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The evolution towards a green economy integrating social, economic, and environmental concerns has opened a new window to pursue the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially for emerging nations. Nonetheless, despite being a pressing concern on a global scale, empirical research into the potential for green economy development in the context of Bangladesh has remained notably inadequate. To fill this void, this study is an attempt to evaluate the connection among economic growth, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, education, life expectancy, and technology to conclude the ecological and socio-economic repercussions of a green economy in Bangladesh's framework of achieving SDGs. Considering the statistical features of the annual data from 1990 to 2019, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method has been employed to analyze the connections between the chosen variables. The empirical outcomes show that an upsurge in CO 2 is accompanied by a 3.66% increase in GDP over the long term, suggesting a positive and statistically significant relationship between the two variables. In addition, GDP increases by about 4.2% for every 1% increase in life expectancy. However, the relationship between technological innovation and education found an insignificant positive linkage with GDP. The most important takeaway from these findings is that the growth of Bangladesh's economy is occurring at the expense of the environment. Hence, this research recommends that, as a developing nation, Bangladesh should concentrate on environment-friendly alternatives, which can be done through the introduction of a green economy to achieve a sustainably developed economy., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Ethiopia is experiencing deterioration in river quality resulting in adverse effects on human health and hydrobionts. This study aimed to analyse the effects of specific environmental stressors on the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates in the Upper Awash River. The study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2018. Macroinvertebrates were collected from five sites using standard handheld nets. Physicochemical parameters including electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorous, nitrate-nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen and water temperature that can affect the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates were assessed. A total of 14,465 individuals belonging to 33 families of insects and 5 families of the noninsect group were identified. Among all recorded taxa, Diptera was the most abundant and diversified order. Macroinvertebrates among the five sites showed variation in species evenness, richness, and Shannon Diversity Index. Values obtained from biotic indices and environmental parameters indicated the presence of organic pollution at different levels. The impacted downstream site paper mill waste (Walgata) had the relatively highest H-FBI index followed by Osole (more agricultural activities) indicating that Walgata and Osole were poorer in benthic faunal diversity than other sites. In addition, as habitat and water quality degradation increased, the number and percentage of Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) decreased. The selected metrics will be also useful for the monitoring and assessment of the riverine systems and to access the impact of different stressors. As perturbation increased, species diversity, ETHbios index, Average Score Per Taxon, and family richness decreased, while the percentage of Chironomidae, Diptera, Dominant Taxa, and Hilsenhoff Family-Level Biotic Index increased indicating that tolerant species become abundant in degraded river bodies. Environmental protection agencies of governmental and nongovernmental organizations should make awareness for the local people so that they reduce activities that affect the river. Paper factory should also monitor its effluent from directly discharging into the Upper Awash River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SAFER (Simple Algorithm for Evapotranspiration Retrieving) algorithm and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) model were coupled to test large-scale remote sensing environmental indicators in Brazilian biomes. MODIS MOD13Q1 reflectance product and gridded weather data for the year 2016 were used to demonstrate the suitability of the algorithm to monitor the dynamics of environmental remote sensing indicators along a year in the Brazilian biomes, Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, and Pampa. Significant spatial and temporal variations in precipitation (P), actual evapotranspiration (ET), and biomass production (BIO) yielded differences on water balance (WB = P-ET) and water productivity (WP = ET/BIO). The highest WB and WP differences were detected in the wettest biomes, Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Pampa, when compared with the driest biome, Caatinga. Rainfall distribution along the year affected the magnitude of the evaporative fraction (ET f ), i.e., the ET to reference evapotranspiration (ET 0 ) ratio. However, there was a gap between ET f and WB, which may be related to the time needed for recovering good soil moisture conditions after rainfalls. For some biomes, BIO related most to the levels of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (Amazon and Atlantic Forest), while for others, BIO followed most the soil moisture levels, depicted by ET f (Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, and Pampa). The large-scale modeling showed suitability for monitoring the water and vegetation conditions, making way to detect anomalies for specific periods along the year by using historical images and weather data, with strong potential to support public policies for management and conservation of natural resources and with possibilities for replication of the methods in other countries., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

In view of the increasing environmental challenges and the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, the optimization of microgrid systems with regard to economic efficiency and environmental compatibility is becoming ever more important. This paper presents the Microgrid Performance and Investment Rating (MPIR) index, a novel assessment framework developed to link economic and environmental objectives within microgrid configurations. The MPIR index evaluates microgrid configurations based on five critical dimensions: financial viability, sustainability, regional renewable integration readiness, energy demand, and community engagement, facilitating comprehensive and balanced decision making. The current cases focus on the area of Greece; however, the model can have a wider application. Developed using a two-target optimization model, this index integrates various energy sources—including photovoltaics, micro-wind turbines, and different types of batteries—with advanced energy management strategies to assess and improve microgrid performance. This paper presents case studies in which the MPIR index is applied to different microgrid scenarios. It demonstrates its effectiveness in identifying optimal configurations that reduce the carbon footprint while maximizing economic returns. The MPIR index provides a quantifiable, scalable tool for stakeholders, not only advancing the field of microgrid optimization, but also aligning with global sustainability goals and promoting the transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a resilient and circular bio-based economy is of paramount importance, notably in the EU, where current climate policies and evolving regulations strongly demand more sustainable practices, impacting monitoring and reporting, as well as the deployment of novel valorization routes for byproducts and waste streams. In this context, with the aim of assessing the current state of the European bio-based economy, a comprehensive analysis based on socio-environmental, socioeconomic, and technical indicators was carried out on major sectors, namely textiles, woodworking, pulp and paper, bio-based chemicals and materials, liquid biofuels, and bio-based electricity. Each sector was evaluated with respect to its main biological raw materials, and a methodology is proposed to link their geographical origin (inside or outside the EU), import shares, and internal production with socio-environmental impacts, based on official databases and indexes. Socioeconomic data (turnover and employment) and technical data (average bio-based content within the main products of the sector) were also considered for the analyses, allowing a multi-angle comparison between sectors and the identification of barriers and opportunities for future developments. Finally, a quantitative and qualitative overview of non-hazardous biogenic waste streams generated in the EU is presented, and opportunities for their valorization and reintegration into the EU bio-based economy are discussed. As a result of this analysis, beyond enabling the assessment of each sector within the bio-based economy, along with the assignment of values for comparison, the implementation of this evaluation facilitated the identification of improvement pathways, which were consolidated into a set of proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of urban environmental sustainability is an important prerequisite for