Ultimate Goal Of Sustainable Development Research Articles

Prioritizing big data applications in E-commerce considering sustainable development indicators

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when strict restrictions were imposed to protect public health, e-commerce played a significant role in providing products on time. E-commerce technology and big data analytics enable companies to gain competitive advantages and respond to customers more efficiently. To make e-commerce more sustainable, the three dimensions of sustainability must be met, otherwise it can have negative consequences that lead to ecosystem destruction. Thus, e-commerce must learn how to effectively manage certain aspects of sustainability and adapt its operations to achieve balance. E-commerce's impact on sustainability can be measured in three pillars: economic, social and environmental and achieving a balance among these is the ultimate goal of sustainable development. Although the sustainability issue and big data analytics have gained increasing popularity in recent years, there is still a gap in evaluating applications of big data based on sustainable development indicators. In this study, we used a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making technique combining fuzzy TOPSIS and BWM to assess big data applications in e-commerce considering sustainable development indicators. The results showed environmental sustainability and energy consumption efficiency received the highest weight for the main pillars and sub criteria of sustainability indicators. Coordinating and monitoring supply chain processes, innovating product, process and business models, and creating new products and services are the top three applications of big data in e-commerce considering sustainable development indicators. E-commerce managers and experts can make better decisions about sustainable approaches by prioritizing big data applications based on sustainable development indicators. In addition, the proposed approach can also be used to evaluate big data analytics in other industries that consider sustainable development indicators.

Database of human well-being and eco-sustainability under planetary pressures of the Belt and Road 1990–2018

The Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative is considered as closely aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and could have a huge global impact. Its sustainable development issues have attracted worldwide attention. However, both the existing research and data accumulation on this aspect are seriously insufficient. Starting from the logic of the ultimate goal of sustainable development (namely within the ecological limitations, maximizing human well-being with minimum ecological consumption and minimizing the planetary pressures with maximum resource utilization efficiency), we have constructed a comprehensive evaluation method on sustainable development, namely the Consumption-Pressure-Output-Efficiency method in our previous study. Based on it, we provide a database with five datasets, which includes four core datasets (ecological consumption, planetary pressures, human well-being outputs and ecological well-being output efficiency) and a related dataset (biocapacity, ecological surplus/deficit, population), covering 61 B&R countries, B&R regional average and global average from 1990 to 2018. It can be used for further comprehensive research on sustainable development under planetary pressures and others of B&R.

Shuttle-Based Storage and Retrieval System: A Literature Review

While the e-commerce logistics industry is developing rapidly, its sustainable development has received certain attention. The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to achieve common, coordinated, fair, efficient, and multi-dimensional development. To promote the sustainable development of logistics, the automation technology of warehousing is undoubtedly an excellent breakthrough, since the automation technology can not only make the warehousing system efficient and with a low-error rate, but also affect the energy consumption of the warehousing system. This paper studies the Shuttle-Based Storage and Retrieval System (SBS/RS) in automated warehousing. Moreover, the paper classifies the existing literature into three categories: Physical design (including depth, configuration, and number of tiers); control strategy (including scheduling rules, storage strategies, scheduling command, and interference); and performance evaluation (including throughput, time, and energy). These categories are all factors that warehouse designers must consider when designing a system. Finally, this paper proposes future research directions for SBS/RS: Adding speed metrics, limiting buffer size, targeting space constraints, applying four-way shuttles, and increasing the carrying capacity of a single machine.

Finding logic models for sustainable marine development that deliver on social equity

Sustainable development is often represented as contributing to desirable outcomes across economic, environmental, and social goals, yet policies and interventions attempting to deliver sustainable development often disagree on the order in which these categories of goals should be addressed. In this Essay, we identify and review 5 approaches (called logic models) for sustainable development in ocean systems based on existing policies and interventions and consider the evidence for their contributions to equity—the ultimate goal of sustainable development according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Two of the 5 logic models prioritize economic growth and lead to social and environmental benefits, 2 prioritize environmental health as a prerequisite for sustainable economic and social benefits, and the final logic model is community driven and prioritizes social dimensions. Looking towards the 2030 maturation of the SDGs, we will need to understand what models are best suited to deliver on equity gains and prevent future inequities in development and how best to operationalize them.

