Tool For Sustainable Development Research Articles

Geotourism as a Tool for Tourism Development in Sri Lanka: An Exploration

Geotourism is a tourism activity witnessing ABC attributes, abiotic, biotic, and culture focusing on abiotic properties of the natural setting. This investigation explores whether Geotourism could be a lucrative tool for sustainable tourism development. An interpretive exploratory approach was entrusted for the study given its applicability to trace deeper feelings, thought, and attitudes of individuals. Twenty in-depth interviews from tourism stakeholders including tourists, the local community, and government officers at two different geologically significant sites were conducted over 04 months. Transcriptions were thematically analysed by coding and axial coding. The study revealed that lack of awareness towards Geotourism concept causes Geotourism in Sri Lanka in its infancy, though Sri Lanka is having an abundant marketable opportunity for its diversified tourist locations to initiate Geotourism developments. Geotourism can be used as a lucrative tool for tourism development by addressing certain issues like improper place management, lack of promotion by examining two excellent heritage sites. Keywords: Geotourism, Geotourists, Geoheritage sites, Tourism development, Ussangoda National Park, Mahapelessa hot spring

Methods of Promoting Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism: Empirical Study: Abu Mina Archaeological Site in Alexandria

This research discusses sustainable cultural heritage tourism, the factors of its deterioration and the sustainability of its preservation. Sustainable tourism development is one of the modern trends that emerged as a result of the negative changes that the environment of tourist destinations has witnessed in the recent period. In various tourism destinations to overcome the negatives resulting from tourism development, which resulted in the use of sustainable tourism development tools, one of whose pillars is planning. However, the heritage areas are generally exposed to many challenges, most of which are related to the struggle between investing them as tourist destinations and preserving their architectural identity, which has become vulnerable for many reasons. The heritage areas in many countries have been subjected to cultural changes that led to their deterioration, but as of the twentieth century. The emergence of intellectual currents calling for the preservation of heritage areas, due to the national wealth that these areas represent. The tourism sector plays an important role in achieving economic and social development by providing job opportunities, introducing hard currencies and contributing to the general output.

Digital Economy as a Tool for Sustainable Development

The article shows the modern application of the digital economy in Russia, state participation in the development of the digital economy; a method for solving new problems and risks is proposed as a tool for ensuring sustainable development. The possibilities of using the digital economy for the SME sector have been identified. Further development prospects were considered, the main threats to the development of the SME sector were identified in the context of the implementation of the digital economy program.

Compost produced from residues of a zoo park improves soil fertility and increases the growth and production of plants

This work aims to evaluate the potential of an organic compost in providing nutrients when added to the soil. This fertilizer is generated in a production unit located in the Sao Paulo Zoo Park in Brazil. It comprises animal manure, plants pruning, dead trees, and solid waste from water treatment and sanitary effluents. This compost’s growth power, which is efficiently used to fertilize the garden and farm of the zoo, was assessed. Six soil treatments were chemically characterized and tested in the cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The nutrient (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mg, and Zn) contents in the lettuce and soils were evaluated using chemometrics. The soil fertility analysis showed an increase in the quality of the composted soil due to Mg and Fe and pH increase. Principal component analysis showed that Al was a relevant nutrient for all treatments before planting, whereas soil with mineral fertilizer or leachate contained high levels of Cu. Samples of compost-enriched soil exhibited high concentrations of Fe and Mg before planting. Cation-exchange capacity, H+Al, P, K, S, and pH allowed the treatments’ comparison. The loadings plot showed that compost-enriched soil samples were characterized by K, Mg, Cu, S, and P; and leachate-enriched soil by Fe, Mg, and Na. Lettuce’s elemental analysis exhibits a direct correlation between the soil conditions and the quality of the vegetable produced. Compost-enriched soil produced larger plants yielding average weight leaves of around 3 to 10 times higher than all the other treatments, indicating its benefits for soil fertilization. This recycling process is a sustainable development tool that allows the reuse of waste produced in zoos worldwide.

Corporate social and environmental disclosure as a sustainable development tool provided by board sub‐committees: Do women directors play a relevant moderating role?

