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The South African bioeconomy strategy did not clearly articulate the measurement framework to monitor the implementation of the strategy. This paper provides an analysis of bioeconomy patents, the most prolific organizations and citations at the EPO and USPTO for South Africa, BRICS, Egypt and Nigeria during the Ten-Year Innovation Plan 2008–2018. The terms 'biotechnology', 'medical technology', 'pharmaceuticals' and 'selected environment-related technologies' were used to search for patents. The OECD patents by technology, the EPO PATSTAT and the USPTO PatFT databases were used to map patents and citations. The results show that South Africa ranked last in the BRICS group but produced a higher number of patents than Egypt and Nigeria. The number of patents generally decreased for the selected countries except for China. The total citations for the selected countries was generally inconsistent. The important innovators for South Africa in the bioeconomy are mainly universities and public research institutions. A new fiscal approach to encourage knowledge application in bioeconomy in South Africa is required. Incentives from government that encourage collaboration between research institutions and industry to direct research with industry application are required. The study contributes to the development of metrics to monitor the bioeconomy in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A region-adaptive hierarchical framework for realizing Sustainable Development Goal 7.3 is proposed in this paper, using Nigeria as a case study for strategy adoption and adaptation. In 2013, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rolled out strategic plans to phase out incandescent lamps by 2020, as a critical component essential to realizing the SDG 7 by 2030. However, at the expiration of the 2020 deadline, this ambition has not materialized. Current regulatory indicators for sustainable energy shared by the World Bank and the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicated poor-to-average performances among member states, which suggests the need to adopt ingenious strategies to increase electricity access and accelerate energy efficiency by 2030. In this paper, we systematically reviewed literatures on past campaigns in ECOWAS member states and inferentially call for a revisit of the campaign to phase out incandescent bulbs as a critical component for achieving energy efficiency. The paper also pinpoints some domain factors that are militating against the realization of SDG 7 in Nigeria. We proposed an all-inclusive top-down hierarchical framework which involve all relevant stakeholders (national, state and local governments, delineated wards in local governments, street representatives and household heads), civil society organizations, and educational institutions, for convergence, efficient collaboration, synergy and achievement of goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global nature of innovation has led to the emergence of Global Innovation Networks (GINs) and Global Value Chains (GVCs), facilitating knowledge exchange and economic activities across borders. GVCs offer platforms for accessing external knowledge and fostering innovation. They have evolved through three eras of innovation models: the Linear and Closed Model (LCM), the Interactive and Closed Model (ICM), and the Interactive and Open Model (IOM). The IOM emphasizes open innovation principles, intersecting with GINs and GVCs. Lessons from East Asian and Latin American countries highlight strategic practices for GVC integration, focusing on export-oriented industrialization, education, technology policies, infrastructure, and SME support. In Africa, GVC engagement spans agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors, driving economic growth, job creation, and technological advancements. To advance GVC participation in Africa, a research agenda, policy directions, and action plans are proposed. The research agenda emphasizes GVC governance, value addition, sustainability, innovation, and regional integration. Policy directions focus on infrastructure development, trade facilitation, SME support, human capital development, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth. African businesses are encouraged to conduct value chain mapping, form strategic partnerships, embrace technology, ensure quality assurance, invest in capacity building, and diversify markets to leverage the potential of GVCs for economic transformation and global competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomena of globalization and fragmentation of production drive countries to face a double challenge of catching up: economic upgrading coupled with improvement in living standards. Meanwhile, insertion and upgrading within global value chains (GVCs) deeply affect national economies in multiple ways. In this paper, we explore the research agenda on the distributional outcomes of the integration of countries into GVCs, with special attention paid to developing countries. A critical review of both the existing literature on the relationship between economic and social upgrading and the methodological approaches to GVC integration and their distributional outcomes are undertaken, in order to improve understanding and to help orient policy strategies. We highlight the relevance of institutions as well as the role of governments and MNE initiatives to ensure that the achievement of sustainable economic gains are translated into social benefits. This can be attained by the reinforcement of welfare and labour institutions, the strengthening of innovation systems, and support for and densification of local chains. There is a pressing need for further research on this topic founded on accurate knowledge of metrics and indicators for analyzing the insertion of