The Journal of Sustainability is an interdisciplinary journal that aims to provide practical advice to businesses, policymakers, and civil society on accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable economy. This journal is a collective effort by leading scholars and practitioners around the world who are excited about furthering the discourse on the concept of sustainability. All our articles are open access and oriented towards practical application. We pay our editors and reviewers, and we aim to offer peer-review that is fast and constructive. We are keen to help you publish your research. If you have any questions about this journal, please reach out to: editor@journalofsustainability.net
Teachers’ Perspectives and Self-Reported Practices in Climate Change Education: Basis for the Development of CEASE Conceptual Model
Climate change remains a critical global challenge requiring integrated responses, with education playing a central role in fostering climate literacy. This study examined the climate change perspectives and self-reported practices of 102 public secondary science teachers and developed a conceptual model to enhance climate change education. Using a descriptive-correlational and comparative design, data were collected through a validated questionnaire (α=.94). Findings revealed highly positive personal and professional perspectives (M = 4.33), while overall reported practices were only moderate (M= 3.40). Teachers demonstrated high engagement in curriculum development (M= 3.64), but only moderate practices in instructional materials development (M= 3.37), teaching strategy innovation (M= 3.18), and the implementation of teaching-learning activities (M = 3.39). A significant positive relationship was found between teachers’ perspectives and practices (r=.573, p < .01), with perspectives accounting for 32.9% of the variance (r2=.329). While no significant differences in practices were observed between male and female teachers overall, a statistically significant difference emerged in instructional materials development (t=3.56, p < .01), with male teachers reporting higher engagement. Key challenges included limited innovative strategies, time constraints, and insufficient training, revealing an “action-practice gap.” In response, the Climate Education Action for Sustainable Engagement (CEASE) conceptual model is proposed to enhance pedagogical integration through curriculum alignment, contextualized instructional materials, methodological innovation, participatory learner-centered activities, and research capability building. The study contributes both empirical evidence and practical model aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action).
Copyright (c) 2026 Alma Marcelino Corpuz, Cynthia Garcia Quiambao https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Theory-Guided Alignment Analysis of Department of Education Policy Corpus through the Lens of Sustainable Governance
This study analyzes the extent to which the governance policy architecture of the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) aligns with principles of sustainable governance relevant to the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). Using a theory-guided qualitative document analysis anchored in the capacity-to-govern framework, a systematically curated DepEd policy corpus was examined. The analysis evaluated the degree of alignment across five governance dimensions. Findings indicate that the Department of Education is policy-rich and moderately aligns with principles of sustainable governance by Clark and Harley (2020). Strong normative commitments to SDG 4 coexist with uneven governance capacities needed to operationalize them. While policy coherence and equity commitments are generally well articulated, most policies demonstrate only moderate operationalisation in terms of resource capacity, multi-level governance, and adaptive capacity. The study contributes to sustainability science by demonstrating the applicability of the capacity-to-govern framework in educational policy analysis, provides an analytical model for examining how policy architectures support or constrain systemic progress toward SDG 4 and highlights the need for future research using empirical implementation data to validate identified gaps.
Copyright (c) 2026 Michael Garlan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Advancing the Sustainable Urban Air Mobility Indicators (SUAMI) Framework: Integrating Non-Core Indicators and Proposing New Metrics for UAM
The integration of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) into urban transportation systems represents a significant step towards sustainable and innovative mobility solutions. Building upon the Sustainable Urban Air Mobility Indicators (SUAMI) framework introduced previously, this study extends the framework by analysing and integrating non-core indicators from the Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI). Each indicator’s relevance and applicability to UAM are systematically evaluated, and necessary adaptations are proposed. Furthermore, this paper identifies critical gaps in the existing framework and introduces new indicators tailored to address the unique characteristics and challenges of UAM. These include environmental, operational, societal, and infrastructure-specific metrics essential for the practical assessment and successful implementation of UAM in smart cities. By refining and expanding the SUAMI framework, this work provides municipalities and policymakers with a comprehensive tool to evaluate and guide UAM integration, supporting sustainability, safety, and efficiency objectives.
Sustainable Urban Air Mobility Indicators (SUAMI)
Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI)
Copyright (c) 2026 Anna Palaiologk, Kyriaki Daskaloudi, Eleftheria Georganti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Urban Challenges and Planning in the Global South: An Introduction to the Strategic Management Sustainability Framework (SMSF) and Tool (SMST)
Rapid urbanisation is one of the biggest challenges of the Global South. This paper introduces the Strategic Management Sustainability Framework (SMSF) and Tool (SMST), its relevance and applications to challenges of urban planning in the Global South. It aims to show how the SMSF or SMST can be used to meet the challenges of town and city urban planning by building preparedness, resilience and better conditions for liveability and sustainability in these areas. This is done through an expanded PESTLE Analysis-based multi-sectoral SMSF, which has been developed into a computerized Tool (SMST). The two (also referred to as the African PESTLE Analysis (APA)) comprise the same innovation, which is conceptually grounded in the principles/values of the African woman, particularly in villages.