AbstractThe aim of this research is to examine the impact of three audit committee characteristics on corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) disclosure: the existence of an audit committee, audit committee independence, and audit committee financial expertise. Moreover, this research analyzes the moderating effect of board gender diversity between these audit committees' attributes and CSR reporting. The results of analyzing 13,178 firm‐year observations of non‐financial companies show that the presence of an audit committee and audit committee financial expertise are positively associated with CSR disclosure. However, a higher proportion of non‐executive directors in audit committees has a negative effect on the disclosure of CSR information. These findings suggest that some audit committees' features play an important role in ensuring the reporting of environmental, social, and economic information. Our evidence also indicates that the presence of female directors on boards increases the positive impact of financial expert membership of audit committees on CSR disclosure, while women directors moderate any negative effect of the percentage of independent directors on audit committees on CSR reporting by increasing the latter. In addition, female directors moderate the positive impact of the existence of an audit committee on the disclosure of CSR information by reducing the latter.

Sustainable New Product Development: a decision-making tool for the construction industry

ABSTRACT During the last decades, environmental sustainability has acquired growing importance in different productive sectors. The construction sector, aware of its environmental impacts, searches for mitigation within both processes and inputs. One of these mitigation strategies is the recycling of construction and demolition waste within the production chain. This paper deals with the proposition and application of a systematic decision-making tool in the context of the construction industry. The proposed procedure introduces a tool for Sustainable New Product Development using Quality Function Deployment to analyse the use of recycled aggregate for making concrete blocks in a multivariate context. That tool allows requirements identification and prioritisation considering the perspectives of both customers and developers, as well as standards and environmental aspects. Some results of a real case application are presented, and the benefits and potential barriers related to its adoption are discussed. These results contributed to the identification of trade-offs associated with the challenge of comparing alternative construction materials. It was also possible to identify that the use of recycled materials does not necessarily ensure that a product is more environmentally friendly than others.

Public-Private Partnership as a Tool of Sustainable Development in the Oil-Refining Sector: Russian Case

Dramatic changes in the global energy market due to COVID-19 pandemic, the OPEC+ agreement, and increasing rates of green energy share in the world community have brought negative effects on the oil sector. In the long term, oil will reduce its importance as an energy resource, but for many years, it will continue to play a significant role in the world of energy. The oil industry has huge potential in terms of technical expertise, management, and financial resources to reduce its greenhouse emissions and ensuring an affordable availability of predictable energy. However, nowadays this sector has lost investing attractiveness. It is an interdisciplinary problem with a solution at the intersection of different stakeholders’ interests. The article is a review one and devoted to the issue of the implementation a public-private partnership (PPP) as a key tool that allows the use of the state and the business’ available resources to achieve the sector’s sustainable development and investment attractiveness. Research and analysis of PPP were based on foreign and domestic literature, using classification and generalization methods, retrospective and critical analysis. This paper contains identified groups of drivers, constraints, and recommendations for further successful PPP implementation in the Russian case.

Features of Public-private Partnership Financing as an Economic and Legal Tool for Sustainable Development

The economic transition from a market to a social model requires a review of the role of the state and representatives of business structures in the economic system. Various forms of their interaction are becoming increasingly important, the main of which are public-private partnerships aimed at financing, formation, and implementing socially important projects. The purpose of the study is to analyze and evaluate the parameters of interaction between the state and the private sector in terms of improving the socio-economic partnership based on the provisions of the concept of public-private partnership (PPP). To achieve the goal were used such methods: analysis and synthesis; formalization and grouping; systematization and logical abstraction. The practice of the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Republic of the Philippines shows that the rational use of social partnership financial instruments will allow the state to reduce the budget burden, ensure infrastructure development, increase employment, develop private enterprises and improve the quality of goods and services. It is noted that the level of public-private partnership use in the world differs significantly, and therefore requires further intensification of efforts to stimulate its use, including due to the wide range of significant benefits of its use for the economy and the population in particular. Public-private partnerships are becoming increasingly popular as they provide many important benefits. In particular, the opportunity to obtain additional financial resources, including through additional investments, quality projects involving professional companies, open access to innovative technologies, and priority opportunities for the state to direct funds to specific areas. Thus, the direction of further research may be to determine the details of the functioning of projects in the framework of public-private partnerships. It is also important to conduct a pre-investment analysis, check the effectiveness of financing, prepare appropriate recommendations for each project stage.