scientific decision-making of urban sustainability. This paper proposed an evaluation method of urban environmental sustainability based on the integration of multi-improvement demands. Considering the interaction between the economic and social systems on the environmental system, this paper constructed an urban environmental sustainability evaluation indicator system from three dimensions: environmental foundation, environmental pollution, and environmental protection. Combined with the actual improvement demands of each city, a corresponding weighting method was constructed, and the weights of each city's individualized improvement demands were obtained through the analysis of indicator data. Further, in order to consider the fairness and guidance of the evaluation, the corresponding random simulation algorithm was matched for the individualized weights, and the evaluation value and the superiority probability in a stable state after multiple simulations were sought. Based on this, this paper conducted an empirical evaluation of urban environmental sustainability of the 14 cities in Liaoning Province, China. Through the demand-driven evaluation model, cities can obtain improvement suggestions that meet their demands while understanding their environmental sustainability level. It is convenient for top-down policy guidance and bottom-up practical exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current cases and studies show that the aerosol propagation of COVID-19 is possible in the office buildings. The paper explored the ventilation level and monitoring methods for indoor infection risk in office buildings, improved the Wells-Riley equation and ventilation rate equation, providing the possibility of real-time monitoring of the transmission risk of COVID-19 in office buildings. Then, the main influencing factors of the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2, including working density, dwell time, and fresh air volume per person, were field measured in three office areas and three conference rooms of an office building in Shenzhen, China. In addition, the field monitored carbon dioxide (CO2) data were used to estimate the possibility of COVID-19 infection in offices and conference rooms. The results show that the number of staff, ventilation rate, and office hours are all important factors affecting the infection risk of workers in the office building environment, but the existing literature rarely considers these three points at the same time. In addition, the paper adopted the method of assessing the infection risk from place to place, time to time, and person to person in the building environment, providing early warning for office buildings and helping to control the spread of airborne diseases. The results can be beneicial to understanding and taking necessary safety considerations against the infection risk in closed public or governmental environments. The paper explored the ventilation level and monitoring methods for indoor infection risk in office buildings and improved the Wells-Riley equation and ventilation rate equation, providing the possibility of real-time monitoring of the transmission risk of COVID-19 in office buildings. The results showed that the number of staff, ventilation rate, and office hours are all important factors affecting the infection risk of workers in the office building environment, but the existing literature has rarely considered these three points at the same time. Meanwhile, research has further demonstrated the connection between the risk of virus infection and indoor monitoring environmental indicators, providing a new path for further accurate prediction of indoor infection risk. The results can be beneficial to understanding and taking necessary safety considerations against the infection risk in closed public or governmental environments. Therefore, evaluating indoor transmission risks through monitoring environmental indicators is feasible and could be used as a reference basis for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the diversity of theoretical studies, natural resources' moderating role between governance indicators and environmental quality remains a controversial issue. The purpose of this paper is therefore to clarify the nature of this role in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries from 1996 to 2017 relying on the generalized method of moments system estimators. The empirical results reveal that corruption control, political stability, rule of law, voice and accountability, and government effectiveness increase CO2 emissions, while regulation quality does not affect CO2 emissions. Our findings also show that FDI and GDP increase CO2 emissions. However, natural resources moderate the governance indicators to reduce CO2 emissions. Therefore, policy-makers should increase public awareness of the best use of natural resources. Thus, improving governments' institutional framework will generally contribute to reducing the greenhouse gas emission levels in the MENA countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of information risk in complex public opinion environments not only leads to severe direct reputational losses for companies but also results in significant economic damages. Therefore, during the nascent stage of information risk, identifying potential propagation pathways, determining key dissemination channels, and taking timely measures become crucial. To address this issue, this paper proposes a multi-criteria decision-making method for evaluating information risk propagation in complex public opinion environments. In this method, this paper utilizes probabilistic hesitant fuzzy sets to express the evaluation information, and provide several distance and similarity measurement methods for probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements. To ensure the rationality of the evaluation indicator weights, this study first applies these distance measurement methods to improve the Grey Relational Analysis—Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (GRA-DEMATEL) method for determining the objective weights of evaluation indicators. Next, this paper uses the Delphi method to establish the subjective weights of each evaluation indicator. Finally, by employing a weight synthesis operator, this paper combines the subjective and objective weights to obtain the final indicator weights. Additionally, this paper utilizes the similarity measurement methods for probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements to improve the combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) method in evaluating and ranking potential information risk propagation pathways. Furthermore, this paper incorporates the "Probability Splitting Algorithm" to handle probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements, enabling their application in these methodologies. Finally, based on a case study of information risk propagation in the catering industry, we conducted a sensitivity analysis and effectiveness verification of the proposed approach. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method and its ability to address real-world issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities worldwide are at the frontline of environmental challenges during their future planning. Navi Mumbai presents many opportunities to move a city toward sustainability. The land is scarce for development purposes in Mumbai, which has resulted in the creation of the suburban area of Navi Mumbai. As the latter has numerous water bodies and drainage channels, which lie in the ecosensitive zone, to stop organic development, the environmental suitability index along with the accessibility index needs to be assessed to promote future organized growth. The present study investigated the planning of the new areas and assessed environmental suitability and accessibility for various zones seeking future development. The analytical derivation of the environmental suitability index was based on the parameters, subindex, and attributes of environmental issues in that area. The parameters included (1) soil permeability, (2) water-holding capacity, (3) porosity, (4) properties of groundwater and marine water, (5) properties of air, and (6) noise. The entire area was divided into five zones for the current work. The analytical framework was a developed methodology of indices calculated from five monitoring stations obtained from the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited, India (CIDCO). The accessibility parameters of the transportation network were measured using alpha indices (α). Finally, a nondominated sorting algorithm was used to obtain final suitability based on the Pareto optimality condition. The development suitability of an area was obtained by computing the environmental suitability index and accessibility index. This computation decides which of the five stations is best for which type of planning. The study developed a dimension-wise suitability index for Navi Mumbai, aiming to streamline the planning process and integrate policies essential for planning to attain sustainable development for Navi Mumbai. During future planning, policymakers and planners have often ignored environmental aspects in ecofragile areas. Hence, planning for new development in ecofragile areas has often been haphazard, piecemeal, and organic. The framework adopted in this paper, combining the environmental suitability index and the accessibility index, intended to assess