bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Could China Give to and Take from Other Countries in Terms of the Development of the Biogas Industry?
Authors: Zheng Lei , Chen Jingang , Zhao Mingyue , Cheng Shikun , Wang Li-Pang , Mang Heinz-Peter , Li Zifu
Published: February 2020

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most sustainable and promising technologies for the management of organic residues. China plays an important role in the world’s biogas industry and has accumulated rich and valuable experience, both positive and negative. The country has established relatively complete laws, policies and a subsidy system; its world-renowned standard system guarantees the implementation of biogas projects. Its prefabricated biogas industry has been developed, and several biogas-linked agricultural models have been disseminated. Nonetheless, the subsidy system in China’s biogas industry is inflexible and cannot lead to marketization, unlike that of its European counterpart. Moreover, the equipment and technology levels of China’s biogas industry are still lagging and underdeveloped. Mono-digestion, rather than co-digestion, dominates the biogas industry. In addition, biogas upgrading technology is immature, and digestate lacks planning and management. China’s government subsidy is reconsidered in this work, resulting in the recommendation that subsidy should be based on products (i.e., output-oriented) instead of only input subsidy for construction. The policy could focus on the revival of abandoned biogas plants as well.
Long-Term Impact of China’s Returning Farmland to Forest Program on Rural Economic Development
Authors: Gao Yuchen , Liu Zehao , Li Ruipeng , Shi Zhidan
Published: February 2020

The Returning Farmland to Forest Program (RFFP) is widely known as one of China’s largest and most successful payment schemes for ecosystem service projects for the achievement of both environmental and economic sustainability. By sponsoring afforestation activities and compensating farmers for converting cropland to forest, the project was designed to achieve multiple goals. Ecologically, the program aims to expand forest cover and to reduce flood and soil erosion. Economically, it aims to alleviate poverty and improve rural livelihoods. Although the official metrics indicate successful program outcomes in the short term, researchers have reported mixed and controversial results for long-term outcomes. We combined the difference-in-difference (DID) with instrumental variables (IVs) regression to examine the long-term effects of China’s RFFP on local economic development. We found that (1) the RFFP has had a remarkably positive impact on local economic growth in the primary sector, but considerably limits the growth of enterprises above a designated size by 16.8%; (2) the RFFP is unable to promote the development of the secondary industry because it cannot effectively promote the transfer of rural laborers to the secondary industry sector; and (3) in addition to increasing the general budgetary expenditure of local finance by 7.50%, this program has significantly reduced local fiscal revenue by 35.50%. We suggest that eco-compensation should consider the performance of the RFFP in its evaluation criteria.
A Comparative Study in Vanadium and Tungsten Leaching from Various Sources of SCR Catalysts with Local Difference
Authors: Su Qingfa , Yi Xianfang , Miao Jifa , Chen Yanting , Chen Jinsheng , Wang Jinxiu
Published: February 2020

Direct leaching with NaOH can be an economically acceptable method for vanadium (V) and tungsten (W) recovery from spent selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts. However, different chemical-physical characteristics of catalysts would affect the V and W leaching. In this paper, the V and W leaching behavior of various sources of SCR catalysts with a local difference (yellow and gray color) were systematically investigated with alkali leaching solution under ambient pressure. Different leaching efficiencies from yellow and gray color areas were correlated with oxidation states and species of V and W on catalyst surfaces, as characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and other analytic methods. For the V leaching efficiency, the samples from a gray area of catalysts (40.0–51.0%) were lower than that from the yellow area (66.8–69.8%). The higher molar ratio of V3+ and a lower molar ratio of V5+, and the lower total V content on the surface of the samples from the gray area could be the main reasons for the lower V leaching efficiency. As for the W leaching efficiency, the samples from the gray area (44.6–57.3%) were slightly higher than that from the yellow area (38.0–52.6%) of catalysts. The less total W content of surface species and stronger interaction among V–W–Ti of yellow area samples resulted in the lower leaching efficiency. These differential leaching efficiencies needed to be taken into consideration for recovering V and W from spent SCR catalysts.
Disrupting the Status-Quo of Organisational Board Composition to Improve Sustainability Outcomes: Reviewing the Evidence
Authors: Beasy Kim , Gale Fred
Published: February 2020