English

Visitor management is a practical tool for promoting sustainable tourism development through regulating visitor activities to minimize negative impacts on the site. The main purpose of this study was to investigate visitor management as a tool for sustainable tourism development in Fasil Ghebbi, Ethiopia. The study employed descriptive design in line with mixed research approach. Consequently, 246 international and domestic visitors were selected using convenience sampling and 6 key informants selected using purposive sampling. Questionnaire, interview and observation were data collection instruments. Descriptive statistics was applied to analyze quantitative data using SPSS version 25 and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Based on the findings of the study, practices of visitor management tools in Fasil Ghebbi were found poor and there were many challenges in implementing visitor management such as low level of implementation, limited stakeholder participation, lack of budget and scant attention, lack of skilled human power, very basic visitor facilities and management tools, lack of awareness and negligence of responsibility in the compound.   Key words: Fasil Ghebbi, challenges, practices, sustainable tourism, visitor management.

The Implications of TRIPs ’ Criminal Provisions on Copyright Exception for Education in Ethiopia: A Critical Approach from a Human Rights Perspective

It is undisputed that education is instrumental both for socio-economic development and the enjoyment of other fundamental human rights. In particular, a tertiary education is very critical for less developed countries (LDCs) such as Ethiopia where education is considered a vital tool for sustainable development. Nonetheless, a quality tertiary education depends, inter alia, upon sufficient access to most copyrighted learning materials through a balanced copyright system with adequate room for flexibility. In fact, the tension between copyright protection and the right to education is integral to the global debate between intellectual property and human rights regimes. Despite its compelling socio-economic needs and its human rights obligation that dictate a broader room for flexibility, Ethiopia has adopted a very restrictive copyright system with a narrow set of limitations and exceptions (L&Es) for education. Further, both its copyright and criminal laws prescribe severe criminal sanctions for any act of copyright infringement. In so doing, Ethiopia has taken a legislative approach that exacerbates the problems related to both TRIPs’ implementation and access to learning materials. In the absence of a concrete step to rethink the approach, the effective utilisation of the constrained exception for education will be further undermined by TRIPs’ criminal enforcement in disregard of the socio-economic contexts of the country.

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT OF TRANSPORT ENTERPRISES

The article is devoted to the study of theoretical and methodological aspects of strategic risk management of environmental risks of the transport enterprise. The urgency of the issue is due to the acceleration of changes in the external environment of economic activity of transport enterprises, which determines the need for adjustments to the management system. Strategic environmental risk management is currently the main direction for its effective management. Statistical data on the number of enterprises in the transport industry, the introduction of new fixed assets, the financial result of enterprises are given. The prerequisites for improving the risk management system of the transport enterprise, which is currently defined as one of the main tools for sustainable development of the enterprise. The need to take into account the trends of changing the prerequisites for risk management, which leads to the transformation of the system of strategic management of economic activity of the transport company to ensure the implementation of projects. The diagram of environmental risks in the context of the foresight approach of risk management of a transport company is presented. The definition of environmental risk is proposed to be carried out on three «horizons»: operational; tactical and strategic. It is proposed to determine the probability of environmental risk and losses from its occurrence using the formula for calculating the mathematical expectation from the PERT (Program Evaluation and Research Task) system. Management must understand the probabilities of risk and the results of its impact on the enterprise, its projects. This approach will provide: an understanding of the trend of risk change and, accordingly, will develop the necessary measures to respond to it; adjustment of risk management policy taking into account forecast risk values; identification of long-term prospects for environmental risk management. Forecasting environmental risk at the operational, tactical and strategic levels is a necessary element of the risk management system of the transport company.

Transformative rural tourism strategies as tools for sustainable development in Transylvania, Romania: a case study of Sâncraiu

Purpose According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions, while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. It aims at having a low impact upon the environment and local culture; generating income and employment; and ensuring the conservation of local ecosystems. This paper aims to examine the ways in which the development and promotion of a new tourism product based on unique rural heritage and traditions contribute to the development of sustainable tourism by relating the practices to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 1, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 17. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on a literature review on the topic of sustainable rural tourism, this paper uses a case-study methodological approach and provides an example of a sustainable rural tourism destination from the North Western development region of Romania (Cluj County, Transylvania) to depict specific sustainable tourism practices. The study uses a comprehensive desk-research based on secondary data from key industry and academic sources. Findings The research findings show that sustainable rural tourism can greatly support the development of rural destination and makes a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Romanian tourism industry, in general, and rural economies in particular, as shown in the case examined in the paper. Sâncraiu represents an example of sustainable tourism practices that contribute to poverty reduction (SDG1 – Target 1.A), provide decent work and ensure economic growth (SDG8 – Target 8.9), help reducing inequalities (SDG10 – Target 10.3), protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage (SDG 11 – Target 11.4), promote responsible consumption and production (SDG 21 – Target 12.b) and last but not least this destination demonstrates that development is only possible when partnerships are forged (SDG 17). Social implications This paper illustrates that fostering unique rural heritage and traditions can contribute to the sustainable development of destinations. Sustainable tourism practices contribute not only financially to a destination but also to its social infrastructures, jobs, nature conservation, adoption of new working practices and the revitalisation of passive and poor rural areas. Originality/value This paper examines and depicts sustainable rural tourism development as a transformative strategy contributing to the long-term viability of a rural destination. The research findings can be viewed as an example of good practice, which may be applicable to other geographic regions with similar contexts.

