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3 pages, 186 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Water Footprint in Supply Chain Management: An Introduction

by Dimitrios Vlachos and Eirini Aivazidou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2045; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062045 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4693

Abstract

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore water-related risks and challenges, as well as water management opportunities, in the modern globalised production landscape from an end-to-end supply chain perspective. As environmentally sensitive consumers press for water-friendly products, freshwater resources’ preservation has [...] Read more.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore water-related risks and challenges, as well as water management opportunities, in the modern globalised production landscape from an end-to-end supply chain perspective. As environmentally sensitive consumers press for water-friendly products, freshwater resources’ preservation has emerged as a major challenge for leading corporations that are incorporating water management initiatives into their social responsibility agendas to foster the sustainability of their supply chain networks. With respect to the scientific community, although research on water footprint assessment is increasing rapidly, the lack of a systemic integration of the water footprint aspect into the whole spectrum of the supply chain operations is evident. In this context, this Special Issue focuses on the investigation of the impact of water stewardship policies on water use and scarcity minimisation, sustainability performance and supply chain configuration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Footprint in Supply Chain Management)

7 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Knowledge Management, Innovation and Big Data: Implications for Sustainability, Policy Making and Competitiveness

by Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos and Miltiadis Lytras

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2073; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062073 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5747

Abstract

This Special Issue of Sustainability devoted to the topic of “Knowledge Management, Innovation and Big Data: Implications for Sustainability, Policy Making and Competitiveness” attracted exponential attention of scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers from all over the world. Locating themselves at the expanding cross-section of [...] Read more.

This Special Issue of Sustainability devoted to the topic of “Knowledge Management, Innovation and Big Data: Implications for Sustainability, Policy Making and Competitiveness” attracted exponential attention of scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers from all over the world. Locating themselves at the expanding cross-section of the uses of sophisticated information and communication technology (ICT) and insights from social science and engineering, all papers included in this Special Issue contribute to the opening of new avenues of research in the field of innovation, knowledge management, and big data. By triggering a lively debate on diverse challenges that companies are exposed to today, this Special Issue offers an in-depth, informative, well-structured, comparative insight into the most salient developments shaping the corresponding fields of research and policymaking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Knowledge Management, Innovation and Big Data: Implications for Sustainability, Policy Making and Competitiveness)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

12 pages, 2894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Regional Food and Energy Production under Limited Water Availability through Integrated Modeling

by Junlian Gao, Xiangyang Xu, Guiying Cao, Yurii M. Ermoliev, Tatiana Y. Ermolieva and Elena A. Rovenskaya

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061689 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4910

Abstract

Across the world, human activity is approaching planetary boundaries. In northwest China, in particular, the coal industry and agriculture are competing for key limited inputs of land and water. In this situation, the traditional approach to planning the development of each sector independently [...] Read more.

Across the world, human activity is approaching planetary boundaries. In northwest China, in particular, the coal industry and agriculture are competing for key limited inputs of land and water. In this situation, the traditional approach to planning the development of each sector independently fails to deliver sustainable solutions, as solutions made in sectorial ‘silos’ are often suboptimal for the entire economy. We propose a spatially detailed cost-minimizing model for coal and agricultural production in a region under constraints on land and water availability. We apply the model to the case study of Shanxi province, China. We show how such an integrated optimization, which takes maximum advantage of the spatial heterogeneity in resource abundance, could help resolve the conflicts around the water–food–energy (WFE) nexus and assist in its management. We quantify the production-possibility frontiers under different water-availability scenarios and demonstrate that in water-scarce regions, like Shanxi, the production capacity and corresponding production solutions are highly sensitive to water constraints. The shadow prices estimated in the model could be the basis for intelligent differentiated water pricing, not only to enable the water-resource transfer between agriculture and the coal industry, and across regions, but also to achieve cost-effective WFE management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical issues on Agri-food System Management: Addressing Complexity in Present and Future Challenges)

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20 pages, 1933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Information Framework for Facilitating Cost Saving of Environmental Impacts in the Coal Mining Industry in South Africa

by Mashudu D. Mbedzi, Huibrecht M. Van der Poll and John A. Van der Poll

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061690 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7085

Abstract

Coal-mining contributes much to the economic welfare of a country. Yet it brings along a number of challenges, notably environmental impacts which include water pollution in a water scarce country such as South Africa. This research is conducted in two phases. The first [...] Read more.

Coal-mining contributes much to the economic welfare of a country. Yet it brings along a number of challenges, notably environmental impacts which include water pollution in a water scarce country such as South Africa. This research is conducted in two phases. The first phase intends to establish environmental and other challenges brought about by the coal-mining industry through a comprehensive analysis of available literature. Combatting these challenges is costly; consequently, our work investigates how established management accounting tools and techniques such as Environmental Management Accounting (EMA), Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) may facilitate cost savings for the companies involved. These techniques promote increased transparency of material usage by tracing and quantifying the flows and inventories of materials within the coal-mining industry in physical and monetary terms, hence hidden costs are elicited. The researchers postulate that an Information Framework integrating these aspects may be the way forward. To this end existing frameworks in the literature are identified. A number of research questions embodying the above aspects are defined and the objective is to define a conceptual framework to facilitate cost savings for coal-mining companies. The main contribution of this work is an information framework presented towards the end of this article. The second phase of the research will involve fieldwork in the form of a survey among stakeholders in industry to validate the conceptual framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Sustainable Competitive Strategies)

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16 pages, 971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Step Inflation Prediction with Functional Coefficient Autoregressive Model

by Man Wang, Kun Chen, Qin Luo and Chao Cheng

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061691 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3805

Abstract

Forecasting inflation rate is one of the most important topics in finance and economics. In recent years, China has stepped into a “New Normal” stage of economic development, with a different state from the fast growth period during the past few decades. Hence, [...] Read more.

Forecasting inflation rate is one of the most important topics in finance and economics. In recent years, China has stepped into a “New Normal” stage of economic development, with a different state from the fast growth period during the past few decades. Hence, forecasting the inflation rate of China with a time-varying model may give high accuracy. In this paper, we investigate the problem of forecasting the inflation rate with a functional coefficient autoregressive (FAR) model, which allows the coefficient to change over time. We compare the FAR model based on the B-splines estimation method with the autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model by extensive simulation studies. In addition, with the monthly CPI data of China, we conduct both in-sample analysis and out-of-sample forecasting. The forecasting result shows that the FAR model based on the B-splines estimation method has a better performance than the ARMA model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics)

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11 pages, 532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness of Government Subsidies on Manufacturing Innovation: Evidence from the New Energy Vehicle Industry in China

by Cailou Jiang, Ying Zhang, Maoliang Bu and Weishu Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1692; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061692 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 10472

Abstract

Manufacturing innovation is of strategic importance to China in its effort to reshape future technology. This study explores the impact of government subsidies on the research and development (R&D) intensity of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) enterprises. The dynamic relationship between government subsidies [...] Read more.

Manufacturing innovation is of strategic importance to China in its effort to reshape future technology. This study explores the impact of government subsidies on the research and development (R&D) intensity of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) enterprises. The dynamic relationship between government subsidies and R&D intensity is tested with a panel regression model and a threshold regression model. We find that government subsidies have a significantly positive impact on R&D intensity when considering the sample group as a whole, but market profit does not contribute to R&D intensity. As for the sub-sample, government subsidies have a significantly positive impact on R&D intensity in assembly enterprises but are insignificant in supporting enterprises. Two threshold values are also identified with the logarithm of government subsidy. We find that government subsidies have a significant crowding in effect on the R&D intensity of NEV enterprises. With the increasing of government subsidy, the crowding in effect weakens gradually. The policy implication is that the structure of government subsidies should be optimized. More demand-oriented policy instruments should be adopted to cultivate the market. The government subsidies should be reduced gradually until full withdrawal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transition from China-Made to China-Innovation )

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17 pages, 1994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Embodied Environmental Impacts of Korean Apartment Buildings Considering Major Building Materials

by Seungjun Roh, Sungho Tae and Rakhyun Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1693; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061693 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4832

Abstract

Because the reduction in environmental impacts (EIs) of buildings using life-cycle assessment (LCA) has been emphasized as a practical strategy for the sustainable development of the construction industry, studies are required to analyze not only the operational environmental impacts (OEIs) of buildings, but [...] Read more.

Because the reduction in environmental impacts (EIs) of buildings using life-cycle assessment (LCA) has been emphasized as a practical strategy for the sustainable development of the construction industry, studies are required to analyze not only the operational environmental impacts (OEIs) of buildings, but also the embodied environmental impacts (EEIs) of building materials. This study aims to analyze the EEIs of Korean apartment buildings on the basis of major building materials as part of research with the goal of reducing the EIs of buildings. For this purpose, six types of building materials (ready-mixed concrete, reinforcement steel, concrete bricks, glass, insulation, and gypsum) for apartment buildings were selected as major building materials, and their inputs per unit area according to the structure types and plans of apartment buildings were derived by analyzing the design and bills of materials of 443 apartment buildings constructed in South Korea. In addition, a life-cycle scenario including the production, construction, maintenance, and end-of-life stage was constructed for each major building material. The EEIs of the apartment buildings were quantitatively assessed by applying the life-cycle inventory database (LCI DB) and the Korean life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) method based on damage-oriented modeling (KOLID), and the results were analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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22 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Dedicated Knowledge Base of a Transformation towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy

by Sophie Urmetzer, Michael P. Schlaile, Kristina B. Bogner, Matthias Mueller and Andreas Pyka

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061694 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7938

Abstract

The transformation towards a knowledge-based bioeconomy has the potential to serve as a contribution to a more sustainable future. Yet, until now, bioeconomy policies have been only insufficiently linked to concepts of sustainability transformations. This article aims to create such link by combining [...] Read more.

The transformation towards a knowledge-based bioeconomy has the potential to serve as a contribution to a more sustainable future. Yet, until now, bioeconomy policies have been only insufficiently linked to concepts of sustainability transformations. This article aims to create such link by combining insights from innovation systems (IS) research and transformative sustainability science. For a knowledge-based bioeconomy to successfully contribute to sustainability transformations, the IS’ focus must be broadened beyond techno-economic knowledge. We propose to also include systems knowledge, normative knowledge, and transformative knowledge in research and policy frameworks for a sustainable knowledge-based bioeconomy (SKBBE). An exploration of the characteristics of this extended, “dedicated” knowledge will eventually aid policymakers in formulating more informed transformation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Transition Towards a Bio-Based Economy: New Technologies, New Products, New Policies)

24 pages, 2813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bridging the Gaps for a ‘Circular’ Bioeconomy: Selection Criteria, Bio-Based Value Chain and Stakeholder Mapping

by Kadambari Lokesh, Luana Ladu and Louise Summerton

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061695 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 90 | Viewed by 22508

Abstract

Bio-products and bio-based value chains have been identified as one of the most promising pathways to attaining a resource-efficient circular economy. Such a “valorization and value-addition” approach incorporates an intricate network of processes and actors, contributing to socio-economic growth, environmental benefits and technological [...] Read more.

Bio-products and bio-based value chains have been identified as one of the most promising pathways to attaining a resource-efficient circular economy. Such a “valorization and value-addition” approach incorporates an intricate network of processes and actors, contributing to socio-economic growth, environmental benefits and technological advances. In the present age of limited time and funding models to achieve ambitious sustainable development targets, whilst mitigating climate change, a systematic approach employing two-tier multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) can be useful in supporting the identification of promising bio-based value chains, that are significant to the EU plans for the bio-economy. Their identification is followed by an elaborate mapping of their value chains to visualize/foresee the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges attributable to those bio-based value chains. To demonstrate this methodology, a systematic review of 12 bio-based value chains, prevalent in the EU, sourcing their starting material from biomass and bio-waste, has been undertaken. The selected value chains are mapped to visualize the linkages and interactions between the different stages, chain actors, employed conversion routes, product application and existing/potential end-of-life options. This approach will help chain-actors, particularly investors and policy-makers, understand the complexities of such multi-actor systems and make informed decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Transition Towards a Bio-Based Economy: New Technologies, New Products, New Policies)

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9 pages, 2537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Growing Urbanization and the Impact on Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) Dynamics

by Lijian Han, Weiqi Zhou and Weifeng Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1696; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061696 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3994

Abstract

Changes in urban air quality and its relationship with growing urbanization provide an important insight into urban development strategies. Thus, we collected remotely sensed PM_2.5 concentrations, as well as urban population datasets, and analyzed the scaling relationship between changes in urban population [...] Read more.

Changes in urban air quality and its relationship with growing urbanization provide an important insight into urban development strategies. Thus, we collected remotely sensed PM_2.5 concentrations, as well as urban population datasets, and analyzed the scaling relationship between changes in urban population and concentrations of PM_2.5. The majority of large cities in North America and Europe had PM_2.5 concentrations which decreased significantly. Only 2.0% of large cities in the U.S. were found to have significant positive trends. PM_2.5 concentration trends of less than 0.5 μg/m³·year were found in all large cities of Africa and Latin America. However, PM_2.5 concentration trends of more than 1.0 μg/m³·year were found in 56.7% of the large cities in Asia, where only 2.3% of the cities in China were found with significant negative trends, and no cities in India were found with significant negative trends. Large cities in Asia were found with contributions of 4.12 ± 4.27 μg/m³·year per million people, particularly large cities in China (5.40 ± 4.80 μg/m³·year per million people) and India (4.07 ± 3.07 μg/m³·year per million people). Significant negative or positive relationships were obtained between PM_2.5 trends and population change rates in large cities of North America (R² = 0.9195, p < 0.05) or Europe (R² = 0.9161, p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant inverse “U-type” relationship (R² = 0.8065, p < 0.05) was found between PM_2.5 trends and population change rates in large cities of Asia. In addition, the positive or negative relationships between the trends in population and PM_2.5 were obtained in typical low- and mid-income countries (e.g., China and India) or high-income countries (e.g., USA), respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bridging Humanitarian Responses and Long-Term Development through Transformative Changes—Some Initial Reflections from the World Bank’s Adaptive Social Protection Program in the Sahel

by Christophe Béné, Alex Cornelius and Fanny Howland

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061697 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 9310

Abstract

In the context of increasing climate-related extreme events and other crises, the concept of adaptive social protection (ASP) has been recognized as a potentially effective policy response to reduce the impacts of these shocks and stressors on vulnerable households. The concept is currently [...] Read more.

In the context of increasing climate-related extreme events and other crises, the concept of adaptive social protection (ASP) has been recognized as a potentially effective policy response to reduce the impacts of these shocks and stressors on vulnerable households. The concept is currently being tested at scale by the World Bank in six countries in the Sahel region. Based on conceptual considerations, this paper aims to address three questions: How and to what extent can adaptive social protection be considered transformative? Where does this concept sit along the humanitarian–development continuum? And, how does it relate to resilience? To answer these questions the paper draws on the authors’ exposure to the on-going World Bank ASP program, as well as documents derived from the emerging body of literature on climate- and shock-responsive social protection. Drawing on these different materials the paper first demonstrates that ASP can effectively be considered as a transformative intervention at two different levels: at the system level and at the beneficiaries’ level. The paper also shows how, through its activities designed to strengthen households’ adaptive capacity, an ASP program can contribute to building resilience beyond the short-term coping strategies which humanitarian interventions generally focus on. As such ASP covers a larger spectrum along the humanitarian–development continuum than most other interventions proposed in the context of shock-responsive interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transforming Development and Disaster Risk)

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17 pages, 377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Contribution of Bioeconomy to the Total Economy: A Review of National Frameworks

by Stefania Bracco, Ozgul Calicioglu, Marta Gomez San Juan and Alessandro Flammini

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061698 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 164 | Viewed by 12656

Abstract

Developments in technology have enabled envisioning the derivation of materials and products from renewable biomass as an alternative to finite fossil-based resource consumption. Therefore, bioeconomy is regarded as an opportunity for sustainable economic growth. Countries are formulating strategies in accordance with their goals [...] Read more.

Developments in technology have enabled envisioning the derivation of materials and products from renewable biomass as an alternative to finite fossil-based resource consumption. Therefore, bioeconomy is regarded as an opportunity for sustainable economic growth. Countries are formulating strategies in accordance with their goals to attain a bioeconomy. Proper measurement, monitoring, and reporting of the outcomes of these strategies are crucial for long-term success. This study aims to critically evaluate the national methods used for the measurement, monitoring, and reporting of bioeconomy contribution to the total economy. For this purpose, research and surveys have been conducted on selected countries (Argentina, Germany, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States). The results reveal that the bioeconomy targets set up in the strategies often reflect the country’s priorities and comparative advantages. However, comprehensive approaches to measure and monitor bioeconomy progress are frequently lacking. Most countries only measure the contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), turnover, and employment of the sectors included in their bioeconomy definition, which may provide an incomplete picture. In addition, this study identifies the mismatch between the targets and measurement methods, as the environmental and social impacts of bioeconomy are often foreseen, but not measured. It is concluded that existing global efforts towards sustainable bioeconomy monitoring can be strengthened and leveraged to measure progress towards sustainable goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Transition Towards a Bio-Based Economy: New Technologies, New Products, New Policies)

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26 pages, 2870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrogen Supply Chains for Mobility—Environmental and Economic Assessment

by Christina Wulf and Martin Kaltschmitt

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061699 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 97 | Viewed by 11365

Abstract

Hydrogen mobility is one option for reducing local emissions, avoiding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and moving away from a mainly oil-based transport system towards a diversification of energy sources. As hydrogen production can be based on a broad variety of technologies already existing [...] Read more.

Hydrogen mobility is one option for reducing local emissions, avoiding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and moving away from a mainly oil-based transport system towards a diversification of energy sources. As hydrogen production can be based on a broad variety of technologies already existing or under development, a comprehensive assessment of the different supply chains is necessary regarding not only costs but also diverse environmental impacts. Therefore, in this paper, a broad variety of hydrogen production technologies using different energy sources, renewable and fossil, are exemplarily assessed with the help of a Life Cycle Assessment and a cost assessment for Germany. As environmental impacts, along with the impact category Climate change, five more advanced impact categories are assessed. The results show that from an environmental point of view, PEM and alkaline electrolysis are characterized by the lowest results in five out of six impact categories. Supply chains using fossil fuels, in contrast, have the lowest supply costs; this is true, e.g., for steam methane reforming. Solar powered hydrogen production shows low impacts during hydrogen production but high impacts for transport and distribution to Germany. There is no single supply chain that is the most promising for every aspect assessed here. Either costs have to be lowered further or supply chains with selected environmental impacts have to be modified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen Production and Utilization)

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27 pages, 2091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Making Model and AHP Weighting Uncertainty Analysis for Sustainability Assessment of Coal-Fired Power Units

by Dianfa Wu, Zhiping Yang, Ningling Wang, Chengzhou Li and Yongping Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061700 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5119

Abstract

The transformation of the power generation industry from coal-based to more sustainable energy sources is an irreversible trend. In China, the coal-fired power plant, as the main electric power supply facility at present, needs to know its own sustainability level to face the [...] Read more.

The transformation of the power generation industry from coal-based to more sustainable energy sources is an irreversible trend. In China, the coal-fired power plant, as the main electric power supply facility at present, needs to know its own sustainability level to face the future competition. A hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model is proposed in this paper to assess the sustainability levels of the existing Chinese coal-fired power units. The areal grey relational analysis (AGRA) method is involved in the hybrid model, and a combined weighting method is used to determine the priorities of the criteria. The combining weight fuses the fuzzy rough set (FRS) and entropy objective weighting method together with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) subjective weighting method by game theory. Moreover, an AHP weighting uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is introduced to measure the uncertainty of the results, and a 95 percent confidence interval (CI) is defined as the uncertainty measurement of the alternatives. A case study about eight coal-fired power units is carried out with a criteria system, which contains five aspects in an operational perspective, such as the flexibility, economic, environmental, reliability and technical criterion. The sustainability assessment is performed at the unit level, and the results give a priority rank of the eight alternatives; additionally, the uncertainty analysis supplies the extra information from a statistical perspective. This work expands a novel hybrid MCDM method to the sustainability assessment of the power generation systems, and it may be a benefit to the energy enterprises in assessing the sustainability at the unit level and enhance its ability in future sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Systems: From Primary to End-Use)

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23 pages, 7633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Defining Priority Land Covers that Secure the Livelihoods of Urban and Rural People in Ethiopia: a Case Study Based on Citizens’ Preferences

by Marine Elbakidze, Mersha Gebrehiwot, Per Angelstam, Taras Yamelynets and Diana Surová

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061701 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4656

Abstract

Securing land management systems that maintain land covers is important for sustaining human livelihoods in Africa; however, simultaneously maintaining a viable natural environment is a serious challenge. Aggravated by rapid population growth and biodiversity loss, Ethiopia is an illustrative example of this issue. [...] Read more.

Securing land management systems that maintain land covers is important for sustaining human livelihoods in Africa; however, simultaneously maintaining a viable natural environment is a serious challenge. Aggravated by rapid population growth and biodiversity loss, Ethiopia is an illustrative example of this issue. Stressing the need for a bottom–up stakeholder perspective, we identify and map land covers that deliver multiple ecosystem services that are important for the livelihoods of rural and urban citizens in the southern part of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley. First, we interviewed 400 urban and rural residents to identify the land covers that deliver desired ecosystem services in three agroecological zones, representing a steep gradient in the livelihood conditions. Second, to support the inclusion of priority land covers in spatial planning, we located spatial concentrations of individual land covers providing bundles of desired ecosystem services. The majority of urban respondents selected homegarden agroforestry (92% of respondents from this group), freshwater lake (82%), river (70%), agroforestry shade-grown coffee (65%), natural old-growth forest (59%), rural settlement (52%), Afromontane undifferentiated forest (52%), and urban areas (73%) as important for their livelihood. In contrast, the majority of rural respondents selected three land covers: homegarden agroforestry (80% of respondents from this group), agroforestry shade-grown coffee (58%), and urban areas (65%). To maintain the identified natural and semi-natural priority land covers, at least two land management strategies are crucial to sustain the provision of ecosystem services for the livelihoods of both urban and rural people, and biodiversity conservation: (1) maintaining traditional agroforestry land-use practices, and (2) enhancing the protection and sustainable management of natural forest ecosystems. Additionally, integrated spatial planning is needed that considers both rural local community-based resource management that focuses on local needs for employment and products, and global demands to conserve biodiversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation and Sustainable Management of Land)

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18 pages, 2471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Further Widening or Bridging the Gap? A Cross-Regional Study of Unemployment across the EU Amid Economic Crisis

by George Grekousis

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061702 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3812

Abstract

The 2008 global economic crisis led to a sharp increase in unemployment with an estimated 210 million people being unemployed worldwide by 2010. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution of unemployment in the European Union (EU) at a cross-regional level between 2008 and [...] Read more.