the area's health and prescribe future actions to reduce the negative environmental impacts of development and regulate the same. The paper showed how data on soil, water, groundwater, air, and noise can be used in a simple mathematical model to compute the environmental suitability index of an area. Similarly, graph-theoretic measures of the whole transportation network can measure the accessibility index of the area. Finally, the development suitability of the area can be calculated by combining the environmental suitability index and the accessibility index. The level of domination result signifies the most suitable station/node for different types of development. Based on the results, policymakers and planners can determine an ecofragile area's future land use development as required. This model can further be adopted by local governing authorities to plan for zoning, zoning regulations, and approval of a proposed development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several standardized meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and environmental indices for drought classification into a set of dry categories all of which are derived from the basic concept of standardized precipitation index (SPI). Almost all these indices are based on crisp (bivalent) logic where boundary limits between neighboring categories are numbers without transboundary inclusiveness. The SPI procedure depends on the standard normal (Gaussian) probability distribution function (PDF) with zero mean and standard deviation equal to one. This paper proposed fuzzification of the SPI limits among categories for the inclusion of more than one category with different membership degrees. This method is referred to as the fuzzy SPI (FSPI) procedure, which provides drought tracing possibility and categorization. At the end for a numerical value, one can defuzzify the fuzzy result through defuzzification methods. FSPI provides preliminary warning system in terms of two or more fuzzy rule propositions and categories. Thus, one can know the logical alternatives of the drought behavior of a given hydro-meteorology variable. The application of the FSPI is presented for New Jersey State wise and Istanbul annual precipitation records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable implementation of resources and the transition to low-carbon construction is on the world's daily agenda. This paper describes the development of criteria for the efficient management of material resources in low-carbon construction. Net income, gross profit, balance sheets, and equity are proposed as indicators that serve as criteria for assessing the efficient use of resources. Nonlinear regression models were the methodological basis for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships of the volume of construction of transport structures. It was established that since construction companies do not purchase materials for storage, the cost of materials for use in low-carbon technological construction work is directly proportional to the cost of construction. The volume of production in the construction industry is determined by construction costs. More efficient use of low-carbon materials reduces cost and construction waste. In this paper, we have established the relationship between the indicator of efficiency for the functioning of the construction enterprises in Ukraine and the use of low-carbon materials for the construction of transport structures. The practical value of the obtained results for low-carbon construction management lies in proving the relationship between the performance indicators of the construction enterprise (net profit, gross profit, output volume, balance sheets, and equity capital) and the use of low-carbon material resources. Our results form the basis for future research into the use of a cost-based model for low-carbon economy transition in municipalities and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of the comprehensive transportation system, ports play an important role in economic development. In the context of the '3060 double carbon' target, the high-quality development (HQD) of ports is receiving attention from many parties. The aim of this paper is to examine the dynamic evolution of HQD in China's coastal ports from the perspective of green total factor productivity (GTFP). Firstly, the calculation standards of undesirable outputs are given, and integrated environmental dumping indicator is calculated by the combination weight calculation model based on game theory. Then, the super-efficiency DEA-GML (Data Envelopment Analysis-Data Envelopment Analysis-Global Malmquist-Luenberger) index model based on directional distance function (DDF) is used to measure the GTFP growth of ports. Furthermore, the dynamic evolution of GTFP growth of ports is explored using the kernel density estimation. The findings show that the GTFP growth of coastal ports has continued to improve during the examined period. However, there is the problem that port construction inputs cannot bring effective outputs, and there is a bifurcation that tends to stabilize within coastal ports. Finally, targeted policy implications are given to promote HQD of ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the three-dimensional concurrent engineering and presents an integrated mathematical model to determine design and production process of each part of product and its supply chain network with a sustainable approach. Demand is assumed to be design-dependent, and supply chain under study is closed-loop. From sustainability viewpoint, total profit in planning horizon is considered as economic index, and an approach based on life cycle assessment is implemented to calculate environmental index. In this approach, the eco-costs method is utilized to quantify life cycle environmental impact of activities. Also, a ratio based on job creation opportunity and employment rate is considered as social index. To show the performance of the proposed mathematical model, data for a home appliance producer from Iran is utilized. Eventually, a sensitivity analysis is presented to examine the effects of variations in demand on the resulted solutions and the values of triple objective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human economic activities drive the production and consumption of goods and services, contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the extent of economic growth's influence on the SDGs remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, here, we quantified the environmental effects of economic activities and explored correlations between environmental effect and achieving SDGs. We developed six Environmental Footprint Indices, with a higher score indicating better efficiency or lower burden. Here we show that the various Environmental Footprint Indices had synergistic and trade-off effects on most SDG targets indices, but the synergistic effects prevailed. As income increased, the correlation between Environmental Footprint Indices and SDG target indices gradually strengthened. improved production efficiency and consumption changes notably advance SDGs, especially in low-income group countries. Our work provides scientific insights into the impact and prospects of environmental regulation required for achieving the SDGs by 2030. Economic development and its interactions with the SDGs is an important focus for sustainable future growth. This paper develops six environmental footprint indices highlighting the synergies with human production and the SDG targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the processes which should be taken to establish debris indices that assess the orbital environmental impact of spacecraft or missions in orbit. The first process is establishing a methodology and criteria for evaluating an impact on the orbital environment. This study proposed an assessment method to evaluate the cumulative environmental changes during an evaluation period. It evaluated the impact of an uncontrolled LC mission abandoned in orbit. This study used Near-Earth Orbital Debris Environment Evolutionary Model (NEODEEM), an orbital environmental evolutionary model that Kyushu University and JAXA developed. The second process is the debris index formulation. This study considered four steps to establish the debris index. To reveal the establishing process of a debris index, this study used debris indexes as candidates which consider expected number of fragments generated from an object. The calculated debris index values were compared to the impact on the environment assessed by the evolutionary model to see if there was any correlation. Further, this study conducted numerical simulations of un-controlled large-constellation satellites abandoned in low earth orbit in different scenarios, and of active debris removals of large intact objects by NEODEEM. This paper discusses the applicability of proposed environmental assessment methods and the debris index. • Two processes to establish a debris index are proposed. • A methodology and criteria for evaluating environmental impacts is discussed. • Four steps to formulate a debris index is discussed. • Correlations between debris indexes and environmental impacts are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the coupling and coordinated development of formal and informal environmental regulation, as well as their impact on the upgrading of the industrial structure of urban agglomerations, represents a new