and viability than their wild ancestors when exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Considering the increasing human population and climate change challenges, it is crucial to enhance crop quality and quantity. Accordingly, the identification and utilization of diverse genetic resources are imperative for developing disease-resistant plants that can withstand unexpected epidemics of plant diseases. In this review, we provide a brief overview of recent progress in genome-editing technologies, including zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technologies. In particular, we classify disease-resistant mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana and several crop plants based on the roles or functions of the mutated genes in plant immunity and suggest potential target genes for molecular breeding of genome-edited disease-resistant plants. Genome-editing technologies are resilient tools for sustainable development and promising solutions for coping with climate change and population increases.

Ground Water Quality Assessment of Different Villages of Kheda District of Gujarat, India

The Kheda district lies in the Cambay basin situated between Saurashtra crater and Aravalli Swell and Deccan Shield in the east. The basin comprises both marine formations, is the principal source of water supply for middle Gujarat region. The quality evaluation for this groundwater is very important tool for sustainable development and decision for water management. A survey work conducted during April-May, 2016 for ground water quality assessment of ‘Kheda district of middle Gujarat. A total of 160 groundwater samples, from shallow, springs, and deep aquifers, were collected, storage and analysed to evaluate its quality suitability for domestic and agriculture purposes. The result of quality of underground wells/tube wells water revealed that the EC values ranged 0.51 to 8.50 with a mean value of 2.04 dS m-1. The waters were alkaline in reaction (pH 7.97). The overall RSC values ranged from -4.80 to 10.50 with a mean value of 2.41 me L-1. The overall mean value of SSP was found 34.34, which varied from 8.00 to 77.26. The SAR values ranged from 0.36 to 29.96 with a mean value of 7.48.

Innovative approaches to improving the agricultural sector in the era of digitalization of the economy

Conducting a study on this topic is becoming relevant due to the rapid introduction of digital technologies in the agricultural sector, which requires urgent study to effectively address current challenges in agriculture. The purpose of this paper is to analyse innovative approaches to improving the efficiency of economic activity in the agri-food sector. The methods used include the analytical method, classification method, functional method, statistical method, synthesis method, and others. The study found that the use of innovative approaches has significantly improved the productivity and sustainability of the agricultural sector. The use of blockchain technologies has increased trust in the supply chain by providing verified and transparent information on product quality. The analysis of large volumes of data has made it possible to develop specialized solutions and strategies tailored to specific business conditions in different regions. The results show an increase in the resilience of the agricultural sector to changes in economic and climate conditions. The findings of the study highlight the potential of digital transformation as a strategic tool for innovative and sustainable development of the agricultural sector. The study identified key strategies for the future implementation of digital technologies, taking into account the needs of the agricultural sector. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of introducing digital technologies to increase efficiency, improve management and ensure the sustainability of the industry in today’s digital economy. The practical significance of the paper is to analyse and highlight the factors that affect productivity and resource management in agriculture, which serves as a basis for further research and development of specific strategies and recommendations to improve the efficiency of the sector