The 2008 global economic crisis led to a sharp increase in unemployment with an estimated 210 million people being unemployed worldwide by 2010. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution of unemployment in the European Union (EU) at a cross-regional level between 2008 and 2013 to identify if spatio-temporal patterns of unemployment exist, and if the European regions have suffered similarly during the study period. Various local spatial autocorrelation techniques are applied and results show that unemployment is highly polarized across the EU regions. Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece are experiencing high rates of unemployment forming clusters in space and time. By contrast, Germany, Austria, and nearby regions are more resilient to the economic crisis strains thus creating spatial clusters of low rates of unemployment. Spatial autocorrelation increased considerably in 2013 compared to 2008, indicating further polarization of unemployment and a widening gap between the south and the central-north, showcasing that the severe austerity measures imposed in the beginning of the crisis on some countries did not have any positive effect on unemployment mitigation. The paper also discusses interesting cross-regional patterns to assist policymakers and planners to better understand how high rates of unemployment are spreading geographically and thus take preventive measures to alleviate the implications of the phenomenon. The proposed analysis delves deeper into comprehending geographies of change, and related findings can support spatial planning for achieving society’s sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GISc Contributions to the Study and Understanding of Geographies of Change)

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19 pages, 30927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Built Form and Community Building in Residential Neighbourhoods: A Case Study of Physical Distance in Subiaco, Western Australia

by Abu Yousuf Swapan, Joo Hwa Bay and Dora Marinova

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061703 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5843

Abstract

With physical and social aspects being inseparable within urban environments, design for sustainability needs to include the link between the distance and sense of community. However, only a few studies examine residential suburbs and specifically focus on the physical and social interactions occurring [...] Read more.

With physical and social aspects being inseparable within urban environments, design for sustainability needs to include the link between the distance and sense of community. However, only a few studies examine residential suburbs and specifically focus on the physical and social interactions occurring within the streets and adjacent to them spaces, such as verges, sidewalks and front yards. Using a case study method, including observation and a perception-based survey in the inner-city suburb of Subiaco in Perth, Western Australia, this investigation opens up a new understanding of physical distance and social interaction. It develops a novel typology of physical distances and social closeness within a residential neighbourhood which allows better conceptualising the sense of community for achieving integrated sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Built Environment)

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16 pages, 437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumers’ Preferences and Derived Willingness-to-Pay for Water Supply Safety Improvement: The Analysis of Pricing and Incentive Strategies

by Jia Wang, Jiaoju Ge and Zhifeng Gao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061704 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6450

Abstract

With increasing water supply accidents and higher water demand, urban water supply safety (WSS) remains a crucial public policy issue in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) and their preferences to improve WSS in China, to [...] Read more.

With increasing water supply accidents and higher water demand, urban water supply safety (WSS) remains a crucial public policy issue in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) and their preferences to improve WSS in China, to support governments in water regulation policy design and water providers in investment-decisions. A discrete choice experiment method with the consideration of not only attributes of WSS but also attitudinal and demographic variables have been adopted to assess consumers’ WTP and preferences for WSS improvement. The results show that Chinese urban residents are willing to pay a significantly higher price for improved WSS. Demonstrated marginal mean WTP for the change of the attributes range from 0.18 RMB/m³ (0.03 USD/m³) (1 RMB was around 0.154 USD in 2016) for decreased water supply interruption to 2.33 Yuan RMB/m³ (0.35 USD/m³) for improved drinking water quality. Investments in water processing facilities and water distribution networks should come first. Cross-subsidy concerning different developing districts is the most efficient policy instrument. The study contributes to the recent literature not only by introducing attitudinal variables in choice experiment survey in water supply field, but also by revealing the correlation of choice modeling applications in WSS improvement programs. Full article

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18 pages, 8975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Who Manages Space? Eco-DRR and the Local Community

by Syarifah Aini Dalimunthe

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061705 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6639

Abstract

The notion of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) has only recently emerged in Indonesia. The Indonesian central government now adopts some policies related to ecosystem-based DRR with formal commitments from local administrations. At the implementation level, various activities have taken place, such as [...] Read more.

The notion of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) has only recently emerged in Indonesia. The Indonesian central government now adopts some policies related to ecosystem-based DRR with formal commitments from local administrations. At the implementation level, various activities have taken place, such as mangrove planting and restoration along the coastline to address the rising sea level and the “one billion trees” program to address the urgent issue of deforestation. These governmental activities have involved local communities that reside in the high-risk area, while nonlocal actors, particularly from the private and the nongovernmental sectors, have contributed as a third element to development. This paper examines space management in the context of Eco-DRR, paying special attention to uncertainty and anxiety in the local communities as the government and private sectors engage in development activities that have significant impacts on their present and future lives. The present study pursues this purpose by means of in-depth interview and focus group discussions (FGD) with local leaders in mangrove planting and restoration programs. The study took place in a small island community in a part of the Jakarta Megapolitan Region, Indonesia. The results point out that the community feels left behind due to lack of trust in managing the conservation space. Another issue to be addressed is how to improve the democratization of environment management and livelihood base of the local community. Therefore, building confidence and ameliorating relationships between actors within/without the local community should lead to a better Eco-DRR initiative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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15 pages, 959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between the Knowledge Economy and Global Competitiveness in the European Union

by Alina Mihaela Dima, Liviu Begu, Maria Denisa Vasilescu and Maria Alexandra Maassen

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1706; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061706 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 10294

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to study the influence of various indicators related to the knowledge economy on country competitiveness in the European Union (EU). Based on the Pearson coefficient and panel-data regression models, we analyzed the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) [...] Read more.

The main purpose of this paper is to study the influence of various indicators related to the knowledge economy on country competitiveness in the European Union (EU). Based on the Pearson coefficient and panel-data regression models, we analyzed the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) in relation to research and development (R&D) expenditure (as a % of gross domestic product (GDP)), percentage of population with tertiary education, lifelong learning, GDP per capita, and debt to equity. The findings highlighted the crucial role of both innovation and education as determinants of EU competitiveness and economic convergence. The development of EU policies regarding the lifelong learning possibilities of the European workforce and the focus on research and development activities can significantly contribute to the competiveness of EU member states. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Entrepreneurship and Technological Development in Self-Sustainable Economies)

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23 pages, 2937 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Contrasting Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Pine Plantations in the Páramo Ecosystem of Ecuador

by Carlos Quiroz Dahik, Patricio Crespo, Bernd Stimm, Felipe Murtinho, Michael Weber and Patrick Hildebrandt

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1707; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061707 - 23 May 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5216

Abstract

The páramo, a collection of Neotropical alpine ecosystems, plays a prominent role in ecosystem services (ESs), providing water supply and regulation, conservation of biodiversity, and carbon storage in soil. The establishment of pine plantations for carbon sequestration and wood production has recently [...] Read more.

The páramo, a collection of Neotropical alpine ecosystems, plays a prominent role in ecosystem services (ESs), providing water supply and regulation, conservation of biodiversity, and carbon storage in soil. The establishment of pine plantations for carbon sequestration and wood production has recently raised questions concerning the possible impact on the páramo’s ES. This study identifies the main stakeholders in this field and compares and contrasts their perceptions of the impact of pine plantations on the páramo’s ES, because the disparity among stakeholders’ perceptions must be addressed to achieve sustainable management. The data were gathered using 56 semi-structured interviews and were qualitatively analyzed. The results show that the main stakeholder groups (landowners, local government officials, foresters, and nature conservationists) acknowledge the important ES of the plantations. The perception of plantation impact varies among and within stakeholder groups, however, on specific functions, such as water provision, carbon storage, erosion prevention, and habitat function for wildlife and natural vegetation. Consideration and integration of these perceptions can help policy makers and organizations develop sustainable policies for the future management of the páramo ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

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18 pages, 1239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) Affect the performance of megaprojects? Insights from a System Dynamic Simulation

by Ting Wang, Qinghua He, Yujie Lu and Delei Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1708; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061708 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6432

Abstract

As one of the emerging research fields of sustainability management, Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), especially its influence on project performance, has been drawing increased attention both in the academic and industrial areas. Nevertheless, existing studies mainly examine the static relationship between OCB and [...] Read more.

As one of the emerging research fields of sustainability management, Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), especially its influence on project performance, has been drawing increased attention both in the academic and industrial areas. Nevertheless, existing studies mainly examine the static relationship between OCB and project performance but fail to explore the dynamic characteristic of the relationship as a project may evolve and proceed over the time. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the dynamic impacts of OCB on the performance of megaprojects with the assistance of a system dynamic model. Four causal feedback loops and a stock-flow diagram were developed to illustrate the dynamic influencing mechanism, and three distinct policies quantitatively simulated the possible impacts arising from the changes of OCB on the whole system and, specifically, on the performance megaproject. The results show that an increase in the AIRPP (actual increasing rate of potential promotion) exerts significant influence on the improvement in OCB and the performance of megaprojects. The higher the AIRPP in the multi-policy scenario, the higher the OCB and the performance. One major contribution is that this study is one of the first studies to explore the potential use of system dynamics to model megaproject organizational behavior and its performance with implications in both the practical and cultural promotion of OCB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development and Management of Mega Projects)

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14 pages, 466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of International Entrepreneurial Orientation in Successful Internationalization from the Network Capability Perspective

by Junghyun Yoon, Ki Keun Kim and Alisher Tohirovich Dedahanov

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061709 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 6837

Abstract

Purpose/Research Question: In general, networks have played a role in improving innovation, and early-stage companies adopt an entrepreneurial orientation to secure competitiveness. In other words, the companies would like to penetrate global markets due to the CEO’s international entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, by [...] Read more.

Purpose/Research Question: In general, networks have played a role in improving innovation, and early-stage companies adopt an entrepreneurial orientation to secure competitiveness. In other words, the companies would like to penetrate global markets due to the CEO’s international entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, by utilizing their networks, the companies would like to improve their international performance. Relatively few studies have been devoted to investigating the empirical relationships between entrepreneurial orientation, networks, and international performance. In particular, technology-based firms are one of the best samples. Therefore, this study aims to explore the characteristics of the firms and then investigate comprehensively and empirically the relationships between international entrepreneurial orientation, networks, and international performance, based on data from technology-based firms in South Korea. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study analyzes data from technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using structural equation modeling (SEM). It assumes that networks will play a moderating role in the relationships between international entrepreneurial orientation and international performance. We carried out the survey after conducting interviews with CEOs of SMEs. Findings/Results: International entrepreneurial orientation has a significant effect on international performance. Moreover, the stronger the networks that SMEs have with other stakeholders such as universities, industries, and technoparks, the higher their international performance. With stronger networks, tech-based SMEs have easier access to useful technologies and hence better international performance. Research Limitations/Implications: There are some limitations to this study. First of all, the study relied heavily on quantitative methods, such as surveys. This approach is inadequate for considering individuals’ in-depth opinions. Therefore, future research utilizing both qualitative and quantitative measures needs to be carried out. Second, this study has some academic limitations. In fact, this study considered restricted factors regarding innovation and networks; thus it is necessary to evaluate other variables such as environmental factors (e.g., regulations or support policies) that might be significantly associated with networks and innovation hereafter. Finally, due to the fact that this study was focused on SMEs, it is difficult to generalize the above results. However, this study implies that stronger network ties improve international performance, thus SMEs must establish and reinforce networks to improve the performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Economy, Society, and Environment in the 4th Industrial Revolution)

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15 pages, 1928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Giving Meaning to the Concept of Sustainability in Architectural Design Practices: Setting Out the Analytical Framework of Translation

by Torsten Schroeder

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1710; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061710 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7223

Abstract

The question of how to give meaning to the concept of sustainability in architectural design practices is highly contested today. Although architects, engineers, clients, politicians, and others seem to agree that sustainability must be addressed, behind this apparent consensus many ambiguities, contradictions, and [...] Read more.

The question of how to give meaning to the concept of sustainability in architectural design practices is highly contested today. Although architects, engineers, clients, politicians, and others seem to agree that sustainability must be addressed, behind this apparent consensus many ambiguities, contradictions, and open questions emerge. Opinions largely vary on how to define the sustainability challenges that architectural design is to respond to, how to align the various stakeholders involved, which scales and elements to consider, and how to transform these questions into design strategies, spatial configurations, and materiality of buildings. These practices cannot be confined merely to technological problem-solving as they essentially mesh a range of cognitive, social, cultural, and material elements. This article draws on the interdisciplinary field of Science and Technology Studies (STS) to set out the transferable analytical framework of ‘translation’ through which to explain how the concept of sustainability is continuously transformed within contingent, complex, and dynamic architectural design practices as buildings materialize. The framework of translation is particularly well adapted to unpack claims, make them more accountable, and thereby support the larger project of sustainability. Full article

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16 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Key Factors Affecting Informed Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Green Housing: A Case Study of Jinan, China

by Lin Zhang, Liwen Chen, Zezhou Wu, Hong Xue and Wenlin Dong

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1711; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061711 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6413

Abstract

In recent years, the issues of large energy consumption and degraded living environments have attracted considerable attention in developed and developing countries. Hence, green housing (GH) has become a popular strategy for achieving sustainable urbanization. The demand in the GH market played an [...] Read more.

In recent years, the issues of large energy consumption and degraded living environments have attracted considerable attention in developed and developing countries. Hence, green housing (GH) has become a popular strategy for achieving sustainable urbanization. The demand in the GH market played an important role in promoting GH. In China, whether potential consumers will pay for GH remains unclear. In this circumstance, this study aims to explore the willingness of construction practitioners, who are regarded to have more knowledge concerning GH, to pay for GH in China. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), nine critical factors related to practitioners’ willingness to pay (WTP) were examined through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire survey. A total of 180 construction participants in Jinan were investigated in this study. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the collected data. The research finding revealed that only 68 respondents were willing to pay for GH. Four factors showed significant and positive influences in practitioners’ WTP, including environmental awareness, GH comfort, government incentive, and neighbors’/friends’ assessment. By contrast, GH price displayed a significant and negative influence in practitioners’ WTP. The remaining factors, namely, mature GH market, degree of popularity, publicity of GH from developers, and GH affordability, showed insignificant relationships with the practitioners’ WTP. The research findings can provide a helpful reference for policy makers to formulate effective incentive policies in the promotion of GH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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12 pages, 723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barriers to Sustainable Food Trade: China’s Exports Food Rejected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2011–2017

by Xiaowei Wen, Zhaohui Yang, Hui Dong, Xinqiang Fan and Yong Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061712 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6157

Abstract

Food export rejection can be a harmful barrier to sustainable international food trade. To understand China’s export food rejected by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of the United States, we analyzed 4047 cases of rejection from February 2011 to July 2017. Although the [...] Read more.

Food export rejection can be a harmful barrier to sustainable international food trade. To understand China’s export food rejected by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of the United States, we analyzed 4047 cases of rejection from February 2011 to July 2017. Although the number of rejected food exported from China to the United States has been declining, and the quality has been improving, there is still space for improvement. Of the 4047 cases of rejection, the Guangdong, Fujian and Shandong provinces were the top three with the largest number of rejected food (1253 (31%), 520 (12.8%), and 508 (12.6%), respectively) (being rejected mainly in New York and Los Angeles). The top four types of rejected food involved fruits and vegetables, fishery and seafood products, bakery products, grain and related processed products. More importantly, the major reasons for rejection can be attributed to problems in maintaining food safety, namely: (1) the food contained filth, decay, decomposition or other substances; (2), the food contained toxic and harmful substances (e.g., suspected melamine, chemical insecticides, or lead); and (3) the food contained agricultural and veterinary drugs. The results are of great implications for the United States to regulate the imported food from China, and for China to improve the quality and safety of export food. Full article

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16 pages, 926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability in Smart Farms: Its Impact on Performance

by Carmen De-Pablos-Heredero, Jose Luis Montes-Botella and Antón García-Martínez

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061713 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4744

Abstract

In Spain, more than 30% of producers have run out of business because of a lack of sustainability. They search for managerial guidelines that allow them to reach the farm’s economic viability. When trying to improve the performance of farms and farming systems, [...] Read more.

In Spain, more than 30% of producers have run out of business because of a lack of sustainability. They search for managerial guidelines that allow them to reach the farm’s economic viability. When trying to improve the performance of farms and farming systems, a complementary consideration of sustainability dimensions is required. The aim of this paper consists of offering a complementary and integrative approach from the sustainability concept in four different dimensions: economic; technological; organizational; and training in Manchego Cheese Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Sustainability through the putting into practice of some managerial concepts has been able to reach better results and smarter farms. To perform this study, metrics to analyze each of the mentioned dimensions of sustainability have been applied to a sample of 157 farms with the main objective to identify the sustainability dimensions and its impacts on farm’s final results promoting smarter farms. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) has been applied to measure the impact of each dimension of sustainability on final farm’s results. Results reported that the farm’s economic and organizational sustainability have been influenced by the returns on investment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Smart Villages Research)

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15 pages, 986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Farmers’ Markets in Shrinking Cities Contribute to Economic Development? A Case Study from Flint, Michigan

by Victoria Morckel and Kathryn Colasanti

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1714; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061714 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4946

Abstract

We examine the extent to which the Flint Farmers’ Market produces positive spillover effects on nearby businesses in downtown Flint, Michigan. We care about spillover spending in shrinking cities like Flint because farmers’ markets may contribute to growth beyond their boundaries, and thus [...] Read more.

We examine the extent to which the Flint Farmers’ Market produces positive spillover effects on nearby businesses in downtown Flint, Michigan. We care about spillover spending in shrinking cities like Flint because farmers’ markets may contribute to growth beyond their boundaries, and thus help to sustain their surrounding areas. We surveyed visitors of the Flint market to determine the percentage who spend downtown outside of the market, how much they spend, the demographic characteristics that predict spending, and the additional businesses that visitors would like to see in the downtown. We also interviewed downtown business owners and managers to capture their perspectives on the market, including whether its relocation in 2014 helped their businesses. This study differs from prior research on spillover effects because it uses a mixed-methods approach and it explores how the shrinking-city context affects market outcomes. Overall, we find that the Flint market has minimal impact on nearby businesses compared to markets in non-shrinking cities. We discuss the possible reasons why the Flint market under-performs, including potential visitor concerns about crime and a site design that does not promote walking to other destinations. We also discuss how these concerns (e.g., crime, walkability) stem from the shrinking-city context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining the Shrinking City: Concepts, Dynamics and Management)

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14 pages, 2810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can It Be More Real? A Case Study to Present the Authenticity of a Local Heritage District from the Perspective of Regional Spatial Morphology

by Huanxi Zhao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1715; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061715 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3324

Abstract

The discussion of authenticity has become an academic theme of great interest to scholars in the tourism and heritage fields. However, there have been relatively few studies related to the authenticity of the spatial morphology of a historical urban area. This paper is [...] Read more.

The discussion of authenticity has become an academic theme of great interest to scholars in the tourism and heritage fields. However, there have been relatively few studies related to the authenticity of the spatial morphology of a historical urban area. This paper is based on the approach of the theory of “constructive authenticity”, and takes a local historical district heritage in Beijing as an example to analyze the authenticity of the spatial morphology of a particular heritage site. This paper takes into account three aspects: (1) overall layout; (2) street landscape; and (3) the pattern inside the courtyards. It then analyzes the Nanluo area from the perspective of the change in spatial patterns from the past to the present, as an aspect of research on the protection and sustainable development of local historic districts. Through the analysis, it can be seen that from the point of view of spatial morphology, the Nanluo area is distant from its shape in the past, and the main differences are reflected in the above three aspects. It also can be seen that in today’s Nanluo area, the authenticity of the layout that is perceived by tourists is a “constructive authenticity” that has been developed over years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Heritage and Sustainability)

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13 pages, 5810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Performance of a New Type of Fabricated Tie-Column

by Zheng Lu, Hengrui Zhang, Chuanguo Jia and Zhimu Peng

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061716 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3517

Abstract

The reinforced concrete (RC) frames infilled with masonry walls are widely used in buildings. It has been well recognized that the arrangement of tie-columns can improve the wall integrity and seismic performance. However, the existing cast-in-situ tie-column (CSTC) has some problems, and a [...] Read more.

The reinforced concrete (RC) frames infilled with masonry walls are widely used in buildings. It has been well recognized that the arrangement of tie-columns can improve the wall integrity and seismic performance. However, the existing cast-in-situ tie-column (CSTC) has some problems, and a new type of fabricated tie-column (FTC) which can be recycled for secondary use is proposed in this study. Two specimens, the wall constrained by the cast-in-situ tie-columns (W-CSTC) and the wall constrained by the fabricated tie-columns (W-FTC), were designed and constructed. Low cyclic loading tests were carried out and some parameters, such as the failure modes, hysteretic curves and so forth, were used to evaluate the applicability of the FTC. The results show the W-FTC has a certain initial stiffness and strength, favorable deformation capacity, and the FTC can not only enhance the wall integrity to meet the functional requirements of tie-columns, but also solve the connection problems and reduce the adverse effects on the frame structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Various Energy Efficiency Measures on the Thermal and Energy Performance of Buildings)

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36 pages, 6644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Corporate Contributions to the Recovery of Regional Society from the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster

by Rui Fukumoto, Yuji Genda and Mikiko Ishikawa

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1717; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061717 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4281

Abstract

Municipalities in areas along the northeast coast of Japan were severely affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. It was difficult for these municipalities to provide support to all devastated areas. It is important for communities in devastated areas to be resilient in [...] Read more.

