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The purpose of this study is reducing sustainable paper recycling at Thi-Qar University by using waste reduction techniques. It can be argued with much confidence that the idea of recycling paper can be successfully implemented in an academic institution. This can be done by merging the specific waste paper baskets, pulping machine and power from a renewable source with an already established local paper making company. The methods applied in this study are making company would be able to recoup a government subsidy that pays them to recycle paper in order to offset the cost of pulped paper which is 30% more expensive than raw wood pulp. The academic institution that implements this would save money on waste disposal, and cut its carbon footprint in half, by up to 600%, per year approximately five-six tons of CO2 instead of one-ton-two tones carbon offset for simply recycling the paper. All these steps could also be applied for recycling of the large amount of waste papers generated by students an idea that encounters high costs in recycling hence being rarely implemented. This could be achieved through urged use of the same paper disposal methods already in use, where the paper collected is pulped from the student paper waste bins once a week. The results of this article are more specific yet indirect environmental benefit concerns the recycling habits of students. By providing the means for students to recycle paper at their places of study, it is hoped that they will adopt similar practices in their homes and other areas of life and show that the practice of paper recycling at Thi-Qar University has a success rate of 98.42%. Additionally, a total revenue of $3,527.98 was collected from the value of recycled paper. This can be important, as it is today's young people who will shape the future condition of the environment. If a more conscientious attitude towards recycling can be established, the cumulative environmental benefits could be very significant. On the economic side, recycling paper can potentially save academic institutions a substantial amount of money on their waste disposal. This is because paper and cardboard often make up a high percentage of the waste and these are materials which can be recycled relatively cheaply. By decreasing the volume of general waste, a decrease in waste disposal costs can be achieved. If institutions take it a step further and decide to purchase only recycled paper products, this can also help accelerate the demand for recycled paper and its long-term economic feasibility. The benefits of paper recycling in academic institutions are undoubtedly far-reaching. Not only are the environmental benefits significant, but also the potential cost savings and impact on student attitudes. Probably the most apparent benefits of paper recycling are the environmental ones. The significance of this research is recycling paper in academic institutions is not only beneficial to the environment but also has potential cost-saving implications and significant educational value for students' attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites are pivotal in Europe's evolving packaging sector, which is undergoing changes due to circular and bioeconomy initiatives, which prioritize eco‐friendly packaging. Despite paper's high recycling rates, dynamic markets challenge recycling and circularity. Innovative paper‐based composites demand flexible recyclability assessments, which impacts product development. Recyclability methods are evolving as they struggle to match the dynamic changes occurring in the packaging sector. This article outlines paper recycling and compares global lab recyclability evaluation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry plays an important role in the global economy and is inextricably linked to human life. Due to its large scale, the production process generates a large amount of wastewater, which poses a major threat to the environment. The sustainable utilization and safe treatment of pulp and paper wastewater can effectively reduce environmental pollution, improve resource utilization efficiency, protect water resources, provide economic benefits for pulp and paper enterprises, and thus promote the green and sustainable development of the pulp and paper industry. Therefore, this study discusses the pollution components of pulp and paper wastewater and their impact on the environment and human health. In this review, we aim to explore the sustainable development of pulp and paper wastewater by summarizing the characteristics of current pulp and paper wastewater, the commonly used treatment methods for pulp and paper wastewater, the application of pulp and paper wastewater recycling, and the future development direction of pulp and paper wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the implementation of the Excellence Initiative and the Excellence Strategy, German higher education institutions have been restructuring university governance, especially those selected as Universities of Excellence. This study uses a holistic and mission-related integrated governance approach to conduct a qualitative analysis of the governance transformation of German Universities of Excellence, aiming to provoke discussion on transforming governance to optimize organizational effectiveness and sustainable development of German higher education institutions. Transforming governance of German Universities of Excellence involves mission statements, strategic goals, institutional strategies, research, teaching, the third mission, internationalization, global engagement, governance relationships and structures, institutional leadership, funding, autonomy, innovation, digital transformation, quality assurance, and sustainable development, aiming to enhance accountability, performativity, transparency, openness and organizational effectiveness with efficient administrative management in alignment with institutional missions, vision, core values, and strategic goals.

