bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Regulations and Chinese Energy Sustainability: Mediating Role of Green Technology Innovations in Chinese Provinces
Authors: Su Lijuan , Zheng Yating , Ahmad Fayyaz , Ozturk Ilhan , Wang Yatao , Tian Tian , Rehman Abdul
Published: June 2023

The stable growth of an economy is based on the coordination between environmental protection and economic development. Environmental regulation may affect energy efficiency because of its function of correcting energy consumption externalities. This paper uses the SBM model and Tobit model to explore the impact on and pathways of environmental regulations of energy efficiency in 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China and explains temporal and regional heterogeneity. The findings suggested that the environmental regulation in all provinces is continuously strengthened and the energy efficiency in eastern China is relatively higher. There is a positive effect of environmental regulation on energy efficiency and there is a temporal and spatial heterogeneity. Environmental regulation affects energy efficiency through green technology innovation, industrial structure upgrading, energy structure transformation and other transmission paths, and its influence mechanism on energy efficiency also has regional heterogeneity. The policy suggestions are: further enhance the intensity of environmental regulation, refine supporting safeguards and implement differentiated environmental regulation measures.
Hierarchical Control for Microgrids: A Survey on Classical and Machine Learning-Based Methods
Authors: Li Sijia , Oshnoei Arman , Blaabjerg Frede , Anvari-Moghaddam Amjad
Published: June 2023

Microgrids create conditions for efficient use of integrated energy systems containing renewable energy sources. One of the major challenges in the control and operation of microgrids is managing the fluctuating renewable energy generation, as well as sudden load changes that can affect system frequency and voltage stability. To solve the above problems, hierarchical control techniques have received wide attention. At present, although some progress has been made in hierarchical control systems using classical control, machine learning-based approaches have shown promising features and performance in the control and operation management of microgrids. This paper reviews not only the application of classical control in hierarchical control systems in the last five years of references, but also the application of machine learning techniques. The survey also provides a comprehensive description of the use of different machine learning algorithms at different control levels, with a comparative analysis for their control methods, advantages and disadvantages, and implementation methods from multiple perspectives. The paper also presents the structure of primary and secondary control applications utilizing machine learning technology. In conclusion, it is highlighted that machine learning in microgrid hierarchical control can enhance control accuracy and address system optimization concerns. However, challenges, such as computational intensity, the need for stability analysis, and experimental validation, remain to be addressed.
Modeling the Effect of Overcoming the Barriers to Passive Design Implementation on Project Sustainability Building Success: A Structural Equation Modeling Perspective
Authors: Waqar Ahsan , Othman Idris , Shafiq Nasir , Altan Hasim , Ozarisoy Bertug
Published: June 2023

To maximize profits without sacrificing quality, the concept of sustainable construction must be adopted across a project’s whole lifespan. Although adopting the idea of passive design in developing countries is incomplete, these studies have focused on the reasons for doing so. In contrast, there is limited evidence to completely analyze the influence of integrating passive design on the project sustainable success (PSS) of projects throughout their existence. This study focuses on the hurdles to passive design adoption in Pakistani building projects. It evaluates the impact of overcoming passive design (PD) adoption barriers on project sustainability success (PSS) during the duration of the project. Therefore, a more comprehensive literature assessment is required for conceptual model construction. Using a survey assessment instrument, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was constructed (i.e., a questionnaire). A total of 156 construction experts in Pakistan provided information. The result of the model demonstrated that the elimination of PD implementation obstacles had a moderate to high impact on PSS throughout the building structure’s lifetime. These results provide the foundation for legislation in a number of Asian nations about the efficient completion of projects via the removal of obstacles for the use of passive design. Similarly, the adoption of passive design will increase the success of the construction project.
Gaps between Attitudes and Behavior in the Use of Disposable Plastic Tableware (DPT) and Factors Influencing Sustainable DPT Consumption: A Study of Hong Kong Undergraduates
Authors: Ho Kyle T. H. , Kwok Patrick W. H. , Chang Stephen S. Y. , Chu Amanda M. Y.
Published: June 2023

