United Nations Sustainable Development Research Articles

Sustainability outcomes and policy implications: Evaluating China's "old urban neighborhood renewal" experiment.

Globally, old urban neighborhood transformation has become a new urban sustainability focus for its significant contribution to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 11. A regeneration-oriented approach is particularly important for Chinese cities with a dwindling land supply, obsoleting infrastructure, and inadequate standard of living. Using a mixed-methods approach informed by BREEAM Communities, we examined two Chinese initiatives-old urban neighborhood renewal (OUNR) and sponge city development (SCD)-through a comprehensive study of pilot project sustainability, policy emphases and gaps, and broader governance implications. We found that SCD's top-down technocratic management was highly efficient in enhancing neighborhood hydrological functions and physical environment. However, successes were undermined by the lack of climate considerations and civic participation. Besides actionable recommendations for applied scholarship and policymaking in China, we provide insight into how the OUNR/SCD initiatives may broadly inform worldwide urban regeneration practices through project and policy experimentations that build adaptive capacity.

Global urbanization and ruralization lessons of clean energy access gap

While energy access is improving across economic groups globally, here remains the monumental challenge of clean energy inequality that has further aggravates climate-related problems. To further address clean energy inequality, this study offers novel understanding on the forces behind clean energy access divide associated with urbanization and ruralization by employing the case of the high, low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income economies in the period 2010 to 2021. By using empirical analysis, the results reveal that (i) annual growth in the economy, and (ii) literacy parity between male and female further worsen clean energy access between urban and rural population. Contrarily, innovative activities reduce urban-rural clean energy access by an elasticity of 3.510. These findings, in theory and practice, provide policy insight toward specifically achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 10, and other global challenges.

Sustainability Evaluation of the 'Batu Into Green' Village Based on the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Nowadays, environmental issues deserve everyone's attention. People can actually improve their surrounding environment to be healthier and more comfortable, started with their own houses. This idea realizes an ecology village named 'Batu Into Green', located in Pattimura V, Temas, in the City of Batu, Indonesia. Originally, this village was a slum, but with the initiation of the local village head and with the increase of local public awareness for a healthier environment, the locals improved the ecology of their village. 'Batu Into Green' applies to the concept of environmental friendly village. Thus, an analysis was carried out to examine the level of sustainability of this ecology village. This research applied a qualitative approach to descriptively evaluate the current condition of the village based on the principles of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus of the SDGs in this discussion is Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDGs No.11). From the analyses, the 'Batu Into Green' initiative has a great potential for economic, social, and cultural sustainability

A Corpus-based Ecosophical Analysis of Discourse Produced Around the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

This research explores the Ecosophy of discourse produced around the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The study starts with building a corpus of texts, taken from the official website of the CPEC. The list of 18 key words was made, based on three United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) out of 17 goals. Theoretical framework of Stibbe’s (2015) ecocritical discourse perspective is used to develop the Ecosophy of the CPEC, while analytical framework is based on three UN sustainable development goals outlined in 2015. Corpus linguistics as a methodology is used to undergo quantitative and qualitative analysis. In quantitative analysis, collocates were analyzed by identifying Mutual Information (MI) score. The highest MI score (11.26013) is gained by the collocation named CPEC-Deforestation and the lowest is of CPEC-Water (0.87352) which show that the infrastructure project of the CPEC caused deforestation and less affected water.

Towards enhanced control of mycetoma: a roadmap to achieve the UN's sustainable development goals by 2030.

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) with devastating morbidity and stigma. Despite increased awareness and international collaboration, the burden of mycetoma is largely unknown and diagnosis and treatment are difficult. Addressing mycetoma globally aligns with several United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Little progress has been made since the WHO's NTD roadmap publication in 2020. The Global Mycetoma Working Group proposes an enhanced mycetoma-control roadmap to meet the SDGs, stimulate progress and improve the lives of patients experiencing mycetoma. By aligning mycetoma management with the goals and targets of this enhanced roadmap, it becomes possible to leverage existing resources, infrastructure and partnerships to improve the lives of affected individuals and communities. This updated assessment is designed for the benefit of health workers and providers in mycetoma-endemic areas, NTD government officials, civil society and funding and implementing agencies.