Copyright (c) 2026 Karamo N. M. Sonko, Mariama Sonko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Waste is Not a Waste: The Material and Temporal Value of Waste in the Anthropogenic Era
Waste has had a persistent material and cultural presence that has co-evolved with human societies. Throughout history, waste has functioned as both a life-sustaining resource and a destabilising force when neglected. Contemporary consumer economies have produced unprecedented waste volumes, leading to increasing instances of environmental pollution. Simultaneously, advancements in infrastructure systems have led to waste outputs becoming increasingly invisible, distancing the public from accumulation volumes. This distancing reinforces stigmatisations of waste as valueless, dirty, and external to human life, obscuring its material continuity and ecological agency. A review of environmental history, waste infrastructures, cultural narratives, and artistic practices reveals that the designation of items as waste is not intrinsic to materials, but socially constructed. This perception perpetuates psychological barriers in designating value in waste, a vital component in meeting circular economy objectives. Reframing waste within an ongoing “Anthro-cycle” can reposition humans as embedded agents within cyclical flows of matter. Greater visibility of waste across its lifecycle, alongside cultural, behavioural, and regulatory shifts, is essential for developing equitable and genuinely circular socio-ecological systems. Such revaluation redefines waste as a resource and an opportunity.
Copyright (c) 2026 Randa L Kachef, Gayle Chong Kwan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effective Communication in Alternative Food Networks: A Scoping Review and Implications for Scottish Food Systems
This study conducts a scoping review of primarily European literature (2015-2025) to synthesise reported communication strategies within Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) and derive implications for enhancing local food systems in Scotland. The synthesis indicates that the literature most frequently reports a combined use of direct interpersonal engagement and digital platforms as an effective approach. A dominant, cross-cutting theme is the strategic use of narrative construction through storytelling, branding and labelling, to convey messages concerning product quality, sustainability and community. These communicative practices are associated with reported gains in social and economic capital for AFNs. Based on this synthesis, we suggest that for Scottish AFNs, consistently developing a coherent narrative identity and employing an integrated, multi-channel strategy represent promising considerations for strengthening community engagement and network resilience.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nsongurua Inyang, Shadi Hashem, Katrin Prager https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessing the Gender–Labor–Growth Nexus in West Africa: Econometric Evidence from The Gambia and Senegal
Gender equality is central in the 17 SDG goals, especially in emerging and developing countries, where disparities in gender remain persistent. This study shows the relationship between gender inequality, labour force and economic growth in two countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Gambia and Senegal. Data was collected from the World Bank database covering the period from 2000 to 2023. Advanced econometric techniques, including panel data fixed and random effects estimation and System GMM, were used as an endogeneity test. The Hausman specification test reveals that random effects are more appropriate for our data analysis. Random effects estimates reveal that a one-unit increase in the Gender Parity Index reduces GDP per capita by approximately 2.42 units (p < 0.05), while a 1% rise in female primary enrolment boosts GDP by 0.085 units. On the other hand, promoting women's school attendance, elementary education and labour force involvement pays off economically. The multi-model results consistently show that gender disparity has both negative and positive effects on GDP per capita, depending on the dimension examined.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ebrima K. Ceesay, Fatou Cisse, Lamin Fatou Bayo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Residential Smart Dual Fuel Switching System (SDFSS) for Simultaneous Reduction of Energy Cost and GHG Emissions
As technology shifts toward more environmentally friendly alternatives, future heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in Canada are expected to transition away from natural gas heating to electrical heating. However, a relatively rapid large-scale shift from natural gas to electricity will pose issues for utilities and consumers. In order to smooth the transition from a natural gas-dominated space heating infrastructure to an electrically powered heat pump, an intermediary solution is needed to allow society to transition efficiently and cost-effectively. The proposed intermediary technology integrates a natural gas furnace (NGF) with an air source heat pump (ASHP) and utilises a smart dual fuel switching system (SDFSS) controller. In this study, an SDFSS is implemented in residential houses to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and overall operational costs. The heat-mapping analysis of the hybrid system with the SDFSS controller shows a clear seasonal shift in ASHP operation. During milder winter months, such as April, the ASHP operates significantly more, accounting for 57% of the total hours (414). ASHP usage drops dramatically in January, when it runs for only 2% of the hours (12 hours) due to higher operating costs in extremely cold conditions. This indicates that while the ASHP is a cost-effective option during moderate weather, the NGF is the preferred choice for the tested house during periods of extreme cold. The study also highlights that the SDFSS has the potential to reduce operational costs by up to 33% compared to the single-variable switching system.