Information policy as a tool for sustainable regional development in the context of digital transformation

Information policy as a tool for sustainable regional development in the context of digital transformation

Circular economy as assistance for sustainable development in OECD countries

Research background: Circular economy is of great importance, as it plays a vital role in ensuring the reuse of waste created and, therefore, reduces the waste of limited resources, which is the primary goal of the general economic concept. In line with the circular economy, sustainable development gains great attention, as the United Nations announced the sustainable development goals that should be reached by 2030. Hence, the current paper aims at examining whether the circular economy could be treated as an effective assistance tool for sustainable development of OECD countries.
 Purpose of the article: The paper aims to investigate whether the circular economy could serve as an assistance tool for sustainable development and, therefore, seeks to determine if the circular economy could directly impact a country?s sustainable development.
 Methods: First, the countries chosen were prioritised using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) methodologies. AHP method was used for weight assignment to the circular economy indicators that were further used for OECD countries? prioritisation procedure for which multi-criteria decision-making method EDAS was employed. Second, to reveal a link between the circular economy ranking results and sustainable development, a comparative analysis was done. Third, the impact of the country?s circular economy on sustainable development was evaluated using the fixed-effect regression model on four years of panel data from 2016 to 2019 for the sample of 32 OECD countries.
 Findings & value-added: The comparative analysis of the circular economy?s prioritisation results and Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDGI) ranking showed 20 out of 32 matches, assuming a link between the circular economy and sustainable development could be made. The fixed-effect regression equation results demonstrate that the unemployment rate, poverty rate, air pollution exposure, and CO2 emission per capita negatively influence sustainable development. In contrast, indicators such as gross domestic expenditure on R&D, renewable energy, number of passenger cars in use, and households with Internet access positively impact SDGI. The hypothesis that the circular economy is seen as an assistance for sustainable development and directly affects a country?s sustainability was approved. The paper contributes to the scientific literature in the field of circular economy and sustainable development interaction and could be seen as an assumption for new research directions, focusing on the linkage between circular economy and sustainable development. Moreover, the obtained results could contribute to a country?s policy-makers by highlighting the essential indicators of a circular economy that should be considered while forming the strategy of a country?s sustainable development.

Sport and Sustainable Development Goals in Spain

Sport is a valuable tool for sustainable development. This is recognized in the Kazan Action Plan, in the 2030 Agenda, itself, and in the Action Plan for its implementation in Spain. In order to broaden the scope of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is necessary to carefully consider both the possible synergies and existing inconsistencies that can enhance and weaken the contribution of sport to sustainable development. Taking as reference the international recommendations in this regard, it will be necessary to take into account the concept of “policy coherence” in both its vertical and horizontal dimensions. Advancing in the achievement of the SDGs largely requires involving subnational governments and the rest of the stakeholders, promoting decision-making based on concrete and reliable common indicators. Starting from the methodology developed globally by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) for locating the SDGs, a comparative analysis of the sports situation of each Spanish Autonomous Community will be carried out as a diagnosis. This is to show the existing inequalities between territories in relation to the selected indicators and, at the same time, identify some of the main limitations and gaps that we currently find in Spain to perform this location in a more effective way.