Optimization of scrap tire devulcanization process using Taguchi and DEAR method in a supercritical fluid extraction pilot scale setup

Recycling of scrap tires is gaining more significance to ensure sustainable consumption and production on a commercial scale. The supercritical CO2 extraction technique has been classified as green technology under United Nation's sustainable development guidelines. Literature shows that research on scrap tire devulcanization using supercritical CO2 was performed on a laboratory-scale setup only. However, significant pilot-scale research needs to be conducted before commercial use and technology transfer. This study utilized a pilot-scale supercritical fluid extraction equipment to devulcanize waste tire-derived crumb rubber. Using Taguchi's design of experiment (DOE) model along with the Data Envelopment Analysis Based Ranking (DEAR) approach, the effect of the input process variables on response factors was examined. The input functions, devulcanizing agent's concentration, and pump pressure were discovered to be the most influential parameters in the devulcanization process. Further optimization was carried out via the DEAR-Taguchi technique. The optimal process parameters were determined to be a pump pressure of 350 bar, an extractor temperature of 80 °C, a holding time of 30 min in the extractor, a CO2 circulation of 120 min, and a devulcanizing agent concentration of 15 vol.%. Finally, a validation experiment was conducted at the optimum conditions to verify the acceptability of the model. It was noticed that the divergence for the confirmation experiment was within 10 %, indicating that the approach used for the devulcanization of crumb rubber is acceptable.

Reorienting research investments toward under‐researched crops for sustainable food systems

AbstractThe dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under‐researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under‐researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under‐researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio‐economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed.

Seeking and Exploiting Synergies Among the UN Sustainability Development Goals: Research Opportunities for Operations Management

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) countries signed up to achieve 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) for people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership by 2030. However, the trend of progress toward achieving these goals indicates that none of the 17 goals may be achieved by 2030 globally. We first provide La foundation for operations management (OM) researchers to help shape the interventions for countries and companies to help achieve the SDGs by (1) identifying the synergies among the SDGs so that interventions can impact multiple SDGs positively and (2) linking some of the extant OM research with the synergies among the various SDGs. This way, researchers can understand the complexity of the challenges ahead and build on the OM literature to influence the interventions of governments and organizations to maximize the attainment of the SDGs. We also list some research opportunities to help OM researchers develop research agendas.

Possible Integration of Soil Information into Land Degradation Analysis for the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Concept: A Case Study of the Contiguous United States of America (USA)

Soil makes important contributions to the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) concept and targets; however, currently, soil is not integrated into measurable information (e.g., indicators, metrics) to monitor land degradation (LD) patterns and trends. This study examines the role of soil in LDN in the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 15: Life on Land). This study is specifically focused on the LDN and biodiversity loss as they relate to an indicator 15.3.1 Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area. Tracking of LD status can be improved by using detailed soils databases combined with satellite-derived land cover maps. This study has applied these newly improved methods to quantify and map the anthropogenic LD status and trends in the contiguous United States of America (USA), as well as to identify potential land areas for nature-based solutions (NBS) to compensate for LD. Anthropogenic LD in 2016 in the contiguous USA affected over two million square kilometers, about one-third of the country’s total area, with high variability by state. Between 2001 and 2016, LD in the USA showed an overall increase of 1.5%, with some states exhibiting increases in degraded land while other states had overall improvements to their land. All ten soil orders present in the contiguous USA have been anthropogenically degraded, with Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols having the highest LD levels. Compensating for LD requires a variety of strategies and measures (e.g., NBS), which often require additional land. In 2016, the potential land area for NBS was over two million square kilometers, an area approximately equal to that of degraded land. Some of the states that have high proportions of land available for potential NBS are dominated by soils (Aridisols) typical of deserts and therefore may have less promise for NBS. The variability of LD needs to be evaluated at finer spatial scales for realistic LDN analysis.

Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals into family business practices: a perspective article

PurposeThis paper explores the potential for family businesses (FBs) to play a pivotal role in advancing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It seeks to elucidate how FBs' inherent strengths and values can be harnessed to integrate sustainable practices within their operational paradigms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed a literature review to synthesize all the information and identify how FBs' desire to pass on a healthy company to future generations encourages sustainable practices.FindingsFBs have the potential to contribute significantly to not only their own sustainability but also the broader well-being of society by aligning with the SDGs.Originality/valueThis paper provides practical insights for stakeholders, policymakers and business leaders seeking to foster a more inclusive and environmentally responsible economic landscape.

Traditional Atlantic Diet and Its Effect on Health and the Environment

The universal call to action for healthier and more sustainable dietary choices is the framework of the United Nations's Sustainable Development Goals. The Atlantic diet, originating from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, represents an example of a traditional diet that aligns with these principles. To explore a 6-month intervention based on the Atlantic diet's effects on metabolic and environmental health, assessing metabolic syndrome (MetS) incidence and the carbon footprint. The Galician Atlantic Diet study was a 6-month randomized clinical trial designed to assess the effects of this regional traditional diet on families' eating habits. The study was conducted from March 3, 2014, to May 29, 2015, at a local primary health care center in the rural town of A Estrada in northwestern Spain and involved a multisectoral collaboration. Families were randomly selected from National Health System records and randomized 1:1 to an intervention or control group. This secondary analysis of the trial findings was performed between March 24, 2021, and November 7, 2023. Over 6 months, families in the intervention group received educational sessions, cooking classes, written supporting material, and foods characteristic of the Atlantic diet, whereas those randomized to the control group continued with their habitual lifestyle. The main outcomes were MetS incidence, defined per National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, and carbon footprint emissions as an environmental metric using life cycle assessment with daily dietary intake as the functional unit. Initially, 250 families were randomized (574 participants; mean [SD] age, 46.8 [15.7] years; 231 males [40.2%] and 343 females [59.8%]). The intervention group included 126 families (287 participants) and the control group, 124 families (287 participants). Ultimately, 231 families completed the trial. The intervention significantly reduced the risk of incident cases of MetS (rate ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.79) and had fewer MetS components (proportional odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.42-0.82) compared with the control condition. The intervention group did not have a significantly reduced environmental impact in terms of carbon footprint emissions compared with the control group (-0.17 [95% CI, -0.46 to 0.12] kg CO2 equivalents/person/d). These findings provide important evidence that a family-focused dietary intervention based on a traditional diet can reduce the risk of incident MetS. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and determine the generalizability to other populations, taking into account regional cultural and dietary variations. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02391701.

Trends in mortality due to tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancer across the BRICS: An age-period-cohort analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019.

Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (TBL) is a major cause of mortality and top contributor to productivity loss in large emerging economies such as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). We examined the time trends of TBL mortality across the BRICS to better understand the disease burden in these countries and inform public health and healthcare resource allocation. TBL mortality-related data between 1990 and 2019 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and analyzed using age-period-cohort models. Net drift (local drift) was used to describe the expected age-adjusted TBL mortality rate over time overall (each age group); the longitudinal age curve was used to reflect the age effect; the period rate ratios (RRs) were used to reflect the period effect; and the cohort RR was used to reflect the cohort effect. In 2019, there were 958.3 thousand TBL deaths across the BRICS, representing 46.9% of the global TBL deaths. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of TBL decreased in Russia, Brazil, and South Africa while increased in China and India, with the largest reduction reported in Russia (-29.6%) and the largest increase in China (+22.4%). India showed an overall increase (+15.7%) in TBL mortality but the mortality risk decreased among individuals born after 1990 (men) and 1995 (women). Although South Africa and Brazil experienced an overall decline in TBL mortality, their recent birth cohorts, such as Brazilian individuals born after 1985 (men) and 1980 (women), and South African men born after 1995, had an increasing TBL mortality risk. China has experienced an overall increase in TBL mortality, with the mortality risk rising among individuals born after 1995 for both men and women. Russia, which had the highest TBL mortality among the BRICS countries in 1990, has demonstrated significant improvement over the past three decades. Over the past 30years, the BRICS accounted for an increasing proportion of global TBL mortality. TBL mortality increased in older women in all the BRICS countries except Russia. Among the recent birth cohort, the risk of TBL mortality increased in Brazil, China, and South Africa. More effective efforts are needed in the BRICS to reduce the burden of TBL and help achieve the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