Smart Dual Fuel Switching System (SDFSS)
Copyright (c) 2026 King Tung, Alan S. Fung, Rakesh Kumar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Determinants of Building-Sector CO2 Emissions in the EU: A Combined Econometric and Machine Learning Approach
The research aims to explore the structural, environmental, and climatic factors that influence carbon dioxide emissions in the building sector across the 27 member states of the European Union between 2005 and 2023. It is evident that higher activity in the primary sector, along with higher forest area, is associated with reduced building sector emissions, while environmental stress, air pollution, and demands for heating and cooling are positively related to building sector emissions. Subsequent analyses show that there are significant differences between EU member states, differentiating between those that are classified under high-emitting patterns, including pollution, inefficient energy, and adverse climatic conditions, and those that are classified under low-emitting patterns, including clean energy sources and favourable environmental conditions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Marco Mele, Alberto Costantiello, Fabio Anobile, Angelo Leogrande https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Economic Growth, Energy Consumption, and Environmental Quality in Sub‑Saharan Africa: Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) Hypothesis
This paper empirically tests the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for sub-Saharan Africa, using CO₂ emission as a proxy for environmental quality. The analysis employs panel pooled data for 39 countries from 1990 to 2019. We find evidence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between income and emissions, as GDP per capita has a positive effect and its square has a negative effect on CO₂ emissions, thereby supporting the EKC hypothesis. Our results reveal a dual role for renewable energy. When CO₂ emissions are the dependent variable, renewable energy consumption significantly reduces emissions, while non-renewable energy increases them. Additionally, population size and literacy rate are found to positively affect CO₂ emissions. In contrast, when economic growth is the dependent variable, renewable energy has a positive and significant influence. These findings indicate that expanding renewable energy production in sub-Saharan Africa offers a dual advantage, enhancing environmental quality while also contributing to stronger economic performance. By demonstrating that renewable energy reduces CO₂ emissions and supports growth, the results provide important guidance for policymakers seeking to advance sustainable development pathways that are compatible with long‑term environmental conservation across the region.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ebrima K. Ceesay, Matarr Njie, Emmanuel Igbinoba, Etse Yawo Dzakpa, Mohamed Ben Omar Ndiaye, Amie M. Jobe, Amadou Cham, Ebrima B. Jallow, Cherno Jallow, Lamin B. Jammeh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reframing Clean Beauty: Governance, Transparency, and Biodiversity-Related Practices in the Global Cosmetics Sector with Implications for Japan
The rapid global expansion of clean beauty, which relies extensively on natural capital, raises questions about its environmental impact, particularly in relation to biodiversity conservation. While the industrial demand for natural ingredients continues to rise, empirical assessments linking clean beauty practices and biodiversity outcomes remain limited. This study presents an exploratory, governance-oriented assessment of biodiversity-related practices among clean beauty brands, based on publicly available disclosures. This study develops a quantitative scoring framework for evaluating 10 major international and Japanese clean beauty brands using a small-10 pilot design across five domains: (1) sustainable sourcing, (2) biodiversity conservation initiatives, (3) supply-chain traceability, (4) ESG disclosure, and (5) environmental innovation. Japan's comparison is institutionally motivated. The results indicate that biodiversity performance is determined less by the use of natural ingredients or market scale and more by governance mechanisms, such as structured sourcing programs, third-party certifications, and transparent reporting systems. International brands consistently outperform Japanese brands, reflecting stronger institutional environments and higher biodiversity literacy abroad. In contrast, domestic brands showed lower disclosure levels and greater performance variance, partly due to weaker national standards and limited public awareness of biodiversity issues. The findings suggest that clean beauty should be reframed not as a category defined by naturalness, but as a governance model that enables coexistence with nature. In addition to standardisation by industry organisations, policy implications include the need for standardised biodiversity metrics in Japan and potential governmental support, such as subsidies to help small- and medium-sized enterprises obtain internationally recognised sustainability certifications. Future research should integrate and evaluate industry standards and life-cycle assessment to assess biodiversity impacts in the cosmetics sector.