Municipalities in areas along the northeast coast of Japan were severely affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. It was difficult for these municipalities to provide support to all devastated areas. It is important for communities in devastated areas to be resilient in order to autonomously and efficiently recover from natural disasters. This study focused on corporations, since they have various resources that can support disaster recovery. A postal questionnaire was sent to 1,020 corporations that included various industry types and small corporations located in Iwanuma and Natori, which were damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The response rate was 39.22%. We analyzed the data using a logistic regression model. The study findings are as follows: (1) a total of 32.75% of corporations provided support for recovery after the disaster; (2) the ratio of corporations that provided actual support was lower than that of those that only had awareness of contributions; (3) the strongest characteristic was having not only awareness but also the opportunity to conduct support activities before the occurrence of disasters to enhance the efficient recovery of regional society; and (4) the characteristics of support differed according to industry type, location, and number of employees under certain conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability of Civil Infrastructures under Extreme Loads)

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21 pages, 29670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Achieving Sustainability of Traditional Wooden Houses in Indonesia by Utilization of Cost-Efficient Waste-Wood Composite

by Meng-Ting Tsai and Anthony Sugiharto Wonodihardjo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1718; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061718 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7778

Abstract

Although Indonesians have for many years used wood to build traditional houses, currently it is difficult to find new traditional houses made from wood. Since wood is too expensive for local people, concrete becomes the major construction material instead. However, wood is considered [...] Read more.

Although Indonesians have for many years used wood to build traditional houses, currently it is difficult to find new traditional houses made from wood. Since wood is too expensive for local people, concrete becomes the major construction material instead. However, wood is considered a sustainable material that is eco-friendly, recyclable, and has less of an environmental impact than concrete. In this study, an innovative and cost efficient waste-wood composite structure was proposed with the intention of fulfilling local demand for the construction of traditional wooden houses, as well as supplying a sustainable and cost-efficient wooden product in the construction sector. Four small pieces of waste wood connected with steel nails or self-tapping screws were assembled into a rectangular waste-wood composite, serving as secondary beam, column, or brace. These waste-wood composites are considered recyclable and low-cost, and provide an alternative solution for local people that achieves an affordable and sustainable construction system. The assembled wood components were tested under single shear in order to clarify the structural performance of connection and the failure modes. The comparison of the experimental results and predicted results showed that the predicted strength is considered in a conservative manner for further application. In addition, the cost estimation and comparison between a solid wood structure and the waste-wood composite structure indicated that the price of the waste-wood composite structure is potentially competitive and cost-efficient for the local people, which was optimistic for future development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing)

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19 pages, 8476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction between Industrial Policy and Stock Price Volatility: Evidence from China’s Power Market Reform

by Ye Fan, Zhicheng Zhang, Xiaoli Zhao and Haitao Yin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061719 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3650

Abstract

This paper examines how China’s power market reform influences the stock price volatility of listed power companies. We use the Iterative Cumulative Sums of Squares (ICSS) algorithm to identify structural breakpoints in stock prices, then analyze the characteristics of stock price volatility based [...] Read more.

This paper examines how China’s power market reform influences the stock price volatility of listed power companies. We use the Iterative Cumulative Sums of Squares (ICSS) algorithm to identify structural breakpoints in stock prices, then analyze the characteristics of stock price volatility based on the GARCH model and report the impact of power regulation on stock price fluctuations based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. Using data on power stock price index followed by industrial policy issued between 2006 and 2012, we find that: (1) three structural breaks in China’s power stock price volatility were related to the promulgation of power market reform policies; (2) industrial policies promote the reduction of power stock price fluctuations and its impact on power stock price volatility is consistent in the long run; and (3) the recent policies related to renewable energy do not have a very significant impact on the power stock market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 843 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Networked Responsibility Approach for Responsible Innovation: Perspective of the Firm

by Jolita Ceicyte and Monika Petraite

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061720 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5218

Abstract

Responsible innovations in the industry gains important attention, however, a better understanding of the interaction of different components with regard to responsible innovation (RI) in the industry is still needed. Moreover, a firm acting in an open innovation regime has to approach the [...] Read more.

Responsible innovations in the industry gains important attention, however, a better understanding of the interaction of different components with regard to responsible innovation (RI) in the industry is still needed. Moreover, a firm acting in an open innovation regime has to approach the responsibility criteria from various stakeholders’ perspectives, include internal and external stakeholders, and execute innovation in a mutually responsible way. This paper builds on the existing and emerging literature on RI in commercial contexts by providing a networked nature of RI and a set of factors that drive RI in a firm that acts in the open innovation regime. The conceptual framework proposes the analysis of a firm’s inner environment (motives for implementing RI, RI practices, and internal stakeholders), outer environment (norms and external stakeholders), and the networked nature of the firm’s internal and outer environment components. Such a distinction enables us to gain a better understanding of which factors play a role inside the firm and what induces the firm to implement RI activities from its outer environment. Also, it helps to better understand the networked nature of the firm and its stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alliances and Network Organizations for Sustainable Development)

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19 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition

by Antonia Proka, Matthijs Hisschemöller and Derk Loorbach

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1721; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061721 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9335

Abstract

In the context of the slowly progressing energy transition, a number of renewable energy initiatives have been emerging in the Netherlands. These initiatives represent alternatives to the dominant functioning of the energy system, and as such, may come into conflict with it. Transitions [...] Read more.

In the context of the slowly progressing energy transition, a number of renewable energy initiatives have been emerging in the Netherlands. These initiatives represent alternatives to the dominant functioning of the energy system, and as such, may come into conflict with it. Transitions involve system destabilisation and conflict between the incumbent regime and the initiatives originating in niches. In order to assess the transformative potential of such initiatives, this paper addresses the question: what kind of conflicts and tensions arise from renewable energy initiatives, and what strategies do they develop to overcome or avoid them? Combined with a business model perspective, transition thinking enabled a better understanding of how the initiatives organise themselves, and where the points of friction with their institutional context emerge. We suggest that the instances of conflict may function as an indication for the state of the energy transition and the transformative potential impact of such initiatives. The instances discussed in this contribution relate to existing support schemes, technology choices, and the overall organisational networks of the emerging sector. Full article

27 pages, 502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Achieving Turkey’s INDC Target: Assessments of NCCAP and INDC Documents and Proposing Conceivable Policies

by Ayla Alkan, Ayla Oğuş Binatlı and Çağaçan Değer

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1722; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061722 - 24 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5234

Abstract

In 2015, Turkey submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) before the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP 21), expressing its intention to decrease emissions level at a rate of 21% from business [...] Read more.

In 2015, Turkey submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) before the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP 21), expressing its intention to decrease emissions level at a rate of 21% from business as usual. This emissions reduction target is important as it is the first one for Turkey. However, Turkey faces unemployment problems and needs to sustain its growth. In this study, an Environmentally Extended Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), based on 2012 Input–Output data, was created, emissions reduction potentials of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) together with the INDC were calculated, and alternative policies to reduce emissions to the target level and to boost the economy were proposed separately. The study finds that both the preparation and implementation of the previous national documents are problematic, and that Turkey was not meticulous about implementation of the climate mitigation policies in the previous national documents. The study also finds that reaching the emissions target with the INDC policies seems impossible and more conceivable policies are needed, and recommends that the INDC target and document itself should be revised substantially. Full article

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14 pages, 7925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Shifts in Renewable Energy Operation Policy Affect Efficiency: Korea’s Shift from FIT to RPS and Its Results

by Hyungguen Park and Changhee Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061723 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4950

Abstract

South Korea’s new and renewable energy (NRE) policy experienced a drastic shift from the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2012. This study looks at the changes in the efficiency of NRE policy in this transition through DEA (Data [...] Read more.

South Korea’s new and renewable energy (NRE) policy experienced a drastic shift from the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2012. This study looks at the changes in the efficiency of NRE policy in this transition through DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) and MI (Malmquist Index) methods, using investment for NRE technology development and for NRE dissemination as input factors and the number of firms, the number of employees, and the volume of NRE power generation as output factors. The results show a temporary drop in efficiency in 2012 during the transition period for the NRE industry as a whole. However, apart from those energy types with ulterior factors, the implementation of RPS increased the technical change (TC) of most NRE types. Furthermore, the findings highlight that, among South Korea’s three focal NRE industries—photovoltaic, wind power, and fuel cell energies—only fuel cell energies showed an increase in efficiency over time. South Korea’s policy shifts from FIT to RPS and the resulting effects on NRE policy’s efficiency provide a useful reference and guideline for government decision-making on NRE policy changes. Full article

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19 pages, 1440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Security and Optimal Scale of Foreign Exchange Reserve in China

by Guangyou Zhou, Xiaoxuan Yan and Sumei Luo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1724; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061724 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4272

Abstract

The study of how foreign exchange reserves maintain financial security is of vital significance. This paper provides simulations and estimations of the optimal scale of foreign exchange reserves under the background of possible shocks to China’s economy due to the further opening of [...] Read more.

The study of how foreign exchange reserves maintain financial security is of vital significance. This paper provides simulations and estimations of the optimal scale of foreign exchange reserves under the background of possible shocks to China’s economy due to the further opening of China’s financial market and the sudden stop of capital inflows. Focused on the perspective of financial security, this article tentatively constructs an optimal scale analysis framework that is based on a utility maximization of the foreign exchange reserve, and selects relevant data to simulate the optimal scale of China’s foreign exchange reserves. The results show that: (1) the main reason for the fast growth of the Chinese foreign exchange reserve scale is the structural trouble of its double international payment surplus, which creates long-term appreciation expectations for the exchange rate that make it difficult for international capital inflows and excess foreign exchange reserves to enter the real economic growth mechanism under the model of China’s export-driven economy growth; (2) the average optimal scale of the foreign exchange reserve in case of the sudden stop of capital inflows was calculated through parameter estimation and numerical simulation to be 13.53% of China’s gross domestic product (GDP) between 1994 and 2017; (3) with the function of the foreign exchange reserves changing from meeting basic transaction demands to meeting financial security demands, the effect of the foreign exchange reserve maintaining the state’s financial security is becoming more and more obvious. Therefore, the structure of foreign exchange reserve assets should be optimized in China, and we will give full play to the special role of foreign exchange reserve in safeguarding a country’s financial security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics)

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18 pages, 273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Opportunism Motivation of Environmental Protection Activism and Corporate Governance: An Empirical Study from China

by Shengnan Li, Jianbo Niu and Sang-Bing Tsai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061725 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4486

Abstract

In the study of environmental protection issues for more than forty years, research on the impact of financial performance on environmental protection has been one of the important branches. In the framework of principal-agent theory, this paper explores the opportunism motives in a [...] Read more.

In the study of environmental protection issues for more than forty years, research on the impact of financial performance on environmental protection has been one of the important branches. In the framework of principal-agent theory, this paper explores the opportunism motives in a company’s environmental protection activism and the moderating role of corporate governance using the data of Chinese listed companies from 2005 to 2016. The study finds that: (1) the company’s environmental protection activism is driven by the opportunist motives of policymakers who want to mask their inability; and (2) environmental protection activism does not enhance the company’s future performance and value creation capability. Further studies find that corporate governance mechanisms play different moderating roles. Fund Shareholders play a positive governance role and reduce the correlation between financial performance and environmental protection activism. However, independence of the board of directors intensifies the opportunist motives. This paper provides new theoretical explanations for environmental protection decision-making, provides novel enlightenment for the protection of environmental protection policies in developing countries and regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Developing Countries: Current Trends and Development)

19 pages, 496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Norm Entrepreneurs Sidestep REDD+ in Pursuit of Just and Sustainable Forest Governance

by Neil M. Dawson, Michael Mason, Janet A. Fisher, David Mujasi Mwayafu, Hari Dhungana, Heike Schroeder and Mark Zeitoun

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061726 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5370

Abstract

This paper explores the dissonance between conceptions of justice among forest-adjacent communities and their representation in global forest policies, a persistent barrier to delivering just sustainability. We empirically track justice claims of rural villagers upwards through specific intermediaries or ‘justice brokers’: civil society, [...] Read more.

This paper explores the dissonance between conceptions of justice among forest-adjacent communities and their representation in global forest policies, a persistent barrier to delivering just sustainability. We empirically track justice claims of rural villagers upwards through specific intermediaries or ‘justice brokers’: civil society, state, or private sector actors operating at local to international levels, who navigate different institutions to advance various social and ecological interests. We draw on interviews with 16 intermediaries in each of Nepal and Uganda and find that recognition of local values and practices such as customary tenure systems are key justice concerns of forest-adjacent communities in each country. However, intermediaries perceive a low likelihood of advancing those claims through national or international climate and forest policy debates, such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), in large part because deliberations on justice are subordinated to concerns such as carbon accounting and arrangements for distributing monetary benefits. This suggests these policy processes must be modified to offer potential for transformational pathways. Intermediaries who pursued recognition justice issues developed innovative tactics in alternative forums. These ‘norm entrepreneurs’ adopted a suite of complementary strategies to attain influence, including: (1) formation of associations at the grassroots level; (2) media and advocacy campaigns through national coalitions to reach powerful international donors, and; (3) drawing on international support networks for advice, training and to influence national government. In both Uganda and Nepal these strategies were evidenced to enhance recognition for local values and practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Power, Emancipation and Justice in Natural Resource Governance—Towards “Critical and Transformative Sustainability Sciences”)

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19 pages, 560 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Efficiency in Logistics: An Interactive Approach to Capacity Utilisation

by Jessica Wehner

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1727; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061727 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7959

Abstract

Logistics operations are energy-consuming and impact the environment negatively. Improving energy efficiency in logistics is crucial for environmental sustainability and can be achieved by increasing the utilisation of capacity. This paper takes an interactive approach to capacity utilisation, to contribute to sustainable freight [...] Read more.

Logistics operations are energy-consuming and impact the environment negatively. Improving energy efficiency in logistics is crucial for environmental sustainability and can be achieved by increasing the utilisation of capacity. This paper takes an interactive approach to capacity utilisation, to contribute to sustainable freight transport and logistics, by identifying its causes and mitigations. From literature, a conceptual framework was developed to highlight different system levels in the logistics system, in which the energy efficiency improvement potential can be found and that are summarised in the categories activities, actors, and areas. Through semi-structured interviews with representatives of nine companies, empirical data was collected to validate the framework of the causes of the unutilised capacity and proposed mitigations. The results suggest that activities, such as inflexibilities and limited information sharing as well as actors’ over-delivery of logistics services, incorrect price setting, and sales campaigns can cause unutilised capacity, and that problem areas include i.a. poor integration of reversed logistics and the last mile. The paper contributes by categorising causes of unutilised capacity and linking them to mitigations in a framework, providing a critical view towards fill rates, highlighting the need for a standardised approach to measure environmental impact that enables comparison between companies and underlining that costs are not an appropriate indicator for measuring environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Freight Transport)

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20 pages, 3797 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Environmental Warning System Based on the DPSIR Model: A Practical and Concise Method for Environmental Assessment

by Wenqi Wang, Yuhong Sun and Jing Wu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1728; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061728 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 6995

Abstract

Though we are in urgent need of environmental warnings to slow environmental deterioration, currently, there is no internationally concise method for environmental warnings. In addition, the existing approaches do not combine the three aspects of ecology, resources, and environment. At the same time, [...] Read more.

Though we are in urgent need of environmental warnings to slow environmental deterioration, currently, there is no internationally concise method for environmental warnings. In addition, the existing approaches do not combine the three aspects of ecology, resources, and environment. At the same time, the three elements of the environment (air, water, and soil) are separated in most environmental warning systems. Thus, the method this paper gives is an innovative attempt and aims to make environmental assessment more practical. This paper establishes the index system of an environmental early warning based on the Driving–Pressure–State–Influence–Response (DPSIR) model. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to determine the weights. Next, single and integrated index methods further assess the environmental warning state, in which the weighted summation method is used to summarize the data and results. The case of Tianjin is used to confirm the applicability of this method. In conclusion, the method in this paper is more well-behaved and, therefore, more suitable to assist cities in their environmental assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Environmental and Sustainability Policy: Assessing the Past and charting a Course for the Future)

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18 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Should We Play Games Where Energy Is Concerned? Perceptions of Serious Gaming as a Technology to Motivate Energy Behaviour Change among Social Housing Residents

by Christine Boomsma, Rebecca Hafner, Sabine Pahl, Rory V. Jones and Alba Fuertes

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061729 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6471

Abstract

The invisibility and intangibility of energy are key challenges faced by communicators looking to reduce household energy demand. ‘Serious games’—defined as formalized, goal-oriented games designed to educate, or promote health and well-being—are one potential strategy that may help to alleviate these challenges. This [...] Read more.

The invisibility and intangibility of energy are key challenges faced by communicators looking to reduce household energy demand. ‘Serious games’—defined as formalized, goal-oriented games designed to educate, or promote health and well-being—are one potential strategy that may help to alleviate these challenges. This paper discusses the suitability of serious gaming as an educational and behavioural change tool within the context of social housing—a faction often overlooked when it comes to household energy research. The paper takes a two-part approach. First, we review current literature on serious energy games, and second, we discuss perceptions of serious energy games amongst social housing residents using data from two surveys (Survey A, n = 536; Survey B, n = 78). Perceptions of serious energy games were found to be mixed. Some residents liked the idea of a game for energy, particularly if clear, actionable solutions for reducing energy bills were provided. However, others were disinterested, due to existing time pressures, negative perceptions of gaming, and limited confidence using computers or tablets. As such, uptake may be met with challenges. The findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary collaborations and user-led approaches for the design of successful and engaging serious energy games. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Innovations in the Energy Transition)

21 pages, 660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Nationwide Survey Evaluating the Environmental Literacy of Undergraduate Students in Taiwan

by Shih-Wu Liang, Wei-Ta Fang, Shin-Cheng Yeh, Shiang-Yao Liu, Huei-Min Tsai, Jui-Yu Chou and Eric Ng

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1730; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061730 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 10581

Abstract

The aim of this nationwide survey was to assess undergraduate students’ environmental literacy level in Taiwan. A total of 29,498 valid responses were received from a number of selected colleges and universities in Taiwan, using stratified random sampling method. A total of 70 [...] Read more.

The aim of this nationwide survey was to assess undergraduate students’ environmental literacy level in Taiwan. A total of 29,498 valid responses were received from a number of selected colleges and universities in Taiwan, using stratified random sampling method. A total of 70 items were used to assess the environmental literacy and the results revealed that undergraduate students had a relatively low level of environmental knowledge and behavior, while a moderate level of environmental attitudes was attained. The findings also indicated no significant correlations between knowledge and attitudes or between knowledge and behavior. However, a higher level of environmental knowledge correlated significantly with a higher degree of pro-environmental behavior, and a higher level of environmental knowledge correlated with stronger attitudes. The results also suggested that females outperformed the males in all categories. Results from this study could contribute towards further relevant policy discussion and decision-making, curriculum design and development to the improvement of environmental education in the higher education sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

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15 pages, 1701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vehicle Weight, Modal Split, and Emissions—An Ex-Post Analysis for Sweden

by Inge Vierth, Samuel Lindgren and Hanna Lindgren

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061731 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4261

Abstract

This study combines official statistics on freight transportation and emissions to present the long-run development of the use of longer and heavier road vehicles (LHVs), modal split, road freight efficiency, and GHG emissions and air pollution following the increase in the maximum permissible [...] Read more.

This study combines official statistics on freight transportation and emissions to present the long-run development of the use of longer and heavier road vehicles (LHVs), modal split, road freight efficiency, and GHG emissions and air pollution following the increase in the maximum permissible vehicle weight in Sweden in 1990 and 1993. We find that LHVs were quickly incorporated in the vehicle fleet and that road freight efficiency of the largest vehicles increased after the reforms. There was no discernable break in modal split trends as the modal share for road continued its long-run development. We show that road transportation contributes by far the most to emission costs. The composition of the emissions from road freight changed after the weight reforms, with an increasing share of GHG-emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Freight Transport)

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14 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Technological Trajectory of Integrated Pest Management for Rice in Cambodia

by Rica Joy Flor, Kry Chhay, Vichet Sorn, Harro Maat and Buyung Asmara Ratna Hadi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1732; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061732 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6472

Abstract

For the past two decades, while the efficacy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been successfully demonstrated in Cambodia, its dissemination and sustained adoption among farmers have not met similar success. This study moves away from simplistic analyses about constraints in extension methods [...] Read more.

For the past two decades, while the efficacy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been successfully demonstrated in Cambodia, its dissemination and sustained adoption among farmers have not met similar success. This study moves away from simplistic analyses about constraints in extension methods for IPM. Instead, we take a broader look into technological systems and the trajectory for pest management, which affected the spread and uptake of IPM in the country. Through a review of the wider context in policies and programs, and a survey of farmers from five provinces in Cambodia (N = 400), we examined the connections between options for pest management at the farmer level and conditions in the technological system. Using the Cambodian case study, we show that the technological system predisposes to pesticide use and as such hinders a trajectory of IPM. Systemic conditions, including interrelated agronomic practices, ecological conditions in farming communities, governance mechanisms, structures around the spread of knowledge and the industry around the technological options, have created mutual socio-technical dependencies. Although programs targeted change through knowledge of IPM, much of the systemic conditions sustain the trajectory of pesticide reliance. Hence, promoting an innovation environment that is supportive of IPM requires extension beyond knowledge dissemination, addressing these varied elements of the technological system. Full article

15 pages, 1995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Streamlined Environmental Life Cycle Costing Model for Buildings in South Korea

by Seungjun Roh, Sungho Tae and Rakhyun Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1733; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061733 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5478

Abstract

In the building construction industry, simultaneous and integrated evaluation of a building’s environmental and economic performance in the early planning stage greatly facilitates stakeholders’ decision-making for sustainable building construction. This study aimed to develop a streamlined Environmental Life Cycle Costing (ELCC) model for [...] Read more.

In the building construction industry, simultaneous and integrated evaluation of a building’s environmental and economic performance in the early planning stage greatly facilitates stakeholders’ decision-making for sustainable building construction. This study aimed to develop a streamlined Environmental Life Cycle Costing (ELCC) model for buildings, applicable to the early planning stage of construction projects. To this end, we selected three of the private cost-related life cycle cost categories that are determinants of stakeholders’ decision-making in the early planning stage of construction and extracted 10 major building materials that account for over 95% of the total direct construction cost. Then, we developed a streamlined ELCC model for buildings by combining the monetary value-based life cycle analysis model, KOLID (Korean Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method Based on Damage-Oriented Modeling), and the present worth method. Finally, we conducted a case study to empirically verify the applicability of the proposed model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Built Environment and Climate Change)

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15 pages, 48192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Adaptation to Multiple Water Risks in Agriculture: Evidence from Bangladesh

by Moinul Islam and Shunsuke Managi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1734; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061734 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3737

Abstract

Water is the most important input for agricultural production. Smallholder agriculture in Bangladesh is highly dependent on the natural water supply and is prone to water risks. Farmers in Bangladesh are facing major challenges from flooding, arsenic contamination, and other water stress. This [...] Read more.