breakthrough. The comprehensive index of formal environmental regulation, informal environmental regulation, and industrial structure upgrading is calculated using the entropy method based on sample data from 127 cities in China's ten major urban agglomerations between 2003 and 2019. The characteristics of the coupling and coordinated development between formal and informal environmental regulation in these urban agglomerations are examined using a coupling coordination degree model. Furthermore, the effects of the coupling and coordinated development of formal and informal environmental regulation on the industrial structure upgrading in urban agglomerations are analyzed through fixed-effect and threshold regression models. The findings demonstrate that although the development of urban agglomerations remains unbalanced, the overall coupling coordination degree between formal and informal environmental regulation is increasing. Generally, the ten major urban agglomerations have transitioned from a state of reluctance coordination to primary coordination. The Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations have progressed from reluctance coordination to middle coordination, while the Yangtze River Delta, Shandong Peninsula, Central Plains, and Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomerations have advanced from reluctance coordination to primary coordination. The remaining five urban agglomerations have shifted from near disorder to reluctance coordination. The coupling and coordinated development of formal and informal environmental regulation significantly promote the upgrading of the industrial structure in both overall and grouped samples of urban agglomerations, and the higher the degree of coupling coordination, the greater the promoting effect. Moreover, when informal environmental regulation is considered as a threshold variable, the coupling coordination degree exhibits a broken-line relationship with the industrial structure upgrading in urban agglomerations. Currently, the intensity of informal environmental regulations is relatively reasonable in China's ten major urban agglomerations, and the coordinated development of formal and informal environmental regulations has an impact on the industrial structure of urban agglomerations. Finally, this paper proposes corresponding suggestions encompassing the construction of an environmental regulation policy system, differentiated industrial policy, and the coordinated promotion of various policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid detection of plant phenotypic traits is crucial for plant breeding and cultivation. Traditional measurement methods are carried out by richexperienced agronomists, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive. However, with the increasing demand for rapid and high-throughput testing in tea plants traits, digital breeding and smart cultivation of tea plants rely heavily on precise plant phenotypic trait measurement techniques, among which hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology stands out for its ability to provide real-time and rich-information. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the principles of hyperspectral imaging technology, the processing methods of cubic data, and relevant algorithms in tea plant phenomics, reviewing the progress of applying hyperspectral imaging technology to obtain information on tea plant phenotypes, growth conditions, and quality indicators under environmental stress. Lastly, we discuss the challenges faced by HSI technology in the detection of tea plant phenotypic traits from different perspectives, propose possible solutions, and envision the potential development prospects of HSI technology in the digital breeding and smart cultivation of tea plants. This review aims to provide theoretical and technical support for the application of HSI technology in detecting tea plant phenotypic information, further promoting the trend of developing high quality and high yield tea leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports have become essential tools for enterprises to showcase their commitment to sustainable development and social responsibility. However, discrepancies persist regarding the criteria, assessments, and ratings disclosed in these reports. Moreover, there is a need for more objective methods to determine the weight distribution of indicator items. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing semantic variables in fuzzy theory and a multiple logic fuzzy inference system to develop an ESG environmental management performance assessment model. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a novel approach utilizing semantic variables and a multiple logic fuzzy inference system to quantitatively evaluate the sustainable performance of an environmental management plan. This research also aims to ensure fair and objective assessment outcomes, providing valuable guidance for enterprises in implementing performance management strategies. Key aspects investigated include the impact of membership functions, the extended utilization of semantic variables and logical rules, a comparative analysis of traditional weight assessments, and the limitations of applying fuzzy theory. Through comprehensive discussions and calculations, it is evident that fuzzy theory offers considerable flexibility in application. By tailoring fuzzy rules and selecting appropriate membership functions, diverse application scenarios can be accommodated. The Fuzzy systems evaluation and scoring EMP model generates EMP evaluation scores ranging from 1.76 to 8.29 for Gaussian membership, 1.80 to 8.19 for Triangular membership-A, 1.92 to 8.00 for Triangular membership-B, and 1.81 to 8.19 for Quadrilateral trapezoidal membership, based on simulated rating scenarios using the semantic variables of completeness and feasibility. This approach successfully incorporates distribution logic from subjective membership degrees to evaluate EMP scores. The findings demonstrate that fuzzy theory enables the consideration of multiple factors and facilitates the provision of objective-level membership, underscoring its potential in addressing complex evaluation challenges. This study illuminates the versatility of the fuzzy system theory, with its applications poised to extend across various domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determinants of farmer well-being can be derived from objective and subjective measures of social components, environmental sustainability indicators, and quality of life indices, as well as the multiple scales that farms and farmers operate. Yet, despite multiple frameworks on farmer well-being, the extent to which farmer-expressed values are used in the development of farmer well-being indicators is unclear. Challenges can arise from extracting indicators that are insufficiently grounded in place, or that inadequately incorporate context and biocultural relations and practices. Here in this scoping review, we synthesize the methodologies in the literature on assessing farmer well-being and identify the extent to which farmer well-being domains are derived from values expressed directly by farmers. We consolidated and coded 92 papers to respond to the following questions: (1) What are the most frequent farmer well-being domains in published studies? (2) What methods are used to elicit multidimensional farmer well-being domains? (3) Do well-being domains used in the literature adequately reflect a biocultural context, including place-based influences on well-being? Our results show that economics and social relationships are frequent domains of how farmer well-being is identified and assessed. These domains tend to be measured simultaneously, while less common domains, such as governance and place, are rather isolated. A suite of methods was used to assess well-being domains, ranging from basic surveys to in-depth participant observation. Yet, we identify gaps in the methods for deriving farmer well-being indicators. Specifically, methods that refer to farmer-expressed values were rare and domains identified through a place-based approach were often not recorded, but, arguably, critical in developing multidimensionality of farmer well-being. We show that while the translocal approach is well represented in established well-being frameworks, farmer expression is not foundational in well-being assessments but is needed in order to center farmer values when generating indicators of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The transition to a circular agri-food sector is a necessary condition for the sustainable development of the current production and consumption model. The complexity of the agri-food chain requires the introduction of a harmonized measurement system so that the circular economy can be applied. This study aims to define a life cycle-based dashboard to systematize and test cross-sectional life cycle-based (LCB) indicators to evaluate their applicability. Methods: The study is based on previous research to systematize cross-sectional LCB indicators, for the circular agri-food sector, classified according to the spatial dimensions (macro, meso, micro), areas of sustainability (economic, social, environmental), and scope within which the indicators are applied. The indicators were tested through a multiple compared analysis at the national and regional level, including a company case study (within the same region). Data were collected through two