In recent years, paper‐based functional materials have received extensive attention in the field of energy storage due to their advantages of rich and adjustable porous network structure and good flexibility. As an important energy storage device, paper‐based supercapacitors have important application prospects in many fields and have also received extensive attention from researchers in recent years. At present, researchers have modified and regulated paper‐based materials by different means such as structural design and material composition to enhance their electrochemical storage capacity. The development of paper‐based supercapacitors provides an important direction for the development of green and sustainable energy. Therefore, it is of great significance to summarize the relevant work of paper‐based supercapacitors for their rapid development and application. In this review, the recent research progress of paper‐based supercapacitors based on cellulose was summarized in terms of various cellulose‐based composites, preparation skills, and electrochemical performance. Finally, some opinions on the problems in the development of this field and the future development trend were proposed. It is hoped that this review can provide valuable references and ideas for the rapid development of paper‐based energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthy diets promote optimal growth and development and prevent malnutrition in all its forms, including undernutrition, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)., Objective: This background paper for the International Expert Consultation on Sustainable Healthy Diets characterizes healthy diets and their implications for food system sustainability., Methods: Three complementary approaches to defining healthy diets are compared: World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines or recommendations developed between 1996 and 2019; 2017 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) risk factor study estimates of diet-related risk-outcome associations; and analyses associating indices of whole dietary patterns with health outcomes in population studies and clinical trials., Results: World Health Organization dietary recommendations are global reference points for preventing undernutrition and reducing NCD risks; they emphasize increasing intakes of fruits, vegetables (excepting starchy root vegetables), legumes, nuts, and whole grains; limiting energy intake from free sugars and total fats; consuming unsaturated rather than saturated or trans fats; and limiting salt intake. Global Burden of Disease findings align well with WHO recommendations but include some additional risk factors such as high consumption of processed meat; this approach quantifies contributions of diet-related risks to the NCD burden. Evidence on whole dietary patterns supports WHO and GBD findings and raises concerns about potential adverse health effects of foods with high levels of industrial processing., Conclusions: Implied shifts toward plant foods and away from animal foods (excepting fish and seafood), and for changes in food production systems have direct relevance to the sustainability agenda.

Education is considered an integral element of sustainable development, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on quality education is a key enabler for all other SDGs. Therefore, research is primarily focused on the roles and responsibilities of higher education systems, and in the same direction, a novel system, method, and perspective plan in the form of a project is proposed that will facilitate the formation of a global knowledge hub, a data service provider for common people, for researchers, for the Ministry, for each institution, for UN representatives, and for other associated stakeholders. In addition to this, this will exactly reflect the contributions made so far by higher education systems and their' outcomes. This will also reflect how higher education systems are helping to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and their targets by 2030. In the paper, some additional useful information is cited pertaining to UN-SDGs based on the published documents in a sequential and systematic manner, and this will help to understand better the mission, vision, and objectives of UN Sustainable Development Goals, what are the roles and responsibilities of higher education systems in the same context till 2030 onwards with a constant approach, the initiatives that have been taken so far, and the initiatives being undertaken now. Some additional measures and discussions about convergence are also suggested. It is also well discussed about the SDG Index and Dashboards and about some major thrust areas. Since some additional useful information is cited, the source of information for each citation is properly mentioned in the references column.