Copyright (c) 2026 Miyuki Nagai https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions for Climate-induced Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines’ Build Better More Project: From Vicious to Virtuous Cycles
The Philippines confronts an escalating climate crisis, with annual disaster losses projected to reach 7.6% of GDP by 2030. Despite the proven efficacy of nature-based solutions (NbS), their integration into national development planning remains marginal, as epitomised by the flagship “Build Better More” (BBM) project. This study diagnoses this implementation gap as a fundamental systems failure: the systematic undervaluation of critical natural capital. This capital is conceptualised as a synergistic socio-ecological life-support system—the integrated integrity of ecological resilience, abiotic surroundings, and biotic communities (A+B+C=D). Consequently, NbS are treated as peripheral add-ons, perpetuating a self-reinforcing vicious cycle of maladaptive grey infrastructure investment and costly reconstruction. Employing systems thinking and causal loop modelling, we demonstrate how the BBM Project’s current structure actively degrades this foundation (A+B+C=D), locking development into a path of accelerating risk. A quantitative system dynamics model proves that a hybrid NbS-grey portfolio yields vastly superior economic and resilience outcomes. We therefore prescribe a transformative triple-track intervention: (1) innovative finance, for example, resilience bonds; (2) governance restructuring to integrate environmental mandates; and (3) legally embedded equity safeguards such as mandatory Social Equity and Distributional Impact Assessments. This integrated blueprint is designed to dismantle the vicious cycles and initiate stabilising virtuous cycles of socio-ecological resilience. We conclude that the BBM Project’s objectives are unattainable without this foundational institutional shift. While grounded in the Philippines, our diagnostic framework of vicious and virtuous cycles provides a transferable roadmap for climate-vulnerable nations to transition from costly degradation to a climate-resilient future.
Copyright (c) 2026 Choy Yee Keong, Lizan E. Perante-Calina, Ramces M. Dili https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Building a Product-level Bio-based Circularity Monitoring Framework
Despite the proliferation of circular economy (CE) indicators and the lack of harmonised measurement conventions, bio-based industries still lack tailored, product-level metrics to guide their circular transition. Three sectors are particularly relevant due to their environmental impacts: fertilisers, packaging, and textiles. This article builds upon indicator mappings by critically assessing how existing indicators account for relevant CE principles and activities, and by developing complementary indicators to address identified gaps. The goal is to propose a product-level circularity monitoring and benchmarking framework tailored for bio-based fertilisers, packaging, and textiles. Following the design research method, existing metrics were characterised, those covering the largest number of CE practices were selected, and complementary indicators were developed to extend the information provided by the original metrics. The framework bridges recurring gaps by incorporating the ratio of biodegradable or compostable materials used in manufacturing, the consumption of virgin materials in packaging manufacturing and textile fibre treatment, and the speed of fertiliser nutrient release. The proposed framework was ultimately feasibility-tested through sectoral applications and industry engagement, demonstrating data availability for computation, interpretive usefulness, and managerial relevance for eco-innovative firms under the tested conditions. Results should be interpreted as comparative screening and monitoring outputs, rather than certification-like estimates.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hasler Iglesias, Ana Paredes Ortiz, Francisca Sánchez-Liarte, David Fernández-Gutiérrez, Andrés J. Lara-Guillén https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessing Vulnerability to Poverty for Households in Western African Countries: Evidence from Rural Gambia
This study assesses household vulnerability to poverty in rural Gambia using the Vulnerability as Expected Poverty (VEP) approach, based on cross-sectional data. This approach provides a forward-looking measure of welfare, moving beyond static poverty headcounts to identify households at risk of future poverty. We interchanged income, total consumption, and food consumption to estimate vulnerability, thereby employing multiple welfare metrics to ensure robust, dimension-specific findings. A three-step Feasible Generalised Least Squares (FGLS) method was applied: first, estimating the ex-ante mean using OLS; second, modelling variance from squared residuals; and third, correcting for heteroskedasticity to predict vulnerability. Findings show that household size has a positive and significant effect on expected log income, while its squared term is negative and significant, indicating diminishing returns. The age of the household head has a slightly positive but statistically insignificant effect on income, with the squared term weakening this effect. Employment status is positively associated with income; a one-unit increase leads to a 2.9% rise in expected log income and reduced vulnerability. Educational attainment also shows a positive, though insignificant, effect. Non-land production assets significantly reduce vulnerability, with a one-unit increase lowering it by 18.8%. The share of irrigated land contributes to a 4.4% reduction in vulnerability. To reduce vulnerability in rural Gambia, government efforts should focus on expanding access to irrigation and productive assets, especially for smallholder farmers. Employment programs targeting rural youth and women can enhance income stability. Strengthening vocational education and improving access to agricultural extension services will also help households build resilience and reduce future vulnerability and poverty risks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ebrima K. Ceesay, Massimo Morelli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Wetland Destruction Trends in Three African Cities and Their Sustainability Implications
Sustainable city development encompasses the integration of the natural environment; as such, key ecosystems such as wetlands are essential in ensuring ecological equilibrium and urban sustainability. Rapid urbanisation, weak regulatory frameworks, and socioeconomic pressures have led to a massive degradation of urban wetlands in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examines the rate of wetland depletion in Dar es Salaam, Accra and Lagos, primarily relying on satellite imagery from the year 2000 to 2024. The result of the study is worrying and shows significant wetland loss across these three major cities. For instance, the rate of wetlands coverage in Dar es Salaam dropped from 11% in 2004 to 6% in 2024, while the coverage of built-up/developed areas rose from 18% to 67%. Land cover results for Accra and Lagos also showed similar trends. These changes over time suggest the need to adopt innovative, tried and tested approaches that can be used to protect the natural environment in developing countries. The study recommends approaches such as Conservation easements, Purchase of Development Rights (PDR), Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), and Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB) for the protection and preservation of wetlands in SSA. Incorporating these into urban planning and public awareness campaigns can help stop more loss and create sustainable urban futures in SSA cities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kwaku Karikari Manu, Seth Appiah-Opoku, Nana Serwaa Antwi, Kwasi Aning Dwumah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Enterprise Architecture Principles to Foster Societal Responsibility
How to implement sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important question for organisations. In investment decisions, these issues must be taken into consideration because they represent long-term prospects. In discussions about Enterprise Architecture (EA), which provides a long-term view of an organisation's development, these issues are considered by many authors to be an essential part of the EA. However, in practice, architects struggle with how to implement these topics in their EA. In this paper, we introduce a framework to classify sustainability and CSR goals. Based on this framework, we propose a set of EA principles that architects can adapt to their organisation to tailor the EA to these goals.