different methodologies based on the spatial dimension analysed. At the macro level, data were collected from databases and reports. At the micro level, a semi-structured interview with the owner of the company was conducted. For the analyses, data from different years were considered to compare results and to outline micro-trends. Result and discussion: The work made it possible to outline two types of results. The first derives from the application of the indicators to the spatial dimensions; the second expresses the potential application of the LCB-dashboard by the cross-sectional LCB indicators. The results of the work highlight the ability of cross-sectional indicators to provide a first comprehensive overview of the circularity of the agri-food sector concerning each level of observation. The study also allowed the applicability of LCB cross-sectional indicators to be tested. This suggests the need to introduce a harmonized detection system, between the national and regional accounting systems, obtaining consistent indicators that facilitate the comparison of results over time. Conclusions: The research showed the validity of the use of the cross-sectional LCB indicators, contributing to the discussion on CE indicators in the agri-food sector. The work supports the definition of new cross-sectional indicators and the new data collection model. For companies, the results encourage the development of monitoring models based on the LCB-dashboard. The paper has highlighted the limits and future steps of the measuring indicator system for the circularity of the agri-food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how the environmental performance of firms impacts their participation in global value chains (GVC). The analysis is based on a dataset of 15,922 firms located in 32 European, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African countries, with information on firm-level environmental practices provided by the recent Green Economy module of the World Bank Enterprise Surveys. We propose the Firm Environmental Performance Index (FEPI), a new index measuring firms' adoption of environmental actions. The index is used in a two-part instrumental variable approach to estimate the impact of FEPI on both the probability and the intensity of GVC participation, while addressing reverse causality concerns. The results indicate that a one-standard deviation increase in the FEPI increases the probability of participation by 6.4 percentage points, a result consistently observed in all regions and sectors. The effects on the intensity of participation are mostly non-significant. However, a negative effect is observed in exceptional cases, namely for firms that are importers only, have low-technology practices, and are located in less developed regions. The results are robust to alternative definitions of GVC participation, inclusion of alternative instruments, and to partial violations of the exclusion restriction. All in all, they suggest that complying with environmental regulations could lead to higher integration in global markets, albeit with adverse effects in some particular cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The view of political achievements suggests that officials will prefer to implement measures that benefit their own development in order to seek promotions. In the past, GDP weighed heavily in officials' appraisals, leading them to develop the economy without regard to sustainability. Now that the central government has incorporated environmental indicators into the officials' appraisal system, will this lead officials to implement sustainable development strategies to the fullest extent? Are there spillover effects and regional heterogeneity in this role? This paper discusses these questions with the help of entropy method and a spatial Durbin model using data of 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2006 to 2016. The conclusions show that, firstly, the officials' competitive pressure is beneficial to enhance the sustainable development capacity of the province, but this effect is only effective in western China. Secondly, there is no spillover effect of officials' competitive pressure on sustainable development capacity; thirdly, foreign direct investment, the proportion of state-owned enterprises and environmental regulations have their own unique effects on sustainable development capacity, and there are spillover effects. Based on these findings, this paper proposes corresponding policy recommendations in terms of officials' appraisal system, talent training, foreign investment introduction, and state-owned enterprise reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bidirectional vortex combustors are among the most efficient devices in terms of pollutants emission, fuel residence time, an extended range of stable operation. Despite many papers devoted to flow structure in the bidirectional chamber, their heat transfer and wall temperature distributions are not well-studied experimentally as well as most available calculation results are based on adiabatic or isothermal wall conditions. The present paper reports on new experimental and numerical results on flow and flame structures and surface temperature distributions obtained for a combustor with a toroidal vortex chamber. These results show a strong effect of the combustor operation mode and geometry configuration on its thermal conditions. Based on experimental validation, a reliable numerical approach for fluid dynamics, combustion, and heat transfer simulations in the bidirectional vortex chamber is suggested. This approach could assist in determining the most efficient parameters of the bidirectional combustor in terms of energy and environmental indicators as well as wall thermal conditions and service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) have received considerable attention in the field of nanophotonics due to their highly confined resonance and high Q factor, which effectively eliminates radiation loss. Various periodic structures have been studied to achieve BICs, with photonic crystal slabs (PCSs) being a prominent example. In PCS, multiple BICs can be merged to strongly suppress out-of-plane-scattering losses caused by fabrication imperfections. In this paper, we investigate the impact of reflection-type merging BICs on the Goos–Hänchen shift (GH shift) and demonstrate a remarkable enhancement of the GH shift, exceeding five orders of wavelength. We show the dynamic changes of the GH shifts with the isolated, merging, and merged BICs, achieving positive and negative GH shifts in different angles of peak reflectance for the same frequency. Our research highlights that even minor fabrication imperfections can result in a significant change in the GH shift, which can serve as a means for detecting manufacturing defects. Furthermore, we propose an ultrasensitive environmental refractive index sensor based on the enhanced GH shift by an isolated BIC. Our study contributes to the understanding of BICs and their potential applications in nanophotonics, including advanced optical communication devices, nanodevice fabrication, and highly sensitive sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a pillar of United Nations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pursues to greener its economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. The green economy represents a catalyzer for sustainable development in its three dimensions -economic, social and environmental- aiming to improve human well-being and social equity and reduce environmental risks. However, the relevant previous studies lacked the role of green economy on sustainable development for the Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, this paper aims to explore how green is the kingdom and analyze its performance toward sustainable development from 2015 to 2020. To do so, we adopt the EEPSE Green Economy Index that combines educational, economic, political, societal and environmental indicators associated with the pillars of the Quintuple Helix Innovation Model. In this study, this index is composed of 42 indicators related to the green economy and the sustainable development. The empirical results suggest that the Saudi Arabia witnessed a significant progress of EEPSE GEI score. In addition, the findings support that the performance of the kingdom regarding the green economy is affected after the COVID-19 crisis. Thus, the paper provides original visions for policy makers to encourage the transition to green economy which constitutes the main locomotive to attain the economic, social and environment sustainability for the kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental product declarations (EPD) to EN 15804 provide information about the embodied carbon dioxide of construction products – their life cycle greenhouse gas emissions – alongside reporting the use of renewable and non-renewable primary energy and secondary fuels, among the other environmental indicators. As the number of EPD to EN 15804 increases, they become a useful data resource to consider these impacts. In moving towards a reduction in the embodied carbon of products, it is necessary to use renewable energy resources efficiently to allow the transition to net zero; this is because of the increasing demands on renewable energy to decarbonise industry, transport and domestic energy consumption and the limited capacity to expand renewable generation. This paper reviews published EPD data