Total waste from human activities, including waste plastics, is huge in Hong Kong. In particular, as a result of the prevention and control measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, take-away meals increased tremendously in Hong Kong, generating disposable plastic tableware (DPT). Although Hong Kong has a charging scheme for plastic bags, it does not have a scheme for plastic tableware. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the attitudes and behavior of people in Hong Kong toward DPT. Our study focused on undergraduate students in Hong Kong, given that they will play a significant role in the future of environmental sustainability. The attitudes and behavior of Hong Kong undergraduate students toward DPT were examined through an online survey with 385 respondents. A multiple stepwise regression was conducted to investigate whether cognitive attitude formation factors could explain the sustainable attitudes formed by undergraduate students in Hong Kong. The survey results revealed that most undergraduates considered DPT to be one of the major causes of environmental damage in Hong Kong; however, many of them, particularly those who strongly agreed with this statement, said that the problem of DPT did not affect their quality of life. The regression analysis showed that imposing a DPT charge would be the most significant driver to reduce its use. The research findings identified gaps between attitudes and behavior regarding the use of DPT and the factors influencing sustainable DPT consumption.
Customer Expectations for Sustainability in the Swiss Insurance Market
Authors: Pugnetti Carlo , Barth Sebastian , Stricker Lukas
Published: June 2023

Climate change is a significant threat, and insurance can provide a significant impulse to provide systemic responses. While several normative frameworks for sustainable business models have been developed, it is still unclear what customers expect and how companies should actually act in their specific business environments. We investigated customer expectations in the context of Swiss retail insurance and found that less than a fifth of customers consider sustainability a very important factor in their next purchase decision, and that core customers in the 35–54 age range are comparatively less concerned about sustainability in general. Customers place most value on social rather than environmental issues. Insurers should improve their efforts in the core business, especially regarding sustainable claims handling, rather than regarding investment management or their own footprint. On the other hand, more than 40% of customers do not feel they know enough to have an opinion about their insurer’s efforts toward sustainability, and there were no significant differences in customer perceptions among the different insurers. These results should have profound implications for communication, business model development, and business transformation efforts for insurers. They also provide important missing detail about customer expectations regarding sustainability in the academic literature.
A Sustainable Development Evaluation Framework for Chinese Electricity Enterprises Based on SDG and ESG Coupling
Authors: Dong Ruiyu , Shao Chaofeng , Xin Shuqi , Lu Zhirui
Published: June 2023

In 2021, China’s power generation industry took the lead in launching carbon emissions trading, ushering in a major challenge and opportunity for the sustainable development of power enterprises. Assessing the sustainable development performance of power enterprises has become the key to the sustainable financing and development of power enterprises in this new developmental stage. Based on the integration of the long-term UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) evaluation indicators of listed companies, this paper constructed an index system for the evaluation of the sustainable development of electric power companies consisting of 75 indicators corresponding to four dimensions: economic, social, environmental, and governance. Given the vision for the sustainable development of electric power companies, the assessment thresholds for each indicator were determined by the practical exploration and typical progress assessment of SDGs. Aggregate assessment and dashboard assessment techniques for the sustainable development of electric power companies were established, and we conducted a robustness analysis of the evaluation system. The results revealed the following details: (1) The disclosure of sustainable development indicators of Chinese electricity enterprises was 94.13%, among which the four dimensions of economy, environment, society, and governance were 99.89%, 82.62%, 94.00%, and 97.71%, respectively. (2) The aggregate sustainable development index for Chinese power companies was 59.34, and the environment, society, governance, and economic scores were 62.10, 64.49, 76.79, and 41.37, respectively. (3) Based on the results of the dashboard, investment in innovation, public welfare, emissions of greenhouse gases, and economic sustainability are the key factors limiting the achievement of sustainable development. (4) The framework’s robustness analysis showed that the results of the evaluation of this paper’s indicator framework fell within a reasonable range of variation using different ranking and weighting systems. Chinese electricity companies should comprehensively control costs and expenses, strengthen capital management, expand funding channels, focus on enhancing R&D capabilities, enhance their scientific and technological innovation management systems, and improve their disclosure of information about greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption and use, and employee issues to improve the overall level of sustainable development. The evaluation system developed in this paper further enriches the evaluation of corporate sustainability performance. This paper explored the application of the SDG index and dashboard construction methods at the national level to the evaluation of sustainability at the corporate level, providing a clear picture of corporate performance with respect to various dimensions, issues, criteria, and indicators.
Exploring the Behavioral Intentions of Food Tourists Who Visit Crete
Authors: Angelakis Georgios , Vecchio Yari , Lemonakis Christos , Atsalakis Georgios , Zopounidis Constantin , Mattas Konstadinos
Published: June 2023