countries into GVCs as well as their distributive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the effect of research and development (R&D) expenditure and government effectiveness on economic growth. By focusing on R&D expenditure as a measure of innovation, government effectiveness as a measure of governance and GDP as a measure of economic growth, we examined the effect of R&D and government effectiveness on GDP in selected African countries. Four countries were chosen due to the availability of their data from 2000 to 2016. Linear regression and correlated panels corrected standard errors (PCSEs) regression models were used to analyze the data. The result showed that both R&D and governance are important factors in predicting economic growth in Africa. Therefore, only innovation through increasing R&D expenditure and good governance can sufficiently drive sustainable economic growth and development in Africa. Thus, African countries need to strengthen and build their research and development capacity while ensuring the effectiveness of their government to achieve sustainable economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective promotion or utilization of the ingenuity from African indigenous knowledge and innovation (AIK&I) has great potential for reducing some of Africa's interrelated development challenges listed to be addressed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unfortunately, the concept of 'sustainable development' as construed in the SDGs does not seem to take into consideration the indigenous perspective to sustainable attainment of the listed goals in its agenda. This makes sustainability difficult. AIK&I, in spite of its immense value in ensuring sustainable development, its practice is faced with varied challenges especially in Africa. This paper, using exploratory, descriptive and historical method of analysis, aims to showcase some documented success story of AIK&I practices in strategic sectors across selected African countries' economies, specifically their utility and significance in resources management, conservation, among others for sustainable development. This is with a view to showing its capacity for driving sustainable development and disabusing the widely held view and impression that Africans have not made any significant contribution to knowledge, history and civilization. It is also to provoke academic discourse and research on the best way to make IK practices more scientific and value free. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty alleviation has been positioned high on the international development agenda following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000. African countries initiated various missions to establish sustained economic growth by increasing productivity with an ultimate goal of poverty reduction. The significance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in poverty reduction and employment generation is widely acknowledged. Despite the high failure rate amongst SMEs, particularly in the African context, some are striving with excellent results and are demonstrating signs of growth, innovation and sustainability. This paper explores the development of SMEs as a strategic measure for job creation in sub-Saharan Africa. It examines the role of SMEs in achieving sustainable employment in Africa. This study will benefit governments in Africa, getting them to focus on the development of the SMEs, and guiding them on how best to integrate SME development to achieve poverty alleviation. The recommendations proposed in this study may be helpful in policy formulation, business operation and regulatory practice for sustainable growth and development in the sub-Saharan African context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa has rich energy resources but continues to remain an energy poor continent. The industrialization potential of the continent and its rapidly growing population have caused a sharp increase in demand for electricity. South Africa and Nigeria are the biggest economies in Africa with large appetites for energy. South Africa, using its vastly developed and industrial economy, produces about 50 GWe of electricity, the highest of any African country. In contrast, Nigeria produces far less for a population four times the size of its African economic rival, South Africa. Without solving the energy deficit, neither economic growth nor sustainable development and improvement of citizens' welfare will be possible. An effective way to solve the energy shortage may be the introduction of nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is not only able to overcome the electricity deficit in African countries, but can also contribute to a soft transition from environmentally polluting fossil-fuelled power plants to carbon-free technologies. However, for various reasons, there is strong opposition to nuclear energy development in these countries. This paper seeks to answer the question of whether the construction of nuclear power plants in Africa is the optimal solution to the continent's acute energy deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development lies at the heart of sustainable entrepreneurship. In the context of this view, the current paper explores the linkages among sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Since Gujarat ranks among the five top Indian states in terms of renewable energy (RE) potential, we studied this sector using a case study approach. The study explores factors that affects the shift from conventional to sustainable entrepreneurship. These factors include major opportunities, as well as challenges for RE entrepreneurs. The findings suggest that RE entrepreneurs are driven by a mix of economic, personal commitment for the environment and social concerns. Institutional support in the form of skill development