Copyright (c) 2025 Henk Plessius https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Shifting Capital Toward Sustainable Business Models: How Entrepreneurial Stories Resonate with Impact Investors
In impact investing, there is a tension between the expected financial return on investment (ROI) and the positive benefits to society (impact) of a particular investment. Balancing ROI and impact is a persistent challenge for impact investors as they scale up and support the ecological transition. Conversely, sustainable entrepreneurs engaged in this transition seek to position themselves for impact investment by crafting stories that resonate with impact investors. The theory of cultural entrepreneurship provides a lens through which to understand this process. By applying this theory to the ROI-impact balancing decision, this qualitative study advances the theoretical understanding of what leads to resonance in an investment context through interviews with impact investors. The study has practical relevance by articulating a framework for the ROI-impact balancing decision that can be useful to impact asset owners and managers.
Copyright (c) 2026 Philip Glynn, Justin Catanoso https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Disappearing Green: Ecosystem Service Loss in Atlanta, Georgia
Urban green spaces play a critical regulatory role in sustaining ecosystem functions, however, rapid urbanization has significantly altered land-use patterns, reduced green cover, and intensified both urban heat island effects and air pollution in many cities around the world. This study assesses the spatiotemporal land-use/land-cover (LULC) changes in Atlanta, Georgia, and examines their effects on ecosystem services, urban heat island (UHI) intensity, and air-quality conditions. Landsat imagery from 1995, 2005, 2015, and 2025 was processed using Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification to quantify LULC transitions, while NDVI-based emissivity land surface temperature (LST) retrieval and interpolated PM2.5 concentrations were used to evaluate thermal and air-quality patterns. Results indicate substantial ecosystem service depletion, with forest cover declining by 19.94% and water bodies by 65.17%, while developed land increased by 83.46% between 1995 and 2025. UHI analysis for 2025 showed temperatures ranging from 21.8°C in vegetated zones to 38.4°C in highly urbanized areas, representing a relative UHI intensity of 16.6°C. Air-quality patterns revealed similarly concerning trends, with PM2.5 concentrations rising to 18–22 µg/m³ in built-up areas over 40% higher than levels in undeveloped areas. The study identifies uncontrolled population growth, urban sprawl, and infrastructure expansion as key drivers of these changes and recommends promoting infill development, expanding green infrastructure, and integrating nature-based solutions such as green roofs and bioswales in future urban planning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kwaku Karikari Manu, Seth Appiah-Opoku, Madusha Maha Gamage, Kwadwo Nketia Kumankuma Sarpong, Jacob Nchagmado Tagnan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Paradox of Consumption: Material Happiness vs. Environmental Impact
This article analyses the correlation between consumerism and happiness, investigating whether owning more material goods contributes to increasing happiness levels. The research addresses the issue of the ecological footprint since the consumerist lifestyle contributes significantly to increasing environmental impact. The methodology adopted is quantitative, using a questionnaire to collect the data. The data was statistically analysed to identify patterns, correlations, and possible differences between the groups, considering variables such as age, monthly income, gender, and the region of the planet where the participants lived most of their lives. The results show that monthly income does not influence happiness, and that young people are concerned about the environment. However, those aged 18 to 24 are the ones who acquire more goods for the sake of status, especially males. They tend to prioritise personal relationships over material achievements as they get older. This work will contribute to the discussion on the role of consumerism in contemporary society, reflecting not only on the implications for individual happiness but also for global sustainability.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ricardo Ramos, Maria José Rodrigues, Isilda Rodrigues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Gendered Food Insecurity: Achieving SDG 2 for Climate-Affected Women in Rural Economies
This article examines systemic and structural governance barriers to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) for rural women in climate-affected regions of the Global South, using Ghana and Bangladesh as focal countries. While the centrality of women's roles in food systems is acknowledged in literature, intersecting gender inequalities, climate vulnerability, and institutional blind spots continue to marginalise rural women within food security and adaptation policies. The study employs an integrative literature review and interpretive qualitative content analysis, grounded in an intersectional and rights-based analytical framework, to synthesise how gender, land tenure, climate exposure, economic informality, and policy recognition are addressed within SDG 2–related scholarship and policy documents. The focal countries provide illustrative reference contexts that help the analysis identify recurring patterns and omissions that constrain gender-responsive food systems governance. The review indicates that the absence of appropriate policy frameworks is not the major impediment to achieving SDG 2 goals. Still, rather fragmented institutional framing, including gender-blind adaptation strategies, insecure land governance, undervaluation of informal labour, and weak participatory accountability, are the greater impediments to success. The study concludes by outlining governance-oriented policy implications for aligning SDG 2 implementation with gender equity and climate resilience.