Food tourism has been growing globally in recent years. Food tourism is considered as special interest tourism, attracting tourists who have a great interest in food. Tourists spend a significant percentage of their budget on the purchase of local food products and related food activities, contributing to the sustainable development of the touristic destination in the process. This survey took place in Crete, Greece, throughout the touristic period of 2021, and 4268 valid questionnaires were completed by international tourists. For the data analysis, the Structural Equation Model and an extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model, based on subjective norms, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and satisfaction, were used to better understand the consumers’ intentions to revisit and recommend the region of Crete. The outcomes of the research pinpointed that the perceived quality and perceived value of local foods positively influenced satisfaction, which, in turn, evoked favorable intentions to revisit and recommend Crete as a touristic destination. Moreover, while satisfaction, attitude, and subjective norms seem to be the most significant drivers affecting positive behavioral intentions, perceived behavior control seems to have had no significant impact. The implications and limitations of the survey, as well as future recommendations, are also discussed.
Influence of Climatic Factors on Yields of Pistachio, Mango, and Bananas in Iran
Authors: Shahraki Ali Sardar , Caloiero Tommaso , Bazrafshan Ommolbanin
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of climatic variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, average precipitation, and precipitation deviation) on the yields of pistachio, banana, and mango in cold, hot–arid, hot–humid, and temperate–humid climates using the Just–Pope function. The Just–Pope function is a relatively new approach in this context. The most effective variables were identified by stepwise regression and the Feiverson algorithm. Data were collected for the period of 1998–2020 and were tested for stationarity. Finally, the coefficients of the Just–Pope function were estimated for the three crops in the four climates. The results showed that the variables affecting pistachio yield were different in each type of climate. Most variables were effective in warm and dry areas, while cropping area, production trend, and lag were effective in cold regions and in hot and humid areas; the maximum deviation and minimum temperature, production lag, cropping area, and production function were significant in hot and dry regions at the 90% level. The Just–Pope function for pistachio, mango, and banana showed that the impact of temperature and average rainfall was region-specific. Based on the results, a 1% increase in rainfall can increase the banana yield up to 0.032 ton/ha. As Iran experiences extensive climatic fluctuations, horticulturists are faced with difficult conditions. Such practices as the use of cultivars that are resistant to temperature and rainfall variations in the regions in order to alleviate the risk of yield variations in orchards are recommended.
Fine-Scale Species Distribution Modeling of Abies koreana across a Subalpine Zone in South Korea for In Situ Species Conservation
Authors: Lee Kyungeun , Kim Daeguen , Cha Jaegyu , Hong Seungbum
Published: June 2023

Severe declines in the population of Abies koreana, a conifer native to the subalpine regions of South Korea, are likely a consequence of climate change. However, local-scale modeling of the species’ spatial distribution has seen limited application to in situ conservation policies. Therefore, we intended for this study to examine the applicability of fine-scale species distribution modeling of A. koreana in the Mt. Jiri National Park area in S. Korea in order to explore candidate areas for its in situ conservation. We simulated the potential habitat of the species in the area with four separate models using different dominance patterns, then created an index based on habitability probabilities and residual durations to determine priority conservation areas. Under the highest sensitivity of potential habitats to temperature (spatially downscaled based on geomorphological characteristics), rapid habitat reduction occurred under climate warming in all experiments. At the regional scale, hydrological characteristics such as precipitation and slope characterized different secondary habitat distributional patterns among the experiments. Final conservation priority sites were identified based on specified criteria for the designed index. Our results suggest that a fine-scale modeling system with adequate spatial resolution of environmental inputs is advantageous in representing local habitat characteristics of A. koreana and can be applied to in situ conservation strategies.
Are Aquavoltaics Investable? A Framework for Economic and Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis
Authors: Wen Lihchyi , Lin Chun-Hsu , Lee Ying-Chiao
Published: June 2023

Aquaculture has long been a significant industry in Taiwan, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP through both exports and domestic consumption. However, certain aquaculture practices have faced criticism due to their heavy groundwater usage, resulting in environmental damage such as land subsidence in the southwestern region of Taiwan. In order to change the industry’s negative environmental image and achieve the ambitious targets set by the Taiwanese government, including 20 GW of solar photovoltaic power by 2025 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the utilization of aquaculture lands, particularly aquaculture ponds, has emerged as a promising option for solar power development. As the government promotes the symbiosis of aquaculture and solar PV power to attain its renewable energy goals, various stakeholders have engaged in discussions surrounding this approach. Consequently, it is crucial to assess the costs and benefits of such integrated practices from both economic and environmental perspectives, as it will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry. A comparative analysis reveals that an aquaculture–electricity symbiosis with a capacity of 227 MW can further reduce carbon emissions by approximately 150,393.6 tons of CO2e per year, along with reductions of 56.8 tons/year of SOx, 82.3 tons/year of NOx, 3.7 tons/year of PM2.5, and 4.6 tons/year of PM10. These environmental benefits are equivalent to approximately TWD 7626.43 million annually. (Note: CO2e refers to carbon dioxide equivalent, SOx refers to sulfur oxides, NOx refers to nitrogen oxides, PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter, and PM10 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less).
We Have Eaten the Rivers: The Past, Present, and Unsustainable Future of Hydroelectricity in Vietnam
Authors: Sasges Gerard , Ziegler Alan D.
Published: June 2023

