United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Research Articles

Bridging Pharma and Sustainability: Green Electrochemical Analysis of Antiparkinsonian Drug in Pharmaceuticals and Plasma, Aligned with United Nations Goals via the NQS Index

This study presents a sustainable electrochemical investigation of pramipexole (PRA) in pharmaceuticals and human plasma, using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Key parameters, including potential range, buffer pH, accumulation period, and scan rate were optimized, establishing efficient voltammetric methods for PRA analysis. The analytical range was 0.60–12.00 μg ml−1, with a detection limit of 0.14 μg ml−1 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. Recovery rates for PRA ranged from 98.60 ± 0.26% to 101.33 ± 0.38%, validating the methodology’s applicability in human plasma with an average recovery of 99.25 ± 0.45%. The study highlights the environmental sustainability of the developed voltammetric electrode, evaluated through SWOT analysis, and assesses the greenness impact using tools like Complementary Green Analytical Procedure Index (ComplexGAPI), Analytical greenness (AGREE) and Analytical greenness for sample preparation (AGREEprep). Significantly, this work aligns with numerous United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), specifically goals 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17, illustrating our commitment to sustainable pharmaceutical research. The sustainability of the method was further quantified using the newly introduced Need, Quality, Sustainability (NQS) index, demonstrating significant alignment with sustainable analytical practices.

The preliminary investigation on the microplastic removal using column flotation: effects of kerosene on the floatability of microplastics

Abstract Microplastics (MPs), 1 to 5000 µm plastics particle, present grave environmental challenges due to their wide distribution in water and difficulty of removal due to their small size. As these particles persist in aquatic ecosystems, effective removal methods are urgently needed. The small size, low density, and high hydrophobicity of MPs not only facilitate their spread but also enhance their potential toxicity. MPs can adsorb toxic compounds and heavy metals, posing risks to both humans and wildlife through ingestion and inhalation. According to the properties of MPs, column flotation, a surface-based separation technique suitable for fine particles, might have a potential to remove MPs from contaminated water and to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) #Goal14 “Life below Water”. In this study, the effects of kerosene dosage on the floatability of microplastics in column flotation were preliminarily investigated. The result showed that the kerosene could enhance the floatability and density of MPs also show significant effects on removal rate.

THE INFLUENCE OF MACRO- AND MICROFERTILIZERS ON THE YIELD AND GRAIN QUALITY OF WINTER WHEAT ON CHESTNUT SOILS OF THE VOLGOGRAD REGION

Background. Agricultural sustainability is fundamental to achieving Zero Hunger, one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under current scenarios, foliar application of mineral nutrients has become an inevitable agricultural practice for sustainable crop production worldwide. The article presents the results of testing 7 varieties of winter wheat at two breeding centers of the Donskoy ASC and the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2021-2022. The weather conditions at the demonstration plot in the autumn period were unfavorable (lack of moisture and high temperature) but did not have a great influence on the further development of plants in the spring-summer period due to the favorable conditions observed during the dormant phase in the winter. Methods. The technology for cultivating winter wheat varieties in field experiments was according to B. A. Dospehov and the methods of state variety testing of agricultural crops. To carry out a complete verification and reliability of the experiments carried out for 2020-2022, the processing and analysis of mathematical data was carried out in the Excel program. Results. During the testing process, we examined the main indicators of winter wheat varieties according to the following main indicators. In terms of productive stem growth, good indicators were noted for the varieties Kamyshanka 9 - 472 pcs./m2, Etude - 454 pcs./m2 and Ambar - 436 pcs./m2. When studying productivity, a pattern was revealed that high indicators of productive stems do not always correspond to high yields. In terms of yield, it is worth noting the varieties Ambar (5.6 t/ha) and Etude (5.0 t/ha), which feel confident in our conditions and provide a stable increase in the yield. Along with the Rostov selection, the Kamyshanka variety 4 selection of the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences generated a yield of 5.0 t/ha. Conclusion. As studies have shown, not all varieties respond equally to additional nutrition with microfertilizers. The highest protein content corresponding to class 3 is formed in the varieties Volnitsa (13.7%), Elanskaya (13.6%) and Etude (13.3%). The use of macro- and microfertilizers increases the yield and improves the quality of grain.