programmes, subsidies and easing entry level barriers to RE serve as opportunities for entrepreneurs. Technological expertise is another enabler for RE entrepreneurship. Major challenges identified in this study include inadequate access to formal and institutional finance, especially for start-ups, bureaucratic obstacles, limited number of government-accredited certification labs, and inconsistency in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) guidelines. Knowledge barriers in the form of lack of information regarding usage, maintenance and utility of solar technologies are also challenges for this sector. Technological risks related to the adoption of RE technologies also puts them at a cost disadvantage in comparison to conventional technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of patterns of university interaction for innovation that engenders inclusive development in Nigeria. Specifically, it explains innovative solutions for women empowerment that occurred through interaction between the University of Ibadan and the Ile-Ogbo community and its implication for sustainable development goals. It is a case of innovation and skills upgrading aimed at improving the livelihood conditions of women in a semi-urban marginalized community. The results demonstrate that interactions of the sampled respondents generated three types of innovation: process, products and marketing innovations, which promote livelihood of the marginalized women. It also identified a well-defined pathway that connects innovation to empowerment and how marginalized women can improve and control their earnings. The study concludes that interactions at the community level, that addressed livelihood problems of a typical marginalized community in an informal set up, can help in achieving sustainable development goals, especially that of women empowerment in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the South African handicraft sector, there is scarcely any significant research on the development of designs and product innovation. Extensive work has not been carried out by the producers to re-orient designs, colours and pattern of the product produced to suit the international standards. This study investigated the role of innovative design towards the sustainable development of handicraft industries through a case study of the Western Cape province of South Africa. The research focuses on the possibility of craft design for sustainable development of the handicraft products to aid in the economic development of the local community. The paper present results from a structured interview with producers, enablers, and buyers of handicraft products in the Western Cape province. The conclusion of the paper presents key findings from the structured interviews. These consist of the interventions for craft design for sustainable development and the handicraft product that has the highest potential for future development. Recommendations are provided for design approaches to the handicraft sector's sustainable development, i.e. reproduction, modification and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emission scenarios are used as key inputs to the sustainability and built environment strategies and policies of many developed countries. Decisions and direction in these are based on carbon emission models which show the optimum mix of interventions required to achieve carbon emission reductions or stabilization. Developing countries and countries in Africa are now under increasing pressure to adopt carbon emission criteria as the key focus of their built environment policies and strategies. This paper argues against this. It suggests that focusing on carbon emissions is likely to result in limited resources and timeframes being exhausted trying to achieve reductions and valuable opportunities to build long term sustainable solutions will be lost. It also argues that increasingly scarce resources, infrastructure backlogs, the lifespan of infrastructure and buildings (50+ years) and the limited timeframes for addressing climate change mean that African countries cannot address carbon emission reductions first, and then address sustainability later; they need to address both at once. This paper also argues that while reducing carbon emissions may benefit companies involved in renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, it does not lead to sustainability. Sustainability is complex and requires the achievement of minimum quality of life standards as well as a balance between environmental and human systems. Carbon emission reduction technologies, by themselves, will not achieve this. This paper draws on a definition of sustainability developed by the World Wildlife Fund to show how a sustainable development approach can address carbon emissions while building more sustainable systems. It describes the Built Environment Sustainability Tool (BEST) developed by the author in 2011 and shows how this can be used to assess built environments and identify appropriate mixes of interventions to improve the sustainability performance of built environments. It also outlines interventions that can be used to support the development of more sustainable African built environments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In South Africa and around the world, the development of sustainable tourism indicators has been advocated by many authors and has resulted in a number of indicators. Indicators are distinguished by factors such as social, environmental as well as economic. South Africa has contributed to the concept of sustainability through its 1996 Tourism White Paper and has participate in major sustainable events involving many great role-players in the field of sustainability. This study aims to determine the main indicators for the development of sustainable adventure tourism and whether respondents are