Sustainability, conceptualised as the integration of economic, social and environmental values, is the 21st century imperative that demands that governments, business and civil society actors improve their existing performance, yet improvement has been highly fragmented and unacceptably slow. One explanation for this is the lack of diversity on the boards of organisations that perpetuates a narrow business, economic and legal mindset rather than the broader integrated values approach that sustainability requires. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature investigating how board diversity affects the sustainability performance of organisations. Our review uncovers evidence of relationships between various attributes of the diversity of board members and sustainability performance, though over-reliance on quantitative methodologies of studies reviewed means explanations for the observed associations are largely absent. Limited measures of sustainability performance and narrow definitions of diversity, focused predominantly on gender, were also found. Important implications from the study include the need for policy responses that ensure boards are diversely composed. We identify that more qualitative investigations into the influence of a broader range of types of board diversity on sustainability performance is needed, along with studies that focus on public sector boards, and research that takes an intersectional understanding of diversity.
Social Media Influence on Consumer Behavior: The Case of Mobile Telephony Manufacturers
Authors: Fondevila-Gascón Joan-Francesc , Polo-López Marc , Rom-Rodríguez Josep , Mir-Bernal Pedro
Published: February 2020

Both broadband society and cloud journalism strengthen the use of social networks in order to achieve engagement between the brand and the end user. The various productive sectors try to optimize their online marketing strategies in networks in order to reach most of their potential audience. Such is the case of telecommunications sector, which is inherently linked with communication. With the aim of discovering social media influence on consumer behavior, in this quantitative research we analyze the use of social networks Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram by Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and BQ as the axis of promotion of their products, increase of web traffic, improvement of the image of the company or the brand and obtaining brand notoriety. Bearing in mind that the mobile telephony sector is particularly competitive in Spain, it is concluded that the activity of mobile phone manufacturers in social media is positive, and, regarding consumer behavior, that no significant difference is detected between the average of ratings of the advertising of mobile telephony in the social networks, neither in the influence of the same by gender nor by age ranges.
Mind the Gap: Towards a Typology of Climate Service Usability Gaps
Authors: Raaphorst Kevin , Koers Gerben , Ellen Gerald Jan , Oen Amy , Kalsnes Bjørn , van Well Lisa , Koerth Jana , van der Brugge Rutger
Published: February 2020

Literature on climate services presents a large diversity of different services and uses. Many climate services have ‘usability gaps’: the information provided, or the way it is visualized, may be unsuitable for end users to inform decision-making processes in relation to adaptation against climate change impacts or for the development of policies to this end. The aim of this article is to contribute to more informed and efficient decision-making processes in climate adaptation by developing a typology of usability gaps for climate services. To do so, we first present and demonstrate a so-called ‘climate information design’ (CID) template with which to study and potentially improve the visual communicative qualities of climate services. Then, two climates services are selected for a further, qualitative explorative case study of two cases in the north and south of the Netherlands. A combination of focus group sessions and semi-structured interviews are used to collect data from Dutch governmental stakeholders as well as private stakeholders and NGOs. This data is then coded to discover what usability gaps are present. We then present twelve different types of usability gaps that were encountered as a typology. This typology could be used to improve and redesign climate services.
National-Scale Built-Environment Exposure to 100-Year Extreme Sea Levels and Sea-Level Rise
Authors: Paulik Ryan , Stephens Scott , Bell Robert , Wadhwa Sanjay , Popovich Ben
Published: February 2020

Coastal flooding from extreme sea levels will increase in frequency and magnitude as global climate change forces sea-level rise (SLR). Extreme sea-level events, rare in the recent past (i.e., once per century), are projected to occur at least once per year by 2050 along many of the world’s coastlines. Information showing where and how built-environment exposure increases with SLR, enables timely adaptation before damaging thresholds are reached. This study presents a first national-scale assessment of New Zealand’s built-environment exposure to future coastal flooding. We use an analytical risk model framework, “RiskScape”, to enumerate land, buildings and infrastructure exposed to a present and future 100-year extreme sea-level flood event (ESL100). We used high-resolution topographic data to assess incremental exposure to 0.1 m SLR increases. This approach detects variable rates in the potential magnitude and timing of future flood exposure in response to SLR over decadal scales. National built-land and asset exposure to ESL100 flooding doubles with less than 1 m SLR, indicating low-lying areas are likely to experience rapid exposure increases from modest increases in SLR expected within the next few decades. This highlights an urgent need for national and regional actions to anticipate and adaptively plan to reduce future socio-economic impacts arising from flood exposure to extreme sea-levels and SLR.
Knowledge Models for Spatial Planning: Ecosystem Services Awareness in the New Plan of Bari (Italy)
Authors: Santoro Stefania , Balena Pasquale , Camarda Domenico
Published: February 2020