The role of private sector investment in agriculture: A catalyst for sustainable development in Asia

AbstractThe agricultural sector is a crucial driver for sustainable development in many countries, as it directly or indirectly contributes to various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, this sector requires increasing financial investment to rejuvenate and modernise production processes. This study investigates the impact of private sector investment on agricultural production across selected Asian countries from 2001Q1 to 2020Q4. The results of the Driscoll‐Kraay regression and the method of moments quantile regression reveal that private agricultural investment positively affects agricultural production. The findings indicate positive contributions from agricultural aid, domestic credit, and rural population, whereas remittances negatively affect agricultural production. The Dumitrescu‐Hurlin panel causality test results establish bidirectional causality between farm production and its determinants (private agricultural investment, agricultural aid, domestic credit, remittances, and the rural population). Based on these findings, we recommend that policymakers and governments incentivise and facilitate private agricultural investment to drive sustainable development. This strategy could boost agricultural productivity and enhance a more resilient agricultural system capable of withstanding environmental challenges while improving farmers' incomes and livelihoods.

The association and interactions of malnutrition, micronutrients, and drug therapy in the management of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious lung disease that is the leading cause of death worldwide. Globally, over 3,500 people lose their lives to tuberculosis each day – totalling 1.3 million deaths each year. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the acid-fast bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Fever, coughing, exhaustion, and weight loss are among the symptoms that patients with tuberculosis display. Tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person by inhaling airborne droplets. Immune compromised individuals are at high risk for developing tuberculosis. Direct microscopy of sputum smears and solid media cultures are used as tuberculosis diagnostic techniques. The global effort to combat tuberculosis has so far saved an estimated 75 million lives since 2000. The present review focuses on the association between malnutrition and tuberculosis, micronutrient status, and drugs used in tuberculosis therapy. The greatest risk factor for TB is malnutrition, which weakens immunity by lowering the cells' ability to fight off infections. Many micronutrients are useful in controlling tuberculosis and boosting the host's immunity. These include copper, zinc, selenium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. Furthermore, the longevity of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) depends on their micronutrient status. Several medications, such as isoniazid, ethambutol, rifabutin, levofloxacin, amikacin, streptomycin, and capreomycin, are used to treat tuberculosis for a certain period of time. Anti-tuberculosis medications can cause vitamin B6 deficiency, arthralgias, gastrointestinal issues, hepatotoxic effects, and allergic reactions as adverse effects. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed to end the global tuberculosis epidemic by 2023 but more work remains to be done.

From International Regulation to Local Implementation

This paper discusses gender equality in sustainable development goals as a response to the 2023 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report. Through the lens of international environmental law, gender equality achievement is examined both by its international commitment and its implementation at local institutions. This study focuses on elements of the data report that closely relate to human rights and the environment. These include women�s global share in national agricultural ownership, their secure tenure rights over agricultural land, and access to fair legal protection. This study then observes the availability of international agendas within international environmental law to promote sustainable development goals. Relevant legal frameworks include those arranged by the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. To examine local implementation, this study uses the West Sumatra government as a case study, employing questionnaires and interviews with provincial legal actors. Indonesia Investment Law, which covers a broad spectrum of human development, is utilized as a model for assessing the implementation of gender equality at the local level. Ultimately, this study found a lack of gender equality implementation for SDGs at local institutions. It concludes that this could have been anticipated via a more comprehensive international legal framework, which could be implemented through national regulations. Keywords: Environmental Law, Gender Equity, Sustainable Development Goals

Xenophobia In South Africa and the Realities of Actualizing SDG 8

This study dwells on xenophobia and the realities of actualizing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) eight in South Africa. It argues that since the emergence of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, which transited to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, there has been a proliferation of literature from scholars of diverse disciplinary orientations. However, none of these studies deal with the phenomenon of xenophobia as a milestone for the attainment of the SDGs in South Africa. This paper, therefore, serves as an intervention to discuss how xenophobia affects the realization/ actualization of the UN’s SDG eight in the area under consideration. Using extant literature and the rational choice theory, it affirms that without peace and partnership with other countries, it would be very difficult for South Africa to attain the UN SDGs it envisages to achieve. To be focused and in-depth in the analysis of the phenomena under consideration the study centers exclusively on the UN SDG eight (even though there are seventeen SDGs of the UN) which hinges on decent work and economic growth. The evidence thrown up led to the major conclusion that the persistent xenophobic attacks and the resultant massive destruction of lives and businesses of foreigners, South Africa’s quest for the full-fledged realization of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal eight would remain mere paperwork. Given the increasing prevalence of xenophobic attacks in the study area, the paper suggests, among others, the building of meaningful, lasting, and effective partnerships. This entails that xenophobia in the country will be nipped in the bud.