Integrating farmers’ perception of sustainable agricultural technologies towards the development of sustainable tea production in China

ABSTRACT Technologies are essential for reducing environmental impact and increasing agricultural productivity. Previous adoption studies indicate several socioeconomic, technological, and institutional variables influencing the adoption of agricultural technologies. With less than a decade to the United Nation's sustainable development agenda for 2030, there are yet reports on farmers' resistance to sustainable agricultural technologies. Using a survey and multistage sampling procedure in selecting the respondents of 405 smallholder Chinese farmers, the study models farmers' adoption intensity of sustainable agricultural technologies and their impact on productivity. A 5-point Likert scale was used to analyse farmers' SAT perception levels. The PSM was used to eliminate a major proportion of bias when estimating a more precise treatment effect or impact of SAT adoption on productivity. The findings showed that farmers have mixed perceptions (positive and negative) about SAT adoption, which is reflected in their adoption decisions. The study found that family members as extension officers positively impacted farmers' adoption behaviour. On the contrary, regular visits by agricultural extension services had no impact on farmers' adoption behaviour, but positive on productivity. The results clearly showed elements of constraints in farmers' decision-making. The ATT results showed a significant and positive impact of SATs' adoption on productivity.

Promoting sustainability in nursing and midwifery clinical laboratories: Strategies for resource reduction, reuse, and recycling

BackgroundThe impacts of climate change on planetary health are multifaceted and threaten public health gains made since World War II. Healthcare is the fifth largest global emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, demanding significant efforts to transition to an environmentally sustainable future. Addressing these issues will require collective societal action. In this regard, universities have a dual responsibility – (1) to tackle complex social, economic, and environmental challenges by championing sustainability initiatives designed to positively impact planetary health; and (2) to ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to steward planetary health towards a more sustainable future. The future nursing and midwifery workforce must be educated to mitigate the health sector's impact on the environment, advocate for action on climate change, prepare for ongoing health impacts of unpredictable climate and environmental changes, and help communities and healthcare systems become more climate resilient. What this paper contributesTo help increase nursing and midwifery educators' and students' capacity to support planetary-health related interventions, the overarching purpose of this paper is to provide a series of exemplars that illustrate sustainability initiatives used in four university-based clinical skills laboratories. These initiatives each demonstrate a commitment to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals and can be used to help embed the importance of planetary health in student learning.

Micronutrient diversity in pole and bush type Dolichos bean germplasm: identification of gene sources from biofortification perspectives

AbstractExploring the nutritional potential of underutilized legumes such as Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) is of great significance, particularly, in view of accomplishing the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal number two, which emphasizes on improving food and nutrition security by 2030. A thorough understanding of genetic variability is crucial for developing biofortified cultivars of Dolichos bean. In this study, the Dolichos bean genotypes represented by pole and bush types (28 bush and 19 pole types) were assessed for genetic variability for Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn contents. Pole type genotypes had higher average contents for all micronutrients except manganese. Among micronutrients, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, content ranged from 10.10–19.95, 77.13–331.93, 22.78–46.40 and 42.03–102.85 mg kg−1 in pole type, and 8.2–18.5, 50.8–99.3, 25.65–53.25 and 37.15–63.25 mg kg−1 in bush type beans, respectively. Strong positive correlations between Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations occurred, which indicates the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these nutrients. Pod pigmentation was positively correlated with contents of Fe and Zn. There was an association of micronutrients with yield. The pole genotypes VRSEM-1000, VRDB-01 and VRSEM 109 and bush type genotypes VRBSEM-3, VRBSEM-35 and VRBSEM- 200 are good source of microelements and high yielders. Gene sources with enhanced nutrients may be used as cultivated forms or as input material for breeding nutritionally rich biofortified varieties of bean.