Introduction: Medical quality indicators (QI) are important tools in the evaluation of medical quality. Their development is subject to specific methodological requirements, which include practical applicability. This is especially true for intensive care medicine with its complex processes and their interactions. This methods paper presents the status quo and shows necessary methodological developments for intensive care QI. For this purpose, a cooperation with the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies' Institute for Medical Knowledge Management (AWMF-IMWi) was established. Methodology: Review of published German manuals for QI development from guidelines and narrative review of quality indicators with a focus on evidence and consensus-based guideline recommendations. Future methodological adaptations of indicator development for improved operationalization, measurability and pilot testing are presented, and a development process is proposed. Results: The development of intensive care quality indicators in Germany is based on an established process. In the future, additional evaluation criteria (QUALIFY criteria) will be applied to assess the evidence base. In addition, a continuous exchange between the national steering committee of the DIVI responsible for QI development and guideline development groups involved in intensive care medicine is planned. Conclusion: Intensive care quality indicators will have to meet improved methodological requirements in the future by means of an improved development process. Future QI development is intended to improve the structure of the development process, with a focus on scientific evidence and a link to guideline projects. This is intended to achieve the goal of a broad application of QI and to further evaluate its relevance for patient outcome and performance of institutions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Kumpf et al.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Owing to their intrinsic properties of wide availability, low cost, portability, environmental friendliness and degradability, paper and paper-based materials are receiving increasing attention since birth. Recent increasing studies suggest that paper and paper-based materials possess bright application prospects for the purpose of realizing sustainable development and green circular economy soon. Under this background, more and more correlated application fields for paper and paper-based materials, such as advanced paper-based packaging, writing paper (paper-based transistors), environmental protection (oil/water separation), interface sensing (paper-based sensor devices and microfluidic platforms), energy conversion/storage devices (paper-based triboelectric nanogeneration, paper-based bio-batteries and supercapacitors) have been emerged. In addition, the challenges faced in utilizing the current paper-based materials are analyzed, including fundamental problems, practical applications, and development prospects. The current review not only provides theoretical guidance for the construction of functional paper-based materials, but also helps to expand their application scope and extend their lifespan. It is expected that this review will inspire future research regarding the novel practical applications of paper-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric wet-strength agents are important additives used in the paper industry to improve the mechanical properties of paper products, especially when they come into contact with water. These agents play a crucial role in enhancing the durability, strength, and dimensional stability of paper products. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the different types of wet-strength agents available and their mechanisms of action. We will also discuss the challenges associated with the use of wet-strength agents and the recent advances in the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly agents. As the demand for more sustainable and durable paper products continues to grow, the use of wet-strength agents is expected to increase in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-repellent coatings are essential for enhancing the durability and sustainability of textiles, paper, and bioplastic polymers. Despite the growing use of sustainable materials, their inherent hydrophilicity presents significant challenges. This review explores advanced coating technologies to address these issues, focusing on their mechanisms, properties, and applications. By imparting water resistance and repellency, these coatings improve material performance and longevity. The environmental impact and limitations of current coatings are critically assessed, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions. This review identifies key trends and challenges, offering insights into developing water-resistant materials that align with environmental goals while meeting industry demands. Key focus areas include coating mechanisms, techniques, performance evaluation, applications, environmental impact assessment, and the development of sustainable coating solutions. This research contributes to the development of water-resistant materials that meet the demands of modern industries while minimizing environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adds to the growing literature that critically examines the cultural politics of the OECD's framework of global competence by turning our attention to the 'affective ideology' underlying this framework, namely, how affect is used ideologically to produce specific subjectivities and moralities in students. Building upon the work of affect theories in education policy, this paper explores how the concept of global and intercultural competences, as it is manifested in the OECD global competence framework, constitutes a site of affective sense-making and affective governance. In particular, the analysis reveals two ways in which this happens: first, by capitalising on global and intercultural competencies as self-centred, emotional skills to sell policy and pedagogical ideas and tools; second, by using certain affects as moral imperatives to shape global competence in intercultural communication education. The paper concludes with a discussion of the research, policy, and pedagogy implications for intercultural communication education.

The accumulation of petroleum-based plastic waste is a growing environmental concern, thus an effective plastic waste recycling scheme is crucial. This study combined waste acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) plastics with waste delivery boxes to create ABS/paper biocomposites. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was utilised as the experimental variable, while two control groups were established to investigate varying ratios of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and paper. The results indicate that ABS/paper (CaCO3) 4:6 demonstrated a tensile strength of 47.81 MPa and a bending strength of 40.92 MPa. In contrast, ABS/paper (CaCO3) 7:3 exhibited a water absorption ratio of only 1.21% within 48 h. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that high-temperature melted ABS effectively filled the voids of interwoven cellulose during hot pressing. Furthermore, adding CaCO3 improved the flame retardancy of ABS/paper biocomposites and promoted the interweaving of celluloses. The ABS/paper biocomposites preparation method represents a viable solution to mitigate plastic pollution due to its environmentally-friendly, lightweight, and low energy consumption properties.