Vietnam has one of the most intensively energy-exploited riverscapes in Asia with at least 720 hydropower facilities of various capacities currently in operation or in some stage of construction. These facilities represent about 26 GW of installed capacity. This degree of domestic exploitation is often overshadowed by the geopolitically contested manipulation of the waters of the international Mekong River. In contrast, the utilization of Vietnam’s hydropower resources has unfolded gradually and largely unremarked for more than half a century. This perspective argues that the harnessing of rivers and streams for electricity generation is the result of not only the country’s abundant hydrologic resources, but also its history, culture, and (geo)politics. The paper traces the processes that have produced this high level of river exploitation, its ambiguous history, and the uncertain future of hydropower in Vietnam in the context of sustainability. Further, the renewed interest in dam-building in recent years is part of a “theater of decarbonization” that masks the operation of powerful domestic and international lobbies with an interest in “heavy engineering” projects that will do little to meet the nation’s rapidly growing electricity needs but will likely incur detrimental ecological and sociological impacts. The paper ends by positing that rather than forging ahead with the construction of additional small hydropower facilities, a more ecologically and socially equitable policy could instead critically examine the sustainability of existing capabilities, resolve the factors limiting the development of other renewable sources of energy, and face the fundamental challenge of curbing energy use.
Planning an Integrated Stockyard–Port System for Smart Iron Ore Supply Chains via VND Optimization
Authors: Lopes Álvaro D. O. , Rocha Helder R. O. , Servare Junior Marcos W. J. , Moraes Renato E. N. , Silva Jair A. L. , Salles José L. F.
Published: June 2023

Stockyard–port planning is a complex combinatorial problem that has been studied primarily through simulation or optimization techniques. However, due to its classification as non-deterministic polynomial-time hard (NP-hard), the generation of optimal or near-optimal solutions in real time requires optimization techniques based on heuristics or metaheuristics. This paper proposes a deterministic simulation and a meta-heuristic algorithm to address the stockyard–port planning problem, with the aim of reducing the time that ships spend in berths. The proposed algorithm is based on the ore handling operations in a real stockyard–port terminal, considering the interaction of large physical equipment and information about the production processes. The stockyard–port system is represented by a graph in order to define ship priorities for planning and generation of an initial solution through a deterministic simulation. Subsequently, the Variable Neighborhood Descent (VND) meta-heuristic is used to improve the initial solution. The convergence time of VND ranged from 1 to 190 s, with the total number of ships served in the berths varying from 10 to 1000 units, and the number of stockyards and berths varying from 11 to 15 and 3 to 5, respectively. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in determining the best allocation of stockpiles, berths, car-dumpers, and conveyor belts. The results also show that increasing the number of conveyor belts is an important strategy that decreases environmental impacts due to exposure of the raw material to the atmosphere, while also increasing the stockyard–port productivity. This positive impact is greater when the number yards and ship berths increases. The proposed algorithm enables real-time decision-making from small and large instances, and its implementation in an iron ore stockyard–port that uses Industry 4.0 principles is suitable.
An Integrated Approach to Evaluating Eco-Innovation Strategies from the Perspective of Strategic Green Transformation: A Case of the Lithuanian Furniture Industry
Authors: Šūmakaris Paulius , Kovaitė Kristina , Korsakienė Renata
Published: June 2023