Water is the most important input for agricultural production. Smallholder agriculture in Bangladesh is highly dependent on the natural water supply and is prone to water risks. Farmers in Bangladesh are facing major challenges from flooding, arsenic contamination, and other water stress. This research aims to understand how smallholder agriculture in Bangladesh adapts to the multiple water risks by crop selection. By using the panel data model, we identify that crop selection is a sustainable tool to adapt to the water risks in Bangladesh. Flood risk guides farmers to cultivate flood-tolerant monsoon season rice, wheat, and sugarcane in the high-risk areas. Natural arsenic contamination stops them from producing rice in the arsenic contaminated land to avoid the grain toxicity effect on human health. Extreme rainfall and temperature events also influence the crop selection decision. These crop choice techniques reduce the crop damages in smallholder agriculture in Bangladesh. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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20 pages, 3219 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting the Helpfulness of Online Customer Reviews across Different Product Types

by Yoon-Joo Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061735 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 8109

Abstract

Online customer reviews are a sustainable form of word of mouth (WOM) which play an increasingly important role in e-commerce. However, low quality reviews can often cause inconvenience to review readers. The purpose of this paper is to automatically predict the helpfulness of [...] Read more.

Online customer reviews are a sustainable form of word of mouth (WOM) which play an increasingly important role in e-commerce. However, low quality reviews can often cause inconvenience to review readers. The purpose of this paper is to automatically predict the helpfulness of reviews. This paper analyzes the characteristics embedded in product reviews across five different product types and explores their effects on review helpfulness. Furthermore, four data mining methods were examined to determine the one that best predicts review helpfulness for each product type using five real-life review datasets obtained from Amazon.com. The results show that reviews for different product types have different psychological and linguistic characteristics and the factors affecting the review helpfulness of them are also different. Our findings also indicate that the support vector regression method predicts review helpfulness most accurately among the four methods for all five datasets. This study contributes to improving efficient utilization of online reviews. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in E-Business)

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25 pages, 5383 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Practical Experiences with the Application of Corporate Social Responsibility Principles in a Higher Education Environment

by Peter Madzík, Pavol Budaj and Anna Chocholáková

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1736; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061736 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5383

Abstract

Raising awareness related to sustainable development can take different forms. One of them is represented by recommended documents, including the International Standard ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility. Although it concerns the approach of integrating sustainable development and social responsibility, the results of [...] Read more.

Raising awareness related to sustainable development can take different forms. One of them is represented by recommended documents, including the International Standard ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility. Although it concerns the approach of integrating sustainable development and social responsibility, the results of its practical application are very rarely found in the literature. The aim of this paper is to present a method of applying ISO 26000 within a university environment. It offers an illustrative methodological apparatus allowing quantification of social responsibility principles and influences of an organisation focused on a detailed analysis of its performance in the area of social responsibility. The results are presented in the form of a case study and their role is to provide a verifiable manual for the structural process of an analysis and practical application related to the topic of social responsibility and sustainable development. The results also showed that if an organisation applies this procedure it obtains valuable information necessary to support decision-making processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 3038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of Rural Household Livelihood Change and the Regional Effect in a Western Impoverished Mountainous Area of China

by Chuansheng Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061738 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4147

Abstract

Taking Longnan, in the western Qinling Mountains region of Gansu province, China, as our study area, and using the Sixth National Population Census alongside household survey data, we analyze changes in household livelihoods, and consequent regional effects, following the instigation of the “Grain [...] Read more.

Taking Longnan, in the western Qinling Mountains region of Gansu province, China, as our study area, and using the Sixth National Population Census alongside household survey data, we analyze changes in household livelihoods, and consequent regional effects, following the instigation of the “Grain for Green” program in 1999. Our results show rural livelihood changes with respect to natural assets (e.g., reduction of arable land, planting structure changes), human assets (e.g., labor quality improvement, fluidity of population), financial assets (e.g., income channels widening, income increasing), physical assets (e.g., optimized production tools), and social assets (e.g., information network development, increased outreach opportunities). We suggest that increased household livelihoods play an important role in improving land space utilization efficiency, resource conservation and use, and the ecological environment. However, owing to the natural environment, there are also some problems, such as “hollows” in rural production and living spaces, as well as local environmental degradation. To address these issues, regions such as the western, mountainous, impoverished area of our study should establish a policy of using ecosystems, as well as agriculture, for development in order to improve household livelihoods, build an efficient spatial structure, and providing support for the creation of a resource-saving societal system. Full article

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22 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Human Resource Management as a Tool for the Sustainable Development of Enterprises: Polish Young Company Experience

by Edyta Bombiak and Anna Marciniuk-Kluska

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061739 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 225 | Viewed by 22348

Abstract

The growing role of sustainable development and, above all, its ecological aspect, in the development of modern company competitive edge leads to the popularization of the question of incorporating environmental practices into the area of human resource policy, referred to as Green HRM. [...] Read more.

The growing role of sustainable development and, above all, its ecological aspect, in the development of modern company competitive edge leads to the popularization of the question of incorporating environmental practices into the area of human resource policy, referred to as Green HRM. The objective of the research was to identify pro-environmental HR practices embraced by young Polish enterprises and to prioritize them in accordance with their effect on company sustainable development. To attain these goals, a survey was conducted among a random, representative population of 150 young enterprises. The study revealed that the Green HRM concept in the Polish reality is relatively. However, there is a strong positive correlation between the evaluation of the impact of individual activities within Green HRM on sustainable company development and their practical implementation. Research demonstrated that the higher the evaluation of the impact of a given activity, the more frequent its implementation in the studied companies. This allowed the formulation of the following conclusion: in order to increase the scope of the implementation of the Green HRM concept in Polish young enterprises, it is necessary to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge concerning the impact Green HRM can have on sustainable development in organizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Young Companies–Contemporary Trends and Challenges)

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10 pages, 267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do People Place More Value on Natural Gas Than Coal for Power Generation to Abate Particulate Matter Emissions? Evidence from South Korea

by Hyo-Jin Kim, Ju-Hee Kim and Seung-Hoon Yoo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061740 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2843

Abstract

As of 2017, coal is responsible for about half of all power generation in South Korea, while natural gas (NG) is responsible for about 20%. This increases particulate matter (PM) emissions, as coal emits 6 to 55 times more PM than NG in [...] Read more.

As of 2017, coal is responsible for about half of all power generation in South Korea, while natural gas (NG) is responsible for about 20%. This increases particulate matter (PM) emissions, as coal emits 6 to 55 times more PM than NG in the course of power generation. Increased PM concentration causes visibility impairment and acute respiratory diseases. Thus, the South Korean government is seeking to shift from coal to NG power generation for the purpose of abating PM emissions. The government also considers NG as a bridge energy to facilitate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This article attempts to answer the question, “Do people place significant value on shifting from coal to NG power generation in order to abate PM?” To this end, additional willingness to pay (WTP) for NG over coal for electricity for the purpose of PM emissions abatement was assessed from 1000 South Koreans’ contingent valuations (CV). More specifically, each of these randomly chosen interviewees was asked about her/his WTP for the switch from coal to NG for 1 kWh of electricity use. The average additional WTP estimate was KRW 31.27 (USD 0.028) per kWh, which is equivalent to 28.8% of the average price of electricity in 2017. Moreover, this estimate is statistically significant. The generation cost of NG is about KRW 100.13 per kWh, which is higher than that of coal (KRW 78.5 per kWh). The gap is KRW 22.08 per kWh, which is less than the additional WTP. Thus, it is obvious that the governmental policy of shifting from coal to NG for power generation in order to abate PM emissions is supported by the public and, hence, the shift should be made gradually. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Perspectives on Sustainable Energy Transition)

28 pages, 3476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Interactive Development between Population Urbanization and Land Urbanization: Evidence from Chongqing, China (1998–2016)

by Yingchao Lin, Yongle Li and Zhili Ma

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061741 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6191

Abstract

To promote regional sustainable urbanization strategies, this paper selected the population and land resources in the urbanization system, and used the time series-based econometric analysis method and the coordinated development degree model to empirically study the interactive relationship between population urbanization (PU) and [...] Read more.

To promote regional sustainable urbanization strategies, this paper selected the population and land resources in the urbanization system, and used the time series-based econometric analysis method and the coordinated development degree model to empirically study the interactive relationship between population urbanization (PU) and land urbanization (LU) in Chongqing, China, from 1998 to 2016. The research results showed that: (1) The development of urbanization in Chongqing was relatively rapid, but the level of development was relatively insufficient. The phenomenon of population outflow during urban development was more serious, and the structure of land use irrational; (2) There was a long-term cointegration relationship between PU and LU; PU is the Granger cause of LU. A PU increase of 1% in the short-term will promote LU by 3.29%, and in the long-term will promote 2.28%; the contribution of population agglomeration to urbanization is more than 80%, while land expansion is only about 20%, and the urban development model, which relies on urban land expansion is not applicable; (3) LU was faster than PU, but the improvement of PU development’s quality level was greater than that of LU. The development quality of both systems increased year by year, and gradually developed into a coordinated state. It is recommended that the government strengthen land planning, delineate urban growth boundaries, and increase the level of land intensive use; furthermore, through the reformation of the land finance and the household registration systems, a system for linking population, finance, and construction land should be established to promote the coordinated development of the two systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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15 pages, 6778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability and Variability of Korean Wooden Architectural Heritage: The Relocation and Alteration

by Dai Whan An

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1742; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061742 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4056

Abstract

‘Relocation’ is the most distinctive feature of Korean wooden architecture, since every wooden material can be in most cases completely dismantled and moved to another place. This paper analyzes Cheongju Mangseollu that possesses these unique relocation characteristics excellently, because it was relocated twice [...] Read more.

‘Relocation’ is the most distinctive feature of Korean wooden architecture, since every wooden material can be in most cases completely dismantled and moved to another place. This paper analyzes Cheongju Mangseollu that possesses these unique relocation characteristics excellently, because it was relocated twice in 1923 and 1999 and the building’s function was therefore altered during the process. Mangseollu, which was once a pavilion, was relocated and altered into a school in 1923 and subsequently relocated into a pavilion again in 1999. Accordingly, there were inevitable changes in terms of function, surface, and structure every time it was relocated. As a result, the surface was utilized as one large space without walls, when it was altered into a classroom and the wall was built around each room. Despite all these changes, Mangseollu is recognized as a building of late Joseon period. Therefore, this paper claims that Korean wooden buildings are maintained with unique variability through the relocation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Heritage and Sustainability)

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22 pages, 2860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design for Circular Behaviour: Considering Users in a Circular Economy

by Thomas Wastling, Fiona Charnley and Mariale Moreno

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1743; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061743 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 183 | Viewed by 23774

Abstract

In a linear economy, a product is manufactured and sold to a customer. Then, little concern is given to what the user actually does with it when they have it. However, in a circular economy where the aim is to circulate products at [...] Read more.

In a linear economy, a product is manufactured and sold to a customer. Then, little concern is given to what the user actually does with it when they have it. However, in a circular economy where the aim is to circulate products at their highest level of value, the customer’s behaviour can become an important part of the system. Circular design strategies have tended to focus on the physical aspects of a product (e.g., disassembly, material selection), but the design of products and services can also have an influence on user behaviour and, to date, this aspect of circular design has not been fully explored. This project aims to define what key user behaviours are required for circular business models to work and to outline how design can enable these ‘circular behaviours’. This research project consists of a literature review, case study analysis and expert interviews with practitioners. A theoretical framework for designing products and services to encourage circular behaviour is developed. This work provides an initial step towards a better understanding of the user’s role in the transition to a circular economy as well as a preliminary model for how design for behaviour change strategies could be implemented in this context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Design and Consumer Behavior in A Circular Economy)

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19 pages, 4355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Smartphone Application for Personalized and Multi-Method Interventions toward Energy Saving in Buildings

by Peeraya Inyim, Mostafa Batouli, Maria Presa Reyes, Triana Carmenate, Leonardo Bobadilla and Ali Mostafavi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1744; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061744 - 26 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3863

Abstract

Occupant behavior is a significant contributor to energy waste in buildings. This research introduces an advanced smartphone application, developed based on the theoretical underpinnings of situational awareness theory, to effectively implement multi-method and personalized intervention to encourage energy conservation behaviors of building occupants. [...] Read more.

Occupant behavior is a significant contributor to energy waste in buildings. This research introduces an advanced smartphone application, developed based on the theoretical underpinnings of situational awareness theory, to effectively implement multi-method and personalized intervention to encourage energy conservation behaviors of building occupants. The new smart application provides several innovative features, such as energy saving points, customized feedback, and visualized user interface, which are implemented in the application to support multi-method interventions. The application was created using the Java language for Android devices. With the use of the Android platform, the app takes advantage of hardware technology from the user’s mobile device. Measurement of occupancy behavior is accomplished by making use of the device’s positional sensors. Orientation and geomagnetic field sensors serve to provide an accurate location of an occupant inside the building. The application can determine energy waste in a zone by using occupancy behavior. Moreover, the application offers real-time and projected future energy consumption based on occupants’ behaviors. This novel feature can significantly improve communication that can lead to prompt action for building energy reduction. Results show how the app can compile raw data on energy behavior and make it easy to understand for the user through the use of visuals and statistical algorithms. Full article

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22 pages, 2127 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Indicators to Monitor the EU’s Bioeconomy in Transition

by Tévécia Ronzon and Robert M’Barek

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1745; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061745 - 26 May 2018

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 16966

Abstract

The monitoring of the European bioeconomy is hampered by a lack of statistics on emergent and partially bio-based sectors. In this study, we complete the picture of the bioeconomy in the European Union (EU) by first estimating a set of socioeconomic indicators in [...] Read more.

The monitoring of the European bioeconomy is hampered by a lack of statistics on emergent and partially bio-based sectors. In this study, we complete the picture of the bioeconomy in the European Union (EU) by first estimating a set of socioeconomic indicators in missing sectors. Second, we identify four broad bioeconomy patterns within the EU that differ according to the specialisation of Member States’ labour markets in the bioeconomy (location quotient) and according to the apparent labour productivity of their bioeconomies. The patterns are geographically distributed in (i) Eastern Member States and Greece and Portugal; (ii) Central and Baltic Member States; (iii) Western Member States; and (iv) Northern Member States. They are strongly related to the level of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Member States, and to their political histories (e.g., their year of accession to the EU, and the existence and maturity of their bioeconomy strategies). Within each group, diversity exists in terms of sectoral bioeconomy development. Third, we examine temporal dynamics over the period 2008–2015, stressing with the cases of Slovenia, Portugal, Greece and Finland that a transition from one group to another is possible. Finally, we take a closer look at the East–West bioeconomy disparities within Europe and suggest measures to promote EU bioeconomies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Transition Towards a Bio-Based Economy: New Technologies, New Products, New Policies)

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16 pages, 6864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Application Potential of Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage-Hybrid Ground Source Heat Pump in Taiwan—Taking Experiments in Tainan as Examples

by Peng Li and Hsien-Te Lin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061746 - 26 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4729

Abstract

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are widely used in building energy conservation in many countries and regions. However, they are rarely seen in Taiwan. The main reason is the extraordinary imbalance between the heating load and cooling load of buildings in Taiwan. Hybrid [...] Read more.

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are widely used in building energy conservation in many countries and regions. However, they are rarely seen in Taiwan. The main reason is the extraordinary imbalance between the heating load and cooling load of buildings in Taiwan. Hybrid ground source heat pump (HGSHP) is a hybridization of a traditional GSHP system, and can effectively balance the heat injected into and extracted from the ground over an annual cycle. This study focuses on the application of seasonal thermal energy storage HGSHP (STES-HGSHP). Based on the data of six experiments in Tainan, Taiwan, this study finds out the ways to make the process of cold energy storage run with high efficiency, including (1) increasing the flow rate in the ground coupled heat exchanger (GCHE); (2) using double-U GCHE instead of single-U GCHE; (3) starting the process of cold energy storage at the time with low wet bulb temperature; (4) storing more cold energy than necessary in order to lower the ground temperature. Finally, by analyzing the level of wet bulb temperature in winter, this study confirms that the application of STES-HGSHP has great potential in Tainan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Civil Engineering: from Sustainable Materials to Sustainable Cities)

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27 pages, 7205 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model-Based Evaluation of Urban River Restoration: Conflicts between Sensitive Fish Species and Recreational Users

by Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Markus Noack, Sabine Greulich, Kordula Schwarzwälder, Karl Matthias Wantzen and Stephan Pauleit

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061747 - 26 May 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7785

Abstract

Urban rivers are socioecological systems, and restored habitats may be attractive to both sensitive species and recreationists. Understanding the potential conflicts between ecological and recreational values is a critical issue for the development of a sustainable river-management plan. Habitat models are very promising [...] Read more.

Urban rivers are socioecological systems, and restored habitats may be attractive to both sensitive species and recreationists. Understanding the potential conflicts between ecological and recreational values is a critical issue for the development of a sustainable river-management plan. Habitat models are very promising tools for the ecological evaluation of river restoration projects that are already concluded, ongoing, or even to be planned. With our paper, we make a first attempt at integrating recreational user pressure into habitat modeling. The objective of this study was to analyze whether human impact is likely to hinder the re-establishment of a target species despite the successful restoration of physical habitat structures in the case of the restoration of the Isar River in Munich (Germany) and the target fish species Chondostroma nasus L. Our analysis combined high-resolution 2D hydrodynamic modeling with mapping of recreational pressure and used an expert-based procedure for modeling habitat suitability. The results are twofold: (1) the restored river contains suitable physical habitats for population conservation but has low suitability for recruitment; (2) densely used areas match highly suitable habitats for C. nasus. In the future, the integrated modeling procedure presented here may allow ecological refuge for sensitive target species to be included in the design of restoration and may help in the development of visitor-management plans to safeguard biodiversity and recreational ecosystem services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human–River Interactions in Cities)

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20 pages, 5957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Evolution of Renewable Energy Price Policies Based on Improved Bass Model: A System Dynamics (SD) Analysis

by Xin-gang Zhao, Yu-zhuo Zhang and Yan-bin Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1748; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061748 - 26 May 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4739

Abstract

Many countries in the world have implemented many price support policies to promote the development of renewable energy, and there are evolutionary processes between different policies at different stages of national development. Existing literature has less research on the internal mechanism and alternative [...] Read more.

Many countries in the world have implemented many price support policies to promote the development of renewable energy, and there are evolutionary processes between different policies at different stages of national development. Existing literature has less research on the internal mechanism and alternative process of renewable energy price policies’ evolution process. In view of this, this paper innovatively introduces the classic model of innovation diffusion theory, the Bass model, into the renewable energy price mechanism, and improves it on the basis of the traditional Bass model, and then proposes a system dynamics (SD) simulation based on the improved Bass model to study the evolution process of the renewable energy price policies. This paper mainly studies the evolution process of the policies from feed-in tariff (FIT) to renewable portfolio standard (RPS), and takes China’s wind power industry as an example to simulate the model. The results show that FIT can effectively and quickly evolve to RPS based on the internal influence of the interaction among power generation enterprises and the external influence of government behaviors. All the power generation enterprises will implement RPS, and the amount of green power enterprises eventually grows steadily and slowly. In addition, increasing the decline rate of FIT subsidy and RPS unit fine can effectively promote the evolution of RPS policy, and also improve the amount of green power enterprises and the activity of the tradable green certificates (TGC) trading market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Power System and Sustainability)

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28 pages, 5884 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Functionality Based Wood Substitutability Index

by Elaine Garcia de Lima, Cécile Bulle and Cássia Maria Lie Ugaya

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061750 - 26 May 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3921

Abstract

Recent progress in Life Cycle Impact Assessment highlighted the need to assess the loss of resources’ functional value when assessing the life cycle impacts of resource depletion. To be able to assess the loss of functional value of resources due to scarcity and [...] Read more.

Recent progress in Life Cycle Impact Assessment highlighted the need to assess the loss of resources’ functional value when assessing the life cycle impacts of resource depletion. To be able to assess the loss of functional value of resources due to scarcity and depletion, there is a need to assess the potential substitutions among different resources to fulfill the same functionality. In this sense, the main objective of this study is the development of a method for obtaining a substitution index (SI) for wood, quantifying to what extent the wood is substitutable by other available resources for the different functions it can fulfill. The aim of our method is to characterize wood through its functions and inherent properties by using following parameters (availability, price, current usage). As a result, we obtained SI for five functions of wood, classified by country and region. The results showed that wood substitution varies between each of its functions and also for each region. In general, replacing wood with other resources is a challenge for most regions and most functions, with SI usually below 0.5 on a scale from 0 to 1, where 0 indicate that there is no substitution and 1 indicate that the resource can be thoroughly replaced. Full article

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18 pages, 625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Spatial DEA-Based Framework for Analyzing the Effectiveness of Disaster Risk Reduction Policy Implementation: A Case Study of Earthquake-Oriented Urban Renewal Policy in Yongkang, Taiwan

by Hao-Teng Cheng and Hsueh-Sheng Chang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061751 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4297

Abstract

Due to the many large earthquakes that have occurred in recent years, the role of seismic risk reduction in building resilient cities has become a matter of concern. The serious disaster damage brought by seismic hazards causes the adoption of migration policies such [...] Read more.