for structural and reinforcing steels, cement, bricks and structural timber products, and considers, for the cradle to gate 'product' life cycle stage, exploring the relationship of embodied carbon with embodied energy (total energy used), the balance of renewable and non-renewable energy, and the efficient use of energy. It is found, for bricks and timber, that EPD show products that use a greater percentage of renewable energy have higher embodied energy, suggesting a less efficient use of renewable energy for these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban poverty is a complex phenomenon and people experiencing poverty suffer from various deprivations. Multidimensional poverty measurement has been one of the best indicators of this deprivation. In general, slum dwellers are considered homogenous groups, but it is not valid in multidimensional deprivation. This paper aims to find out the correlates of multidimensional poverty in slums. Spatiality and correlates of poverty in Varanasi City have been tapped using statistical modelling. The paper is based on primary data collected from 384 households through an interview schedule from 12 slums across three geographical zones of the city. The MPI index for slums, based on global MPI, was used to compute MPI for each geographical zone. Further ANOVA and hierarchical regression analysis were performed to find spatiality and correlates of multidimensional deprivation. The paper reveals that socio-religious categories, occupation and geographical location are significant determinants or at least correlates of multidimensional poverty in slums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing infrastructure that effectively coordinates social, economic, and environmental growth is crucial to sustainable development. This study aims to identify the current research trends for sustainable and resilient infrastructure in terms of years, classify the various types, research methods, and indicators of infrastructure projects, and compile an overview of indicators from the existing literature. The results are anticipated to contribute to the current knowledge body about sustainable and resilient infrastructure project development by highlighting recurrent themes and emerging trends in the field. This research applied the PRISMA strategy, which incorporates bibliometrics and visualisation tools, to analyse the 442 bibliographic papers published in databases on the topic between 2005 and 2022. According to the findings, the amount of research conducted increased between 2018 and 2021, with China and Europe being the most significant contributors. The total of 105 articles was selected, covering various infrastructural types and approaches. The examination led to the extraction of four sustainable infrastructure indicators: environmental, economic, social and resilient. This study provided valuable data on the latest research trends and indicators for designing sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects which will assist future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare the sustainability dimensions reported on the websites of public and private universities in Ghana, an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach: The universities in Ghana were categorized under public and private universities. The top five under each category were chosen (by Edu Rank's ratings), and data was gathered from the websites of the sampled universities. Data analysis was conducted using Global Reporting Initiative (GRI-G4) framework and sustainability tools for campus assessment. Findings were then analyzed through stakeholder theory's lens and organizational characteristics such as ownership, students' acceptance ratios, performance, size and age. Findings: This study's results show that the key aspects of sustainability disclosed on the websites of the sampled private and public universities in Ghana are more of economic and campus sustainability assessment indicators than the social and environmental dimensions. Contrary to the popular notion that private sector organizations do more sustainability reporting than those in the public sector, in the case of Ghana, the sampled public universities reported more than the privately owned universities. This study attributes the extent and variations of sustainability reporting among the public and private Ghanaian universities to the universities' characteristics such as students' acceptance ratios, performance, size, ownership and age. Practical implications: The findings from this study indicate that in improving the value of sustainability reporting, stakeholders of the educational sector in emerging economies should encourage universities to adopt the GRI-G4 framework and campus sustainability assessment indicators in disclosing their sustainability initiatives. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this paper is the first study to compare the extent and variations in sustainability reporting between public and private universities in an emerging economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty years ago, Wall published "Exergy Ecology Democracy - Concepts of a vital society or a proposal for an exergy tax". This paper discusses this milestone contribution by Wall. It has traced a path toward economic, environmental and societal sustainability and proposed exergy as a robust indicator for measuring progress. This paper is divided into two parts. The first focuses on better understanding Wall's role in today's scenario. This second part presents different methods that allow using exergy to assess the sustainability of economic, industrial and societal processes. First, it presents an example showing the inadequacy of domestic material consumption (DMC) in evaluating the sustainability of import-export operations. Second, how exergy can apply to increase the significance of DMC has been discussed. A new indicator that allows coupling with DMC has been defined to improve the information delivered by DMC and make it a more effective sustainability indicator. Third, some ecological indicators are discussed. The use of exergy to integrate DMC and assess lifecycle and polluting emissions into the environment has been discussed. Finally, an effective exergy tax proposal is presented as an instrument for stimulating an effective transitionward sustainability of consumption and people's habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of economic growth targets is a universal measure employed by worldwide governments for macroeconomic regulation. This paper aims to empirically investigate the impact of economic growth targets set by governments of prefecture-level cities on the environmental regulation intensity. We extracted panel data on annual economic growth targets and environmental regulation indicators from the government work reports (2009–2016) of 284 China's prefecture-level cities. The study concludes that an increase in economic growth target significantly weakens the intensity of environmental regulation. The conclusion still holds true after robustness tests, including changing measurement variables, regression samples, and conducting endogenous tests. The underlying reason for the inhibitory effect may be that in order to achieve economic growth targets, local governments prefer less stringent environmental regulations. They subsequently expand outputs in the short term by increasing the proportion of secondary industry in GDP, land transfer area, and fixed asset investment. Further research in this paper also finds that only cities with low economic development levels and low openness to the outside world experience the negative effect of a local government's annual economic growth target on environmental regulation intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, G20 has been recognised as a catalyst in building environmentally sustainable growth and promoting energy transitions towards more flexible, transparent and cleaner energy systems through sustainability reporting practices. Sustainability reporting practices, an umbrella of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting practices review a specific set of criteria that evaluate a business on how effectively implements ESG projects and the impacts its factors have had on the business towards sustainable growth. By burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases, the power sector companies are more directly contributing to the global energy transition. For the net-zero transition, it is crucial to concentrate on sustainability and incorporate ESG reporting practices. The purpose of this study is to analyse the reporting practices of ESG indicators by 10 listed power sector companies; that have high market capitalisation operated in India. Sustainability, ESG and annual reports of selected companies are taken for five years spreading from the year 2017-2018 to 2021-2022. The presence of ESG indicators in power sectors is measured by Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report framework issued by SEBI guidelines. Descriptive cum exploratory research methods are used to analyse the ESG indicators in reporting practices of power sector companies. The finding of the analysis shows that all the sample power sector companies are disclosing ESG indicators and National Voluntary Guidelines in their sustainability reporting. The paper found that all the sample companies are disclosing the social indicators, more than the environmental