Evaluation and selection of eco-innovation strategies is a significant and complex strategic decision, and despite the relevance and interest in the field of eco-innovation, the area of eco-innovation strategies has not been explored in depth in the scientific literature. Therefore, in this study, we propose an integrated approach to evaluating eco-innovation strategies from the perspective of strategic green transformation that helps decision-makers evaluate and select eco-innovation strategy aiming to achieve a competitive advantage. For this study, we adopted a validated multi-criteria decision-making methodology (MCDM) by combining Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The reliability of the proposed framework was tested and applied in the context of the Lithuanian furniture industry. This study offers three contributions and provides a comprehensive and profound insights into eco-innovation strategies. First, this study conceptualizes eco-innovation strategy from the perspective of strategic green transformation and proposed a novel definition and classification of eco-innovation strategies leading to competitive advantage. Second, this study proposes a novel approach to the evaluation of eco-innovation strategies taking into account micro-, meso-, and macro-level environmental factors. Third, the findings of this study provide implications for scholars and decision-makers in the field of eco-innovation strategy and set an agenda for future research.
Quantile Dependence between Crude Oil and China’s Biofuel Feedstock Commodity Market
Authors: Hau Liya , Zhu Huiming , Shahbaz Muhammad , Huang Ke
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the heterogeneous dependence between global crude oil futures and China’s biofuel feedstock commodities under different market conditions. Quantile-on-quantile regression and the causality-in-quantiles test are employed to capture comprehensive and informative relationships. The empirical results are as follows: First, there is a positive relationship between the returns on China’s biofuel feedstock commodities and crude oil. The effects are heterogeneous, conditional on the market regimes, where the impacts of the bearish/bullish crude oil market on biofuel feedstock commodity returns are significant when the commodity market in China is in a bearish/bullish state. Second, crude oil returns have reliable predictive power for the returns on China’s biofuel feedstock commodities under the average market condition and move in connection with the volatility of China’s biofuel-related commodity market in normal and bullish market conditions. Third, the risk reduction effectiveness of soybean and corn is significant, while for wheat, this reduction in portfolio risk is less apparent and enhanced, and the risk reduction effectiveness increases significantly during financial and oil crises. Overall, our findings will be helpful in understanding the heterogeneous interplay between global oil and China’s biofuel-related commodities and in evaluating portfolio diversification opportunities under different market conditions.
Role of Vermicomposting Microorganisms in the Conversion of Biomass Ash to Bio-Based Fertilizers
Authors: Turp Güldane Aslı , Ozdemir Saim , Yetilmezsoy Kaan , Oz Nurtac , Elkamel Ali
Published: June 2023

A high pH, low solubility of bound plant nutrients, and negative impacts on microbial communities are common drawbacks of biomass ash (BA) vermicomposting. In this study, nutrient-rich BA mixed with cow manure was tested at three different application rates to obtain final nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents of 3.5%, 7.0%, and 10.0% for bio-based fertilizers via vermicomposting. The results showed that all BA blends made with cow manure increased fermentation temperatures and allowed successful worm activity during the subsequent vermicomposting phase. The order of indicator enzyme activities in all vermicomposting samples was urease (220 μg NH4 g−1 h−1) > β-glucosidase (95 μg PNP g−1 h−1) > alkaline phosphatase (91 μg PNP g−1 h−1) > arylsulfatase (83 μg PNP g−1 h−1) > acid phosphatase (60 μg PNP g−1 h−1). As an indicator of nutrient bioavailability, high correlations were observed between enzyme activities and microbial diversity in vermicompost samples. Determination coefficients (R2) obtained from multiple linear regressions between enzyme activities and bacterial population for T0, T1, T2, and T3 were determined as 0.90, 0.65, 0.73, and 0.90, respectively. According to a novel metagenome-based approach proposed within the scope of the present study, the stimulatory effects of Flavobacteriales, Burkholderiales, Saccharimonadales, and Pseudomonadales on enzyme activities for the nutrient solubility were found to be significant and positive. The findings of this study demonstrated that worm composting could be a sustainable bio-based technology for the production of slow-release fertilizer from nutrient-rich waste material.
Deformation-Based Basal Heave Reliability Analysis and Selection on Monitoring Points for General Braced Excavations
Authors: Meng Kaiqi , Yu Guangming , Li Liang , Xu Zhen , Lei Jun , Fan Yanxiang , Yu Hongbiao , Xu Liang
Published: June 2023

A framework for evaluating deformation-based basal heave stability is proposed in order to distinguish between the different responses under freely developed and prohibited basal heave failures. In the case of freely developed basal heave failure, the maximum deformation values occur at the center point of pit bottom, whereas this is not the case for the prohibited basal heave failure. The critical thickness of soft soil layer between the end of supporting structures and the top of hard stratum is about 0.3B (B = excavation width), beyond which the freely developed basal heave failure arises. In situations otherwise, the prohibited basal heave failure occurs. The failure probability of basal heave failure at the center point increases significantly as B ranges within a limited value; then, it begins to decrease or to vary slightly at a certain value under a given thickness of soft soil layer. If the thickness of soft soil layer is so sufficiently large that freely developed basal heave failure occurs for any of B, the failure probability of basal heave failure at the center point increases as B increases. The selection of the optimum monitoring points for basal heave stability is recommended to account for the weights in the contribution to the basal heave deformations of the influencing factors such as excavation width and thickness of soft soil layer. The proposed framework is applicable to basal heave reliability analysis for braced excavations where deformation values are focused.
Performance Evaluation of Clay Plastic Concrete of Cement and Epoxy Resin Composite as a Sustainable Construction Material in the Durability Process
Authors: Soltaninejad Sanaz , Marandi Seyed Morteza , BP Naveen
Published: June 2023