willing to utilize these indicators, as well as to examine whether respondents have used these indicators before. Research was conducted at Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga, South Africa involving a total of 568 respondents. Descriptive statistics and factor analyses (Empirical Kaiser Criterion) were applied to determine which of the factors are valued by participants. In general, the respondents perceived the indicators positively. The study contributes towards the development of sustainable adventure tourism destinations through the utilization of indicators that can make a significant contribution towards poverty alleviation by maximizing social and economic benefits for local communities, enhancing cultural heritage and reducing any negative impacts on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discourse on the nature of the developmental state and industrial policy options for Africa has become central to debates on how to promote overall growth and prosperity in the continent. This article poses a fundamental question on the nature of the developmental state for Africa: should the developmental state be focused on applying policy learnings from other successful experiences of economic catch-up or should it be focused on identifying and addressing the challenges faced by African countries in particular in the current context? Arguing for the latter and cautioning against seeking to replicating successful experiences without a clear identification of local challenges to development, the article uses data from 1970–2012 to highlight the most pressing developmental concerns for sub-Saharan Africa. The paper then presents some thoughts on the nature, scope and form that the African developmental state can take. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ethical theory and technology practice raise two primary questions. First, what are the ethical principles driving sustainable appropriate technology? Second, what are the viable applications of those principles with respect to alternative appropriate technologies? The hypothesis of this study is that the earth is experiencing the current and sixth mass extinction. Our methodology is first to review ethical principles that address this problem and then to examine their consequences in the field of renewable energy technologies. A primary engine driving mass extinction is current modes of energy production. Unless energy is readily and cheaply available, humans will struggle to form a single economic community that can guarantee the universal rights embodied in the United Nations Declarations of Universal Human Rights. Unfortunately, Micro-Appropriate Technology (AT) applications cannot presently replace the current carbon-based global energy system. This paper analyzes the ethical potential of Macro Photo-Voltaic and Concentrating Solar Power AT systems. Our conclusion argues that the world's collective nations must undertake a global solar “Manhattan Project” to arrest the sixth mass extinction and overcome the misery of billions in the Global South through ethical sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For centuries resource economists have persistently debated and discussed the potential of the green economy and how it should be protected and used sustainably. Most studies to date on the economic value of natural resources have thus concentrated on the green economy and how countries could harness its resources to achieve growth and development. However, perhaps the blue economy (i.e., ocean resources) could also help achieve growth and development. Studies on the blue economy are concept notes, reports and literature reviews on the evolving definition of the concept. Therefore, we examine the blue economy in the context of marine communities' socioeconomic characteristics that could lead to changing patterns in the use of ocean resources. Using household survey data (Ghana Living Standard Survey – GLSS 7) and regression analysis, we investigate the socioeconomic lives and welfare of marine communities amidst blue economy principles. We found that most marine households enjoy a reasonably high standard of living, which bodes well for blue economy principles as livelihood diversification could reduce pressure on fishing as the only job in these communities. However, we also found that many rural coastal communities have more appalling socioeconomic living conditions than their urban counterparts, with poor amenities (like toilet facilities and waste disposal). These are potential threats to the achievement of a blue economy. Thus, policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has gained attention across the globe within the last 10 years and has taken centre stage in the financial technology sector. Even though innovation that applies to the construction industry is sometimes different from what is obtainable in other sectors, they share the same unique features. Therefore, this makes blockchain technology relevant to the built environment. This study aims to assess the research studies carried out on blockchain technology in the built environment domain in a bid to draw knowledge from the present focus of these studies while identifying research gaps for future studies. To achieve this, a scientometric review was carried out, and SCOPUS database was searched for studies related to blockchain technology in the built environment. The retrieved documents showed the first publication on this study area was made in 2017. Hence, this study covered research publications from 2017 to 2021. The findings revealed that most of these studies are not experimental as they only rely on literature from other sectors to draw conclusions for the built environment. The study further revealed that most of the publications in this domain are from the USA, Australia, India and the United Kingdom with only