Due to the many large earthquakes that have occurred in recent years, the role of seismic risk reduction in building resilient cities has become a matter of concern. The serious disaster damage brought by seismic hazards causes the adoption of migration policies such as building control in the preparedness phase. However, the restricted budget of governments resulting from the global state of economic distress generates a prioritization problem. A decision support framework could be helpful for governments to systematically integrate the complex information when implementing disaster risk reduction policies toward sustainable development. The purpose of this study was to construct an analytical framework based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for addressing the prioritization problem by calculating policy efficiency. The spatial DEA-based framework combines indices calculation, spatial database construction, and DEA. Taiwan is an island located in the Circum-Pacific Belt, and has paid long-term attention to adopting policies for earthquake disaster prevention. A policy of earthquake-oriented urban renewal combining enhanced building capacity and city resilience has recently been implemented. A case study of the Yongkang district of the Tainan Metropolis in Taiwan was conducted in this study. The results show an operable framework and propose a suggestion for planning efficient policy priorities in each decision-making unit. In sum, the analytical framework proposed in this study could be a component of a decision support system for governments to adopt disaster risk reduction policies in the process of policy-making and implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disasters, Crisis, Hazards, Emergencies and Sustainable Development)

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21 pages, 3250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Data-Driven Method to Estimate the Maximum Likelihood Space–Time Trajectory in an Urban Rail Transit System

by Xing Chen, Leishan Zhou, Yixiang Yue, Yu Zhou and Liwen Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1752; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061752 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3311

Abstract

The Urban Rail Transit (URT) passenger travel space–time trajectory reflects a passenger’s path-choice and the components of URT network passenger flow. This paper proposes a model to estimate a passenger’s maximum-likelihood space–time trajectory using Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) transaction data, which contain the [...] Read more.

The Urban Rail Transit (URT) passenger travel space–time trajectory reflects a passenger’s path-choice and the components of URT network passenger flow. This paper proposes a model to estimate a passenger’s maximum-likelihood space–time trajectory using Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) transaction data, which contain the passenger’s entry and exit information. First, a method is presented to construct a space–time trajectory within a tap in/out constraint. Then, a maximum likelihood space–time trajectory estimation model is developed to achieve two goals: (1) to minimize the variance in a passenger’s walk time, including the access walk time, egress walk time and transfer walk time when a transfer is included; and (2) to minimize the variance between a passenger’s actual walk time and the expected value obtained by manual survey observation. Considering the computational efficiency and the characteristics of the model, we decompose the passenger’s travel links and convert the maximum likelihood space–time trajectory estimation problem into a single-quadratic programming problem. Real-world AFC transaction data and train timetable data from the Beijing URT network are used to test the proposed model and algorithm. The estimation results are consistent with the clearing results obtained from the authorities, and this finding verifies the feasibility of our approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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16 pages, 2258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Decision-Making of PPPs in China by the Entropy-Weighted Pareto Front: A URT Case from Guizhou

by Feiran Liu, Jun Liu and Xuedong Yan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1753; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061753 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2966

Abstract

In recent years, value for money (VFM) evaluations using the Public Sector Comparator (PSC) method have gradually been adopted by governments worldwide in the field of public investment, and used as decision-making tools for public–private partnership (PPP) projects. However, there has been little [...] Read more.

In recent years, value for money (VFM) evaluations using the Public Sector Comparator (PSC) method have gradually been adopted by governments worldwide in the field of public investment, and used as decision-making tools for public–private partnership (PPP) projects. However, there has been little research concerned with such emerging decision-making questions with VFM. This paper proposed a quantitative decision-making method of entropy-weighted Pareto front applied in the specific context of Chinese PPPs, with a case study of an Urban Transit Railway (URT) PPP project from Guizhou province. Factor analysis was used to extract the qualitative indicators of VFM evaluation, associate them with the quantitative characteristics of the project, and thus help public sector decision-makers choose the proper quantitative decision variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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27 pages, 330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tele-Coupling Energy Efficiency Polices in Europe: Showcasing the German Governance Arrangements

by Marc Ringel

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1754; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061754 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4027

Abstract

Climate change entails many situations of tele-coupling. We analyze an example in the field of European climate and energy policy. The EU aims at an almost full decarbonisation of its economy by 2050. Achieving this objective asks for transforming the energy sectors of [...] Read more.

Climate change entails many situations of tele-coupling. We analyze an example in the field of European climate and energy policy. The EU aims at an almost full decarbonisation of its economy by 2050. Achieving this objective asks for transforming the energy sectors of EU Member States. These are responsible for 80% of carbon emissions. Further to this policy coupling, the EU transformation objectives have to be implemented by the Member States, regions and local actors. This proves especially complex in the field of energy efficiency. Here, a variety of policy instruments and actors are in place. In our contribution, we investigate in the question how multi-level governance arrangements in the energy efficiency field are designed. We focus on Germany as example for a federal state setting. Our review method comprises literature content analysis, primary sources, expert interviews and an in-depth screening of the German Sustainable Energy Action Plans. We find that formal vertical coordination has been successfully backed up by horizontal and especially informal governance mechanisms, leading to a model of polycentric governance. This model might serve as blueprint for other multi-level governance arrangements. Yet, we find that the “last mile” of this coordination still needs strengthening: Local actors need more active engaging and empowering to reap the full potential of the governance arrangements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Power, Emancipation and Justice in Natural Resource Governance—Towards “Critical and Transformative Sustainability Sciences”)

21 pages, 3248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plant Communities Suitable for Green Roofs in Arid Regions

by Rachel Gioannini, Malik Al-Ajlouni, Richard Kile, Dawn VanLeeuwen and Rolston St. Hilaire

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061755 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4443

Abstract

In extensive green roof settings, plant communities can be more robust than monocultures. In addition, native plants might be hardier and more ecologically sound choices than non-native plants in green roof systems. The objectives of this research were to (1) compare the performance [...] Read more.

In extensive green roof settings, plant communities can be more robust than monocultures. In addition, native plants might be hardier and more ecologically sound choices than non-native plants in green roof systems. The objectives of this research were to (1) compare the performance of plant communities with that of monocultures and (2) compare the growth of natives to non-natives in a simulated green roof setting. We conducted a two-year experiment at an outdoor site in a desert environment using four plant morphological types (groundcover, forb, succulent and grass). Native plants selected were Chrysactinia mexicana, Melampodium leucanthum, Euphorbia antisyphilitica, and Nassella tenuissima, and non-natives were Delosperma nubigenum, Stachys byzantina, Sedum kamtschiaticum and Festuca glauca. Plants were assigned randomly to either monoculture or community and grown in 1 m × 1 m custom-built trays filled with 15 cm of a proprietary blend of 50/20/30 lightweight aggregate/sand/compost (by volume). Native forb, Melampodium, in community had greater coverage for four of the five measurements in the first year over native forb in monoculture and non-native forb regardless of setting. Native forb coverage was also greater than non-native forb for three of the four measurements in year 2, regardless of setting. Coverage of native grass was significantly greater than non-native grasses throughout the experiment. Coverage was also greater for eight of nine measurements for native succulent over non-natives succulent. However, non-native groundcover coverage was significantly greater than native groundcover for seven of nine measurements. On 1 November 2016, relative water content (RWC) for succulents (p = 0.0424) was greatest for native Euphorbia in monoculture at 88%. Native Euphorbia also had greater RWC than non-native Sedum on 4 April 2017 (78%) and 4 July 2017 (80%). However, non-native Sedum had greater root length (6548 cm), root dry weight (12.1 g), and root-to-shoot dry weight ratio (0.45) than native Euphorbia. At the end of year 2, the relative growth rate (RGR) of native Euphorbia of 0.15 g·g⁻¹·d⁻¹ was greater than that of Sedum. While the native succulent had a smaller root biomass, its greater RWC and RGR would indicate it had better plant water status and grew faster than the non-native. The lack of differences in plant performance regardless of assignment to monoculture or community would imply that communities and monocultures are equally suitable for arid region green roofs. Full article

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19 pages, 4011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diffusion Paths and Guiding Policy for Urban Residents’ Carbon Identification Capability: Simulation Analysis from the Perspective of Relation Strength and Personal Carbon Trading

by Jia Wei, Hong Chen and Ruyin Long

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061756 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2466

Abstract

On the consumption side, the key to carbon emission reduction is urban residents’ carbon capability. As it is the main bottleneck hindering carbon capability enhancement, the promotion of carbon identification capability is very important. This study establishes diffusion models of carbon identification capability [...] Read more.

On the consumption side, the key to carbon emission reduction is urban residents’ carbon capability. As it is the main bottleneck hindering carbon capability enhancement, the promotion of carbon identification capability is very important. This study establishes diffusion models of carbon identification capability from the perspectives of relation strength and personal carbon trading through weighted small-world theory, and it takes Chinese urban residents as the research object to make a simulation analysis. The results show that, at the initial stage, using a knowledge priority strategy to determine the sender of capability can bring about a higher capability growth rate for individuals, and the capability diffusion equilibrium of the network is also the highest. However, in the entire diffusion process, the strength priority model is the best to make the network reach the equilibrium quickly. After the introduction of personal carbon trading, the growth rate of the carbon identification capability increases significantly, and the network equilibrium becomes higher synchronously. More egoistic nodes and fewer altruistic nodes in the network are more favorable for the capability diffusion in the network, but they may bring about the risk that the network equilibrium becomes lower. Finally, the study puts forward suggestions to help with the improvement of residents’ carbon identification capability. Full article

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16 pages, 1278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Labour in the Platform Economy: The Case of Facebook

by Andrea Fumagalli, Stefano Lucarelli, Elena Musolino and Giulia Rocchi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1757; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061757 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 20930

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyse the features of the digital labour connected with the so-called platform economy. Many platform-based business models rely on a new composition of capital capable of capturing personal information and transforming it into big data. Starting [...] Read more.

The aim of the paper is to analyse the features of the digital labour connected with the so-called platform economy. Many platform-based business models rely on a new composition of capital capable of capturing personal information and transforming it into big data. Starting with the example of the Facebook business model, we explain the valorisation process at the core of platform capitalism, stressing the relevance of digital labour, to clarify the crucial distinction between labour and work. Our analysis differs from Fuchs and Sevignani’s thesis about digital work and digital labour and seems consistent with the idea that Facebook extracts a rent from the information produced by the free labour of its users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Technological Change on Employment, Skills and Earnings)

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16 pages, 1673 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Cadmium, Copper and Lead on the Growth of Rice in the Coal Mining Region of Quang Ninh, Cam-Pha (Vietnam)

by J. Eduardo Marquez, Olivier Pourret, Michel-Pierre Faucon, Sebastian Weber, Thi Bích Hòa Hoàng and Raul E. Martinez

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1758; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061758 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8879

Abstract

The goal of this study was to quantify the mobility and partitioning of trace elements originating from mine waste rocks derived from open pit coal extraction activities. The results showed that native rice plants were adapted to growing in metal contaminated soils, posing [...] Read more.

The goal of this study was to quantify the mobility and partitioning of trace elements originating from mine waste rocks derived from open pit coal extraction activities. The results showed that native rice plants were adapted to growing in metal contaminated soils, posing a severe health risk to local population. Sequential extraction procedures and bulk soil chemical analyses both suggest enrichment of Cd, Pb and Cu in rice paddy soils. Lead was shown to be evenly partitioned among all mineral and organic phases. Copper was associated with carbonates and organic matter. Smaller fractions of Pb and Cu were also bound to Fe and Mn oxides. Only 25% of Cd, 9% of Pb and 48% of Cu were associated with the exchangeable fraction, considered mobile and thus bioavailable for plant uptake. Effects of Cd, Cu and Pb on local Cam Pha Nep cai Hoa vang, and control Asia Italian rice, showed marked differences in growth. The local Vietnamese variety grew close to control values, even upon exposure to higher trace metal concentrations. Whereas the development of the control rice species was significantly affected by increasing trace metal concentrations. This result suggests toxic trace elements accumulation in the edible parts of crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils: Sources, Releases and Environmental Impacts)

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28 pages, 4972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Suitability and Insurance Premiums: A GIS-based Multicriteria Analysis Approach for Sustainable Rice Production

by Md Monjurul Islam, Tofael Ahamed and Ryozo Noguchi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1759; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061759 - 27 May 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6872

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop a land suitability model for rice production based on suitability levels and to propose insurance premiums to obtain maximum returns based on the harvest index and subsidy dependence factor for the marginal and moderately suitable [...] Read more.

The purpose of this research is to develop a land suitability model for rice production based on suitability levels and to propose insurance premiums to obtain maximum returns based on the harvest index and subsidy dependence factor for the marginal and moderately suitable lands in the northern part of Bangladesh. A multicriteria analysis was undertaken and a rice land suitability map was developed using geographical information system and analytical hierarchy process. The analysis identified that 22.74% of the area was highly suitable, while 14.86% was marginally suitable, and 28.54% was moderately suitable for rice production. However, 32.67% of the area, which was occupied by water bodies, rivers, forests, and settlements, is permanently not suitable; 1.19% is presently not suitable. To motivate low-quality land owners to produce rice, there is no alternative but to provide protection through crop insurance. We suggest producing rice up to marginally suitable lands to obtain support from insurance. The minimum coverage is marginal coverage (70%) to cover the production costs, while the maximum coverage is high coverage (90%) to enable a maximum return. This new crop insurance model, based on land suitability can be a rational support for owners of different quality land to increase production. Full article

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24 pages, 11480 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Have We Learned from the Land Sparing-sharing Model?

by Benjamin T. Phalan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1760; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061760 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 132 | Viewed by 22377

Abstract

The land sparing-sharing model provides a powerful heuristic and analytical framework for understanding the potential of agricultural landscapes to support wild species. However, its conceptual and analytical strengths and limitations remain widely contested or misunderstood. Here, I review what inferences can and cannot [...] Read more.

The land sparing-sharing model provides a powerful heuristic and analytical framework for understanding the potential of agricultural landscapes to support wild species. However, its conceptual and analytical strengths and limitations remain widely contested or misunderstood. Here, I review what inferences can and cannot be derived from the framework, and discuss eight specific points of contention and confusion. The land sparing-sharing framework is underpinned by an ethic that seeks to minimise harm to non-human species. It is used to quantify how good farmland is for different species, in relation to appropriate reference land uses, and at what opportunity cost. The results of empirical studies that have used the model indicate that most species will have larger populations if food is produced on as small an area as possible, while sparing as large an area of native vegetation as possible. The potential benefits of land sharing or intermediate strategies for wild species are more limited. I review disagreements about the scope of analysis (food production cf. food security), the value of high-yield farmland for wildlife, the (ir)relevance of the Borlaug hypothesis, scale and heterogeneity, fostering human connections to nature, the prospects for land sparing in heavily-modified landscapes, the role of land sparing in improving connectivity, and the political implications of the model. Interpreted alongside insights from social, political and economic studies, the model can help us to understand how decisions about land-use will affect the persistence of wild species populations into the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: The State of the Great Debates)

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16 pages, 1891 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design Solutions for Sustainable Construction of Pre Engineered Steel Buildings

by Muhammad Umair Saleem and Hisham Jahangir Qureshi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1761; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061761 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9017

Abstract

Sustainable construction of ecofriendly infrastructure has been the priority of worldwide researchers. The induction of modern technology in the steel manufacturing industry has enabled designers to get the desired control over the steel section shapes and profiles resulting in efficient use of construction [...] Read more.

Sustainable construction of ecofriendly infrastructure has been the priority of worldwide researchers. The induction of modern technology in the steel manufacturing industry has enabled designers to get the desired control over the steel section shapes and profiles resulting in efficient use of construction material and manufacturing energy required to produce these materials. The current research study is focused on the optimization of steel building costs with the use of pre-engineered building construction technology. Construction of conventional steel buildings (CSB) incorporates the use of hot rolled sections, which have uniform cross-section throughout the length. However, pre-engineered steel buildings (PEB) utilize steel sections, which are tailored and profiled based on the required loading effects. In this research study, the performance of PEB steel frames in terms of optimum use of steel sections and its comparison with the conventional steel building is presented in detail. A series of PEB and CSB steel frames is selected and subjected to various loading conditions. Frames were analyzed using Finite Element Based analysis tool and design was performed using American Institute of Steel Construction design specifications. Comparison of the frames has been established in terms of frame weights, lateral displacements (sway) and vertical displacements (deflection) of the frames. The results have clearly indicated that PEB steel frames are not only the most economical solution due to lesser weight of construction but also have shown better performance compared to CSB frames. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Civil Engineering: from Sustainable Materials to Sustainable Cities)

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19 pages, 4849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Analysis and Market Demand Estimation in the Retail Industry through a Convolutional Neural Network

by Luyao Wang, Hong Fan and Yankun Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061762 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4468

Abstract

The Chinese retail industry is expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, owing to the rapid increase in purchasing power of Chinese consumers. Retail managers should analyze the market demands and avoid dull sales to promote the sustainable development of the [...] Read more.

The Chinese retail industry is expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, owing to the rapid increase in purchasing power of Chinese consumers. Retail managers should analyze the market demands and avoid dull sales to promote the sustainable development of the retail industry. Economic sustainability in the retail industry, which refers to a suitable return of investment, requires the implementation of precise product allocation strategies in different regions. This study proposed a hybrid model to evaluate economic sustainability in the preparation of goods of retail shops on the basis of market demand evaluation. Through a grid-based convolutional neural network, a regression model was first established to model the relationship between consumer distribution and the potential market demand. Then, another model was proposed to evaluate the sustainability among regions based on their supply-demand analysis. An experiment was conducted based on the actual sales data of retail shops in Guiyang, China. Results showed an immense diversity of sustainability in the entire city and three classes of regions were distinguished, namely, high, moderate, and limited. Our model was proven to be effective in the sustainability evaluation of supply and demand in the retail industry after validation showed that its accuracy reached 92.8%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ship Acquisition of Shipping Companies by Sale & Purchase Activities for Sustainable Growth: Exploratory Fuzzy-AHP Application

by Keun-Sik Park, Young-Joon Seo, A-Rom Kim and Min-Ho Ha

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1763; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061763 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6120

Abstract

Strengthening sale and purchase (S&P) capacity has become a fundamental requirement for sustainable growth and corporate competitiveness in the modern shipping market. However, there is a lack of research related to S&P and its priority when shipping companies attempt to implement ship acquisition [...] Read more.

Strengthening sale and purchase (S&P) capacity has become a fundamental requirement for sustainable growth and corporate competitiveness in the modern shipping market. However, there is a lack of research related to S&P and its priority when shipping companies attempt to implement ship acquisition through S&P activities. To fill this gap, this paper conducts an empirical analysis to analyze priority factors during the acquisition of second-hand ships from the perspective of shipping companies. Business criteria are considered to be the most important factors in the analysis of the priority of ship acquisition and investment in shipping companies. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first exploration covering Korean shipping companies’ ship acquisition through S&P activities. This study is expected to contribute to the better understanding of the role of S&P in ensuring the sustainability of shipping companies and to provide stakeholders with valuable insights. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sum Utilization of Spectrum with Spectrum Handoff and Imperfect Sensing in Interweave Multi-Channel Cognitive Radio Networks

by Waqas Khalid and Heejung Yu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1764; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061764 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3972

Abstract

Fifth-generation (5G) heterogeneous network deployment poses new challenges for 5G-based cognitive radio networks (5G-CRNs) as the primary user (PU) is required to be more active because of the small cells, random user arrival, and spectrum handoff. Interweave CRNs (I-CRNs) improve spectrum utilization by [...] Read more.

Fifth-generation (5G) heterogeneous network deployment poses new challenges for 5G-based cognitive radio networks (5G-CRNs) as the primary user (PU) is required to be more active because of the small cells, random user arrival, and spectrum handoff. Interweave CRNs (I-CRNs) improve spectrum utilization by allowing opportunistic spectrum access (OSA) for secondary users (SUs). The sum utilization of spectrum, i.e., joint utilization of spectrum by the SU and PU, depends on the spatial and temporal variations of PU activities, sensing outcomes, transmitting conditions, and spectrum handoff. In this study, we formulate and analyze the sum utilization of spectrum with different sets of channels under different PU and SU co-existing network topologies. We consider realistic multi-channel scenarios for the SU, with each channel licensed to a PU. The SU, aided by spectrum handoff, is authorized to utilize the channels on the basis of sensing outcomes and PU interruptions. The numerical evaluation of the proposed work is presented under different network and sensing parameters. Moreover, the sum utilization gain is investigated to analyze the sensitivities of different sensing parameters. It is demonstrated that different sets of channels, PU activities, and sensing outcomes have a significant impact on the sum utilization of spectrum associated with a specific network topology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Mobile Services and Scenarios: Challenges and Solutions)

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22 pages, 2086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fully Dynamic Input-Output/System Dynamics Modeling for Ecological-Economic System Analysis

by Takuro Uehara, Mateo Cordier and Bertrand Hamaide

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061765 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 10784

Abstract

The complexity of ecological-economic systems significantly reduces our ability to investigate their behavior and propose policies aimed at various environmental and/or economic objectives. Following recent suggestions for integrating nonlinear dynamic modeling with input-output (IO) modeling, we develop a fully dynamic ecological-economic model by [...] Read more.

The complexity of ecological-economic systems significantly reduces our ability to investigate their behavior and propose policies aimed at various environmental and/or economic objectives. Following recent suggestions for integrating nonlinear dynamic modeling with input-output (IO) modeling, we develop a fully dynamic ecological-economic model by integrating IO with system dynamics (SD) for better capturing critical attributes of ecological-economic systems. We also develop and evaluate various scenarios using policy impact and policy sensitivity analyses. The model and analysis are applied to the degradation of fish nursery habitats by industrial harbors in the Seine estuary (Haute-Normandie region, France). The modeling technique, dynamization, and scenarios allow us to show trade-offs between economic and ecological outcomes and evaluate the impacts of restoration scenarios and water quality improvement on the fish population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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20 pages, 1906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Sustainable Urbanization Development: A Perspective of the Coupling Coordination Development Based on Population, Industry, and Built-Up Land Spatial Agglomeration

by Yanjing Zhang, Zhengguo Su, Guan Li, Yuefei Zhuo and Zhongguo Xu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1766; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061766 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 4791

Abstract

A series of negative effects of urban development have emerged owing to the imbalance of population, industry, and built-up land spatial agglomeration. This study proposes an integrated coupling coordination index system in sustainable urbanization evaluation based on population, industry, and built-up land, to [...] Read more.