and governance indicators in the sustainability report by top 10 power sector companies listed in NSE. Irrespective of ownership of companies, discloser of sustainable reports remains persistent over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this study is sustainable development accounting, particularly its role in shaping environmental and social indicators of enterprises. The paper pays special attention to the issue of insufficient integration of environmental and social aspects into conventional financial accounting. It identifies the need to devise methodologies that include social and ecological indicators in financial reporting, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of enterprise activities on society and the environment. The results demonstrate that the implementation of sustainable development accounting allows for a comprehensive assessment of the financial, social, and environmental impact of the enterprise. Analysis of sources proves that enterprises that use this approach have better opportunities for risk forecasting and resource management, which increases their competitiveness and responsibility to society. The interpretation of the results emphasizes that the success of sustainable development accounting is conditioned by the ability to integrate comprehensive data about the impact of enterprise activities on the environment and society into the general management system. Such integration allows enterprises not only to meet regulatory requirements but also to enhance their overall value and image. The features and distinctive characteristics of the results are that they enable companies to conduct more transparent and responsible business. The implementation of sustainable development accounting systems gives enterprises the ability not only to reduce the negative impact on the environment but also to effectively engage resources to address social issues. The domain of practical application of the results extends to corporate governance, socially responsible business, investment analysis, and environmental assessment. It includes internal and external regulation, stakeholder requirements, and strategic planning at enterprises [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The sustainable urban design of residential neighborhoods plays an important role in the efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals and alleviate the effects of climate change. This paper aims to develop a model for the sustainable urban design of residential neighborhoods, taking into account the local condition in Palestinian territories. This model is built on various international neighborhood sustainability assessment (NSA) tools, based on the review of existing assessment tools, to study the sustainability status of Palestinian neighborhoods, and to develop a sustainable indicator model for local sustainable neighborhood assessment. Computer tools like Urbano and GIS tools as well as qualitative assessment methods are used. Results from the case study showed that the satisfaction of the preferred location indicator was not sufficient to maintain its sustainability. The assessment of measured indicators found that weaknesses were almost double the count of the satisfactory indicator. Moreover, some indicators from the (NSA) tools were partially or completely met, and some gaps appeared because of the lack of strengths in the selected indicators of the international tools when used for local social, ecological and governmental aspects, and there are issues in the inclusion of economic and environmental elements in current urban configurations. The proposed local model offers valuable insights for local governments, municipalities, and construction developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first integrated techno-economic and life cycle assessment of microemulsion systems being applied for rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of long-chain alkenes at industrial scale. The case study describes a projected 150 kt/a production of tridecanal (US gulf coast, 2019). The industrial success of the hydroformylation of short-chain alkenes lies in the continuous recycling of the rhodium-containing water phase. Microemulsion systems can be applied to transfer this concept to long-chain alkenes by overcoming the miscibility gap between the aqueous catalyst phase and the unipolar alkene phase and, moreover, by generating a temperature-induced multi-phase system enabling the immobilization of the catalyst and its continuous recycling, as demonstrated in miniplant operations with dodecene and rhodium/SulfoXantPhos. Customizable simulation models have been developed for scale-up and assessment of the miniplant data. Surprisingly, a profitability-driven sensitivity study indicates a base case optimum at low residence time with low alkene conversion leading to large throughput streams and high raw material purge rates. The comparison to the industrial cobalt-based benchmark system shows an economic advantage regarding net present value (Rh: 68 M$; Co: 62 M$), while about half of the environmental indicators are in favor or equivalent. In a best-case scenario considering zero leaching of expensive rhodium the net present value increases by almost 40% accompanied by a shift to overall lower environmental impacts than the benchmark. In conclusion, the investigated miniplant data suggest microemulsion systems to be competitive when applied in continuous processes at a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an innovative financial instrument, green credit is a new driving force for environmental governance. To study the impact of green credit on environmental quality, this paper uses the provincial panel data from 2007 to 2020 to construct a panel model for analysis based on the comprehensive environmental quality index. At the same time, it discusses the mechanism and regional heterogeneity of green credit affecting environmental quality. The results show that green credit significantly improves the overall quality of the environment, which has a significant effect on air quality and green quality but has no significant impact on water quality and soil quality. Green credit improves environmental quality by improving green technology innovation and promoting industrial structure upgrading. At the same time, there is obvious heterogeneity in the environmental effect of green credit. Among them, the environmental quality improvement effect of the eastern region and the carbon emission pilot area is more evident than that of the central and western regions and the non-carbon emission pilot area. This paper has important implications for promoting the development of green credit and giving full play to the environmental effects of green credit to achieve sustainable goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing exchange of goods by sea is contributing significantly to pollution in port areas. Although several methods have been developed to assess the environmental performance of ports, most of them have shortcomings including a qualitative-only approach and self-assessment of environmental performance. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a different approach based on quantitative measurements obtained through measurements at ports. In this paper we present the Port Environmental Index (PEI), a quantitative composite index of port environmental performance driven by IoT. The index allows for environmental measurements to be collected in real time or close to real time through sensors providing an assessment of a port's environmental performance in real time. In addition, since the methodology for creating the index is standardised, the index makes it possible to compare different ports and rank them in terms of their environmental performance. As a proof of concept (PoC) this paper also describes the application of the index to the port of Thessaloniki (Greece). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research concerning the future of sound in towns and cities is focused on two main issues: studies are conducted separately on the comfort, i.e., assessment of visual scenery and sound levels in a cityscape and separately, on the health protection issues. The policy of the acoustic environment control with regard to the health of its inhabitants is traditionally connected with measurements of noise levels presented with the help of the coefficients Lden and Lnight noise indicators, while the models based on tranquillity rating (TR) with the help of the coefficients LAmax, LAmin, LAeq, LA10. None of these coefficients refers to the soundscape. In this paper, we present a justification of the necessity to enter into discussion on the need to combine these research areas. The authorities managing towns and cities of the future should be provided with tools enabling them to assess modernisation projects from the point of view of both health and comfort of inhabitants. We present our ideas treating them as an invitation to a scientific discourse, in the form of analysis of actual projects concerning modification of existing cityscapes. The modifications are aimed at returning some unfavourably developed spaces to the inhabitants. When analysing the changes proposed in the projects, we take into account two models of the revitalised area quality assessment. The first model is used to assess the effect of noise on health. The second model, based on the indicator known as the TR, serves simultaneous assessment