The concept of ecosystem services (ES) arises as a formal outcome of historical processes of understanding and interpreting settlements as complex ecological systems. Because of a straightforward, bottom-up demand for environment enhancement, this concept increasingly occurs in discourses, in narratives, in the demands of common people, triggering a new urban environmental awareness. This is now often arising spontaneously in the protocols of participatory plan processes, especially when planning for the future of complex environments such as city areas. The present study tries to elicit reflections around the significance of ES issues awareness in the case study of Bari (Italy), which is experiencing an inclusive and participatory process of construction of shared knowledge for the new master plan. Starting from an initial campaign of civic walks (CWs) along the urban neighborhoods and a subsequent semi-structured interview to the community, the paper carries out comparative analyses using problem-structuring methods (PMs), in order to evaluate and reflect on community behaviors and expectations about ES. Then the paper ends by emphasizing the role of structured knowledge-raising approaches, as critical activities to enhance ecosystem awareness in planning settlements as complex ecological systems.
Application of Fenton Method for the Removal of Organic Matter in Sewage Sludge at Room Temperature
Authors: Chen Yan-Jhang , Fan Tang-Yu , Wang Li-Pang , Cheng Ta-Wui , Chen Shiao-Shing , Yuan Min-Hao , Cheng Shikun
Published: February 2020

Cement is the most widely used construction material in the world. However, its manufacture is high energy consumption and high carbon emission owing to the high temperature calcination process. Geopolymer is an ideal alternative material for cement because it has a similar structure and performance to cement. In addition, it can be synthesized at room temperature and thus has the advantages of energy saving and carbon emission reduction. Sewage sludge (SS) can be used as raw material for geopolymer synthesis. However, the high organic matter content in SS lowers the mechanical strength of geopolymer. Although the organic matter in SS can be removed by incineration at high temperature, this consumes energy and emits carbon dioxide, which diminishes the advantages of geopolymer. In this study, the Fenton method was applied for the removal of organic matter in SS at room temperature. The parameters of the Fenton method, including the dosages of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Fe2+ reagent (FeSO4·7H2O), reaction time, and initial pH value, were investigated. The results indicated that 83.7% of the organic matter in SS could be removed at room temperature by using 5.15 M H2O2 and 5.15 mM FeSO4·7H2O at pH 7, which suggested the possibility of sewage sludge reclamation through geopolymer synthesis as an alternative material for cement toward sustainability.
Electrical Grid Risk Assessment Against Flooding in Barcelona and Bristol Cities
Authors: Sánchez-Muñoz Daniel , Domínguez-García José L. , Martínez-Gomariz Eduardo , Russo Beniamino , Stevens John , Pardo Miguel
Published: February 2020

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events and, consequently, flooding in urban and peri-urban areas. The electrical grid is exposed to an increase in fault probability because its infrastructure was designed considering historical frequencies of extreme events occurred in the past. In this respect, to ensure future energy plans and securing services is of great relevance to determine and evaluate the new zones that may be under risk and its relation to critical infrastructures for such extreme events. In this regard, the electrical distribution system is one of the key critical infrastructures since it feeds the others and with the future plans of zero-emissions (leading to the electrification of transport, buildings, renewable energies, etc.) will become even more important in the short term. In this paper, a novel methodology has been developed, able to analyze flood hazard maps quantifying the probability of failure risk of the electrical assets and their potential impacts using a probabilistic approach. Furthermore, a process to monetize the consequences of the yielded risk was established. The whole method developed was applied to the Barcelona and Bristol case study cities. In this way, two different examples of application have been undertaken by using slightly different inputs. Two main inputs were required: (1) the development of accurate GIS hazard flooding models; and (2) the location of the electrical assets (i.e., Distribution Centers (DCs)). To assess and monetize the flood risk to DCs, a variety of variables and tools were required such as water depths (i.e., flood maps), DCs’ areas of influence, fragility curves, and damage curves. The analysis was performed for different return periods under different scenarios, current (Baseline) and future (Business As Usual (BAU)) rainfall conditions. The number of DCs affected was quantified and classified into different categories of risk, where up to 363 were affected in Barcelona and 623 in Bristol. Their risk monetization resulted in maximums of 815,700 € in Barcelona and 643,500 € in Bristol. Finally, the percentage of risk increases when considering future rainfall conditions (i.e., BAU) when calculated, resulting in a 2.38% increase in Barcelona and 3.37% increase in Bristol, which in monetary terms would be an average of a 22% increase.
Calculation of Residual Surface Subsidence Above Abandoned Longwall Coal Mining
Authors: Cui Ximin , Zhao Yuling , Wang Guorui , Zhang Bing , Li Chunyi
Published: February 2020