In this research, bentonite soil was stabilized with cement and epoxy resin additives by gradually increasing the ratio of epoxy resin to water to withstand six successive wetting/drying (W/D) cycles. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were performed on the stabilized samples after curing and 24 h of soaking in the third and sixth cycles. The swelling–shrinkage potential of bentonite soil was evaluated indirectly by analyzing its stress–strain behavior. The results showed that for different amounts of cement, the minimum ratio of epoxy resin to water added to bentonite soil to last up to six cycles was equal to 1:1. Also, by stabilizing the bentonite soil so that the total weight of the optimum moisture content was replaced with epoxy resin, the strength and rigidity attained the level of normal concrete, with the difference that the ductility was much more significant. The failure strain value increased by 32 times, and the plastic region of the stress–strain curve expanded over the wide strain interval with a length of about 5%. Clay plastic concrete design consisting of cement and epoxy resin develops sustainable ground improvement methods.
How Is the Forest Sector’s Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Being Addressed? A Systematic Review of the Methods
Authors: Aguayo Lopes da Silva Renata , Cesar Gonçalves Robert Renato , Purfürst Thomas
Published: June 2023

The Sustainable Development Goals, developed in 2015 by the United Nations, are a set of 17 internationally agreed-upon goals to be reached by 2030. The forest sector stands out as an important player in tackling climate change and strengthening sustainable initiatives. However, in addition to investigating the synergies and trade-offs between the forest sector and the SDGs, it is important to comprehend how this relationship has been measured. We conducted a systematic review to understand which methods have been used to understand the contributions of the forest sector to the SDGs. Following the PRISMA protocol, we screened 1064 articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, written in English and published between 2015 and November 2022. With the assistance of CADIMA 2.2.4 and Atlas.Ti 22, 83 articles were selected for further investigation. As a result, we categorized the studies into eight methods: content analysis, personal perceptions, interpretative analysis, frameworks, models, impact analysis, time series data, and SDG index. The approaches used include nature-based solutions, literature reviews, the Delphi method, case studies, the iSDG model, SDG 15 indicators, Earth observations, and remote sensing. In conclusion, although the SDGs are widely referenced, studies that measure and explore the relationship between the forest sector and SDGs in a more holistic way are still lacking. This systematic review aimed to offer an overview of the methods being used to address this topic and stimulate future research.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Food Consumption: Historical Evolution, Dominant Topics and Trends
Authors: Kristia Kristia , Kovács Sándor , Bács Zoltán , Rabbi Mohammad Fazle
Published: June 2023

The major goal of this study is to trace the emergence of SFC-related research across time, using a thematic map and a list of corresponding publications. In addition, this study aims to determine the author who has made the most significant contribution to this particular field. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the historical development and current trends in sustainable food consumption research, examining 2265 articles published between 1990 and 2023. Using the bibliometrics package of R Studio software version 4.2.1 and its Biblioshiny package, articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases are examined. In the field of sustainable food consumption, we identify five distinct research phases: initial stagnation, infant growth, post-economic crisis, expanding phase and COVID-19 and post-pandemic. While research on broader sustainability topics can be traced back to the early 20th century, a very limited number of articles on sustainable food consumption was published in the 1990s. However, the number of publications increased incrementally over time, with a notable uptick in interest around 2015, and the subject was still being discussed in 2022. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic marked the beginning of the most recent phase of research, which analyzed the consumption patterns of consumers before and after the pandemic. Our study highlights key authors, documents and sources related to sustainable food consumption. The United States, Italy and the United Kingdom emerged as the most active contributors to the research on sustainable food consumption and were additionally the countries with the largest global market shares for organic products. Major sub-themes including organic food, food waste, sustainable development and food security, together with consumer behavior and organic products appeared as being the most researched sub-themes of recent times. The results of this study suggest that more research is related to sustainable food consumption in countries with a low organic food market share. In addition, the investigation of actual data on food waste, carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from food production and consumption is essential to gain holistic insights.
How Visitors Perceive Heritage Value—A Quantitative Study on Visitors’ Perceived Value and Satisfaction of Architectural Heritage through SEM
Authors: Chen Dan
Published: June 2023