Scholarly Discourse on Equity, Inclusion, and Education by Scholars in Indonesia: A Bibliometric and Science Mapping Analysis

Equity, inclusion, and education are remarkable elements encompassed in the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). As such, there is a growing number of publications on these topics presenting some challenges to envision an overarching understating of the connections among these subjects. Hence, the purpose of the current study is to explore the body of research that involves equity, inclusion, and education that is contributed by Indonesian academia by employing bibliometric and science mapping analysis. The search was conducted on SCOPUS database which resulted in some 400 plus documents after applying the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was analyzed employing various bibliometric analysis indicators such as number of publications, contributing institutions, citation, co-citation, and keywords. Microsoft excel and VOSviewer software was employed for conducting the analysis. The findings revealed that the number of publications and citations on the topics has been quiet fluctuating. Analyses of the intellectual and conceptual structure revealed that trans-disciplinary nature of scholarship on the topic. Based on the findings, the needs for a greater emphasis on research in these areas by Indonesian institutions/researchers are realized. It is also suggested that researchers employ an integrated approach by investigating variables from the policy and practice perspectives as well as at an organizational or systemic level. The findings are string support that education is an integral component of achieving equity and inclusion which should be taken into account while devising policies and implementing the same.

Identifying the language of global competence and global citizenship in the education policies of Punjab, Pakistan

In 2015, Pakistan committed to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4’s provision of quality education for all. Target 4.7 of this Goal acknowledges that delivering quality education means ensuring that students develop a set of attributes characterised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in terms of global citizenship, and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development using the nomenclature of global competence. There is ongoing debate regarding the agendas of the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; however, from a pragmatic perspective, both are already influencing domestic education policies. This article explores the extent to which this is the case in Punjab, Pakistan. A deductive thematic analysis of relevant education policies was undertaken to identify language reflective of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Programme of International Student Assessment Global Competence Framework. The analysis, based on meta themes identified by Vaccari and Gardinier, revealed the inclusion of language from these international agendas, as well as the reflections of local culture. Although this research was specific to Punjab, the findings may provide insights into how countries are adopting and/or contextualising these international agendas.

Maternal smoking prevalence in Brazil in 2013 and 2019: not what we expected when they were expecting!

Monitoring tobacco use during pregnancy is critical for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We examined changes between 2013 and 2019 in the relative differences in smoking prevalence rates between pregnant and non-pregnant women aged 18-49 years. We used data from a nationally representative health survey conducted in Brazil in 2013 and 2019. A generalized linear model with binomial family and logarithmic link function was used to estimate, for each year of analysis, the crude and adjusted (by age-group, educational attainment, place of residence, and status of protection from passive smoking at home) relative differences. In 2013,the proportion point estimate of tobacco use among pregnant women was lower than that observed among non-pregnant women (4.7% vs. 9.6%). However, in 2019 proportion point estimates were virtually the same (8.5% vs. 8.4%). After adjustment for selected variables, in 2013, smoking prevalence among pregnant women was 42% (p-value≤0.05) lower than that observed among non-pregnant women. On the other hand, in 2019, maternal smoking prevalence was 13% (p-value>0.05) higher than that found among non-pregnant women. Ongoing tobacco industry interference and the marketing of tobacco products to vulnerable populations pose serious threats to public health and likely contributed to increasing maternal smoking prevalence. The fact that women smoke in such an important phase of their and their unborn children's lives reinforces the need to strengthen the implementation of concurrent tobacco control actions, including tobacco excise tax policy and pre-natal tobacco prevention and cessation interventions as part of health professionals' routine consultation. The decline in smoking prevalence among non-pregnant women between 2013 and 2019 was accompanied by an increase in maternal smoking prevalence. Monitoring tobacco use during pregnancy is critical for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Ongoing tobacco industry interference and the marketing of tobacco products to vulnerable populations in Brazil pose serious threats to public health. The fact that women smoke in such an important phase of their and their unborn children's lives reinforces the need to strengthen the implementation of concurrent tobacco control actions, including tobacco excise tax policy and primary healthcare professionals´ tobacco-related assistance during interaction with their patients.