Education policymaking has gone global. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to galvanize efforts to promote sustainable development, decrease global inequalities, and realize universal quality education. Supporting these efforts, two leading international organizations, UNESCO and the OECD, have set out normative frameworks for their vision of global education. This paper examines the policy discourses of these organizations in light of SDG 4--Education. Specifically, through a comparative analysis of selected terms and underlying concepts in key policy documents, the paper distinguishes between UNESCO's notion of global citizenship and the OECD's framework for global competence. Ultimately, the authors discuss whether the organizations' agendas are aimed at a common global vision, or, alternatively, towards two distinct and divergent conceptualizations of an imagined future.

Petroleum-based plastics are useful, but they pose a huge threat to the environment and human health. The development of sustainable cellulose paper materials with excellent mechanical and water-resistance properties to replace plastics is highly desirable but also challenging. Herein, we report a new kind of rosin-based modifier synthesized from fully hydrogenated rosin and (3-glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane, which can covalently bind with cellulose fiber networks to improve the hydrophobicity and weaken the capillarity of cellulose paper. The rosin-grafted cellulose composite paper shows a unique combination of water resistance (water absorption of 19.2% and 37.9% in 25 and 90 °C water, respectively) and high strength (tensile strength of 47.9 MPa and Young's modulus of 2.32 GPa). Moreover, the rosin-grafted cellulose composite paper can be completely degraded when buried in soil for up to 100 days, and it can be recycled when treated with an alkali. These impressive performances make rosin-grafted cellulose composite paper a promising eco-friendly alternative material to replace plastics in straws, boxes, cups, bags and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the human and animal survivability risk, sustainable development is the only option on earth that can be achieved through the maximum use of renewable environmental resources. Recycling of waste paper is an emerging waste management approach to conserve natural resources. Herein, we studied enzyme-mediated process to recycle the xerographic paper by using the crude fungal extract from indigenously isolated fungi identified as Aspergillus assiutensis. The fungal enzyme cocktail has been characterized for the production of multiple enzymes namely cellulase, amylase, xylanase, pectinase, and protease. All these enzymes have pH optima in the acidic range and except cellulase and all the enzymes are stable from 10 to 80 C. In the zymogram analysis, pectinase, xylanase, amylase, and cellulase were detected at 68 kDa, ~ 54 kDa, 38 kDa, and 30 kDa, respectively. Also, the presence of protease was confirmed by the clear zone at 68, 31, and 16 kDa. A 26% decrease in the kappa number and reduction in Hex A of the pulp was observed on the treatment of the pulp with enzyme as compared to the control pulp without any treatment. The physical and chemical properties of the pulp were also improved by enzyme-mediated pulping as compared to the control The physiochemical parameter of the effluent like TDS was reduced (397 ppm) significantly in comparison to chemical deinking process and it was within the permissible limit. BOD and alkalinity were reduced when the enzymes and chemical dosage were used in combination. These results indicate that chemi-enzymatic deinking is most promising to reduce or remove the pollution parameters including ink and this approach can be used in the paper and pulp industry for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a large body of research on Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) and health in Muslim communities, that can offer insights to promote the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which encompasses good health and well-being. Based on recent bibliometric evidence, we hypothesized that RIF research is highly relevant to SDG 3, particularly Targets 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, and 3.5. Therefore, this bibliometric study quantified RIF literature supporting SDG 3 and associated targets over the past seven decades and explored themes and trends. All types of research articles were extracted from the Scopus database from inception to March 2022. Microsoft Excel, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer were used to qualitatively and quantitatively examine RIF research trends supporting SDG 3 and associated targets. We identified 1729 relevant articles. The number of publications notably increased since 1986, with a dramatic increase in 2019-2020. RIF research predominantly supported Target 3.4 (reducing risk for non-communicable diseases), with research hotspots being diabetes, diabetes medications, pregnancy, physiology, metabolic diseases, and obesity and metabolism. This target was also the most commonly supported by dedicated authors and institutions publishing on RIF, whereas other SDG 3 targets were negligibly addressed in comparison. Our comprehensive bibliometric analysis of RIF literature showed growing support for SDG 3 through positive contributions to half of the SDG 3 targets, although Target 3.4 received the most attention. We also identified knowledge gaps that may shape further research directions on RIF and promote the achievement of SDG 3 in Muslim communities., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Climate change as a matter had little attention of public debate, especially in developing countries, until the recent floods caused by the dragon storms in the Middle East and the forest fires in the Mediterranean. Egypt, being strategically crucial in Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world, with strong connections to other countries, aimed to go from promises to action and to discover real answers to climate change by building on past COPs. The administration assumed a more prominent role by coordinating the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). People started to realize that this is not something only happening elsewhere in the world. Egypt took the initiative; Challenges have been assessed to reach suitable mitigation approaches, and Egypt's first NDC has been issued to meet the global agenda. Egypt's vision was to accelerate global climate action at the UNFCCC 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) through emissions reduction, advanced adaptation, and enhanced flow of appropriate finance, prioritizing developing countries worldwide.