In a time when heritage conservation is coordinated with tourism and urban renewal to achieve sustainable development, value is considered as the intrinsic factor of heritage protection, utilization, and management. From the perspective of visitors, this article aims to delve into the key factors of the perceived value of architectural heritage and their relationship with the value types, via structural equation modeling (SEM). This article constructs a research model of the perceived value, perceived enjoyment, visit satisfaction, and post-visit behavioral intention of architectural heritage, based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The data for the analysis were 271 eligible questionnaires obtained from an anonymous random sample of visitors to architectural heritage sites in Guangzhou, Guangdong (Canton) Province, China. The results show that visitors’ perception of architectural heritage value does not follow the value types proposed by experts, but is based on a comprehensive assessment of personal perceptions. Meanwhile, visitors’ perceived value mainly depends on the artistic value, although the historical value is recognized by experts as dominant, and visitors prefer historical stories that are intertwined with culture. The results also reveal that, as with the perceived value, the perceived enjoyment, which was rarely considered in heritage conservation and management in the past, has a considerable positive impact on visit satisfaction, and can also improve visitors’ perceived value. The proposed theory model and research results can serve as a valuable reference for cultural heritage management and for operators of cultural heritage tourism destinations, and can also provide new ideas and methods for heritage value research.
Can the Digitalization Reduce Carbon Emission Intensity?—The Moderating Effects of the Fiscal Decentralization
Authors: Yang Zhao
Published: June 2023

Carbon emission reduction is the top priority in improving green production efficiency and achieving sustainable development, while digitalization (Digi) is an important engine that drives efficient carbon emission reduction. However, in China, the government and the market jointly influence economic and social development, and the effectiveness of Digi in promoting carbon emission reduction is also influenced by the external fiscal system. In this study, we first establish a theoretical framework for digitalization that can reduce carbon emission intensity (CEI) and reveal the important role of fiscal decentralization (FD) on the impact of Digi on CEI and is based on the typical features of the Chinese FD system. Second, we investigate the relationship between Digi and CEI and the moderating effect of FD based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2019, and we utilize a fixed-effects panel model that introduces moderating variables and a panel threshold model. By testing the econometric model, we observe that increasing the level of Digi significantly reduces CEI. FD reinforces this reduction effect, and Digi has a significant dampening effect on CEI only when the level of FD is higher than 0.84. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of Digi and positive moderating effect of FD are higher in the central and western regions of China. Finally, we suggest countermeasures to promote low-carbon development for accelerating digital transformation, thereby deepening the reform of “delegating power, improving regulation, and optimizing service” systems.
Spatial and Temporal Change in Meteorological Drought in Gansu Province from 1969 to 2018 Based on REOF
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Deng Fan , Cai Yongxiang , Zhao Yi
Published: June 2023

Meteorological drought is one of the most serious natural disasters, and its impact in arid and semi-arid areas is significant. In order to explore the temporal and spatial distribution of meteorological disasters in Gansu Province, we first calculated the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) based on the monthly meteorological data from 1969 to 2018 and extracted the drought events through the theory of runs. Then, REOF rotation orthogonal decomposition was performed to divide the study area into five climatic subregions. With each subregion as the basic unit, the variation characteristics and evolution trends of drought events at different time scales were compared based on the B-G segmentation algorithm (BG-algorithm). Finally, a correlation analysis was conducted to explore the driving factors of drought events in each subregion. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The cumulative duration of drought in the study area showed a slight increase trend (0.475 day/decade) and a 19-year main cycle. The drought intensity showed a trend of first easing and then intensifying, especially after 2000; the drought intensified significantly and showed a spatial trend of decreasing drought in the northwest and worsening drought in the southeast. (2) The cumulative contribution rate of the first five modes of REOF decomposition was 64.46%, and the study was divided into five arid subregions: the Hexi region, middle Hedong region, eastern Hedong region, Wushaoling region and western Hedong region. (3) The meteorological drought in the Hexi region has eased significantly since 1988. In the eastern, central and western parts of the Yellow River, drought intensification was observed to have occurred in different degrees (0.12/decade, 0.129/decade, and 0.072/decade). The meteorological drought in the Wuelyaling region has alleviated significantly with a watershed region formed between drought alleviation and drought intensification. (4) Seasonally, the eastern Hedong region showed a significant trend of drought in spring, but the opposite in autumn. The trend of climate drying was obvious in the spring and summer, rather than in autumn and winter. The spring drought trend is the most obvious in the middle of the Hedong region. (5) The meteorological drought in the study area was affected by local climatic factors and circulation factors, but there were significant differences in the responses of different arid subregions to these factors.
Rethinking Economics Education for Sustainable Development: A Posthumanist Practice Approach
Authors: Tallgauer Maximilian , Schank Christoph
Published: June 2023