two publications from the African continent. This shows a research gap that can be explored from the African perspective. From the cluster analysis, research in this domain has focused primarily on blockchain technology components and only a few practical fields of its application. It was thus recommended that experimental and case study research should be carried out on its application in asset management and transfer, smart city development, land use, data/information management, cyber-physical systems, among others. Practically, the study highlighted blockchain technology usefulness in promoting social and economic sustainability of the built environment through its different applicabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though adversely impacted by the recent COVID-19 crisis, households' consumption of food and non-food items are essential components of well-being worldwide. Against this background, the present analysis tests human capital theory predictions by assessing the resilience effect of formal education vis- a-vis food and financial insecurity in Burkina Faso. This is achieved using data on 10,411 households, extracted from the latest available wave of the Burkina Faso's National Survey on Households Living Conditions, along with geospatial meta-data and semi-parametric modelling techniques. The findings reveal that relaxing the linearity and independence assumptions provides a more robust representation of the systemic and inter-dependent relationship that exists between education, food and monetary security. In fact, education is found to increase the joint likelihood of food and monetary security in the country. Specifically, compared to households headed by individuals with no education, those headed by primary, secondary or higher educated individuals are 19.8%, 49.7% and 1.189 times, respectively, more likely to experience food security, and 40.1%, 77% and 1.723 times, respectively, more likely to come out of poverty. Therefore, easing access to formal education ought to be part of the solution mix sitting squarely at the poverty/food insecurity nexus, for a sustainable future beyond the pandemic. This is indeed supported by the high positive correlation of 0.927 between the incidence of food and monetary security, which suggests that coordinated efforts in those sectors will have much greater development's returns than isolated initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is an important science for the sustainable development of any country. Workplace innovation brings radical change in the workers’ environment, thereby enhancing the profitability of companies. However, most research and discussion of innovations are focussed on product development and/or process improvement, disregarding workplace and service innovation. Hence, this study aims to identify gaps that exist in previous studies to recommend further research areas related to workplace innovation influences on Occupational Safety and Health(OSH) interventions. The research was carried out through extensive literature reviews. It is evident that the influence of workplace innovation has been neglected in many studies despite the significance for workplace safety and health. Findings from the literature review revealed that workplace innovation has not been properly differentiated from new product development innovation and there are few cases of research carried out on the workplace innovation in particular. Thus, this research finding identified gaps in workplace innovation (non-technical innovation) such as workplace organisation, workplace layout, human resource management, top management changes, workers’ participation, policy and training. Hence, the workplace innovation influence on OSH indicates further research that can be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Appropriate Technology (AT) implementation should foster community empowerment and sustainability. Successful implementation requires community engagement throughout - technology conceptualization, development, implementation, assessment and impact evaluation. Development professionals should be sensitive to socio-cultural context and respect local knowledge, part of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). IKS developed prior to modern scientific knowledge systems (MSKS), which followed colonization and “western” education. IKS are diverse, spanning ancient India, China, and the African continent. IKS encompass agriculture, food processing and preservation, water, health, and other aspects of life. IKS, context-specific intellectual resources, must be integrated into AT identification and evaluation, and directly engage the community. We examine selected IKS for agriculture, food processing and water, with examples from Sudan and India, where IKS has contributed to sustainable development. For the most part, MSKS have not exploited IKS for rural development. However, many ATs have roots in IKS, the incorporation of which has resulted in implementation success. IKS remain a largely untapped intellectual resource. Exploitation of IKS can provide some needed “innovation” for AT. To enhance sustainability of AT, existing IKS must be validated and integrated into AT. This will validate local community practices, provide context-specific development intervention loci, and result in greater probability of AT success. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Given that locally developed innovation technology can foster sustainable growth and development, this study assessed the factors that underpinned the choice of improved biomass stoves among rural households in Kwara South, Nigeria. The study involved the use of primary and secondary data sources. The primary data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire. A three-stage random sampling technique was used for the selection of one hundred and fifty (150) household respondents which represent the sample size used in this study. The secondary data were collected from FAO Forestry Department report. Descriptive statistic and a five-point Likert type scale were used for the data analysis. The results revealed that easiness to purchase fuel and the ability of the fuel to cook quickly were the major factors underlying the choice of cooking stove and fuel used among rural households in the study area. The result also revealed that the clay charcoal stove consumed 17.86MJ/meal while clay lining metal charcoal stove and the local metal charcoal stove consumed 22.48MJ and 36.96MJ per meal, respectively. Improving access to and cost implications of the biomass fuel and stove can enhance the adoption of improved biomass stoves and this will help in sustainable use of biomass energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most developing countries are devising strategies to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, the effect of FDI on sustainable economic development remains debatable, with very little known on its health effects. Using data from 1980 to 2018 on 43 African countries, this study therefore, investigates the effect of FDI on health outcomes (life expectancy and the death rate) by employing the panel fixed effects estimator. The study finds that, FDI improves health outcomes even after robustness checks using different estimator and specification. The implication is that, efforts toward attracting more FDI into Africa as well as making optimum use of the advantages that accompany FDI, should be deepened given its health enhancing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of the Nigerian economy – compared to other developed country – is poor and there is an urgent need to improve the situation to guarantee sustainable development. Previous studies have shown that accelerators are viable options, therefore this research studied the factors that affect the performance of accelerators in Silicon Valley. The methodology adopted is a quantitative approach that synthesized previous studies – while providing empirical evidence through a case analysis of accelerators in Silicon Valley. In the course of this study, a theory called the 'Sustainable Startup Growth' theory was developed and explored. This theory examined the hypothesis that the quality of services offered by accelerators is more important than the number of startups accelerated, and the sectoral concentration of accelerators is an important factor in its performance. Herein, secondary data were collected and analyzed using the statistical method known as the Multiple Regression Analysis. The results obtained show that the quality of service offered by accelerators was more important than the number of accelerators and their area of specialization was important in attracting venture capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology, born as a tool to support Bitcoins (the most popular and controversial cryptocurrency in the world) has set itself in a very short time as a disruptive technology able not only to revolutionize existing businesses but also to create new ones. This work illustrates the main characteristics of the blockchain and its functioning, and then focuses on the potential applications that can be implemented for developing countries. More specifically, the work, considers the case of financial inclusion in Africa, on the basis of the Global Findex 2017 data, the World Bank Survey on financial inclusion. The empirical analysis identifies the weaknesses in the current financial system in Africa and constitues the basis to discuss potential blockchain solutions to reduce the current level of financial exclusion and pursue sustainable development for African countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Smart Community Development Framework (SCDF) is a methodological framework that selectively identifies and optimizes sustainable development approaches such as permaculture, sustainable livelihood approaches, community-based social marketing, environmental impact assessments and project management to effectively design and introduce clean social technologies for and with vulnerable communities. The framework was created and evaluated with the goal of ensuring community-empowered decision-making that will result in permanent and sustainable improvements to community design, infrastructure, and technology. The SCDF model is a workflow model that supports communities in establishing their vulnerability level and identifying problems; selecting targeted actions; determining resource availability and major obstacles; optimizing specific appropriate technologies and social programmes to address problems; assessing environment impact and implementation; analyzing empowerment; and developing power transfer guidelines. Local leaders, engineers, project managers and policymakers can use the SCDF model to collaborate in the formulation of effective action plans worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water control, affordable energy generation and environmental protection are factors necessary to create value through exploiting the enormous natural resources available and to ensure the conditions for sustainable human development on the West African subcontinent. This study is very important with respect of the large number of artisanal gold mining sites, that exist in large numbers in several parts of West Africa, according to a recent report of the OECD (Sollazzo [5]), leading to ever-increasing water resource and soil contamination issues. Energy concerns are addressed in this special issue by two articles on innovative exploitation of solar resources, and, more generally, the provision of sustainable energy services using locally available resources as much as possible. [Extracted from the article]