The added value of partnerships in implementing the UN sustainable development goals

Partnerships have become a key tool in the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Partnerships can scale up the impact of initiatives by leveraging the strengths and reach of each involved partner. This allows for the replication and expansion of successful projects and programs. In the context of the UN SDGs, partnerships can play a key role in their effective implementation, due to their ability to bring together a variety of stakeholders from different sectors and with different levels of expertise and experience. By leveraging the skills, resources, and capacities of different stakeholders, partnerships can contribute to creating synergies that are essential for the successful implementation of the SDGs. Despite the role of partnerships and their potential value, there is a need for studies that can help understand their role and promote greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of the SDGs. Against this background, this article outlines the concept of partnerships and their values, followed by a description of the partnerships for sustainable development, concerning the implementation of the SDGs and its main features. Some examples of relevant partnerships are presented, outlining their scope and degree of success. Based on the experiences gathered specific suggestions on how to foster partnerships to foster the implementation of sustainable development are provided. It is crucial to define common objectives to ensure alignment and a strong foundation for collaboration, involving diverse stakeholders, including governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, and local communities, thus bringing unique perspectives and resources. Open and transparent communication builds trust and encourages the sharing of ideas and challenges. Additionally, demonstrating the benefits for each partner, whether in reputation, market access, or cost reduction, motivates active engagement, establishes incentive structures, and allows to celebrate successes. Pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise enhances the effectiveness of sustainable development initiatives, encouraging long-term commitments and fostering adaptability in the face of complex challenges. These are specific strategies that highlight the relevance of these findings, in comparison to existing work. Partnerships have evolved into indispensable instruments for the realization of the UN SDGs. Their transformative potential is expected to grow as the future trend, driven by the ongoing need for collaborative solutions to global challenges, becoming instrumental in addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, public health crises, and economic inequalities. In the coming years, a surge in research and initiatives focusing on optimizing partnership models, governance structures, and monitoring mechanisms to enhance accountability and transparency, is anticipated. Furthermore, the integration of digital technologies and data-driven insights into partnership strategies may revolutionize their impact and efficiency. Overall, the evolution of partnerships as a vital force in global sustainability presents a promising future trend with broader applications and a crucial role in addressing multifaceted challenges beyond the SDGs, as demonstrated in this study.

Connect Globally, Thrive Locally: The Spillover Effect of Sister-City Inward FDI on Regional Innovation

Sister cities are a prevalent form of subnational intergovernmental relationships. Such relationships can play an important role in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). However, we know little about whether and how these relationships influence the localized impacts of FDI in host countries, which is pivotal in achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. By integrating the literature on FDI spillover and sister cities, our study proposes that the higher the FDI percentage received by a city from its sister city, the greater the number of patents applied for by firms in that city. Our sample consists of 7273 inward FDI projects into China from 1558 cities in 77 countries between 2003 and 2008. The analysis results support our assumption. We also find that this positive effect is stronger when FDI projects are from recently established sister cities, when the asymmetry in the global economic networks of the two sister cities is smaller, and when regional marketization in host-country is higher.

Corporate Strategies for Sustainable Development and Adoption of New Technologies