Competence Framework-Based Assessment to Foster Sustainability Management

Urgent actions are needed both individually and collectively to reach the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The complex issues of sustainability and climate change set the need for new skills and competences. Education systems worldwide need to integrate competence development into their agenda to achieve a sustainable transition. Higher education institutions have a crucial role in decreasing the gap between the graduated students' competences and the requirements of the labour market. In the pursuit of a workforce prepared for the complexities of the 21st-century workplace, this paper explores the interplay between European competence frameworks and transversal skills. Using a comparative analysis of four frameworks—DigComp, EntreComp, LifeComp, and GreenComp—we identify distinct features and cross-reference competences with transversal skills. As a result, media and information literacy emerges as a crucial transversal skill across all frameworks. This study offers valuable insights for strategic decision-making in talent development and organizational planning, aligning education with the dynamic demands of today’s society. The findings underscore the key role of transversal skills in preparing individuals for the 21st century labour market.

Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) at ETH Zurich Celebrates its 10th Anniversary – A Retrospective and Outlook

For this CHIMIA special issue on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the coincidental 10th anniversary of the association of Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) at ETH Zurich, there is no better opportunity to share what we have achieved in the last decade. WiNS was originally founded by female PhD students and PostDocs at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB) and has expanded to include three additional departments at ETH Zurich. Join us in celebrating our anniversary, reflecting on what we and other associations with the same mission have done to promote gender equality and reduced inequalities for all. We invite you to reflect on what yet has to be done to enact a systemic change towards achieving equal opportunities for all, rather than simply accommodating the female perspective to Switzerland’s predominantly masculine working culture.

Contribution of Using Filter Cake and Vinasse as a Source of Nutrients for Sustainable Agriculture—A Review

The use of filter cake and vinasse in agriculture began in the 1970s and intensified in the 1990s. Currently, the Ukraine war and the high value of fertilizers have created opportunities for fertilization programs in agricultural systems with sustainable goals. This review presents updated data (1988–2024) and a discussion on the potential agricultural use of filter cake and vinasse and indicates the current progress of research on this subject in addition to future prospects. Filter cake stands out due to the formulation of organomineral fertilizers with direct application of composted or fresh forms, favoring the agronomic efficiency of phosphorus. The use of vinasse in fertigation is feasible and replaces potassium mineral fertilizers and other nutrients following an organic matrix. Future perspectives point to the agricultural use of filter cake and vinasse on a sustainable basis from different approaches. The aim is to potentiate their benefits in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. It is noteworthy that filter cake or vinasse, when combined with growth-promoting bacteria in irrigated crops, can nullify the negative effects of climate change due to increased productivity and, at the same time, meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This contributes to facing global challenges related to food security by recycling nutrients for agriculture and generating clean bioenergy from sugarcane biomass.

The 2023 Gerard W. Ostheimer Lecture. A Contemporary Narrative Review of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Opportunities to Improve Peripartum Outcomes.

The Gerard W. Ostheimer lecture is given annually to members of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. This lecture summarizes new and emerging literature that informs the clinical practice of obstetric anesthesiology. This is a narrative review of 2022 literature pertinent to maternal morbidity and mortality in all income settings globally. Themes associated with worse maternal mortality rate (MMR), challenges health care workers face, public health priority areas, and initiatives to help countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets for MMR are discussed. MMRs are higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs). Cesarean delivery rates are rising most rapidly in LMICs, warranting urgent maternal health care workforce planning efforts in these settings. Globally racial, ethnic, and geographical disparities in maternal mortality continue to be evident in global health care settings. In the United States, the MMR is rising. The evolving changes in abortion legislation in the United States may further negatively impact maternal morbidity and mortality. The need to implement American Society of Anesthesiologists-recommended obstetric anesthesia quality metrics to facilitate benchmarking and to improve patient experience and outcomes is discussed as well as the need for professional society guidance on minimum staffing levels in American labor and delivery units.

IMPACT OF DECISIONS OF PROVIDERS ON THE QUALITY OF HOUSING IN POST-DISASTER RELIEF CAMPS: USERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Against the backdrop of recurring humanitarian crises, the study addresses the pressing issue of housing quality in post-disaster relief camps and aims to enhance the well-being of displaced populations. The purpose of the research is to examine the influence of providers' decisions on shelter conditions. The study examines how provider choices affect the standard of housing in relief camps in Nigeria using a descriptive survey. It encompasses four camps with a combined population of 20,982 people, two in Lagos and two in Abuja. Through stratified sampling, 378 respondents were selected using Yemane's formula. Over a year, information from internally displaced people (IDPs) was gathered through standardized surveys. The study reveals that decision-making processes significantly affect housing quality, and residents' voices are often inadequately considered. The study's conclusions help comprehend the living circumstances at the relief camps in Nigeria. The originality of this study lies in its emphasis on decision-making in post-disaster housing provision. This research supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 which aims to enhance the quality of life for marginalized communities through living conditions. Keywords: Decision making, Humanitarian crisis, Housing quality, Nigeria, SDG 11, Relief camps

The HepHIV 2023 Madrid conference: A call to action for political leadership in reaching the sustainable development goals on earlier testing and linkage to care for HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.