Exhausted or abandoned underground longwall mining may lead to long-term residual subsidence on surface land, which can cause some problems when the mined-out land is used for construction, land reclamation and ecological reconstruction. Thus, it is important to assess the stability and suitability of the land with a consideration of residual surface subsidence. Assuming a linear monotonic decrease in the annual residual surface subsidence, the limit of the sum of the annual residual subsidence factor, and continuity between surface subsidence in the last year of the weakening period and the residual surface subsidence in the first year, we establish a model to calculate the duration of residual subsidence and the annual residual surface subsidence factor caused by abandoned longwall coal mining. The duration of residual surface subsidence increases with the increase in mining thickness as well as the factor of extreme residual subsidence. The proposed method can quantitatively calculate the annual residual subsidence, the accumulative residual subsidence, and the potential future accumulative residual subsidence. This approach can be used to reasonably evaluate the stability and suitability of old mining subsidence areas and will be beneficial for the design of mining subsidence land reclamation and ecological reconstruction.
Measuring Teachers’ Perceptions to Sustain STEM Education Development
Authors: Thi To Khuyen NGUYEN , Van Bien NGUYEN , Lin Pei-Ling , Lin Jing , Chang Chun-Yen
Published: February 2020

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasized teachers as the cornerstone for the betterment of education. Teachers’ practices are strongly affected by teachers’ perceptions. The purpose of this study was to identify teachers’ perceptions to sustain STEM education development, regarding STEM education, STEM competencies, and difficulties in STEM implementation. We collected the data from 186 Vietnamese teachers, including STEM sub-field teachers and no STEM sub-field teachers. We used a survey method to capture teachers’ perceptions of STEM education. The one-way ANOVA was employed to examine the differences in teachers’ perceptions of STEM education in terms of the categorization of teaching experience, education background, and teaching subjects. The quantitative analysis showed that most Vietnamese teachers had positive views on STEM education. The higher educational background teachers and science teachers have the highest statistically significant scores in (1) STEM education, (2) STEM competencies, and (3) difficulties in implementation. The novice teachers have more positive views of STEM education, in terms of a better understanding of STEM education and assessing STEM competencies as being more valuable. There are no statistically significant differences in teachers’ difficulties among teaching experience groups. These results provide valuable information to design effective teacher professional development to sustain STEM education.
Perspectives on Citizen Engagement for the EU Post-2020 Biodiversity Strategy: An Empirical Study
Authors: Varumo Liisa , Yaneva Rositsa , Koppel Tarmo , Koskela Iida-Maria , Garcia Mari Carmen , Sozzo Sara , Morello Eugenio , Dictor Marie-Christine
Published: February 2020

The current European Union biodiversity strategy is failing to reach its targets aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2020, and eyes are already set at the post-2020 strategy. The European Commission is encouraging the active role of citizens in achieving policy objectives in the coming years. In this paper, we explore ways citizens discuss their priorities regarding biodiversity and abilities to influence environmental problems at individual, collective and policy levels. We also examine how the citizen discussions resonate with scientific environmental priorities and how researchers see the role of citizens in policy processes and harmonising citizen and scientific knowledge. To pursue the citizen voices, an expert working group acting as knowledge brokers, facilitated a series of citizen workshops in seven European locations and a reflective researcher workshop in Belgium. Based on the results, participants identified many concrete and value-related measures to stop environmental degradation. The environmental priorities differed between citizens and scientists, but not irreconcilably; rather, they complemented one another. Both groups stressed environmentally minded attitudes in individuals and policy. Displaying diversity of perspectives was regarded as positive and adding legitimacy. Improving methods for balanced encounters among science and society is central for participation to become more than rhetoric in the EU.
A Stochastic Approach to LCA of Internal Insulation Solutions for Historic Buildings
Authors: Di Giuseppe Elisa , D’Orazio Marco , Du Guangli , Favi Claudio , Lasvaux Sébastien , Maracchini Gianluca , Padey Pierryves
Published: February 2020

Internal insulation is a typical renovation solution in historic buildings with valuable façades. However, it entails moisture-related risks, which affect the durability and life-cycle environmental performance. In this context, the EU project RIBuild developed a risk assessment method for both hygrothermal and life-cycle performance of internal insulation, to support decision-making. This paper presents the stochastic Life Cycle Assessment method developed, which couples the LCA model to a Monte-Carlo simulation, providing results expressed by probability distributions. It is applied to five insulation solutions, considering different uncertain input parameters and building heating scenarios. In addition, the influence of data variability and quality on the result is analyzed, by using input data from two sources: distributions derived from a generic Life Cycle Inventory database and “deterministic” data from Environmental Product Declarations. The outcomes highlight remarkable differences between the two datasets that lead to substantial variations on the systems performance ranking at the production stage. Looking at the life-cycle impact, the general trend of the output distributions is quite similar among simulation groups and insulation systems. Hence, while a ranking of the solutions based on a “deterministic” approach provides misleading information, the stochastic approach provides more realistic results in the context of decision-making.
Challenge for Planning by Using Cluster Methodology: The Case Study of the Algarve Region
Authors: Bienvenido-Huertas David , Farinha Fátima , Oliveira Miguel José , Silva Elisa M. J. , Lança Rui
Published: February 2020