Digital technologies and innovative solutions play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development. However, it is important to acknowledge that these technological advancements may positively and negatively impact sustainability (Gray, 1994; Al-Emran, Griffy-Brown, 2023). In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a plan of action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all people worldwide (UN, 2015). The Agenda contains 17 integrated sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 169 specific measurable targets. It emphasizes the private sector’s role in facilitating the advancement and achievement of the UN’s sustainable development initiatives, working in partnership with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders (UN, 2015). Even before adoption of this agenda, several social, environmental, and technological developments have impacted the operations and functions of companies. One of these developments is the emergence of green sustainability (Gray, 1994; Abbas, 2019), which helped evaluate companies’ overall performance and shaped the creation of customer value. The corporate (as well as institutional) responses to the emergence of green sustainability have provided an impetus for companies to develop relevant business models compatible with these developments and to share these models with shareholders and society at large. This impetus, in turn, has made it possible to implement sustainable development practices coherently and nurtures a new culture consistent with a large-scale transition to a green, sustainable future. Digital communications effectively eliminate the geographical boundaries for businesses and their customers, so the latter can quickly contact different suppliers worldwide, and locate substitute goods that fulfil their needs (Singh, 2020; Mather, 2020). This trend has thus made acquiring and maintaining competitive advantage a real challenge for companies. This challenge involves the task of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning business strategies with these SDGs. Hence, companies successfully adopt multiple strategies and generate knowledge to satisfy the needs of their customers and achieve their SDGs. The private sector’s contribution to the achievement of the SDGs can be realized through the integration of principles into corporate strategies and operations. In this context, given that the development and implementation of corporate strategy is the responsibility of the firm-level green sustainability model (including environmental, social, and governance aspects), it is essential to provide an understanding of whether and how, green sustainability models affect or influence the corporate sector’s engagement with SDGs (Mangena, 2012; Pirzada et al., 2017).

The contribution of urban green and blue spaces to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals: An evidence gap map

Urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) have the potential to make a significant contribution to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research shows the need for UGBS to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of urbanisation and provide equitable access to resources that reduce social and health inequalities. However, no previous review has attempted to consolidate this evidence within the context of the SDGs. The aim of this study was to review the evidence pertaining to the role of UGBS in achieving the SDGs and identify important knowledge gaps. Using systematic review methods, we developed an evidence gap map of the literature that explores the role of UGBS in the achievement of the SDGs. Five databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and GreenFILE) were searched for studies published since 2015 that investigated at least one outcome that corresponded to the SDGs. Following screening, study characteristics were extracted, and the data were imported into EPPI-Mapper to create the interactive evidence gap map. In total n = 1872 studies were identified. Following screening, n = 181 eligible studies were included in the evidence synthesis. The majority of studies focused on the impact of UGBS on health and wellbeing (SDG3; n = 115), pollution, and urban heat island effects (SDG11 and SDG13; n = 73 and n = 46, respectively). SDGs that were not addressed by the studies included SDG5 (gender equality), SDG9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG12 (responsible consumptions and production), SDG14 (life below water) and SDG17 (partnership for the goals). In addition, there was a relative lack of studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries. Theoretically, UGBS could contribute to 15 of the 17 SDGs. More research is needed to address the evidence gaps towards SDGs 5,9, and 12. Related research in low- and middle-income countries must also be accelerated and more research is needed that assesses the multifunctional benefits of UGBS, drawing explicit links between UGBS and the SDGs.

The Rapid Development of Bioeconomy Policies in the EU and other Regions of the World

SummaryIn the European Union, the bioeconomy is very broadly defined, encompassing all sectors and associated services and investments that produce, use, process, distribute or consume biological resources, including ecosystem services. It is seen as a natural enabler and result of the transformation proposed by Europe's sustainable growth strategy, the Green Deal. EU Member States and regions also have strategies to further target the implementation of the bioeconomy. The bioeconomy and its related policies have shown a rapid development in the EU and other regions of the world. In challenging times, the sustainable and circular bioeconomy is a central element in supporting the transition to an economy that is climate‐neutral, while preserving the biosphere. From the global agenda of United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change and biodiversity, several other international organisations, global fora, and private initiatives, all provide knowledge, analyses and perspectives for the bioeconomy. Africa's bioeconomy has a huge potential as a catalyser for advancing towards many SDGs. In North America, the US has recently defined bold goals for biotechnology and biomanufacturing. South American countries foster their enormous agricultural and forestry potential in supporting the bioeconomy, while playing a key role for global climate and biodiversity.The bioeconomy in its different designs is thus an important building block for the global transformation towards a more sustainable economic system.