A series of negative effects of urban development have emerged owing to the imbalance of population, industry, and built-up land spatial agglomeration. This study proposes an integrated coupling coordination index system in sustainable urbanization evaluation based on population, industry, and built-up land, to evaluate the spatial-temporal evolution of coupling and coordination degree in Guangxi from 2005 to 2015. In addition, we adopted the exploratory spatial data analysis method to reveal the spatial pattern of coupling and coordination degree and its impact on sustainable urbanization. Finally, local indicator of spatial association (LISA) analysis was employed to identify the spatial heterogeneity of the coupling and coordination index values. The results, on the one hand, show that the coupling coordination degree of all counties increased yearly, but extremely slowly. The 88 counties in Guangxi are still in a low level of urbanization. On the other hand, a spatial agglomeration effect of urbanization levels is observed in this study. We found that the urbanization development is not independent. In other words, the urbanization level of each county will more or less be affected by its surrounding counties. In conclusion, in China, sustainable urbanization is closely related to the rational allocation of population, industry, and land resources. To promote the sustainable development of urbanization, it is necessary to strength the role of land use control and to rationally allocate these three elements in general. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Analysis of Urbanization towards Urban Sustainability)

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29 pages, 3028 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fragile States Metric System: An Assessment Model Considering Climate Change

by Yijian Liu, Chaoqun Zhou, Lin Li, Liang Su and Yuanbiao Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1767; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061767 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4346

Abstract

As a measure of the sustainability of a country, a state’s fragility is attributed to numerous elements. Meanwhile, climate change is a potential global threat in the 21st century, which may further aggravate the fragility of countries. Concerning this issue, we propose an [...] Read more.

As a measure of the sustainability of a country, a state’s fragility is attributed to numerous elements. Meanwhile, climate change is a potential global threat in the 21st century, which may further aggravate the fragility of countries. Concerning this issue, we propose an index system, the Fragile States Metric System (FSMS) to measure state fragility, which includes five dimensions: climate change, cohesion, economy, politics and society. Our FSMS consists of the Climate Change Metric System (CCMS) and Modified Conflict Assessment System (M-CAS). While establishing the model, we introduce a new hybrid evaluation method, Gray Relational Analysis (GRA)-Entropy method and variable weight function model, to calculate the weights. As the result, from 2007 to 2017, European countries, in particular Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark, remained the top 5 most stable countries. Robustness analysis proves that FSMS is a relatively stable model. In addition, in the application of FSMS, we introduce the economic theory, Pareto Optimum, to measure intervention costs while mitigating state fragility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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20 pages, 3199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Environmental Impact Caused by Power Grid Projects in High Altitude Areas Based on BWM and Vague Sets Techniques

by Yuanxin Liu, FengYun Li, Yi Wang, Xinhua Yu, Jiahai Yuan and Yuwei Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1768; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061768 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3275

Abstract

This study constructed a hybrid model for assessing the environmental impact caused by power grid projects (PGP) in high altitude area (HAA). Firstly, this study analyzed the characteristics of the environment in HAA and the possible environmental impacts caused by the PGP in [...] Read more.

This study constructed a hybrid model for assessing the environmental impact caused by power grid projects (PGP) in high altitude area (HAA). Firstly, this study analyzed the characteristics of the environment in HAA and the possible environmental impacts caused by the PGP in HAA. On this basis, an evaluation indicator system reflecting the particularity of HAA was established, including three perspectives named natural, social and ecological environment. Next, considering the availability of evaluation index data and the scarcity of evaluation samples, the best and worst method (BWM) was employed to obtain the objective and credible indicator weights. Furthermore, the Vague set theory was introduced into the comprehensive evaluation model, overcoming the shortcomings of comprehensive evaluation model based on fuzzy sets. Finally, the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model was validated via a practical PGP in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Overall, the results of this paper can play an important supporting role in promoting green construction and sustainable development of PGP. Besides, the proposed hybrid evaluation framework requires fewer index values and evaluation samples, having good applicability and promotion value in handling the evaluation issues with uncertain and incomplete information. Full article

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17 pages, 888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship Between Strategic Orientation Dimensions and Hotel Outsourcing and Its Impact on Organizational Performance. An Application in a Tourism Destination

by Tomás F. Espino-Rodríguez and Juan Carlos Ramírez-Fierro

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1769; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061769 - 28 May 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6871

Abstract

The study analyzes whether the strategic orientation of the firm, measured in six dimensions, influences the level of outsourcing. It also analyzes whether outsourcing has an impact on organizational performance from financial and non-financial perspectives. To do so, an important European tourist destination [...] Read more.

The study analyzes whether the strategic orientation of the firm, measured in six dimensions, influences the level of outsourcing. It also analyzes whether outsourcing has an impact on organizational performance from financial and non-financial perspectives. To do so, an important European tourist destination is analyzed. The findings suggest that the majority of the strategic dimensions influence the hotel’s level of outsourcing. The defensiveness and proactive dimensions are positively related to the level of outsourcing, whereas the competitive analysis and competitive aggressiveness dimensions influence it negatively. In addition, the riskiness dimension has a positive influence, whereas the dimension related to futurity does not influence the level of outsourcing. A positive and significant relationship is found between outsourcing and financial performance, whereas for non-financial performance, the relationship is not significant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How does Outsourcing Affect the Economy and its Sustainability?)

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9 pages, 1711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Process and Energy Analysis of Pelleting Agricultural and Woody Biomass Blends

by Noorfidza Yub Harun, Ashak Mahmud Parvez and Muhammad T. Afzal

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061770 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4146

Abstract

Unprocessed biomass has low energy density and high transportation cost. The energy generated through biomass can be enhanced by the pelletizing technique. In order to evaluate the energy requirement for the pelletizing of agricultural biomass, three different particle sizes (150–300, 300–425, and 425–600 [...] Read more.

Unprocessed biomass has low energy density and high transportation cost. The energy generated through biomass can be enhanced by the pelletizing technique. In order to evaluate the energy requirement for the pelletizing of agricultural biomass, three different particle sizes (150–300, 300–425, and 425–600 µm) of reed canary grass (RCG), timothy hay (TH), and switchgrass (SW) were selected in the present work. Furthermore, two woody biomasses (spruce and pine) were also considered under similar experimental conditions for comparison purposes. An Instron machine attached to an in-house built pelletizer unit was employed to produce a single pellet. The energy demand for compacting ground biomass (spruce) with a particle size of 150 µm was lower (2.07 kJ) than those required for particle sizes of 300 µm (2.24 kJ) and 425 µm (2.43 kJ). The energy required for compacting ground reed canary grass, timothy hay, and switchgrass was lower (1.61, 1.97, and 1.68 kJ, respectively) than that required for spruce (2.36 kJ) and pine (2.35 kJ), evaluated at a 159-MPa load and at temperature of about 80 °C. The energy demand for blended biomass was around 2 kJ with the pellet quality approaching that of the pellets made from woody biomass. Overall, blending helped to improve the quality of pellets and lower the compaction energy requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing)

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14 pages, 3349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Commercial Activities by Type on Social Bonding and Place Attachment in Neighborhoods

by Byungsuk Kim and Jina Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061771 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5330

Abstract

Place attachment is an emotion that people experience in connection to a specific place and it is needed to maintain a sustainable neighborhood community. The emotion is affected by various factors, such as experience, function, environment, and satisfaction. This study focuses on commercial [...] Read more.

Place attachment is an emotion that people experience in connection to a specific place and it is needed to maintain a sustainable neighborhood community. The emotion is affected by various factors, such as experience, function, environment, and satisfaction. This study focuses on commercial structures, which are one feature that characterizes the physical environments of neighborhoods. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of commercial activities in different commercial environments on social bonding and place attachment in residents. Two sites were selected for analysis due to their different commercial environments, and path analysis was used to examine the relationships among factors. The results indicate that commercial activities, which can vary according to commercial type, had both direct effects and indirect effects through social bonding between residents on place attachment. These results suggest that the commercial environment is an important element affecting the community and place attachment of residents in neighborhoods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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16 pages, 1474 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Prospective Consumers of the Indonesian Green Aviation Initiative for Sustainable Development in Air Transportation

by Ismi Rajiani and Sebastian Kot

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061772 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7071

Abstract

The Indonesia government’s pledge on moderation climate change and greenhouse gas decline will affect the development of energy and transportation. However, shifting to these new green products is naturally problematic. Recognizing the prospective customer is even more challenging if there is no prediction [...] Read more.

The Indonesia government’s pledge on moderation climate change and greenhouse gas decline will affect the development of energy and transportation. However, shifting to these new green products is naturally problematic. Recognizing the prospective customer is even more challenging if there is no prediction base. This study is concentrated on discerning the inclinations to forecast the potential consumers by applying Schwartz’s Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ), mediated with three established groups, namely: the (1) LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability); (2) traditionalists and (3) career-oriented. By referring to five diffusions of an innovation model, the adopters who are prospectively using the green aviation are assessed. The negative path to technology enthusiast and visionaries denote no market. However, if these two niches are found, they will become the focal point for segmenting the market. The relationship among the constructs is assessed using structural equation modeling on 178 samples that are residing in main cities of Indonesia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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20 pages, 273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Structure and Financing Constraints: Evidence on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China

by Sumei Luo, Yuxi Zhang and Guangyou Zhou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061774 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 9231

Abstract

The difficulty of financing for small- and medium-sized enterprises is an important problem that has plagued China’s economic development for a long time, so it is of great practical significance to explore how to solve the problem of financing difficulties for small- and [...] Read more.

The difficulty of financing for small- and medium-sized enterprises is an important problem that has plagued China’s economic development for a long time, so it is of great practical significance to explore how to solve the problem of financing difficulties for small- and medium-sized enterprises. From the perspective of financial structure, this paper introduces it to the analytical framework of the investment-cash flow sensitivity model, and establishes a two-way fixed effect model on the basis of the financial structure and other external financing conditions, so as to study the impact of the financial structure in China, especially the banking structure, on the financing constraints of small- and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, the data of 161 listed companies on the Small and Medium Enterprise Board from 2009 to 2013 is used to carry out an empirical test on the correlation between the financial structure factors and the financing constraints of small- and medium-sized enterprises. The study shows that the promotion of the scale ratio of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the banking industry is able to significantly alleviate the financing constraints of small- and medium-sized enterprises. Meanwhile, the structure of the banking industry should adapt to the industrial structure, in order to achieve the sustained and stable development of the real economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)

17 pages, 3921 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Integrating Irrigation and Drainage Management to Sustain Agriculture in Northern Iran

by Abdullah Darzi-Naftchali and Henk Ritzema

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061775 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4998

Abstract

In Iran, as in the rest of the world, land and water for agricultural production is under pressure. Integrating irrigation and drainage management may help sustain intensified agriculture in irrigated paddy fields. This study was aimed to investigate the long-term effects of such [...] Read more.

In Iran, as in the rest of the world, land and water for agricultural production is under pressure. Integrating irrigation and drainage management may help sustain intensified agriculture in irrigated paddy fields. This study was aimed to investigate the long-term effects of such management strategies in a newly subsurface drained paddy field in a pilot area in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Three strategies for managing subsurface drainage systems were tested, i.e., free drainage (FD), midseason drainage (MSD), and alternate wetting and drying (AWD). The pilot area consisted of subsurface drainage systems, with different combinations of drain depth (0.65 and 0.90 m) and spacing (15 and 30 m). The traditional surface drainage of the region’s consolidated paddy fields was the control. From 2011 to 2017, water table depth, subsurface drainage system outflow and nitrate, total phosphorous, and salinity levels of the drainage effluent were monitored during four rice- and five canola-growing seasons. Yield data was also collected. MSD and AWD resulted in significantly lower drainage rates, salt loads, and N losses compared to FD, with MSD having the lowest rates. Phosphorus losses were low for all three practices. However, AWD resulted in 36% higher rice yields than MSD. Subsurface drainage resulted in a steady increase in canola yield, from 0.89 ton ha⁻¹ in 2011–2012 to 2.94 ton ha⁻¹ in 2016–2017. Overall, it can be concluded that managed subsurface drainage can increase both water productivity and crop yield in poorly drained paddy fields, and at the same time reduce or minimize negative environmental effects, especially the reduction of salt and nutrient loads in the drainage effluent. Based on the results, shallow subsurface drainage combined with appropriate irrigation and drainage management can enable sustained agricultural production in northern Iran’s paddy fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation and Sustainable Management of Land)

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13 pages, 5024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studies on Energy Dissipation Mechanism of an Innovative Viscous Damper Filled with Oil and Silt

by Zheng Lu, Junzuo Li and Chuanguo Jia

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061777 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4132

Abstract

To improve seismic performance of a traditional viscous damper, an innovative viscous damper is proposed, in which the conventional damping medium is replaced by a mixture of oil and silt. This new medium is expected to increase damping force and solve the problem [...] Read more.

To improve seismic performance of a traditional viscous damper, an innovative viscous damper is proposed, in which the conventional damping medium is replaced by a mixture of oil and silt. This new medium is expected to increase damping force and solve the problem that arises out of the fact that the energy dissipation capacity of a conventional fluid viscous damper is low for small displacements. Firstly, the design concept and device configurations are introduced, then a cyclic loading test is applied to investigate the damper’s energy dissipation mechanism in different conditions. Experimental results show that the damper exhibits displacement-dependent characteristics for small displacements, indicating that the silt has changed its damping mechanism. Furthermore, the effect of multiple test parameters on the damping force is analyzed, showcasing that an increase in silt content can visibly increase the damping force. According to experimental data, fitting models of the damping force are obtained and verified, thus promoting further engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability of Civil Infrastructures under Extreme Loads)

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18 pages, 2924 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Finding CreativeVoice: Applying Arts-Based Research in the Context of Biodiversity Conservation

by Flor Rivera Lopez, Fern Wickson and Vera Helene Hausner

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1778; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061778 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10313

Abstract

The integration of creative arts–based methods into scientific research offers a host of advantages, including the ability to capture the complex texture of lived experience, explore interconnections between nature and culture, support nonhierarchical relations, and communicate insights in engaging and empowering new ways. [...] Read more.

The integration of creative arts–based methods into scientific research offers a host of advantages, including the ability to capture the complex texture of lived experience, explore interconnections between nature and culture, support nonhierarchical relations, and communicate insights in engaging and empowering new ways. In this article, we describe a new method—CreativeVoice—integrating the creative arts and qualitative research, which we developed and applied in a context of pursuing community-based conservation of agricultural biodiversity. We developed CreativeVoice as an integrative method to help us understand the local contexts, cultures, and perspectives from community members of different ages and genders, in two contrasting farming communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. CreativeVoice effectively adapts and extends the Photovoice method so as to retain its benefits but address some of its limitations. This includes allowing participants to choose a genre of artistic expression connected to their own specific individual or cultural contexts and providing the capacity to move beyond capturing present-day realities to directly bring in connections to the past and visions for the future. This article describes both the CreativeVoice approach and the significant value of integrating arts-based methods into research for advancing sustainability. Full article

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22 pages, 1263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Makes an Old Market Sustainable? An Empirical Analysis on the Economic and Leisure Performances of Traditional Retail Markets in Seoul

by Yun-Myong Yi and Tae-Hyoung Tommy Gim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061779 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5969

Abstract

Traditional retail markets have long been the center for urban vitality, yet they have been under threat of advancing superstores run by corporate retailers. Studies have attempted to identify the competitiveness of the markets, but empirical evidence is not sufficient for presenting which [...] Read more.

Traditional retail markets have long been the center for urban vitality, yet they have been under threat of advancing superstores run by corporate retailers. Studies have attempted to identify the competitiveness of the markets, but empirical evidence is not sufficient for presenting which factors contribute to the maintenance of a traditional market’s economic vitality. In South Korea, urban policies have been directed to revitalizing the markets, but their effectiveness has been questioned. This study aims to fill this void by examining traditional markets in Seoul with multiple regression on (1) the revenue and (2) the volume of customers and with negative binomial regression on (3) the popularity measured by the number of blog posts on the markets. Using a comprehensive set of variables, this paper finds that investments in physical infrastructure (p < 0.000) and organizational/operational capacities (p < 0.008 and p < 0.094) make a significant contribution to the economic vitality. Among product categories, the ratios of perishable food stores were found to be significant (p < 0.000) as well as those of food shops and vendors (p < 0.030). On the other hand, extending convenient facilities and anchor stores would reduce the revenue in the short term. In addition, traditional markets that are recognized as popular destinations may not necessarily be profitable. In this vein, attention should be paid to this mismatch when a strategy is deliberated to transform a market into a tourist attraction. Full article

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12 pages, 1073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Farmers’ Livelihood Strategies on Household Energy Consumption in the Eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

by Xueyan Zhao, Haili Zhao, Lu Jiang, Chenyu Lu and Bing Xue

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061780 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3493

Abstract

As an essential factor for sustainable development, energy plays a very important role in sustaining a modern lifestyle, particularly in poor rural areas. Considering that farmers’ livelihood in such areas is enormously dependent on services provided by environmental resources, it makes sense to [...] Read more.

As an essential factor for sustainable development, energy plays a very important role in sustaining a modern lifestyle, particularly in poor rural areas. Considering that farmers’ livelihood in such areas is enormously dependent on services provided by environmental resources, it makes sense to investigate the relationships and interactions between farming households’ livelihood strategies and their energy consumption. The findings and outcomes would be expected to contribute to the body of knowledge and benefit local policy-making toward sustainable transformation in the long run. Taking Gannan as an example, this study employed a participatory rural appraisal approach, with first-hand data mainly from field surveys, using a stratified random sampling method to illustrate the influence of farmers’ livelihood strategies for household energy consumption in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. Seven townships in Gannan were covered, three of them in pure pastoral areas, two in farming-pastoral areas, and two in farming areas. From these, 230 households were selected as study samples, with a valid return of 217 questionnaires, among which 78 came from pure pastoral areas, 60 from farming-pastoral areas, and 79 from farming areas. The results show that livelihood has a significant impact on farmers’ household energy consumption patterns, and increasing family income level and education level and improving the availability of commodity energy resources will help farmers reduce the proportion of biomass energy consumption and increase the proportion of commodity energy consumption. Furthermore, measures such as developing nonagricultural industries, improving the energy infrastructure, and enhancing farmers’ energy-saving awareness should be seriously considered to optimize farmers’ living energy consumption patterns in these poverty-stricken and eco-frangible regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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13 pages, 447 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bi-Objective Optimization Model Based on Profit and CO₂ Emissions for Pig Deliveries to the Abattoir

by Esteve Nadal-Roig, Adela Pagès-Bernaus and Lluís M. Plà-Aragonès

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1782; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061782 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4177

Abstract

This paper presents a bi-objective model for optimizing pig deliveries to the abattoir accounting for total revenue and CO

_{2}

emissions. Fattening farms house the most important stage in pig production, and operations on farms must be coordinated with the rest of the [...] Read more.

This paper presents a bi-objective model for optimizing pig deliveries to the abattoir accounting for total revenue and CO

_{2}

emissions. Fattening farms house the most important stage in pig production, and operations on farms must be coordinated with the rest of the pig supply chain when batch management is generally applied. The novelty of the model lies in the change of attitude in producers towards a greener production, which is becoming one of the major concerns in our society. In this context, we enrich the classical approach focused on revenues with the addition of the CO

_{2}

emissions from the pigs on the fattening farms. Emissions derived from feeding and transportation are considered since they are the most important sources of CO

_{2}

. The model is tested using parameters representing a typical integrated Spanish fattening farm. Our findings reveal the impact and the relationship between revenues and emissions, highlight that the break-even is reached achieving 459 kg of CO

_{2}

per pig, which corresponds to a reduction of 6.05%. On the other hand, the profit is slightly reduced by 4.48% in favor of the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain System Design and Optimization)

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10 pages, 2923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leading El-Niño SST Oscillations around the Southern South American Continent

by Yu-Chen Hsu, Chung-Pan Lee, You-Lin Wang, Chau-Ron Wu and Hon-Kit Lui

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061783 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3794

Abstract

The inter-annual variations in the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean have been widely investigated, largely due to their importance in achieving the sustainable development of marine ecosystems under a changing climate. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is [...] Read more.

The inter-annual variations in the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean have been widely investigated, largely due to their importance in achieving the sustainable development of marine ecosystems under a changing climate. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a widely recognized variability. In the subpolar region in the southern hemisphere, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is one of the main sources of the Peru Current. A change in the SST in the Southern Ocean may change the physical properties of the seawater in the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean. However, the variations in the SST in the Southern Ocean have rarely been addressed. This study uses a 147-year (1870–2016) dataset from the Met Office Hadley Centre to show that the SST anomalies (SSTAs) in the oceans west and east of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula have strong positive (R = 0.56) and negative (R = −0.67) correlations with the Niño 3.4 SSTA, respectively. Such correlations are likely related to the changes in circulations of the ACC. We further show that, statistically, the temporal variations in the SSTAs of the ACC lead the Niño 3.4 SSTA by four to six months. Such findings imply that change in the strength of ENSO or circulation under the changing climate could change the climate in regions at higher latitudes as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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15 pages, 2432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Fungicide on Soybean Rust in the Southeastern United States: A Meta-Analysis

by Mary Delaney, Althea A. ArchMiller, Dennis P. Delaney, Alan E. Wilson and Edward J. Sikora

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1784; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061784 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5100

Abstract

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow, has been of concern to soybean (Glycine max Merrill) growers in the southern United States since its introduction in 2004. As this fungus develops, pustules become numerous on the underside of leaves, [...] Read more.

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow, has been of concern to soybean (Glycine max Merrill) growers in the southern United States since its introduction in 2004. As this fungus develops, pustules become numerous on the underside of leaves, which then turn yellow and drop prematurely, resulting in fewer pods, and poorly developed seeds. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of fungicide use in controlling SBR by conducting a meta-analysis of 61 published and unpublished trials across the southern United States from 2004 to 2014. We analyzed fungicide efficacy based on factors such as specific classes of fungicide, active ingredients, number of fungicide applications, target growth stage upon initial application, level of disease pressure, and year of the study. Fungicides significantly increased yield and 100-seed weight and decreased the severity of SBR. The means of SBR severity, yield, and 100-seed weight in fungicide-treated plants were 9% (95% confidence interval: 2%, 21%), 128% (121%, 135%), and 121% (116%, 128%), respectively, of those calculated in the control plants. By using meta-analysis to analyze fungicide efficacy across multiple field trials, we were able to determine that one application of a strobilurin fungicide when plants were either beginning pod development (R3) or developing seeds (R5) was the most cost-effective approach to controlling SBR and increasing 100-seed weight. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 5170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Computer Vision-Based Bridge Displacement Measurements Using Rotation-Invariant Image Processing Technique

by Byung-Wan Jo, Yun-Sung Lee, Jun Ho Jo and Rana Muhammad Asad Khan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1785; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061785 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 8036

Abstract

Bridges are exposed to various kinds of external loads, including vehicle and hurricanes, during their life cycle. These loads cause structural damage, which may lead to bridge collapse. To ensure bridge safety, it is essential to periodically inspect the physical and functional conditions [...] Read more.