This study analyses the most appropriate methodology to make similarity classifications among the cities of the Algarve (Portugal) according to 105 sustainability indicators monitored with the Observatory of Sustainability of the Algarve Region for Tourism (OBSERVE). The methodology used to establish the similarities was the cluster analysis with 4 different approaches which reduced the dimensions of the data set: total approach, pillar approach, subject area approach, and indicator approach. By combining the approaches, a total of 620 different cluster analyses were performed. The results reflected that the data analysis approaches with less dimensions were those that performed the best groups among cities. In this sense, the approaches with a high number of indicators (e.g., the total or the pillar approach) were characterised by misclassifying cities in more than 30% of the indicators. Thus, the most acceptable cluster analysis approach was that with a low number of indicators. Through this approach, it was possible to make correct groups of the sustainability level of the cities of the Algarve. These results provided an appropriate methodology for the decision-making regarding the sustainability of a region and could be extrapolated to other regions to assess sustainability or environmental indicators.
Optimal Transition toward Innovation-led Sustainable Governance under the 2020 Paris Regime
Authors: Choi Yongrok
Published: February 2020

This Special Issue consists of selected papers from the 2019 Sustainable Asia Conference (SAC), an annual international conference held at the Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, China, in June of 2019, and the 12th Sustainable Asia Conference held at Inha University, Incheon, Korea, in October of 2019. SAC is one of the leading international conferences for presenting novel and fundamental advances in sustainable development issues for Asia. Evidently, sustainable development urgently requires public and private cooperation for the challenges faced across diverse fields of activities because of the complex procedure of enactment. Northeast Asian countries are very sensitive to this matter because of the strong leadership of their governments, and thus, it is of utmost importance to develop sustainable governance mechanisms. Government-led political regulations could be much more important in Asia, but without the strong support of the private sector, they cannot be sustainable. We have already seen many policy failures in Asian countries during this initial stage of ecological civilization. Therefore, this Special Issue proposes the workable mechanism for sustainable development in diverse perspectives. This Special Issue focuses on diverse yet unique issues for sustainable development and its governance under the Paris regime in 2020.
Emotional Status and Productivity: Evidence from the Special Economic Zone in Laos
Authors: Kadoya Yoshihiko , Khan Mostafa Saidur Rahim , Watanapongvanich Somtip , Binnagan Punjapol
Published: February 2020

Employee productivity is a well-studied area, which has been explained in various dimensions. However, there is insufficient research on how workers’ on-job emotional status relates to productivity. This study examined the relationship between workers’ emotional states and productivity by assessing on-job emotionality recorded using a specially designed wearable biometric device. The experiment was conducted at KP Beau Lao Co. Ltd., a Japanese plastic toys and cosmetic products company in Savannakhet province in Southwestern Laos. Participants were 15 plastic toy painters. Mental status, daily output, and other issues were recorded for three consecutive working days. Using random effects panel regression models, we examined how productivity, operationalized as the log of daily output, was related to workers’ emotional states, including the amount of time workers reported being happy, angry, relaxed, and sad. We controlled for conversation time, heart rate, and other demographic features. The results revealed that happiness, and no other emotional state, was significantly and positively related to productivity. Such findings suggested that workers’ emotional states must be addressed as part of an organization’s operational strategy to ensure higher productivity.
Tax or Subsidy? Optimal Carbon Emission Policy: A Supply Chain Perspective
Authors: Yin Xing , Chen Xiaolin , Xu Xiaolin , Zhang Lianmin
Published: February 2020

With a rigid requirement for environment protection, governments need to make appropriate policies to induce firms to adopt green technology in consideration of the rapidly increasing demand for environmentally friendly products. We investigated the government policy from the perspective of a supply chain, which consisted of the upstream government (she) and the downstream manufacturing firm (he). The government decided on the policy (tax or subsidy) to maximize the social welfare, while the firm decided on the greenness level of the product, which affects the consumers’ choice behavior and hence his own demand. Assuming else being equal, the government should adopt the tax policy if consumers are very sensitive to the greenness, the cost of greening is high, or the negative impact due to carbon emission is large, and subsidize the firm otherwise. We also conduct some numerical studies when price is endogenous. The main insights can be carried over.
Understanding the Concept of Neighbourhood in Kigali City, Rwanda
Authors: Baffoe Gideon , Malonza Josephine , Manirakiza Vincent , Mugabe Leon
Published: February 2020