Comprehensive evaluation on sustainable development based on planetary pressures and ecological well-being performance: A case study on the belt and road regions

The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to expand human developmental potential while easing planetary pressures, maximize human well-being with the smallest ecological consumption. However, it is difficult to rely on a single index or a single measure to address all sustainable development issues, which needs to comprehensively evaluate its abilities and levels from ‘sustainability’ and ‘development’. Thus we construct a comprehensive evaluation method, the consumption–pressure–output–efficiency method (the first two reflect ‘sustainability’ and the latter two ‘development’). It combines four progressive composite indices respectively reflecting (1) ecological consumption (ecological footprint), (2) planetary pressures (from carbon dioxide emissions and the material footprint index), (3) human well-being outputs (the planetary pressures–adjusted human development index, or PHDI), and (4) ecological well-being output efficiency (an adjusted ecological well-being performance index, or AEWP). Our empirical verification results show that the same ecological consumption will show different ecological surplus/deficit and development potential due to different biocapacity; the higher the level of human development, the greater the planetary pressure; the human development index (HDI) adjusted by planetary pressure are generally decreased, and the greater the HDI, the greater the dispersion between PHDI and HDI; and there is no necessarily complete consistency between PHDI and AEWP. The Belt and Road regions overall show a greater capacity for, and improvement in sustainable development than the world from 1990 to 2017, due to lower ecological consumption, slower decrease in biocapacity, faster increase in PHDI, and higher AEWP. However, for each country, it needs a comprehensive evaluation on case-by-case analysis to determine the right solutions and the corresponding development plans and pathways.

ELABORATING STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA REGIONS: KEY PRINCIPLES

As a form of regional spatial organisation, regional territorial communities have become the basic regional unit for a country to participate in global competition and international division of labour. Their development has a profound impact on the competitiveness of a country and is of great significance to the sustainable and stable development of the national economy. Cities constitute a significant part of China’s regional territorial communities. With the rapid growth of urbanisation in China, a series of problems, such as resource shortage, environmental pollution, and ecological destruction, have become highly concentrated and intensified, threatening regional sustainable development and national security. The fundamental reason that restricts the realisation of the ultimate goal of sustainable development of regional territorial communities is the lack of holistic, systematic and sustainable methods and policies. Therefore, this study aims to put forward key principles for regional territorial communities' strategic planning in China by analysing the main elements of the sustainable development concept. Strengthening scientific and technological publicity, creating a favourable environment conducive to scientific and technological progress and independent innovation, and facilitating the training and introduction of talents are suggested to improve sustainable development's science and technology element. Concerning the economic subsystem, the main efforts should be made to change the extensive economic growth mode, develop the tertiary industry, and adjust the industrial system in backward areas. When making strategic decisions concerning social issues, it is advisable to focus on factors affecting the community’s social sustainability (infrastructure, access to public facilities, equality and fairness) and make proper planning and guidance. For the environmental dimension of regional sustainable development, the most critical issues to be solved are the efficient use of land resources and the strengthening of the environmental governance role and functions.

CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH COVID 19: A CASE STUDY OF THE FESTIVALS ON THE ISLAND OF RHODES

Cultural heritage is one of the key elements of a region's identity and local culture can be an important asset in an effort to highlight and promote a region with the ultimate goal of sustainable development and prosperity of the local community. Local festivals and celebrations contribute to reducing tensions, overcoming dividing lines, developing reciprocity and respect for diversity. They give participants the opportunity to create bonds of contact and communication, create a "sense of belonging", cross borders and dividing lines, fight social exclusion, are the right cohesive web for strong social cohesion. The role of local festivals and fests in the economic, social and cultural sustainability of communities has been highlighted in the international literature. During the summer of 2020, all festivals and local celebrations throughout Greece were suspended due to the Covid pandemic 19. The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) appeared and spread in Greece from February 26, 2020 onwards. After the confirmation of the first three cases in Greece, on February 27, 2020, all the carnival events in the country were canceled and on March 10, it was decided to close all the educational structures, all the levels of the country. On March 13, the service of cafes, bars, museums, shopping malls, sports facilities and restaurants will be suspended and on March 16, all shops will be closed, while it was decided to suspend all functions of every denomination and religion. On July 13 2020, it was decided to temporarily ban until July 31, the holding of festivals or other similar public open events of local or non-local character by private or non-private organizations. A new ministerial decision extends the ban from August 1 to August 31, 2020. The present research aims to detect and record the views of representatives of cultural institutions and citizens of the island of Rhodes regarding the cancellation of all local celebrations and festivals in Greece due to the pandemic of Covid 19, as well as the consequences in the economic, social and cultural field in local communities. It was a field research and the island of Rhodes in Greece was selected as a case study. It took place between October and November 2020, before the appearance of the second wave of the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The sample was consisted of 30 representatives of cultural institutions and 40 citizens - residents of the villages of the island of Rhodes. The results show that the representatives of the cultural institutions and the inhabitants of the villages express their frustration, dissatisfaction and anger, but it seems that they perceive and understand the new state of affairs and adapt to the new conditions. They admit that the festivals are detrimental to the health of the community, but point out the lack of communication and the cohesion of the social fabric on the island of Rhodes since the cancellation of the festivals. Regarding the effects that result from the cancellation of the festivals, the "economic" ones play a dominant role and in particular in different social groups: producers, merchants, musicians, singers, etc. Finally, they consider that serious consequences arise from the deprivation of the "amusement" of entertainment and collectivism with consequent psychological problems. The results of the research are considered important and satisfactory, as they demonstrated the need for preservation and sustainable development of festivals and folk festivals, highlighting their contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of local communities.