Copyright (c) 2026 Cynthia C. Umezulike https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Weighing on the Capabilities of Big Data Analytics for Sustainable Supply Chain Management in Construction Projects
The construction industry faces significant challenges in implementing sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices. This study explores the capability of big data analytics in enhancing SSCM in construction projects. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the benefits, challenges, and barriers of adopting Big Data technologies in SSCM. The findings highlight the importance of big data analytics in improving supply chain visibility, reducing risks, and promoting sustainable practices. The study also identifies several challenges and barriers to the adoption of Big Data technologies in SSCM, including social, economic, and environmental concerns. The research provides insights into the role of big data analytics in driving SSCM in the construction industry. The study's findings have significant implications for construction companies, policymakers, and stakeholders seeking to improve the sustainability of their supply chains. By leveraging big data analytics, construction companies can enhance their SSCM practices, reduce their environmental impact, and improve their bottom line. This study contributes to the growing body of research on Big Data and SSCM in the construction industry.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM)
Copyright (c) 2026 Samuel Egwunatum, Nwabueze M. Anosike, MercyJane N. Ihekweme https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Effect of Carbon Accounting and Pricing on a Discounted Cash Flow-based Investment Decision in Real Estate
The real estate sector must transition towards a low-carbon economy. In current investment decisions, carbon emissions are insufficiently considered and may not contribute to a low-carbon portfolio aligned with the sector's target. Therefore, investors require a change in the current DCF model-based investment decision to direct capital to projects that support this goal. This paper examines the impact of carbon accounting and pricing on a standard investment model using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Three additional cash flows are modelled, representing the costs for Embodied Carbon (ECC), Operational Carbon Cost (OCC), and Maintenance Carbon Cost (MCC). This paper introduces a novel application of carbon pricing in real estate investment, accounting for embodied, operational, and maintenance-related emissions during the use phase, which results in a practical framework and guide for practitioners. The Carbon Price needs to be sufficiently high to make an impact and contribute to excluding energy-inefficient assets as an investment opportunity. Furthermore, the influence of ECC is minor compared to OCC, making carbon pricing for ECC less relevant in investment decisions. Ultimately, the MCC is a significant factor to consider when making an investment decision. Carbon pricing can encourage the use of circular and biobased materials, reducing emissions during the construction, renovation, and use phases. Investors should apply a carbon price to affect investment decisions by excluding carbon-intensive assets from investment portfolios. Investors could align their capital with the sector's low-carbon goal by including monetised carbon emissions in an investment decision.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jorg de Jonge, Michaël Peeters, Arjan van Timmeren, Ellen van Bueren https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Filling the Gaps: Advancing Neglected and Underutilised Species and Knowledge Systems in Thailand for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability
Neglected and underutilised species (NUS) offer potential to enhance nutrition, food security, and environmental sustainability. Of the over 30,000 edible plant species that exist globally, fewer than 150 are commercially cultivated, accelerating the loss of agrobiodiversity and the homogenisation of food systems. Using Thailand as a case study, this review highlights five NUS—yellow burrhead (Limnocharis flava Buch.), Ceylon oak (Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Merr.), bastard oleaster (Elaeagnus latifolia L.), star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito L.) and hogweed (Physalis angulata var. angulata)—for their high nutritional and medicinal potential. These species can diversify diets, promote sustainable agriculture, and revive indigenous food cultures, but their adoption is hindered by limited infrastructure, low consumer awareness, and insufficient inclusion in food composition databases. Integrating NUS into these databases supports accurate dietary assessment, informed public health policies and product innovation. By combining scientific research with traditional knowledge, NUS can contribute to resilient, culturally relevant, and sustainable food systems in Thailand and globally.