Though the relevance of the concept of neighbourhood in both research and policy oriented circles is unquestionable, the concept remains contested and fluid, making its operationalisation a daunting task, particularly in practice. This study explores how the concept of neighbourhood has been operationalised in Kigali city and how the neighbourhood boundaries and typologies are defined. The paper dwells on the review of relevant literature, interviews with 25 practitioners and field observations. It is argued that neighbourhood conceptualisation in Kigali is both theory—it bears the common aspects of neighbourhood definitions—and practice driven, reflecting modernity and context. On the one hand, modernity suggests the desire of planning authorities to follow contemporary planning practices. Context, on the other hand, reflects the desire to tailor local policies to country specific challenges. While boundaries follow subjective, administrative and physical models, typologies tend to be overly physical, focusing mainly on housing structures. The study identified three conventional neighbourhood typologies—planned, informal and mixed types. Given the predominance of informal and mixed neighbourhoods, this study further argues that such areas form the ‘bedroom’ and ‘transit point’ for most lower- and middle-class workers, in addition to serving as a ‘laboratory’ for testing various social interventions. The study recommends a well-serviced mixed classification typology to foster a strong sense of belongingness.
Patterns of Urban Park Use and Their Relationship to Factors of Quality: A Case Study of Tehran, Iran
Authors: Bahriny Fariba , Bell Simon
Published: February 2020

Urban parks play an important role in increasing the quality of urban life. Thus, a variety of approaches to planning and decision-making regarding sustainable open spaces and urban parks is needed, especially when models from one location are borrowed to another with a very different culture. In many developing countries cities are expanding without proper planning of public green spaces which places pressure on the quality of life. In common with many Middle Eastern cities, Tehran, the capital of Iran is a large sprawling metropolis which has experienced fast growth since 1970 and with little in the way of comprehensive planning of green spaces as an organised system. To date there has been no comprehensive investigation of urban parks regarding their level of use, range of activities, quality of maintenance, evidence of anti-social activities or the demographic character of their catchment—important information for effective park planning. In this study a representative sample of 16 parks in Tehran was studied using a combination of site assessments and user observations. We found that a combination of factors concerning the quality of the parks such as presence of facilities, existence of water and other special attractions, as well as how well-lit they are, how well maintained and safe they are, has a lot to do with their level of use. Some pleasant parks with good facilities are less well used because of, e.g., evidence of anti-social behaviour, poor maintenance and accessibility. A key aspect we found is the difference between male and female users, with some parks being much less-well-used by women. Much more attention is needed for planning and management of parks in Tehran. The approach applied here has potential to help other cities in similar areas to learn more about their green space systems for planning purposes.
Circular Economy Competencies for Design
Authors: Sumter Deborah , de Koning Jotte , Bakker Conny , Balkenende Ruud
Published: February 2020

This study addresses what competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) designers need in order to successfully design products and services for a circular economy. Existing literature, though sparse, has identified a number of circular economy competencies for design. Yet, a coherent overview is lacking. To complement the competencies found in the literature with insights from practice, we conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with design professionals. Our study identifies seven circular economy competencies for design: (1) Circular Impact Assessment, (2) Design for Recovery, (3) Design for Multiple Use Cycles, (4) Circular Business Models, (5) Circular User Engagement, (6) Circular Economy Collaboration, and (7) Circular Economy Communication. We used a general sustainability competencies framework to categorize our findings. Interestingly, we did not find evidence of the Systems Thinking competency in practice, although in the literature it is mentioned as a relevant competency for design for a circular economy. In addition, we found that methods and tools are still largely lacking or in a premature stage of development. We conclude that design for a circular economy can be seen as an upcoming, independent field within the sustainability domain, and that requires a specific set of competencies, methods, and tools. Our overview of circular economy competencies for design can guide the development of relevant methods and tools, circular economy-based design curricula, and training programs in the future.
A Second-Best Analysis of Alternative Instruments for the Preservation of Natural Resources
Authors: Llop Maria
Published: February 2020

The literature on second-best environmental taxation provides us with a broad understanding of the welfare impacts of pollution regulation. However, most of the research undertaken to date has focused on environmental pollution, while other topics in environmental economics, such as the preservation of natural resources, have not warranted much attention in the optimal taxation literature. This paper uses a simple general-equilibrium model to analyze the welfare effects of taxes on final goods, taxes on natural resources, and extraction permits with a second-best approach based on the existence of initial distortionary taxes. This analysis not only takes into account the non-use utility of the mere existence of natural resources, but also captures the consequences of enjoying environmental goods on labor supply decisions, through the use-value attributed to natural resources. The comparison of the welfare impacts of a tax on final consumption and a tax on the use of natural resources is not conclusive. A consumption tax leads to a higher primary welfare effect than a resources tax, while taxing natural goods generates more revenue-recycling income than taxing consumption goods. In addition, as extraction permits do not generate new public revenues to reduce pre-existing distortionary taxes, this intervention entails the highest welfare costs.
Feasibility and Cost Analysis of Photovoltaic-Biomass Hybrid Energy System in Off-Grid Areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Nusrat , Akram Hossain Chowdhury , Longo Michela , Yaïci Wahiba
Published: February 2020