THE ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN THE INTEGRATION OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND BUSINESS

Integration of science, education and business is a driver of economic competitiveness in the context of globalization and building an effective national innovation ecosystem. Project management is considered one of the main tools for improving the efficiency of commercialization projects that are the result of successful integration. The study aims to assess the relationship between project management and performance indicators of integration of science, education and business in the face of commercialization projects. The results of the study revealed that intensive use of the above processes increases the efficiency of projects. Moreover, critical processes were identified that positively affect the timing and cost of commercialization projects. Integration of science, education and business is an effective tool for sustainable development and competitiveness of States in the context of globalization and the formation of a knowledge-based economy and the construction of an effective national innovation ecosystem.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR INTEGRATION OF THE INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE CONTEXT OF BUILDING AN INNOVATIVE ECONOMY AND PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of the study is focused on finding optimal and effective organizational and economic mechanisms for integrating the intellectual potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.
 The introduction of sustainable development tools and the transition to models for achieving the SDGs in the field of education, science and technology is considered by the authors as a strategic priority for the integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. Intellectual potential is the fundamental basis for the innovative development of business entrepreneurship. The subject of the research is the intellectual potential of economic systems and its relationship with innovative development. The object of the research is the countries with developing economies — Kazakhstan, Russia.
 The methodology was based on the use of the following general scientific and special research methods: analysis and synthesis, the dialectical approach, the statistical method of data analysis, the method for establishing patterns and hypotheses, the method of aggregated analytical calculation.
 Within the framework of the results of the research: the creation and development of corporate-type universities; creation and development of regional and interregional centers of competence; creation and development of centers of business initiatives; scientific and educational consortia.

The Role of Entrepreneurship Policy in College Students' Entrepreneurial Intention: The Intermediary Role of Entrepreneurial Practice and Entrepreneurial Spirit.

Entrepreneurship is a sustainable development tool that supports the alleviation of poverty and unemployment. Focusing on the promotion of entrepreneurial intention (EI) under the background of entrepreneurship education (EE), this study used a structural equation model to examine the role of entrepreneurship policy (EPo), entrepreneurial practice (EPr), and entrepreneurial spirit (ES) on the EI of 384 college students from 22 universities in Guangdong Province. The test results show that there are significant positive correlations between EPo and EI; EPo and EPr; EPo and ES; and EPr and EI. They also support the hypothesis that EPr enhances the positive effect that EPo has on EI. This study puts forth measures to improve EI and makes contributions to future research on EE.

Management of Infrastructures in Water Sector: A Veritable Tool for Healthcare and Sustainable Development in Nigeria

There are a lot of health issues traceable to water sector in most developing nation of the world. Despite water rights and lots of researches in water resources engineering, strategic management of infrastructures still requires urgent and adequate attention for better healthcare delivery and sustainable development in Nigerian water sector. This paper assessed the operations of government, private and agencies involved in the supply and management of water resources. Data were collected through reconnaissance survey, literature review and interview of stakeholders in selected establishments. Challenges of this sector were checked and appraised with special focus on health implications, adequacy of supply, management and maintenance of infrastructures. Current trends within the administration of development comes were checked. Strategic management tools were place in place for effective handling of care, adequate funding, capability building, technological advancement and innovation in water sector. The study concluded that adequate attention should be given to strategic management of water sector to tackle healthcare issues and water challenges for accomplishment of infrastructural development in Nigeria. It was recommended that government; engineers, researchers and all stakeholders should embrace productive activity, viable policies, pollution management, innovative analysis, acceptable funding, technological advancement, manpower development and sanitation of water sector in all ramifications.

Urban regeneration of ghost cities

Ghost cities are abandoned urban area, town, or city, usually one that contains substantial visible remains. Cities are socio-technical systems, precariously integral, capable of growing as well as becoming smaller and fragmented but still functioning. Even though they have a resilient inherent quality, many cities around the world are witnessing slow death. The reasons could be ecological and social debasement, diminishing opportunities for the young population, moving of financial focuses, poor administration, loss of character and so. Thus, a ghost city is reflected in everything from that point, in its type of capacity and in particular the functionaries – the city dwellers. Ghost cities are relinquished urban zone, town, or city, normally one that contains as yet existing noticeable remains. The greater part of the cities is confronting decline of social, economic, physical and environmental issues. Urban regeneration the practice to overcome the decline of the vitality and viability of town centres across several cities world over. Project handles the issues of decline and urban decay, have structured complex processes of urban regeneration. The regeneration strategies are mainly based on Enhancing & Protecting Social values, Development of Economic values, Improvement of Physical & environmental values. Urban regeneration is interlinked missions creating clean, sanitized, healthy, liveable, economically vibrant and responsive cities propagate ‘Planning’ as a fundamental tool for sustainable development. Urban regeneration processes focusing on all elements of an area that help contribute to the creation of a more sustainable city and environment.