Bridges are exposed to various kinds of external loads, including vehicle and hurricanes, during their life cycle. These loads cause structural damage, which may lead to bridge collapse. To ensure bridge safety, it is essential to periodically inspect the physical and functional conditions of bridges. The displacement responses of a bridge have significance in determining the structural behaviors and assessing their safety. In recent years, many researchers have been studying bridge displacement measurements using image processing technologies. Image-processing-based displacement measurements using a computer analysis system can quickly assess bridge conditions and, thus, can be used to enhance the reliability of bridges with high accuracy. This paper presents a method based on multiple-image processing bridge displacement measurements that includes enhanced robustness to image rotation. This study applies template matching and a homography matrix to measure the displacement that works well regardless of the angle between the smartphone camera and the target. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Construction Engineering)

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16 pages, 490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Sciences, Art and Physical Activity in Leisure Environments. An Inter-Disciplinary Project for Teacher Training

by María Belén San Pedro Veledo, Inés López Manrique, Inés Fombella Coto, Yolanda Del Cura González, Beatriz Sánchez Martínez and Ana Isabel Álvarez González

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1786; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061786 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4567

Abstract

Factors such as social change and increasing urbanization processes in the early years of the 21st century have caused a reduction in the amount of time that children devote to leisure activities in the open-air, resulting in more sedentary lifestyles than children in [...] Read more.

Factors such as social change and increasing urbanization processes in the early years of the 21st century have caused a reduction in the amount of time that children devote to leisure activities in the open-air, resulting in more sedentary lifestyles than children in previous decades. An education in healthy habits from early ages to increase children’s physical and mental well-being together with their level of cultural knowledge contributes to the acquisition of a Leisure Culture that allows children to perceive the close environment as a scene for learning and enjoyment. It is thus be necessary for schools to foster pedagogical experiences, taking the physical and cultural environment as teaching resources. An innovation project is proposed which will be implemented with 25 university students from the School of Teacher Training and Education at the University of Oviedo (Oviedo, Spain). The project will consist of the proposal of educational itineraries through the city of Oviedo and Mount Naranco. As teachers-to-be, students must combine knowledge of the related areas and generate inter-disciplinary activities throughout the routes that will foster respect for the environment and leisure based on culture and physical activity, attitudes that they will transmit to their own students in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity as a Means of Culture, Leisure and Free Time)

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11 pages, 245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumers’ Behavior Concerning Sustainable Packaging: An Exploratory Study on Romanian Consumers

by Gheorghe Orzan, Anca Francisca Cruceru, Cristina Teodora Bălăceanu and Raluca-Giorgiana Chivu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1787; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061787 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 115 | Viewed by 35978

Abstract

The paper analyzes the Romanian consumer’s behavior concerning sustainable packaging through quantitative research among 268 consumers. The aim of the study is to determine the perception of the Romanian consumer regarding the role of eco-packaging in the formation of sustainable behavior. The research [...] Read more.

The paper analyzes the Romanian consumer’s behavior concerning sustainable packaging through quantitative research among 268 consumers. The aim of the study is to determine the perception of the Romanian consumer regarding the role of eco-packaging in the formation of sustainable behavior. The research has as main objectives: assessing consumer preferences for the types of ecological packaging, knowing the reasons for purchasing green packaging, and the role of the information about eco-packaging in promoting sustainability. Most respondents are aware of the impact of packaging on the environment, the main reasons for purchasing are environmental protection, recycle and the feeling of being responsible. Packaging preferences include paper, glass and cardboard and, to a lesser extent, plastic and wood. The reasons why consumers are not willing to pay more for green packaging are the price of products correlated with the low consumer budget and the lack of information and these are the main barriers to adopting sustainable behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marketing and Sustainability)

21 pages, 7527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Net Rice Production through Improved CASA Model by Addition of Soil Suitability Constant (ħα)

by Syed Muhammad Hassan Raza and Syed Amer Mahmood

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1788; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061788 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6678

Abstract

Net primary production (NPP) is an important indicator of the supply of food and wood. We used a hierarchy model and real time field observations to estimate NPP using satellite imagery. Net radiation received by rice crop canopies was estimated as 27,428 Wm [...] Read more.

Net primary production (NPP) is an important indicator of the supply of food and wood. We used a hierarchy model and real time field observations to estimate NPP using satellite imagery. Net radiation received by rice crop canopies was estimated as 27,428 Wm⁻² (215.4 Wm⁻² as averaged) throughout the rice cultivation period (RCP), including 23,168 Wm⁻² (118.3 Wm⁻² as averaged) as shortwave and 4260 Wm⁻² (34.63 Wm⁻² as averaged) as longwave radiation. Soil, sensible and latent heat fluxes were approximated as 3324 Wm⁻², 16,549 Wm⁻², and 7554 Wm⁻², respectively. Water stress on rice crops varied between 0.5838 and 0.1218 from the start until the end of the RCP. Biomass generation declined from 6.09–1.03 g/m² in the tillering and ripening stages, respectively. We added a soil suitability constant (ħα) into the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) model to achieve a more precise estimate of yield. Classification results suggest that the total area under rice cultivation was 8861 km². The spatial distribution of rice cultivation as per suitability zone was: 1674 km² was not suitable (NS), 592 km² was less suitable (LS), 2210 km² was moderately suitable (MS) and 4385 km² was highly suitable (HS) soil type with ħα ranges of 0.05–0.25, 0.4–0.6, 0.7–0.75 and 0.85–0.95 of the CASA based yield, respectively. We estimated net production as 1.63 million tons, as per 0.46 ton/ha, 1.2 ton/ha 1.9 ton/ha and 2.4 ton/ha from NS, LS, MS and HS soil types, respectively. The results obtained through this improved CASA model, by addition of the constant ħα, are likely to be useful for agronomists by providing more accurate estimates of NPP. Full article

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11 pages, 198 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Sustainable Tourism in Sensitive Environments: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

by Richard Butler

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061789 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 80 | Viewed by 9683

Abstract

Sustainable tourism has become a widely adopted term that has allowed many tourism developments to take place under its rubric that are less than sustainable and have been located in sensitive areas that have not all been suitable for such development. The paper [...] Read more.

Sustainable tourism has become a widely adopted term that has allowed many tourism developments to take place under its rubric that are less than sustainable and have been located in sensitive areas that have not all been suitable for such development. The paper reviews the origin and shortcomings of the concept and some of the implications of the resulting problems. It argues for a more critical review of so-called sustainable forms of tourism and for a focus to shift towards increasing the resilience of destinations, particularly those in sensitive areas, in order to shield them from the effects of inappropriate or excessive tourism development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism in Sensitive Environments: Mountains, Islands, Coastal and Polar Regions)

19 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands

by Marissa A. De Boer, Anjelika G. Romeo-Hall, Tomas M. Rooimans and J. Chris Slootweg

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061790 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 7228

Abstract

Phosphorus (P), being one of the building blocks of life, is essential for a multitude of applications, primarily for fertilizer usage. Sustainable management of phosphorus is becoming increasingly important in light of adverse environmental effects, ambiguous reserves, increasing global demand and unilateral dependence. [...] Read more.

Phosphorus (P), being one of the building blocks of life, is essential for a multitude of applications, primarily for fertilizer usage. Sustainable management of phosphorus is becoming increasingly important in light of adverse environmental effects, ambiguous reserves, increasing global demand and unilateral dependence. Recovery of phosphorus from the biggest loss stream, communal wastewater, has the potential to tackle each of these problems. The implementation of phosphorus recovery technologies at wastewater treatment plants is not widespread, despite prolonged efforts primarily done by researchers over the past decade. This study aimed to assess the drivers and barriers of a phosphorus recovery transition. Several key stakeholders involved in this transition in The Netherlands were interviewed. The Netherlands was taken as a case study, since it serves as a frontrunner in the implementation of phosphorus recovery technologies. This study shows that the main barriers from the point of view of fertilizer companies are the different and unclear characteristics of the phosphorus recovery product struvite compared to common fertilizers. Moreover, the end-of-waste status of struvite is mentioned as a prominent barrier for a phosphorus transition, since it hinders free market trade. Many water boards indicate that the main barrier is the high investment cost with an uncertain return on investment for onsite struvite recovery processes. The specified main driver for water boards for onsite struvite phosphorus recovery technology is the reduction of maintenance costs, and for phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge ash, the low organic pollutant in the P recovery product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation)

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19 pages, 2413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resource Dynamism of the Rwandan Economy: An Emergy Approach

by Evariste Rutebuka, Lixiao Zhang, Ernest Frimpong Asamoah, Mingyue Pang and Emmanuel Rukundo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1791; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061791 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5704

Abstract

Africa is experiencing unprecedented economic growth that requires planners to understand the interactions between the social, economic, and ecological systems to ensure its sustainable development. The present paper uses the emergy method to analyse the Rwandan economy from 1975 to 2016. Emergy-based sustainability [...] Read more.

Africa is experiencing unprecedented economic growth that requires planners to understand the interactions between the social, economic, and ecological systems to ensure its sustainable development. The present paper uses the emergy method to analyse the Rwandan economy from 1975 to 2016. Emergy-based sustainability indicators were used to analyse and compare two distinct periods of economic growth: the pre- and post-Tutsi genocide periods. The results revealed that, by 2016, the total emergy use had increased by approximately 74% of the emergy recorded in 1975. The increase in total emergy use was associated with an increase in imports with contributions from 6.5 to 46.2% and the renewable resource contribution decrease from 93.5 to 53.8%. The emergy analysis, which covered 41 years, categorises Rwanda as a non-renewable resource-poor country. The total emergy use of the pre-genocide period was significantly lower than the post-genocide period. Based on the 2016 emergy self-support of 54% and the emergy sustainability index of 2.52, Rwanda has the highest import dependence compared to other developing countries listed in this paper and tends toward a developed country like Canada, Portugal, and so on. An imperative decision needs to be made in terms of the management of the economic system of Rwanda, as imports are becoming the highest impetus of the Rwandan economy but are also the top major cause of a long-run sustainability downfall. Thus, the present study recommends a scrutinised selection system of imports by increasing raw materials, particularly non-renewable resources, and by subsequently increasing the internal transformation to be exported. This recommendation is also applicable to other developing countries with similar non-renewable resource statuses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resources Economics)

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22 pages, 750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Sustainability Performance of Organic and Low-Input Conventional Farms from Eastern Poland with the RISE Indicator System

by Adam Kleofas Berbeć, Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk, Christian Thalmann, Rebekka Wyss, Jan Grenz, Jerzy Kopiński, Jarosław Stalenga and Paweł Radzikowski

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1792; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061792 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5973

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the sustainability performance of organic and low-input conventional farms with the sustainability assessment tool—RISE 3.0. It is an indicator-based method for holistic assessment of sustainability of agricultural production at farm level. Ten organic and 10 [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to examine the sustainability performance of organic and low-input conventional farms with the sustainability assessment tool—RISE 3.0. It is an indicator-based method for holistic assessment of sustainability of agricultural production at farm level. Ten organic and 10 conventional farms from eastern Poland, Lublin province were assessed. According to the thresholds levels of the RISE method, organic farms performed positively for 7 out of 10 themes, while the values of the other 3 topics, biodiversity, working conditions, and economic viability, were at medium level. Conventional farms reached positive scores for 9 out of 10 themes. The only middle-performing theme was biodiversity. None of the two farm types had the lowest, problematic scores for examined themes. For the theme biodiversity and two indicators (greenhouse gas balance and intensity of agricultural production), significant differences between farming systems were found. Biodiversity performance, an important indicator of sustainability, estimated with the RISE system, was highly correlated with measured on-field weed flora and Orthoptera biodiversity of farms. High soil acidity and low crop productivity, improper weed regulation, and energy management were the most common problems in both types of farms. Working hours and wage and income levels were also assessed as being low. Recommendations to improve the sustainability of both organic and conventional farms are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology: Principles and Application for Efficient and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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16 pages, 1071 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Information and Communication Technology in Green Supply Chain Implementation and Companies’ Performance

by José Roberto Mendoza-Fong, Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz, Emilio Jiménez Macías, Nancy Liliana Ibarra Hernández, José Roberto Díaz-Reza and Julio Blanco Fernández

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061793 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6275

Abstract

The aim of this study is to quantify the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) and its technological updates on the success of the green supply chain (GSC) implementation, as well as the benefits this affords. This research is applied to the [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to quantify the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) and its technological updates on the success of the green supply chain (GSC) implementation, as well as the benefits this affords. This research is applied to the Mexican maquiladora export industry. A model of structural equations is presented to know the importance of the integration of ICT, combined with the implementation of GSC and the generation of benefits with the use of ICT. The results indicate that there is a direct, positive effect (PE) and significant among the four latent variables (LTV) analyzed but the most noteworthy is the indirect effect that the variable updating the ICT has on the benefits of GSC, through the variable mediators’ implementation of a GSC, since the direct effect of updating the ICT on the benefits of the implementation of GSC does not become significant. Whereby, it is recommended that the industry integrates and updates its ICT since, using the integrated and updated ICT and the implementation of a GSC, a series of economic, productive and environmental benefits will be created. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Industrial Engineering along Product-Service Life Cycle/Supply Chain)

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11 pages, 1489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Performance Analysis of Flat Plate Solar Collectors Using Different Nanofluids

by Erdoğan Arıkan, Serkan Abbasoğlu and Mustafa Gazi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061794 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 4588

Abstract

In this study, the effect of Al₂O₃-water and ZnO-water nanofluids, with and without ethylene glycol (EG), on the efficiency of a flat plate solar collector was investigated. Two systems were set up and the nanofluids with and without EG [...] Read more.

In this study, the effect of Al₂O₃-water and ZnO-water nanofluids, with and without ethylene glycol (EG), on the efficiency of a flat plate solar collector was investigated. Two systems were set up and the nanofluids with and without EG were examined at the same time. The volume fraction of the nanoparticles and EG were 0.25% and 25%, respectively. The study was conducted on three mass flow rates: 0.05 kg/s, 0.07 kg/s, and 0.09 kg/s. ASHRAE Standard 93-2010 was used to calculate the efficiency. The efficiency of the system was compared to distilled water (base fluid). The results also showed that an increase in the mass flow rate and use of the EG increased efficiency. Furthermore, in comparison with the base fluid, the maximum increase in efficiency (15.13%) was observed at 0.09 kg/s when using a Al₂O₃-water/EG nanofluid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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19 pages, 4712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valorization of Biomass Hydrolysis Waste: Activated Carbon from Humins as Exceptional Sorbent for Wastewater Treatment

by Shimin Kang, Jinxia Fu, Zhituan Deng, Shaohui Jiang, Guoyu Zhong, Yongjun Xu, Jianfeng Guo and Jingwen Zhou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061795 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4621

Abstract

Humins, waste from biomass hydrolysis, are the main factor limiting the utilization efficiency of biomass carbon. In the present study, waste humins were employed for activated carbon production though KOH activation in a temperature range of 500–900 °C. The structure and properties of [...] Read more.

Humins, waste from biomass hydrolysis, are the main factor limiting the utilization efficiency of biomass carbon. In the present study, waste humins were employed for activated carbon production though KOH activation in a temperature range of 500–900 °C. The structure and properties of the activated carbons were studied, and a honeycomb-like macropore structure was observed. High activation temperature was demonstrated to be capable of promoting the formation of activated carbon with high surface area, high pore volume and high adsorption capacity. The activated carbon obtained by carbonization at 800 °C (KOH800) was selected as sorbent to adsorb methylene blue (MB) and phenol in aqueous solution, and the adsorption process can be explained by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption behavior complies with Langmuir isotherm model and exhibits superior adsorption capacity of 1195 and 218 mg/g for MB and phenol, respectively. The impacts of surface area, acidic active sites and pore structures were also investigated, and it was found that the adsorption of approximately 44.0% MB and 39.7% phenol were contributed by the pores with apertures from 1.7 nm to 300 nm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuels–Bioenergy Waste to Value Added Feedstock)

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25 pages, 1538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Border M&A and the Acquirers’ Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study in China

by Yu Zhang, Xianming Wu, Hao Zhang and Chan Lyu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061796 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 9030

Abstract

This paper, firstly, empirically examines the relationship between Chinese companies’ cross-border mergers and acquisitions and the acquirers’ innovation performance. Secondly, it investigates the moderate effects of industrial policy and intellectual property protection on the relationship between cross-border M&A and the acquirers’ innovation performance. [...] Read more.

This paper, firstly, empirically examines the relationship between Chinese companies’ cross-border mergers and acquisitions and the acquirers’ innovation performance. Secondly, it investigates the moderate effects of industrial policy and intellectual property protection on the relationship between cross-border M&A and the acquirers’ innovation performance. At the same time, based on the perspective of corporate heterogeneity, the effect of state-owned equity on the above-mentioned moderate relationship was analyzed. The conclusions are as follows: First, Chinese companies’ cross-border acquisitions have significantly improved the acquirers’ innovation performance. Second, industrial policies negatively affect the relationship between cross-border mergers and acquisitions and the acquirers’ innovation performance. Third, the moderating role of intellectual property protection is not stable. Fourth, state-owned equity negatively affects the relationship between cross-border M&A and the acquirers’ innovation performance; the third-order interaction of state-owned equity on intellectual property protection, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and the acquirers’ innovation performance shows that the special relationship between state-owned enterprises and the government not only failed to help them make better use of intellectual property protection for technological innovation, it also adversely hindered the realization of its innovative performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alliances and Network Organizations for Sustainable Development)

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17 pages, 780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Challenges of Social Enterprises in Taiwan—From the Perspective of Community Development

by Yung Chang Wu, Yenchun Jim Wu and Shiann Ming Wu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1797; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061797 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 9666

Abstract

Social enterprises (SEs) have formed a naturally conscientious atmosphere in Taiwan, which has not only diluted the boundary between society and enterprises, but also transformed the inherent thinking of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). SEs operate under cross-organizational and cross-departmental models. For years, the rapid [...] Read more.

Social enterprises (SEs) have formed a naturally conscientious atmosphere in Taiwan, which has not only diluted the boundary between society and enterprises, but also transformed the inherent thinking of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). SEs operate under cross-organizational and cross-departmental models. For years, the rapid economic development of Taiwan has focused on the pursuit of profit without focusing on the development of NPOs. Only after the economy began to slow down did society gradually see a new trend based on the concept of SEs and the cultivation of community self-sufficiency to solve social problems. Its successful implementation is of great significance to the sustainable development of Taiwan. Community industry is based on the community and it is people-oriented. From the perspective of sustainable development, community industry is invested in economic activities and creates multiple benefits to a sustainable community and to social, environmental, cultural, financial, and other developments. From the early “production and welfare construction” to the “new hometown overall construction policy”, Taiwan has placed emphasis on inherent local industry activation, such as the establishment of local industrial exchange centers, local industry sustainable mechanism construction, local characteristic small community enterprises, as well as economic plans, including “Sustainable Employment Hope Project” and “Diverse Employment Development Program”, promoted by the Labor Commission since 2001. All of these are focused on building and developing a community industry, and relevant authorities look forward to the vitality of the community industry to create more job opportunities and community interests. Based on literature review of social enterprise, this paper leads small- and medium-sized community industries to meet the development of business models from the economic perspective of commercialization and the social perspective of social innovation in order to solve the quality crisis that is faced by nonprofit organizations and to maintain the sustainable development of the enterprise. By the design of a nonprofit and mutual-assistance mechanism, poverty relief results can be obtained. SEs, which are similar to regular enterprises, can encounter challenging business environments and they must also possess the ability to assume business risks. Specifically, SEs must consider the dual goals of having a social mission while achieving economic goals. This study provides a detailed understanding of the existence and operational characteristics of SEs in Taiwan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Smart Villages Research)

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15 pages, 3531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of Passive and Active Islanding Detection Methods for PV Grid-Connected Systems

by Ahmed G. Abokhalil, Ahmed Bilal Awan and Abdel-Rahman Al-Qawasmi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1798; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061798 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 67 | Viewed by 6218

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) power grid-connected systems have the advantages of being prompt and reliable supplies of electrical power. Nevertheless, the installation and operation requirements from the grid side have to be fulfilled in order to guarantee the security of the PV system technicians and [...] Read more.

Photovoltaic (PV) power grid-connected systems have the advantages of being prompt and reliable supplies of electrical power. Nevertheless, the installation and operation requirements from the grid side have to be fulfilled in order to guarantee the security of the PV system technicians and the efficiency of the power system. Particularly, the potential for “islanding” is one of the dreads that are brought about by PV grid-connected systems. To be able to tackle these concerns, this paper investigates recent islanding detection techniques and topologies for PV systems. Active islanding detection techniques apply regular disturbances to the inverter system and then analyze the output voltage or frequency to investigate the islanding and stability of the grid. If the injected disturbances influence the load voltage or frequency, the controller forces the intermediate inverter to stop sending power to the connected load. In addition, several islanding detection techniques that inject a periodical signal to the reference current that causes a change in the magnitude of inverter output voltage when islanding happens in a three-phase photovoltaic grid-connected system are discussed. The validity of the proposed technique is tested and verified through PSIM software. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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29 pages, 19072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Drought Prediction Using Near Real-Time Climate Forecasts and Simulated Hydrologic Conditions

by Hyunwoo Kang and Venkataramana Sridhar

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1799; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061799 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4638

Abstract

Short-term drought forecasting is helpful for establishing drought mitigation plans and for managing risks that often ensue in water resource systems. Additionally, hydrologic modeling using high-resolution spatial and temporal data is used to simulate the land surface water and energy fluxes, including runoff, [...] Read more.