In this progressing technological advancement world, hybrid systems for power generation is one of the most promising fields for any researcher. In this context, photovoltaic-biomass hybrid systems with off-grid applications have become extremely popular with both Governments and individual users in rural areas of any part of the world. This system has gained popularity because of low cost, sustainability and very effective outcome with the use of natural resources at the rural areas. In this paper a proposed hybrid system which contains photovoltaics (PV) and biomass along with an additional storage has been considered to find the different aspects from an end user point of view. It also discusses the feasibility of the proposed model for an off-grid power system located in the remote areas of Ashuganj, Bangladesh. In order to analyse the pollutant emissions and calculate the cost parameters of the proposed system, RETScreen simulation software was deployed. This research also carries out a brief financial analysis considering the annual income of the end user and the payback periods for the installed system. It endeavours to provide complete information about different parameters which also includes the environmental impacts involved in establishing the proposed system. The conventional system in the pilot area is a kerosene-based system, hence in this research, a comparison between the proposed and the conventional system has been analysed using simulated results. The simple payback of the project was estimated to be 6.9 years and this model will be able to reduce the CO2 emissions by approximately 3.81 tonnes per year. The results have significantly supported the proposed system to be more reliable, environmentally-friendly and less costly than the conventional kerosene-based system.
Evaluation of the Obstacles to Developing the Aynak Copper Mine in Afghanistan
Authors: Zhang Yanzhe , Yu Xiao , Zhang Jian , Zou Bowen
Published: February 2020

The Aynak Copper Mine was first discovered in 1973, and mining was initiated by the Metallurgical Company of China in 2009. However, its use has been suspended several times and the mine has never been fully exploited due to political unrest and terrorism, among other issues, in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been recognized as one of the most fragile, conflict-affected, and landlocked countries in the world by international organizations and the global community, especially after the events of 9/11. Hence, understanding the obstacles influencing the development process of the Aynak Copper Mine is of crucial value in sustaining the development of the overall economy and society in Afghanistan. The aim of this paper is to explore the factors that have caused suspensions of the developments of the Aynak Copper Mine, which may apply to other developing projects in Afghanistan and in other fragile states. The findings will provide a better understanding of the difficulties in maintaining a sustainable environment for developing the regional economy in Afghanistan, and fill a gap in the literature with regards to the applied and theoretical economic growth model in fragile states. The materials of this research are partly based on a radical analysis of the official documents of the Afghan government and international organizations. We adopted statistical analysis to identify the factors associated with the progressive process of developing the Aynak Copper Mine, and an ordinal logit regression to analyze those factors. We specifically considered the factors associated with the degree of administrative capacity, labor investment, labor productivity, capital investment, efficiency of capital, terroristic activities, and religious issues. Among these factors, the relationships between the degree of administrative capacity, terroristic activities, and religious issues were strongly associated with the development status of the Aynak Copper Mine. The other investigated factors were not found to be relevant. This study is among the first on the Mining Project in Afghanistan.
Emergence of Carsharing Business Models and Sustainability Impacts in Swedish Cities
Authors: Bocken Nancy , Jonca Alexandra , Södergren Karolina , Palm Jenny
Published: February 2020

The sharing economy has become prominent in the policy, business and academic discourse as a way to achieve greater levels of resource efficiency in sustainability transitions. An example is carsharing, which is regarded as a potential lever for change in sustainable mobility transitions. In this article we, apply the “ecologies of business models” perspective to investigate how carsharing initiatives have coevolved in Sweden. We focus on the city context as a useful unit of analysis to investigate carsharing in four Swedish cities: Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm and Umeå. Through qualitative case research, we investigate the following: How did carsharing business models coevolve in the studied cities? It was found that early notions of carsharing date back to the 1970s, but the concept has changed significantly over time, particularly with the emergence of (Internet) technology-based platforms. The findings suggest that carsharing is complementary to existing private car usage in cities, rather than a replacement. Based on this, we suggest pathways for local policymakers to consider when implementing sustainable carsharing solutions. The contributions are threefold: providing an empirical study on the theoretical ecologies of business models concept; understanding how carsharing coevolved in Swedish cities and in relation to wider sustainability and mobility trends; and giving novel insight into the role of local governments.
Tsetse Invasion as an Emerging Threat to Socioecological Resilience of Pastoral Communities in Karamoja, Uganda
Authors: Egeru Anthony , Opio Joseph , Siya Aggrey , Barasa Bernard , Magaya John Paul , Namaalwa Justine J.
Published: February 2020