Realising the Human Right to Water in Costa Rica through Social Movements

This article examines human rights from the perspective of social constructions and as the result of historical processes. This means that human rights, as we know them today, are the result of dynamic and historical struggles. This is no different with regard to the human right to water. In particular, this article addresses the following research question: how interwoven are social movements with the realisation of the human right to water? While answering this question the article brings to the discussion some relations between the human right to water and the idea of sustainable development. This article focuses on Costa Rica because it is a country that has long been celebrated as a leader in sustainable development, environmental policy, and protection of natural resources. Recently, however, Costa Rica became the world’s number one exporter of pineapple. The shocking growth of pineapple plantations in recent years has caused innumerable socio-environmental problems including that of water pollution. The article concludes that demanding the realisation of the human right to water through social struggles, and especially through social organisation and pressuring the government, is the way forward to accomplish this right and the ultimate goal of sustainable development.

Have cities effectively improved ecological well-being performance? Empirical analysis of 278 Chinese cities

Abstract With the advent of the era of global ecological limits, natural capital has become absolutely scarce. How to improve the level of human well-being within the ecological limits is the ultimate goal of sustainable development. China is challenged to improve ecological well-being performance (EWP), predominantly in urban areas. This paper presents an overall analysis of the EWP of 278 Chinese cities during the period of 2005–2016 using the Super-slack-based measure (Super-SBM) model. The index system of ecological well-being performance evaluation is constructed from the perspective of input (e.g., labour force, fixed assets investment) and output (e.g. per capita GDP and dust). The results demonstrate that (1) the average EWP value of Chinese cities is relatively low with the value of 0.5919; (2) the top three performers in EWP are Sanya, Haikou and Shenzhen, and the bottom three performers are JinChang, Guigang and Baiyin; (3) the average EWP value of 278 Chinese cities achieved significant improvement over the period 2005–2016; and (4) the EWP value is relatively high in the eastern region, medium in the western region and low in the middle region. Policy suggestions are thus proposed for improving the EWP in Chinese prefecture-level cities. The research findings provide significant references for urban ecological protection and human well-being improvement in China.

Comprehensive Evaluation for Operating Efficiency of Electricity Retail Companies Based on the Improved TOPSIS Method and LSSVM Optimized by Modified Ant Colony Algorithm from the View of Sustainable Development

The electricity market of China is currently in the process of a new institutional reform. Diversified electricity retail entities are gradually being established with the opening of the marketing electricity side. In the face of a complex market environment and fierce competition, the operating efficiency can directly reflect the current market position and development of electricity retail companies. TOPSIS method can make full use of the information of original data, calculate the distance between evaluated objects and the ideal solutions and get the relative proximity, which is generally used in the overall department and comprehensive evaluation of the benefits. Least squares support vector machine (LSSVM), with high convergence precision, helps save the training time of algorithm by solving linear equations and is used to predict the comprehensive evaluation value. Considering the ultimate goal of sustainable development, a comprehensive evaluation model on operating efficiency of electricity retail companies based on the improved TOPSIS method and LSSVM optimized by modified ant colony algorithm is proposed in this paper. Firstly, from the view of sustainable development, an operating efficiency evaluation indicator system is constructed. Secondly, the entropy weight method is applied to empower the indicators objectively. After that, based on the improved TOPSIS method, the reverse problem in the evaluation process is eliminated. According to the relative proximity between the evaluated objects and the absolute ideal solutions, the scores of comprehensive evaluation for operating efficiency can then be ranked. Finally, the LSSVM optimized by modified ant colony algorithm is introduced to realize the simplified expert scoring process and fast calculation in the comprehensive evaluation process, and its improved learning and generalization ability can be used in the comprehensive evaluation of similar projects. The example analysis proves that the comprehensive evaluation model proposed in this paper can provide scientific and effective evaluation results of the operating efficiency of electricity retail companies.