The relationship between environmental regulation and firm productivity has been widely debated but inconsistencies in findings across different studies. Using detailed firm-level micro-data from 2000 to 2007, this paper employs difference-in-difference combined with matching based on entropy balancing method to explore the effect of environmental regulation on firm total factor productivity (TFP) in pulp and paper industry in China. Our main findings are as following: Firstly, stricter environmental regulation, as represented by the Wastewater Discharge Standards for Pulp and Paper Industry in Shandong province, increases firm TFP significantly. Moreover, the coefficients of interest are robust to multiple robustness checks. Secondly, dynamic effects estimates reveal that when faced with this phase-in environmental regulation, firms take the foreseeably increasing strictness into account from the very beginning and prefer to take one-step adjustment to reach full compliance. Thirdly, potential mechanism analysis finds that the positive effect mainly comes from the improvement of resource allocation efficiency within firms. Fourthly, the heterogeneity test indicates that the effect of environmental regulation on firm TFP is heterogeneous across firms with different sizes, ages, ownerships, capital intensity, and export status. Finally, this paper provides convincing and insightful evidence that environmental regulation has the potential to achieve the dual goals of environmental sustainability and economic growth and is thus of broader significance for understanding the enforcement of environmental regulation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of fiber modification methods and beating degrees on the properties of paper sheets. Two different methods were used to modify fibers: NaOH + urea and TEMPO ((2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxidanyl) and blended with traditional paper fibers. Subsequently, we evaluated the resulting sheets for their optical, strength, and thermo-mechanical characteristics. Notably, we also scrutinized sheets created exclusively with 100% TEMPO-modified fibers. The addition of modified fibers led to improvements in several strength properties, but it had a noteworthy negative impact on the optical properties of TEMPO-treated fibers compared to the other papers. Furthermore, thermal analysis revealed that the contraction rates of the samples increased considerably up to 40–50 °C for the out-of-plane direction and surpassed 130 °C for the in-plane direction. In general, the inclusion of modified fibers had a significant effect on thermo-mechanical properties. Specifically, TEMPO modification resulted in an increase in the maximum in-plane contraction ratio, shifting it from −0.40% to −0.59%, along with its corresponding temperature. This research underscores the potential of modified fibers to enhance paper properties and contribute to the development of more sustainable paper-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock dung, discarded crop straws, and residual plastic film are the primary agricultural non-point sources of pollution. For livestock dung and discarded crop straw, the general treatment focuses on compost, animal fodder, industrial raw material, and new energy. The development of degradable mulch film is the main way to solve pollution from residual plastic film. However, an effective way to solve the above three types of pollution simultaneously and use them for ecological circular agriculture has been less studied. In this study, using cow dung and flax straw wastes as raw materials, we prepared natural, fibre-based paper mulch using the rapid-Kothen method and analysed the film-forming mechanism. Based on the Van Soest method, the cow dung and flax straw waste contain abundant cellulose fibres: 36.75% and 54.69%, respectively. The tensile strength and tear strength of fibre paper mulch are 1.87 kN/m and 19.91 N/mm, respectively. To enhance the adaptability of the fibre paper mulch in humid environments, the surface of the mulch was treated with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD). The AKD-coated fibre paper mulch displays hydrophobic properties, indicated by a contact angle of 128° ± 2°. It has a wet tensile strength of 0.64 kN/m and a wet tear strength of 8.23 N/mm. Additionally, it exhibits a dry tensile strength and a tear strength of 2.13 kN/m and 16.43 N/mm, respectively. Notably, the dry tensile strength is increased by 16.31%. In this way, the livestock dung and discarded crop straw can be reused, reducing dung pollution and straw burning in livestock farms, and the final products can alleviate the residual film pollution simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery rate of paper products is a key factor in measuring the recyscling potential and the sustainability of the paper industry. Accurately measuring the recovery rate of paper products holds important theoretical and practical value. This paper took the non-recycling part and time factor into account and built the Koyck model to estimate the recovery rate, storage loss rate and recovery cycle of paper products. The model results showed that the recovery rate of Chinese paper products in 2017 increased to 58.05%, which was 10% higher than the results of methods that did not contain the non-recycling part or the time factor. The model results also showed that the storage loss rate of Chinese paper products was much higher than that of developed countries while the recovery cycle was close to the level of developed countries. The distribution analysis showed that the storage loss rate and recovery cycle of Chinese paper products varied significantly over time, which may be the result of policies and the change of consumption structure. It is suggested that the Chinese government should take measures to reduce the storage loss rate of paper products and enhance their recycling ability to achieve sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities can play a key role in contributing to a sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants. In times of constant changes, there is a growing urgency to reflect on the vision of universities as well as their respective practices and projects that can promote the creation of sustainable societies. As is evident in scholarly literature, there is a need to empower universities and enhance their ability to prepare individuals who can confront global sustainability challenges and pursue sustainable development. The United Nations' adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 recognised that societal problems were territorially blind, meaning that no country has sufficient knowledge or research capacity to solve all challenges on its own. To that end, this qualitative, comparative research study represents the unified effort of two very different countries to explore the topic of education for sustainable development (SD) at universities. The study employed a document analysis of selected publicly funded universities in Canada and South Africa. Gathered documents are from the past seven years and include the universities' mission and vision statements, annual reports, and strategic plans. The three main questions addressed in this work are: (a) What is the status and role of higher education for SD in Canada and South Africa? (b) What areas of SD are on the agenda of universities under investigation in Canada and South Africa? (c) What are the main similarities and differences between the two contexts under investigation? Findings indicate that universities focus on several aspects of SD, namely sustainable education, sustainable relationships, and sustainable initiatives. The paper discusses these areas for each country in connection to their contextual setting. Although the study's findings cannot be generalised, they can be informative for other universities and contexts and thus contribute to the body of knowledge about education for SD in higher education.

The purpose of this paper is to explore ways to cultivate learners who can take part in inquiry, discussion, and action toward realizing an equitable society from the perspective of the SDGs and ESD. After confirming the importance of dealing with the concept of and the issues around equity with consideration of the mutual interdependence among all 17 SDGs, the paper notes that the "inclusive and equitable quality education" mentioned in SDG 4 is assumed to be achieved by the integrated improvement and organization of a variety of aspects, such as educational environment, policy, systems, budget, teachers, and competency development. Next, based on the importance of competency development of all learners through ESD, the paper demonstrates the potentials of objective-referenced assessment for ESD. Finally, the paper proposes a tentative idea on a set of objectives for lessons on equity from the perspective of ESD, as a useful way to develop school-based curricula of quality ESD at each school and to promote effective lessons on equity to prepare learners who can attain the necessary competencies and take part in inquiry, discussion, and action toward realizing an equitable society

Dr. Michael E. Newman presented the 2016 AAAE Distinguished Lecture at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Agricultural Education in Kansas City, Missouri in May, 2016. The article is a philosophical work based upon the author's experiences in the agricultural education profession.