Over 70% of Uganda is infested by the tsetse fly, which has negative effects on human and livestock health. From colonial to post-independent Uganda, the Government of Uganda has worked to eradicate the tsetse menace. Despite these efforts, recent veterinary reports from the Karamoja sub-region have indicated widespread tsetse invasion. This study investigated the potential impact of tsetse invasion on the socioecological resilience of pastoral communities in the Karamoja sub-region. Results indicated that tsetse invasion is spreading from north to south of Karamoja. The tsetse transmission route emerging from southern Karamoja is perceived to be a continuation of the tsetse belt from West Pokot, Kenya. Cases of livestock deaths, livestock abortions, decreased milk yields, restricted access to prime grazing lands, heightened human-wildlife conflicts and disruption on crop cultivation have been reported. A computed socioecological resilience index in the study area was positive but low. Owing to the transboundary characteristics of tsetse invasions and sources and the associated documented effects, an urgent, strategic and system-wide intervention should be undertaken to control the tsetse invasion in this sub-region.
Impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Trade Credit Provision: The Role of Social Trust
Authors: Liu Peng , Dong Daxin
Published: February 2020

This paper explores the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on trade credit while taking into account the interactive role of social trust. The analysis is based on the panel data econometric model with fixed effects. Using firm-level data across 16 economies from 1995Q1 to 2015Q1, we find that (i) there exists a negative and highly significant relationship between economic policy uncertainty and the provision of trade credit; (ii) this relation is weaker for firms in countries with higher levels of social trust; and (iii) the effects of EPU and social trust are both more substantial for firms in more financially constrained industries. The impact of social trust is not a result of people’s high confidence in government, an effective legal system of enforcing contracts, a high-quality institutional system or an excellent system of protecting shareholders. Our result is robust if we exclude business cycle effects or use an alternative measure of financial constraints.
An Extended GRA Method Integrated with Fuzzy AHP to Construct a Multidimensional Index for Ranking Overall Energy Sustainability Performances
Authors: Altintas Koray , Vayvay Ozalp , Apak Sinan , Cobanoglu Emine
Published: February 2020

In an age of rapid technological advancement, the increasing need for energy and its related services to satisfy economic and social development has become a critical concern of national governments worldwide. This has triggered researchers to work on metrics for tracking and tracing energy sustainability in order to provide monitoring mechanisms for policy makers. In this regard, multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are becoming more popular to deal with the multidimensional and complex nature of sustainability. We have proposed an extended and revised version of the grey relational analysis (GRA) method, which is integrated with the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP), to develop a new composite index for comparing the overall energy sustainability performances of 35 OECD member countries. Our case study revealed the performances of selected countries by providing their strengths and weaknesses based on determined criteria as well as the level of change in performances with different criteria weights. The proposed GRA model can be used in different applications of sustainability due to its flexible nature, which provides benefits from goal-oriented extensions in order to adequately capture different aspects of sustainability.
Operational Challenges and Mega Sporting Events Legacy: The Case of BRT Systems in the Global South
Authors: Ferranti Emma , Andres Lauren , Denoon-Stevens Stuart Paul , Melgaço Lorena , Oberling Daniel , Quinn Andrew
Published: February 2020

This paper examines the bus rapid transit (BRT) legacies of mega sporting events (MSEs) held in the Global South cities of Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. It discusses the extent to which these transport systems have been operationally sustainable, post-MSE; in other words, their ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level and hence their ability to act as public good as planned and according to specific needs. It argues that in both cities, long-term operational challenges have emerged due to conflictual temporalities between the priorities of the MSE and the mid/long term requirements of a transport system, supplemented by a poor spatial contextualisation of BRT design. These include financial viability, providing a service with appropriate frequency and capacity, integration with other transport systems, and resilience to external shocks such as extreme weather. These findings have key academic and policy implications both by opening further areas of research towards MSEs as a tool to deliver sustainable urban transport, and provides important lessons for future MSE hosts and cities considering BRT.
Measuring Patients’ Perception and Satisfaction with the Romanian Healthcare System
Authors: Cosma Smaranda Adina , Bota Marius , Fleșeriu Cristina , Morgovan Claudiu , Văleanu Mădălina , Cosma Dan
Published: February 2020

Measuring patient satisfaction of healthcare service quality represents a significant element of a healthcare’s system (HS) overall evaluation. It is the starting point for creating policies in national healthcare. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate Romanian patients’ perception and satisfaction of the quality of the national HS as a whole and of its components. Exploratory and descriptive research was used. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with Romanian patients, based on a questionnaire. Out of the 2305 respondents, 83% used the Romanian HS in the past 12 months and 58% of the respondents did not trust the system. The accommodation, food, and other facilities of Romanian hospitals were perceived as being at a low level. One third of the respondents were unsatisfied and very unsatisfied with respect to the overall impression of the Romanian HS. In addition, our research found a statistically significant relationship between confidence in the HS, age, and gender, and also between the overall impression on the HS, age and income.