Theoretical Analysis of the Concept of a Sustainable City

This paper systematically presents the information about a sustainable city and the process of putting forward, developing and evolving the concept, and it provides an analysis of some current main views in the studies of sustainable cities. In this paper, it is argued that the construction of a sustainable city should not be carried out simply by bringing the concept of sustainable development down to the city level; sustainable development should be more materialized, scenario focused, and localized at the city level, and it should be internalized into the various dimensions of the construction of a city at the special temporal and spatial scales of a city. Based on literature reviews, this paper holds that there are three drawbacks in the current understanding of a sustainable city, mainly including: First, emphasis is placed on the internal equilibrium of a city, but no attention is paid to the negative environmental externalities of other cities or areas and the compensation for them; second, the ultimate goal of sustainable development — achieving equilibrium — is excessively stressed, while the embodiment of the stages of development and regional differences in the goal of sustainable development is overlooked; third, the form of the city is a key indicator for building a sustainable city, but this indicator is basically unavailable in the current definitions of sustainable cities. The definition and theory of a sustainable city should fully reflect the temporal and spatial nodes of differentiation in a sustainable city and the dynamic relationship of equilibrium between the systems of a city and the surrounding areas; its definition and theory should also realistically address the urban needs and the practice of the sustainable development of a city. Based on a comprehensive analysis, this paper stresses that a sustainable city is a city in which the form of the city is scientifically designed in line with a certain social and economic development level, and environmental conditions in order to optimize the internal and external functions, improve the system of urban governance, achieve a dynamic equilibrium among economic development, environmental safety, resource utilization and social equity, continuously enhance its capability for coping with risks, make it more livable, and provide positive externalities in perspectives of economy, environment and social governance for other cities.

Approaching Sustainability of Construction and Demolition Waste Using Zero Waste Concept

Construction and demolition waste constitutes a huge part of the solid waste management system and is continuous on the rise because of the booming housing and building industry worldwide. Construction and demolition waste is not clear in its definition; it differs according to the location and type of the project which make it complicated to find a generic solution to construction and demolition waste management problems. A comprehensive list of construction and demolition waste stream was formulated and used in the course of this study. A thorough literature review was conducted to study the end life of each of the components of the construction and demolition waste stream and their reuse or recycling option. The conventional treatment of construction and demolition waste which is dumping them in landfills was presented and its negative impact on the environmental and socio-economic aspects and on sustainability highlighted making recycling the most viable option. The study aims at having a clearer picture of C & D waste classification methods, its components and their end of life treatment and evaluating them through the lenses of zero waste management. Zero waste is a way that promotes changing lifestyle and, ideologies to reach the ultimate goal of sustainable development through eliminating waste and having materials that circulate in closed loops. Applying zero waste concept to manage construction and demolition waste would be a great improvement in waste management as it promotes the reuse of resources, preserves the environment and is considered a step towards a sustainable environment.

Wellbeing and Sustainability: A Relational Approach

AbstractSustainable development has been a political catchphrase for almost 30 years. However, a genuine transition towards sustainability has not yet begun. The prevailing values have remained intact, with polarization towards economic aspects of sustainability. The dominant weak interpretation of sustainable development is based on a human exemptionalism paradigm that does not fully recognize the interconnectedness of human wellbeing and the vitality of ecosystems. Moreover, the ultimate goal of sustainable development, i.e. wellbeing, has been understood narrowly, and mainly in economic terms. To increase the chances of a transition to sustainability, it is necessary to enrich the understanding of wellbeing on the basis of a relational paradigm, in which the dependency of human wellbeing on the health of the ecosystems is internalized. To this end, we present a relational, multidimensional and needs‐based conceptualization of wellbeing, arguing that this approach holds significant promise for both sustainability and wellbeing research and policies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Trade‐offs between environmental protection and economic development in China's fisheries policy: A political analysis on the adoption and implementation of the Fisheries Law 2000