Copyright (c) 2025 Worakrit Saiyasombat, Wimonphan Chathiran, Jaruwan Chimasangkanan, Sabri Bromage, Teresa Borelli, Danny Hunter, Warangkana Srichamnong https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of a Pre-Commercial Chemical Recycling Process for Post-Industrial Plastic Waste
Chemical recycling technologies are gaining attention, yet their environmental benefits remain debated due to high energy demand, low yields, and limited data quality. This study conducts a comparative life cycle assessment of a 130 kg/h pyrolysis plant converting post-industrial packaging waste into high-value chemicals. Its environmental performance is benchmarked against waste incineration and virgin chemical production. The chemical recycling process emits 1.4 kgCO2-eq/kg feedstock, 50 % lower than for incineration. Considering product substitutions, emissions of the recycling process are reduced up to ‑0.9 kgCO2-eq. Compared to virgin production, the chemical recycling process provides a suitable alternative, generating up to 40 % less CO2 emissions. It also results in lower impacts on acidification and fossil fuel depletion, although freshwater and marine eutrophication are higher than those of fossil-based production. The results show high dependency on data and methodological assumptions that can reduce the emissions by up to 64 % but can increase them by 114 %.
Copyright (c) 2025 Darius Steegborn, Manfred Renner, Philip Biessey https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Overcoming Resistance to Carbon Trading: Lessons from Global City Experiences
Cities around the world are confronting climate change through strategies aimed at sustainability, resilience, and reducing carbon emissions. Among these, Carbon Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) have attracted attention as a market-based tool to incentivise decarbonization. Yet, efforts to implement ETS often encounter significant opposition that undermines their effectiveness. Drawing on case studies from Europe, Asia, and emerging experiences in the Global South, this paper identifies four primary sources of opposition: the public, political authorities, industries, and interest groups. Each group resists for distinct reasons, including concerns over fairness, economic costs, political ideology, mistrust of government, and perceived inadequacies of ETS design. The review further highlights strategies that cities and governments have employed to overcome these challenges, such as phased or voluntary introduction, transparent allowance allocation, robust monitoring and reporting, stakeholder consultation, compensation mechanisms, and revenue recycling. The analysis shows that while some strategies (e.g., transparency, public engagement) are broadly effective, others are highly context-specific, with successes and failures depending on local political and economic conditions. The central argument is that successful ETS implementation requires context-sensitive adaptation and sustained stakeholder engagement, rather than a one-size-fits-all model. By synthesising global experiences, the paper provides practical lessons for cities considering ETS as part of their climate change mitigation agenda.
Copyright (c) 2025 Simon Donkoh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Integrating Food Biodiversity into Public Food Procurement: A Brazilian Amazon Case of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
This study explores the integration of food biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) into public food procurement (PFP). Using a primarily qualitative approach, it combines a scoping review with a case study of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) and the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) across six municipalities in the eastern Amazon, Brazil. Common barriers included rigid procurement guidelines, culturally inappropriate menus, and erosion of traditional knowledge, reflecting the marginalisation of IPs and LCs, as well as food biodiversity. Compared to the PNAE, the PAA exhibited stronger inclusion of IPs and LCs by integrating diverse foods, implementing “Indigenous” and “traditional” procurement modalities, and fostering social engagement. In the PNAE, culturally adapted menus for IPs and LCs were absent; however, the presence of unprocessed menu items positively correlated with food biodiversity. Strategies such as institutionalising hybrid governance, participatory mechanisms, and social participation can strengthen IPs and LCs and biodiversity, providing pathways for PFP to support equitable, resilient, and culturally grounded food systems while addressing global food system challenges.
Copyright (c) 2025 Biancada da Conceição Cabral, Teresa Borelli, Andrea das Graças Ferreira Frazao, Bernardo Tomchinsky, Sharon Mendonce, Danny Hunter https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ecological Economics in Practice: Kawasaki's Low-Entropy Urban Transition Through Industrial Symbiosis and Thermodynamic Governance
Modern cities face a thermodynamic paradox: economic growth accelerates material entropy, yet prevailing urban sustainability paradigms overlook the fundamental constraint of irreversible resource degradation. This linear, resource-intensive growth model has pushed urban metabolism to a critical threshold where cities consume 75% of global materials and produce 70% of CO₂ emissions. Yet, a framework for systematically mitigating this entropic decay remains absent from mainstream urban planning. This study seeks to bridge this gap by analysing Japan's systematic institutionalisation of Georgescu-Roegen's entropy law through a multi-scalar governance framework, with Kawasaki's Eco-Town as a primary case study. We demonstrate how Japan's hierarchical approach has achieved remarkable outcomes by implementing three core mechanisms across distinct scales: (1) Macro-scale policy that establishes Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks and mandatory, high-level recycling targets, acting as de facto national entropy budgets, (2) Meso-scale spatial optimisation through municipal industrial symbiosis that minimises transport and processing dissipation; and (3) Micro-scale citizen co-design programmes that cultivate low-entropy behaviours and ensure high-fidelity compliance. This integrated framework enables high-value material loops, evidenced by an 85% PET recycling rate, a 99% construction material recycling rate in Kawasaki, and a national landfill rate of 0.8%. Kawasaki’s per capita waste generation of 730g/day—the lowest in Japan—stands as a key metric of micro-scale efficacy. However, irreducible thermodynamic frontiers persist, particularly regarding critical material recovery, where lithium and silver recovery remain below 1% due to fundamental concentration limits (NERR < 1). Through integrated policy analysis, we argue that while perfect circularity is thermodynamically unattainable, strategic multi-scalar entropy reduction offers a replicable blueprint for aligning urban development with biophysical reality.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yee Keong Choy, Ayumi Onuma, He Yanmin, Lee Khai Ern https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Decoupling Resource Consumption from Economic Growth: A Comparative Study of China, Europe, and the United States