This conceptual paper proposes a posthumanist practice approach as an alternative onto-epistemological framework for economics education. It applies a critical literature review to examine the positivist and neoliberal foundations of mainstream economics education. We find that the prevailing economics education promotes a decontextualized and hyperrational perspective on economic phenomena and human behavior, which impedes sustainable development goals by pushing pressing socio-ecological challenges to the periphery. In response, we propose a posthumanist practice approach grounded in social practice theory, which aims to provide a more holistic, contextualized, nature-immanent, and materially mediated understanding of human behavior and economic realities. By emphasizing practical learning through knowledgeable doing, relational entanglement, and multisensory interactions, the posthumanist practice approach recognizes economic knowledge to be situated, pluralistic, and shaped by interdependent human/nonhuman relations. This opens up a more ethical and relational way of understanding, learning, and acting that helps to reconnect the social with the natural and to align economics education with the goals of sustainable development. In order to apply a posthumanist onto-epistemological foundation for economics education, we provide guidance by outlining appropriate pedagogical methods, such as diversifying learning environments, embracing community and nature engagement as well as service learning, and revising the role of educators.
Adapting to Climate-Change-Induced Drought Stress to Improve Water Management in Southeast Vietnam
Authors: Thanh Phong Nguyen , Le Van Thinh , Minh Tuan Tran , Ngoc Tuyen Huynh , Lohpaisankrit Worapong , Pham Quoc Bao , Gagnon Alexandre S. , Deb Proloy , Pham Nhat Truong , Anh Duong Tran , Dinh Vuong Nguyen
Published: June 2023

In Southeast Vietnam, droughts have become more frequent, causing significant damage and impacting the region’s socio-economic development. Water shortages frequently affect the industrial and agricultural sectors in the area. This study aims to calculate the water balance and the resilience of existing water resource allocations in the La Nga-Luy River basin based on two scenarios: (1) business-as-usual and (2) following a sustainable development approach. The MIKE NAM and MIKE HYDRO BASIN models were used for rainfall–runoff (R-R) and water balance modeling, respectively, and the Keetch–Byram Drought Index (KBDI) was used to estimate the magnitude of the droughts. The results identified areas within the Nga-Luy River basin where abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions are common, as well as subbasins, i.e., in the southeast and northeast, where severe and extreme droughts often prevail. It was also shown that the water demand for the irrigation of the winter–spring and summer–autumn crop life cycles could be fully met under abnormally dry conditions. This possibility decreases to 85–100% during moderate droughts, however. In contrast, 65% and 45–50% of the water demand for irrigation is met for the winter–spring and summer–autumn crop life cycles, respectively, during severe and extreme droughts. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the water demand for irrigation could still be met 100% and 75–80% of the time during moderate, and extreme or severe droughts, respectively, through increased water use efficiency. This study could help managers to rationally regulate water in order to meet the agricultural sector’s needs in the region and reduce the damage and costs caused by droughts.
Oxidation of Trivalent Arsenic to Pentavalent Arsenic by Means of a BDD Electrode and Subsequent Precipitation as Scorodite
Authors: Bachmann Anna-Lisa , Homm Gert , Weidenkaff Anke
Published: June 2023

In order to deposit arsenic residues from copper production in a stable way, the trivalent arsenic must first be xidized to arsenic(V). A well-known but quite expensive method for this is oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. In order to enable the oxidation of arsenic on a large scale in the future, a potentially cheaper method has to be found, which offers the possibility of oxidizing extremely high arsenic concentrations. As a novel alternative, electrochemical oxidation using a boron-doped diamond electrode is investigated. Based on previous work, this paper concentrates on the presence of interfering ions during oxidation. Furthermore, it is shown that the electrochemically xidized arsenic(V) can be precipitated as scorodite. Finally, an economic analysis shows the potential financial benefit of oxidation via BDD electrodes compared to hydrogen peroxide.
Multi-Objective Framework for Optimal Placement of Distributed Generations and Switches in Reconfigurable Distribution Networks: An Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Approach
Authors: Alanazi Abdulaziz , Alanazi Tarek I.
Published: June 2023

Distribution network operators and planners face a significant challenge in optimizing planning and scheduling strategies to enhance distribution network efficiency. Using improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO), this paper presents an effective method for improving distribution system performance by concurrently deploying remote-controlled sectionalized switches, distributed generation (DG), and optimal network reconfiguration. The proposed optimization problem’s main objectives are to reduce switch costs, maximize reliability, reduce power losses, and enhance voltage profiles. An analytical reliability evaluation is proposed for DG-enhanced reconfigurable distribution systems, considering both switching-only and repairs and switching interruptions. The problem is formulated in the form of a mixed integer nonlinear programming problem, which is known as an NP-hard problem. To solve the problem effectively while improving conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO) exploration and exploitation capabilities, a novel chaotic inertia weight and crossover operation mechanism is developed here. It is demonstrated that IPSO can be applied to both single- and multi-objective optimization problems, where distribution systems’ optimization strategies are considered sequentially and simultaneously. Furthermore, IPSO’s effectiveness is validated and evaluated against well-known state-of-the-art metaheuristic techniques for optimizing IEEE 69-node distribution systems.