AbstractThe Rio Declaration of 1992 called for states to integrate environmental protection in their process of development in order to achieve the ultimate goal of sustainable development (Principle 4). The paper investigates to what extent the People's Republic of China (PRC) has integrated environmental protection into her fisheries policy. The environment/development nexus is analysed in relation to the adoption and implementation of the Fisheries Law of 2000. Official documents and, more importantly, interviews conducted in several organizations at multiple levels of governance disclose a complex reality beyond the formal commitment to sustainable fisheries. Diverging interests, goals and strategies can be traced beyond formal policy documents in Beijing, Guangdong and between the Centre and the Province. Inter‐organizational divergences at the central and local levels, as well as between them, hinder the pursuit of environmental protection in the development of China's fisheries sector. The paper highlights the political complexity of pursuing more responsible fisheries in the multi‐actor and multi‐level political‐administrative system of the PRC. Here, as well as in many other developing countries, economic development constitutes the policy priority. Environmental protection often remains not only an ambitious objective but also an unperceived need.

Linking sustainable consumption and production: The government role

AbstractAchieving sustainable development depends on comprehensive approaches which integrate consumption and production initiatives. At present, sustainable consumption is being overemphasized to the neglect of the more important production side. This paper examines the role of governments in promoting sustainable consumption and production to identify gaps in national schemes which reduce their overall effectiveness. Public policy tools promoting sustainable consumption and production are discussed in terms of whether they are aimed at correcting: 1) market failures (regulations, taxes, subsidies); or 2) systems failures (labels, communications, education, public procurement). The challenge for governments is to link sustainable consumption initiatives to policies aimed at increasing the sustainability of production in the private sector in both their national and international dimensions. In this way, governments can enlist the aid of consumers in pushing producers towards sustainability and to achieve the ultimate goal of sustainable development.

How to "Geoscope" Transitions to Sustainable Water Use

In the process of finding paths to sustainable development, humankind faces the challenge of better understanding the interactions between human society and the natural environment. Although the definition and ultimate goal of sustainable development is still not generally agreed upon, in many cases we are able to determine what is clearly not sustainable: The extent of global energy consumption, the current degree of biodiversity loss, or the consumption of freshwater beyond natural recharge levels. In order to define possible paths to sustainability, a structured analysis of the related transition processes is required. This analysis deals specifically with the time dimension, that is, the connections and switching points between different phases of transition. Even if sustainable development is a long-term process, starting points of the required transitions can already be identified and should be studied, as the path dependence of our current actions indicates significant impacts in the medium and long run. The future remains uncertain and even the most sophisticated computer models will never provide exact predictions of future developments. Therefore, in order to decide on appropriate future steps, the human society has to continuously observe the present and learn from the past. This iterative learning-bydoing approach requires well-founded observation systems and adequate analysis tools, through which transition processes can be identified as early as possible. A systematic approach to this kind of analysis may address the following issues, which were raised during a recent workshop on the emergence of a sustainability science : ■Where and how do transitions start? Are there triggers to be observed which should not be ignored? ■Do transitions follow underlying rules and patterns which can be identified and which recur over time or under different circumstances? ■Are there typical barriers to transitions preventing or delaying required changes? ■What kind of actions and interventions can be taken to direct, accelerate or slow down transitional changes in order to achieve social objectives? The observation and analysis of transitions is of special importance in the case of creeping environmental problems which emerge only slowly but with a strong long-term impact. There are a number of critical areas in which transitions to more sustainable nature-society interactions are required, like global water use, food security, the global energy system, biodiversity loss, public health, and human lifestyles. Martens and Rotmans provide a conceptual framework for describing and analysing transitions by distinguishing phases of predevelopment, take-off, acceleration, and stabilisation .

IPCC AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT: TOWARD THE THIRD ASSESSMENT REPORT

In preparing the Third Assessment Report (due in 2001), the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was also assigned the task of assessing "methodological aspects of cross-cutting issues such as equity, discount rates, and decision making frameworks". The article analyses the task; points out the gaps in IPCC's past approaches to policy and decision making methodologies; and outlines elements of a paradigm that effectively bridges science and decision making, especially in the area of applying IPCC's global policies on the national and local levels, within the ultimate goal of sustainable development.