The HepHIV 2023 Conference, held in Madrid in November 2023, highlighted how Europe is not on track to meet the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals and Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) targets. This article presents the outcomes of the conference, which focus on ways to improve testing and linkage to care for HIV, viral hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections. HIV-related stigma and discrimination, a major barrier to progress, was a key concept of the conference and on the agenda of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. The HepHIV 2023 organizing committee, alongside the Spanish Ministry of Health, oversaw the conference organization and prepared the scientific programme based on abstract rankings. Key outcomes are derived from conference presentations and discussions. Conference presentations covered the obstacles that HIV-related stigma and discrimination continue to pose to access to services, models for data collection to better monitor progress in the future, and examples of legislative action that can be taken at national levels. Diversification of testing approaches was also highlighted, to reach key populations, (e.g. migrant populations), to increase testing offered in healthcare settings (e.g. emergency departments), and to account for different stages of epidemics across the region. With a strong call for intensified action to address the impact of HIV-related stigma and discrimination on testing uptake, the conference concluded that strengthened collaboration is required between governments and implementers around testing and linkage to care. There is also an ongoing need to ensure sustainable political commitment and appropriate resource allocation to address gaps and inequalities in access for key populations and to focus on the implementation of integrated responses to HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.

Towards a General Theory of Sustainable Development: Using a Sustainability Window Approach to Explore All Possible Scenario Paths of Economic Growth and Degrowth

Across decades of contemporary discussion on sustainable development, a core concern has been the balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions. A critical strand of the debate focuses on economic growth versus economic degrowth and, more specifically, on whether economic growth can be sustainable in environmental terms and whether degrowth can be sustainable in social terms. This conceptual and theoretical article used the Sustainability Window, or “SuWi”’ method, to theoretically determine the sustainable window of economies. The window is defined as the upper and lower bounds of future change in GDP that could be deemed in line with achieving both environmental and social sustainability. The conceptual analysis considers all theoretically possible scenario paths for development by combining the outcome paths of economic, environmental, and social dimensions with the environmental and social productivities of GDP. Through SuWi analysis, it is found that only four of the logically possible scenario paths could be considered theoretically “sustainable”—two cases involving economic growth and two of degrowth. In the cases of each of the four paths, sustainability only emerges where they adhere to strict conditions in terms of environmental and social outcomes, as well as related productivities. The SuWi approach and its applied analytical formulas have many potential uses in 21st-century policymaking for sustainability, including supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It provides a unique and comprehensive theoretical and analytical framework that enables the categorisation of the complex challenges of sustainability and quantitative analysis of policy choices. Such foresight analysis could greatly assist in providing an evidence base for future development planning and policy formulation, ex ante of locking in a pathway. Further implementation in applied studies that explore a comprehensive indicator set, robust and consistent across all relevant dimensions, offers a promising opportunity to advance empirical analysis of key questions in sustainable development globally at a critical juncture in human history.

Antimicrobial Resistance: Challenges in Wartime - Ukrainian Perspective

The excessive and uncontrolled use of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture has become the main cause of antibiotic resistance and the spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment. Every year, antibiotic resistance continues to grow worldwide, posing a significant challenge for humanity. The World Health Organization recognizes antibiotic resistance as one of the top 10 global threats to public health, jeopardizing the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. The consequences of antimicrobial resistance extend beyond the effective treatment of infections; it is a public health issue with global consequences. Socioeconomic losses and environmental threats are closely linked to this problem. Moreover, antibiotic resistance has long-term and unpredictable consequences related to wars and military conflicts. The impact of the war and a clear understanding of the global scope of antibiotic resistance as a result of hostilities can be seen through the outcome of russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This military conflict not only highlighted the importance of preserving human life and promoting peaceful development at both national and global levels but also revealed potential risks for various global environmental issues, particularly the increasing spread of antibiotic resistance. The disruption caused by the war has transformed the issue of antibiotic resistance in Ukraine from a national concern to a powerful factor that affects the global scale of this problem, transcending borders. During the war, resources and priorities have shifted toward military needs, relegating human health and environmental protection to secondary importance. Migration and loss of highly qualified medical specialists and biologists, deterioration of the environmental situation, sanitary, hygienic conditions, lack of food resources and medicines, and other factors directly and indirectly contribute to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance globally. This review demonstrates the relevance of the issue of antibiotic resistance, the main mechanisms of the development and spread of antibiotic resistance, the global scale and consequences of antibiotic resistance due to the war in Ukraine and aims to provide an overview of international initiatives to reduce antibiotic resistance, in particular the “One Health” concept and strategies, which are currently being implemented. Solving the issue of antibiotic resistance globally and at the level of the country affected by war requires a comprehensive approach, which includes mandatory systematic surveillance of antibiotic resistance, control of the use of antimicrobial drugs, informing all segments of society about the use of antimicrobial drugs and the consequences of antibiotic resistance, the introduction of educational programs to prevent an improper use of antibiotics, environmentally safe methods of waste disposal in medical, food, and other enterprises that produce or use antibiotics, safe disposal of antibiotics, etc.