of an area from both visual and acoustical aspects. The models used contemporarily by scientists show multiple flaws, therefore, for the TR indicator we propose a modification taking the sound structure into account. The modification embodies the idea of masking unpleasant sounds with friendly ones. The changes to the model are presented, in this paper, in the context of two projects which were worked out in the framework of 12th edition of the intercollegiate workshop cycle The New Cityscapes. In the course of each workshop of the cycle, we combined art, science, and technology in order to seek solutions creating a better future. In view of the importance of this issue and the need to introduce a certain level of universalism, the authors offer an invitation to join a discussion on the future of sound in urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we take the Yangtze River Economic Belt as the study area and analyze three types of environmental regulation tools, namely, command-and-control (CAC), market-incentivized (MI) and public-type (PT). We apply the threshold effect to test the impact of each of these tools on regional economic growth and analyze the relationships between the tools and environmental regulation. The entropy method is used to calculate the comprehensive environmental pollution index of each province and city in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Using Stata 14.0 measurement software and based on provincial data with respect to the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2014 to 2021, a panel threshold model is used to test the impact of the three types of environmental regulation tools on regional economic growth and analyze the relationship between environmental regulation and regional economic growth. It is found that the relationship between environmental regulation and economic growth is non-linear. There is no significant relationship between CAC environmental regulation and regional economic growth; there is a single threshold effect between market-incentive environmental regulation and public participation environmental regulation on the economic growth of the Yangtze River economic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental performance indicators are key to monitoring the sustainability of production processes. In the salmon industry, there is a growing concern about the excess of nutrients that have accumulated at the bottom of marine ecosystems and the negative externalities of those nutrients on the environment. In this paper, we measure environmental performance in the salmon industry in Chile by applying a set of data envelopment analysis (DEA) models. In these models, we incorporate pollutants as undesired outputs of the production process. Our data start in the years of the ISA virus outbreak and continue into the subsequent years of recovery in which stricter sanitary norms were implemented. All the models suggest a negative trend in both average technical and environmental efficiencies during the ISA virus outbreak and a subsequent increase in efficiency scores in the following years. A gap can be observed between environmental and technical efficiency measures, a gap that widened during the first years of the regulatory change and decreased at the end of the period. We argue that these findings offer preliminary evidence that environmental performance improved because of the new regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to establish the optimal price of low-carbon products and set the optimal target carbon emissions in the production cycle so as to maximize profits, this paper proposes the optimal pricing model of environmental quality index futures from the perspective of green finance. This paper mainly studies the optimal pricing and carbon emission strategy of low-carbon products of a single enterprise under the carbon trading system based on the quota system. When enterprises join the carbon trading system, how to optimally determine their target carbon emissions in the production cycle and the optimal price of their low-carbon products in order to maximize their own profits, based on the carbon emission quotas freely allocated by the government in the face of exogenous carbon trading prices and different consumer preferences for low-carbon products in the market, is discussed in detail. The experimental results show that the low marginal cost of emission reduction will urge enterprises to implement low-emission strategies as much as possible, and the marginal cost of a specific size will enable enterprises to implement low-carbon policies with low emissions, and the optimal emissions will decline with the increase of carbon prices. However, from the perspective of 50–300 carbon trading prices, the profits generated are less than those of the minimum emission strategy, and the difference between the two is generally one order of magnitude. Therefore, if the internal conditions permit and the external carbon trading price is reasonable, enterprises should reduce carbon emissions as much as possible. The properties obtained from the model analysis and the numerical conclusions given in the example part reflect the relationship between the enterprise product pricing, the marginal cost of emission reduction, and the target emission decision-making and draw some valuable information for the enterprise and the government decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research conducts an analysis of the sustainability of urban agriculture in Shanghai over the period 2010 to 2020, employing the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) concept as a framework to evaluate sustainability across economic, environmental, and social dimensions through the formulation and application of a comprehensive indicator system. Utilizing the Delphi method alongside the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for determining indicators and their respective weights, this study adopts a methodologically rigorous approach to analysis. The findings reveal an overall enhancement in agricultural sustainability, albeit accompanied by a decline in economic sustainability. Notably, environmental sustainability emerged as a paramount concern, underscoring the essentiality of incorporating environmental indicators within urban agricultural initiatives. The paper addresses significant challenges such as elevated land prices, demographic shifts, and the imperative for more stringent environmental regulations. It advocates for a multidimensional strategy integrating advanced agricultural technologies and cross-sectoral partnerships to bolster sustainability. Furthermore, the study accentuates the necessity of achieving equilibrium among economic feasibility, environmental stewardship, and social equity to pursue sustainable urban agriculture in Shanghai. Additionally, it highlights the critical role of strategic agricultural policy formulation in fostering sectoral resilience and ensuring enduring sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges of our time is monitoring the rapid environmental changes taking place worldwide at both local and global scales. This requires easy-to-use and ready-to-implement tools and services to monitor and quantify aspects of bio- and geodiversity change and the impact of land use intensification using freely available and global remotely sensed data, and to derive remotely sensed indicators. Currently, there are no services for quantifying both raster- and vector-based indicators in a "compact tool". Therefore, the main innovation of ESIS/Imalys is having a remote sensing (RS) tool that allows for RS data processing, data management, and continuous and discrete quantification and derivation of RS indicators in one tool. With the ESIS/Imalys project (Ecosystem Integrity Remote Sensing—Modelling and Service Tool), we try to present environmental indicators on a clearly defined and reproducible basis. The Imalys software library generates the RS indicators and remote sensing products defined for ESIS. This paper provides an overview of the functionality of the Imalys software library. An overview of the technical background of the implementation of the Imalys library, data formats and the user interfaces is given. Examples of RS-based indicators derived using the Imalys tool at pixel level and at zone level (vector level) are presented. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of the Imalys tool are discussed in detail in order to better assess the value of Imalys for users and developers. The applicability of the indicators will be demonstrated through three ecological applications, namely: (1) monitoring landscape diversity, (2) monitoring landscape structure and landscape fragmentation, and (3) monitoring land use intensity and its impact on ecosystem functions. Despite the integration of large amounts of data, Imalys can run on any PC, as the processing and derivation of indicators has been greatly optimised. The Imalys source code is freely available and is hosted and maintained under an open source license. Complete documentation of all methods, functions and derived indicators can be found in the freely available Imalys manual. The user-friendliness of Imalys, despite the integration of a large amount of RS data, makes it another important tool for ecological research, modelling and application for the monitoring and derivation of ecosystem indicators from local to global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]