This article presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the relationship between economic growth and resource consumption, with a focus on the degree of decoupling in three major global economies: China, Europe, and the United States. As the global community faces pressing sustainability and environmental challenges, understanding how economic development intersects with resource utilisation in these regions has become increasingly critical. Previous research on decoupling has largely assumed positive economic growth; however, some countries have experienced periods of negative growth over the last two decades. This study extends decoupling criteria to incorporate such scenarios. The analysis begins with an examination of the interplay between economic growth, population growth, and domestic material consumption, followed by a detailed decoupling assessment. Results indicate that while China has made significant strides in improving resource efficiency over the past decade, its performance still lags behind that of the United States and Europe due to its stage of development. Nevertheless, China has demonstrated the most significant improvement in decoupling economic growth from material consumption, particularly during the second decade of the study period. Over the past 20 years, China has made notable advances in decoupling fossil fuel and metallic minerals consumption. By contrast, the United States (while showing the highest overall level of decoupling) has experienced a decline in performance, especially with respect to metallic and non-metallic minerals. Europe, meanwhile, has maintained a relatively stable decoupling trend.
Copyright (c) 2025 Miguel A. Ariño, Heming Wang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
3DCP-CI: Developing a Circularity Indicator for Assessing 3D Concrete Printed Architectural Designs
3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is considered a promising technology for circularity and sustainability in construction through material-efficient designs and processes. While life cycle analysis has been applied to 3DCP materials and processes to test this view, circularity assessments covering the full life cycle of 3DCP designs remain understudied. Existing assessment methods are not designed for, and are difficult to apply within, the 3DCP context. To address this gap, this article introduces 3DCP-CI, a framework developed to systematically assess the circularity potential of 3DCP designs. Existing circularity indicators and their assessment methods were reviewed and synthesised to create 3DCP-CI. Four key performance indicators were identified for 3DCP: adaptability, disassemblability, reusability, and recyclability. Using 3DCP-CI, the Project Milestone was evaluated to improve, validate, and demonstrate the framework’s applicability. The assessment of the Project Milestone indicated that while the separation of building layers and the use of reversible connections significantly influence the final score, the use of non-virgin materials improves the circularity score noticeably. The framework aims to encourage designers to make more circular decisions when applying 3DCP. Furthermore, areas in which the research or practice of circular 3DCP applications can be advanced are expected to emerge through the use of 3DCP-CI.
Copyright (c) 2025 Idil Gumruk, Torsten W. A. Schroeder, Rob J.M. Wolfs, Theo A.M. Salet https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring the Scope for Just Transition: Striking a Viable Balance Between Effective and Just Transition in Urban Climate Governance
At the same time as the consequences of climate change are felt more acutely, the divide between positions in the climate debate grows deeper, making effective urban climate policies harder to realise than ever. This dilemma serves as a stimulus for this paper. We ask: Which values and claims drive social movements’ engagement in compact city development? By applying a coherent theoretical framework for social justice to capture and compare the arguments of proactive movements (environmental organisations and sustainable community groups) and reactive movements (action groups against densification and toll rings) in four Scandinavian cities, we contribute new knowledge on the ‘justice pluralism’ underlying diverse protests to urban climate policies. Interestingly, the analysis of this qualitative empirical material shows that the difference between seemingly adversarial positions is smaller than anticipated and that striking a viable balance between effective and just transition is possible. It necessitates, first, recognising and accommodating pluralistic values and divergent positions; second, critically examining normalised approaches to urban development policy; and third, implementing collaborative governance frameworks that incorporate dissenting voices as co-creators of solutions. This result stands in contrast to the often-dichotomous approach to urban climate governance and just transition found in the literature. Comparison of proactive and reactive protests provides a more nuanced, pluralistic understanding of the challenges cities face. We argue that a more balanced approach to transition processes is critical if cities are to prevent backlash, build legitimacy, and secure effective implementation of urban climate policies. Future research should explore these concerns in greater depth, examining their applicability across diverse geographic contexts and thematic domains.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hege Hofstad, Marianne Millstein https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0