Integrated life cycle assessment with the ReSOLVE framework for environmental impacts mitigation in mushroom growing: The case in Lam Dong province, Vietnam

In recent decades, cleaner production has received increasing attention since it can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, sustainable consumption and production, and climate change mitigation. This study aims to use the Life Cycle Assessment-ReSOLVE method to find and quantify the main environmental impacts that happen along the production chain. It will also look at how each production stage contributes to these effects and then discuss ways to fix these problems using the circular economy approach and the ReSOLVE framework in the case study. Although this study used a mushroom-growing facility in the Central Highlands of Vietnam as a case study, the approach can be applied to other industries and countries worldwide. The LCA helped identify environmental hotspots, which were areas with significant environmental impact. The data on these hotspots were used to evaluate the ReSOLVE framework to determine appropriate circular practices for improving mushroom cultivation's environmental impacts. The results showed that electricity consumption and plastic baskets are the primary hotspots for environmental impacts, especially greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions while growing shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) were 2.38 kg CO2e/kg mushroom, of which energy use contributes to 72.87% of the emissions. The evaluation findings obtained from the ReSOLVE framework indicate that the facility is now implementing 17 out of 42 circular practices. The facility significantly prioritizes process optimization, implementing eight practices, and places a strong emphasis on regeneration, implementing five practices. According to the study's findings, practitioners should adopt this approach to support businesses in achieving sustainable development. Practitioners should tailor the circular practices in the ReSOLVE framework to the industry in which they evaluate and implement the suggested circular economy solutions to assess the effectiveness of using both the ReSOLVE framework and CE solutions. Moreover, this study only focused on a mushroom facility as a case study. Consequently, we want to enhance the methodology and extend this approach to other sectors in future research.

Community-based, cost-effective multispecies mangrove restoration innovation to maximize soil blue carbon pool and humic acid and fulvic acid concentrations at Indian Sundarbans.

Sundarbans is the world's largest and most diverse contiguous mangrove ecosystem. In this pilot study, three plots (around1ha each) were selected, where one site (S1) had 1year of community involvement, another site (S2) had a community network to support the restoration initiatives for 2years, while a control site (C) was devoid of any post plantationcommunity protection. Rhizophora mucronata (Rhizophoraceae), Sonneretia caseolaris (Lythraceae) and Avicennia marina (Acanthaceae) were planted at the sites in 2012. After 6years (in 2017), at S1, the monitoring showed low survival rate for salinity-sensitive species, 2% for R. mucronata and 4% for S. caseolaris. At S2, R. mucronata has high survival rates, i.e. 71%, followed by S. caseolaris with 40%, whereas at C, the survival rate of both species was 0%. At S1 and C, the salinity-tolerant A. marina replaced the planted mangroves partially (S1) or entirely (C). At S2, available soil P increased by 17.5%, in 6years, and the overall blue carbon pool showed a linear increase from 64.4 to 88.6Mg C ha-1 (34.3% rise). S1 showed a minimum increment in P and the blue carbon pool (6.9% rise), while site C showed fluctuations in the blue carbon pool with only a 3.1% increase. Humic acid and fulvic acid concentrations in the S2 site indicate positive functional carbon sequestration in the edaphic environment. The community involvement increased the plantation cost (567.70 USD) of S2, in comparison to S1 (342.52 USD) and C (117.34 USD), but it has resulted in better restoration and survival of the mangroves. The study concludes that community participation for at least 2years can play a significant role in the conservation of mangrove ecosystems and the success of restoration initiatives in tidal, saline wetlands and would aid in compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) targets.