Short-term drought forecasting is helpful for establishing drought mitigation plans and for managing risks that often ensue in water resource systems. Additionally, hydrologic modeling using high-resolution spatial and temporal data is used to simulate the land surface water and energy fluxes, including runoff, baseflow, and soil moisture, which are useful for drought forecasting. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) models are used for short-term drought forecasting in the contiguous United States (CONUS), as many areas in this region are frequently affected by varying drought intensities. Weekly-to-seasonal meteorological inputs are provided by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) for the retrospective period (January 2012 to July 2017) and Climate Forecasting System version 2 (CFS v2) for the forecasting period (August 2017 to April 2018), and these inputs are used to estimate agricultural and groundwater drought conditions. For drought assessment, three drought indices, namely, the Standardized Soil Moisture index (SSI), the Multivariate Standardized Drought Index (MSDI), and the Standardized Baseflow index (SBI), were analyzed. The accuracy of the forecasting results was verified using several a performance measure (Drought area agreement (%); DA). Generally, eight weeks of lead time forecasting showed good drought predictability from both the SWAT and VIC models for the MSDI simulations (62% for SWAT and 64% for VIC for all drought categories). However, the DA values for eight weeks lead time forecasting for SSI were 23% (SWAT) and 10% (VIC) and 7% (SWAT) and 7% (VIC) for the SBI, respectively. In addition, the accuracies of drought predictions remarkably decreased after eight weeks, and the average DA values were 36% for SWAT and 38% for VIC due to an increase in the uncertainties associated with meteorological variables in CFS v2 products. For example, there are increases in the total number of grids where the absolute values of monthly differences between CFSv2 and CPC observations exceed 20 mm and 1 °C during the forecasting period. Additionally, drought forecasting using only one variable (i.e., SSI and SBI) showed low prediction performances even for the first eight weeks. The results of this study provide insights into drought forecasting methods and provide a better understanding to plan for timely water resource management decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

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14 pages, 3418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphology Dependent Assessment of Resilience for Urban Areas

by Kai Fischer, Stefan Hiermaier, Werner Riedel and Ivo Häring

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061800 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4316

Abstract

The formation of new threats and the increasing complexity of urban built infrastructures underline the need for more robust and sustainable systems, which are able to cope with adverse events. Achieving sustainability requires the strengthening of resilience. Currently, a comprehensive approach for the [...] Read more.

The formation of new threats and the increasing complexity of urban built infrastructures underline the need for more robust and sustainable systems, which are able to cope with adverse events. Achieving sustainability requires the strengthening of resilience. Currently, a comprehensive approach for the quantification of resilience of urban infrastructure is missing. Within this paper, a new generalized mathematical framework is presented. A clear definition of terms and their interaction builds the basis of this resilience assessment scheme. Classical risk-based as well as additional components are aligned along the timeline before, during and after disruptive events, to quantify the susceptibility, the vulnerability and the response and recovery behavior of complex systems for multiple threat scenarios. The approach allows the evaluation of complete urban surroundings and enables a quantitative comparison with other development plans or cities. A comprehensive resilience framework should cover at least preparation, prevention, protection, response and recovery. The presented approach determines respective indicators and provides decision support, which enhancement measures are more effective. Hence, the framework quantifies for instance, if it is better to avoid a hazardous event or to tolerate an event with an increased robustness. An application example is given to assess different urban forms, i.e., morphologies, with consideration of multiple adverse events, like terrorist attacks or earthquakes, and multiple buildings. Each urban object includes a certain number of attributes, like the object use, the construction type, the time-dependent number of persons and the value, to derive different performance targets. The assessment results in the identification of weak spots with respect to single resilience indicators. Based on the generalized mathematical formulation and suitable combination of indicators, this approach can quantify the resilience of urban morphologies, independent of possible single threat types and threat locations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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19 pages, 594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Consumers’ Sustainable Consumption Intention at China’s Double-11 Online Shopping Festival: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model

by Shuai Yang, Lei Li and Jiemin Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1801; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061801 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 79 | Viewed by 14442

Abstract

Double-11 shopping festival has become the largest national shopping festival in China. This study investigates the effect of the atmosphere during the Double-11 shopping festival on Chinese people’s sustainable consumption by extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A survey on a sample [...] Read more.

Double-11 shopping festival has become the largest national shopping festival in China. This study investigates the effect of the atmosphere during the Double-11 shopping festival on Chinese people’s sustainable consumption by extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A survey on a sample of 404 Chinese consumers showed that the atmosphere specific to China’s Double-11 shopping festival was negatively associated with consumers’ purchase intention toward sustainable consumption. Moreover, the negative relationship was mediated by consumers’ attitude toward sustainable consumption, the subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marketing and Sustainability)

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14 pages, 244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Investigation of the Transition from Green Building to Green Community: Insights from LEED ND

by Peng Wu, Yongze Song, Xin Hu and Xiangyu Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061802 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5464

Abstract

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) rating system has been considered one of the major tools to assess the performance of green communities. However, few studies have been conducted on how the traditional focus on green building [...] Read more.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) rating system has been considered one of the major tools to assess the performance of green communities. However, few studies have been conducted on how the traditional focus on green building can be effectively transitioned to green communities. In order to facilitate the transition process, this paper reviews and analyzes the credits obtained from LEED ND 2009 certified plans. A total of 55 projects were identified from the LEED project directory of the U.S. Green Building Council. The performance of these neighborhood development projects, including project landscape, percentage of achievement and predictors of LEED ND rating, was analyzed. The performance was then compared with the performance of green buildings certified under LEED New Construction (LEED NC). The results indicate that there is an unbalanced allocation of credits to economic, social and environmental sustainability in the LEED ND rating. In addition, green infrastructure and building credits, such as wastewater management, on-site renewable energy and solar orientation, have extremely low percentage of achievement, indicating that these credits should be redesigned. The results provide useful insights for developers to prepare for LEED ND certification and for regulatory bodies to improve the performance of the current LEED ND rating system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction, Development and Management in the Built Environment)

13 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Study of Communication of Audience Cognition of Environmental Awareness

by Jun Wu, Yang Gao, Sang-Bing Tsai and Rungtai Lin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1803; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061803 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4125

Abstract

Environmental protection is a vital issue nowadays. Many scholars typically focused on the social aspects of it in their research. For the practical implementation of environmental protection, raising environmental awareness is crucial. With the rapid development of digital media, animation is now used [...] Read more.

Environmental protection is a vital issue nowadays. Many scholars typically focused on the social aspects of it in their research. For the practical implementation of environmental protection, raising environmental awareness is crucial. With the rapid development of digital media, animation is now used to effectively convey this issue of concern. This study employed qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the effects of viewers’ esthetic experiences and preferences for an original environmental protection-themed sand animation in order to understand cognitive differences between viewers regarding film and television. We selected critical social issues and a popular sand animation for this study. Analyzing the cognitive differences and preferences of the viewers, we identified key factors that attract viewers. The findings were as follows: (1) People gain clear cognition of the environmental protection theme from the sand animation. (2) Innovative perspectives gain recognition more easily. (3) Propagation of environmental awareness to audiences is possible through fiction. (4) Age and professional background cause differences in cognition of film by audience. (5) Different elements of film have different effects on creative intensity and cultural depth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Tourism, Culture, and Heritage)

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17 pages, 1077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Achieving Sustainable Phosphorus Use in Food Systems through Circularisation

by Paul J. A. Withers, Donnacha G. Doody and Roger Sylvester-Bradley

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061804 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 6825

Abstract

The notion of a phosphorus (P) circular economy provides the philosophy, framework, and opportunity to enable food production systems to become more efficient, sustainable, and resilient to a future P scarcity or sudden price shock. Whilst P recovery and recycling are central strategies [...] Read more.

The notion of a phosphorus (P) circular economy provides the philosophy, framework, and opportunity to enable food production systems to become more efficient, sustainable, and resilient to a future P scarcity or sudden price shock. Whilst P recovery and recycling are central strategies for closing the P cycle, additional gains in environmental performance of food systems can be obtained by further minimising the amounts of P (a) introduced into the food system by lowering system P demand and (b) lost from the system by utilising legacy P stores in the landscape. This minimisation is an important cascading component of circularisation because it reduces the amounts of P circulating in the system, the amounts of P required to be recycled/recovered and the storage of unused P in the landscape, whilst maintaining agricultural output. The potential for circularisation and minimisation depends on regional differences in these P flow dynamics. We consider incremental and transformative management interventions towards P minimisation within circular economies, and how these might be tempered by the need to deliver a range of ecosystem services. These interventions move away from current production philosophies based on risk-averse, insurance-based farming, and current consumption patterns which have little regard for their environmental impact. We argue that a greater focus on P minimisation and circularisation should catalyse different actors and sectors in the food chain to embrace P sustainability and should empower future research needs to provide the confidence for them to do so without sacrificing future regional food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation)

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29 pages, 3879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Commercial African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Recirculating Aquaculture Systems: Assessment of Element and Energy Pathways with Special Focus on the Phosphorus Cycle

by Sebastian Marcus Strauch, Lisa Carolina Wenzel, Adrian Bischoff, Olaf Dellwig, Jan Klein, Andrea Schüch, Berit Wasenitz and Harry Wilhelm Palm

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1805; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061805 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 11819

Abstract

The reuse of effluent waters and sediments from African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) recirculation aquaculture systems requires a deeper understanding of the nutrient and energy flows and material pathways. Three semi-commercial systems, differing in stocking density, were sampled for nutritive and pollutant [...] Read more.

The reuse of effluent waters and sediments from African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) recirculation aquaculture systems requires a deeper understanding of the nutrient and energy flows and material pathways. Three semi-commercial systems, differing in stocking density, were sampled for nutritive and pollutant elements of the input- (tap water, feed) and output pathways (fillet, carcass, process water, sediments) by ICP-OES/MS and calorimetry. Highly water-soluble elements, e.g., potassium, accumulated in the water, whereas iron, copper, chromium and uranium where found in the solids. Feed derived phosphorous was accounted for, 58.3–64.2% inside the fish, 9.7–19.3% in sediments, and small amounts 9.6–15.5% in the process waters. A total of 7.1–9.9% of the feed accumulated as dry matter in the sediments, comprising 5.5–8.7% total organic carbon and 3.7–5.2% nitrogen. A total of 44.5–47.1% of the feed energy was found in the fish and 5.7–7.7% in the sediments. For reuse of water and nutrients in hydroponics, the macro-nutrients potassium, nitrate, phosphorus and the micro-nutrient iron were deficient when compared with generalized recommendations for plant nutrition. Low energy contents and C/N-ratio restrict the solely use of African catfish solids for biogas production or vermiculture. Using the outputs both for biogas supplement and general fertilizer in aquaponics farming (s.l.) (combined with additional nutrients) appears possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation)

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26 pages, 4490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Contributes to Regional Disparities of Energy Consumption in China? Evidence from Quantile Regression-Shapley Decomposition Approach

by Feng Dong, Bolin Yu and Jixiong Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061806 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3394

Abstract

Given the binding provincial goals of energy intensity reduction and total energy consumption control in China, the main purpose of this study is to analyze the regional disparities of energy consumption from the perspectives of energy consumption per capita (EP) and energy intensity [...] Read more.

Given the binding provincial goals of energy intensity reduction and total energy consumption control in China, the main purpose of this study is to analyze the regional disparities of energy consumption from the perspectives of energy consumption per capita (EP) and energy intensity (EI), as well as to propose differentiated energy conservation policies. In doing so, quantile regression and regression-based Shapley value decomposition are performed in the case of 30 provinces in China during 2000–2015. The results of quantile regression specify that the impact of each determinant on EP differs distinctly at different quantiles. Income has a positive effect on EP, conversely, industrial structure, population density and transportation infrastructure have negative effects on EP. Similarly, the effect of each influencing factor on EI presents distinct dynamic varying process at different quantiles. Industrial structure, FDI and technological progress have significantly negative effects on EI, while energy mix has a positive effect on EI. Furthermore, based on the results of median regression, the assessment of contributions of individual variables to regional disparities of energy consumption per capita and energy intensity (i.e., EPD and EID) is conducted by the Shapley value decomposition method. It is found that inequality in income level is the most important reason for EPD and its annual average contribution rate is 70%. In addition, differences in population density play an important role in explaining EPD, while the inequality in transportation infrastructure contributes little to EPD. By contrast, EID is mainly due to differences in technological progress, whose annual average contribution rate is up to 46%. Following technological progress, the inequalities of FDI and energy mix are also important factors accounting for EID. On the whole, the contribution of industrial structure or regional factors is always small. Then, this study explores the provincial energy-saving development path based on the actual conditions of all provinces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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16 pages, 4130 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Layout Optimization Model for the Production Planning of Precast Concrete Building Components

by Dong Wang, Guiwen Liu, Kaijian Li, Tongjing Wang, Asheem Shrestha, Igor Martek and Xiaobo Tao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061807 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6533

Abstract

Precast concrete comprises the basic components of modular buildings. The efficiency of precast concrete building component production directly impacts the construction time and cost. In the processes of precast component production, mold setting has a significant influence on the production efficiency and cost, [...] Read more.

Precast concrete comprises the basic components of modular buildings. The efficiency of precast concrete building component production directly impacts the construction time and cost. In the processes of precast component production, mold setting has a significant influence on the production efficiency and cost, as well as reducing the resource consumption. However, the development of mold setting plans is left to the experience of production staff, with outcomes dependent on the quality of human skill and experience available. This can result in sub-optimal production efficiencies and resource wastage. Accordingly, in order to improve the efficiency of precast component production, this paper proposes an optimization model able to maximize the average utilization rate of pallets used during the molding process. The constraints considered were the order demand, the size of the pallet, layout methods, and the positional relationship of components. A heuristic algorithm was used to identify optimization solutions provided by the model. Through empirical analysis, and as exemplified in the case study, this research is significant in offering a prefabrication production planning model which improves pallet utilization rates, shortens component production time, reduces production costs, and improves the resource utilization. The results clearly demonstrate that the proposed method can facilitate the precast production plan providing strong practical implications for production planners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)

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9 pages, 1194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Implementation of Access Control

by Mihaela Muntean and Laurenţiu Dijmărescu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061808 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3503

Abstract

Sustainable implementation of access control implies approaches at different levels. Beyond the authorization framework at application level, the demarche will be strengthened by providing security objects at database level. In terms of sustainable information systems, the proposal extends the integrated security approach of [...] Read more.

Sustainable implementation of access control implies approaches at different levels. Beyond the authorization framework at application level, the demarche will be strengthened by providing security objects at database level. In terms of sustainable information systems, the proposal extends the integrated security approach of an SAP application with initiatives at database level programmed in PL/SQL. The organization’s policies and procedures are taken into consideration. Full article

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13 pages, 877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is Liquidity Risk Priced? Theory and Evidence

by Seok-Kyun Hur, Chune Young Chung and Chang Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1809; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061809 - 30 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3924

Abstract

This study studies a recently proposed measure of liquidity premium (or discount). Specifically, the liquidity premium we utilize is defined as a function of a time discount factor, a relative risk aversion parameter, and the expected return and volatility of the asset, given [...] Read more.

This study studies a recently proposed measure of liquidity premium (or discount). Specifically, the liquidity premium we utilize is defined as a function of a time discount factor, a relative risk aversion parameter, and the expected return and volatility of the asset, given the risk-free rate. Using U.S. stock market data, our empirical results confirm that the proposed liquidity premium measure is largely comparable to that commonly used in existing studies. Our results also imply that a risk factor based on the liquidity premium measure not only explains cross-sectional stock returns, but also time-series excess returns on portfolios sorted on the commonly used liquidity measure. In addition, our study suggests that better understanding the liquidity risk leads to sustainable trading for investors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics)

19 pages, 1553 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Circular Agriculture: A Case Study in Fuqing, China

by Weiguo Fan, Peng Zhang, Zihan Xu, Hejie Wei, Nachuan Lu, Xuechao Wang, Boqi Weng, Zhongdian Chen, Feilong Wu and Xiaobin Dong

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061810 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7117

Abstract

The process for reasonably evaluating the potential impacts of circular agriculture on the environment has become a key issue in the sustainable development of circular agriculture. Based on this consideration, by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and focusing on the circular agriculture industry [...] Read more.

The process for reasonably evaluating the potential impacts of circular agriculture on the environment has become a key issue in the sustainable development of circular agriculture. Based on this consideration, by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and focusing on the circular agriculture industry company of Xingyuan, Fuqing, this paper evaluates the potential impacts of the pig farming industry-dragon fruit planting-forage planting-fishery industry-mushroom planting-biogas generating-organic fertilizer production circular agriculture model compared to a main agriculture industrial model, the pig farming industry, from environmental and environmental-economic perspectives. Moreover, this paper determines key elements that restrict the development of circular agriculture through a sensitivity analysis. The results show that if we simply consider the potential environmental impacts, circular agriculture does not produce better results than those of the main agricultural production model. In addition, if we consider reducing the potential environmental impact as well as improving the economic benefits from the perspective of a “reduction ring”, we should consider removing mushroom planting and organic fertilizer from the circular agriculture framework. Moreover, if we want to reduce the potential environmental impact without changing the current recycling model, we should focus on the premix components, especially the three main components of corn, soybean meal, and whey protein concentrate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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15 pages, 1662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil CO₂ and N₂O Emission Drivers in a Vineyard (Vitis vinifera) under Different Soil Management Systems and Amendments

by Ágota Horel, Eszter Tóth, Györgyi Gelybó, Márton Dencső and Imre Potyó

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1811; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061811 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3498

Abstract

Greenhouse gases emitted from agricultural soils entering the atmosphere must be reduced to decrease negative impacts on the environment. As soil management can have an influence on greenhouse gas emissions, we investigated the effects of different soil management systems and enhancer materials on [...] Read more.

Greenhouse gases emitted from agricultural soils entering the atmosphere must be reduced to decrease negative impacts on the environment. As soil management can have an influence on greenhouse gas emissions, we investigated the effects of different soil management systems and enhancer materials on CO₂ and N₂O fluxes in a vineyard. Five treatments were investigated: (i) no-till management with no fertilizer addition as the control (C); (ii) tilled soil (shallow) with no fertilizer (T); (iii) tilled soil, no fertilizer, and biochar application (T + BC); (iv) tilled soil and manure addition (T + M); and (v) tilled soil, manure, and biochar application (T + M + BC). T treatment showed the highest overall N₂O emission, while the lowest was observed in the case of T + M + BC, while manure and biochar addition decreased. Tillage in general increased overall CO₂ emissions in all treatments (T 26.7% and T + BC 30.0% higher CO₂ than C), while manure addition resulted in reduced soil respiration values (T + M 23.0% and T + M + BC 24.8% lower CO₂ than T). There were no strong correlations between temperatures or soil water contents and N₂O emissions, while in terms of CO₂ emissions, weak to moderately strong connections were observed with environmental drivers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Consumer Empathy Influence Consumer Responses to Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility? The Dual Mediation of Moral Identity

by Ghi-Feng Yen and Hsin-Ti Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1812; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061812 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6625

Abstract

The present study examined consumer responses to strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the perspectives of consumer moral emotions (empathy) and cognition (moral identity), and investigated charitable activities conducted by convenience stores in Taiwan from theoretical and practical perspectives. The research method involved [...] Read more.

The present study examined consumer responses to strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the perspectives of consumer moral emotions (empathy) and cognition (moral identity), and investigated charitable activities conducted by convenience stores in Taiwan from theoretical and practical perspectives. The research method involved a comparison between two actual charitable activities conducted by convenience stores, namely “donation platform services” and “cause-related marketing”. A questionnaire was distributed into four regions spanning southern to northern Taiwan by using a convenient sampling method, and 332 valid responses were collected. The present study employed structural equation modelling to verify its hypotheses. In terms of theoretical contributions, the present study constructed two theoretical models and subsequently verified that empathy influences moral identity; this constitutes a major contribution to investigations of the causal relationship between moral emotions and cognitive theory. In practice, the present study recommends that convenience stores implement more cause-related marketing to reduce consumer suspicions that firms are motivated purely by profit and increase consumer trust in firms. Subsequent studies are recommended to conduct in-depth investigations of the underlying causes of moral identity internalization and symbolization generating different responses in consumers, as well as other possible situational variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Retailers Could Contribute to Sustainable Development)

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19 pages, 6763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Allocation of Facilities on Reducing Carbon Emissions from a Green Container Terminal Perspective

by Yun Peng, Wenyuan Wang, Ke Liu, Xiangda Li and Qi Tian

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1813; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061813 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4586

Abstract

The main contribution of this paper is to quantify the impact of the allocation of facilities, including the number of facilities and the fuels adopted by facilities, on carbon emissions. In order to deal with the complex queuing network of container terminals, a [...] Read more.

The main contribution of this paper is to quantify the impact of the allocation of facilities, including the number of facilities and the fuels adopted by facilities, on carbon emissions. In order to deal with the complex queuing network of container terminals, a simulation model is established with the changing of the number of and the fuel adopted by facilities as inputs. Firstly, the operation process and complex queuing network of container terminals are described to explain why simulation technology needs to be used. Then, various simulation experiments based on a container terminal in Algeria are designed and carried out. Finally, the carbon emissions from facilities and ships at berth and inside container terminals, and the total carbon emissions inside container terminals, are obtained and analyzed. Results show that the emissions from facilities are only a small fraction of the total emissions of container terminals. Improving the number of trucks and yard cranes can help reduce carbon emissions, but when the number continues to rise, the emissions are decreased very slightly. The results obtained and proposed method can be applied to build a green container terminal, which can also be used for similar problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 11227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating CFD and GIS into the Development of Urban Ventilation Corridors: A Case Study in Changchun City, China

by Shouzhi Chang, Qigang Jiang and Ying Zhao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1814; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061814 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 7085

Abstract

Given the situation of urban expansion and environmental deterioration, the government and researchers are paying considerable attention to ventilation corridors. The construction of urban ventilation corridors requires quantitative data support. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has advantages in the fine assessment of wind environment, [...] Read more.

Given the situation of urban expansion and environmental deterioration, the government and researchers are paying considerable attention to ventilation corridors. The construction of urban ventilation corridors requires quantitative data support. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has advantages in the fine assessment of wind environment, and a geographic information system (GIS) has excellent performance in spatial analysis. With Changchun City used as an example, this study proposes the establishment of ventilation corridors on an urban scale to mitigate the urban-heat-island effect, and to accelerate the diffusion of air pollution. CFD simulations provided detailed spatiotemporal characteristics of wind speed and wind direction at various heights. These simulations were useful for identifying potential ventilation corridors. In general, the wind-speed and wind-direction characteristics at a height of 30 m clearly indicated potential ventilation corridors. Potential paths existed in the leading wind and south–north directions. The areas that required improvement were favorably situated in the path of potential ventilation corridors. The main roads, green spaces, and water had good connectivity. A total of five ventilation corridors were constructed, and they will directly affect the poor urban thermal environment, and enhance the mobility of air. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Resilient Urban Development)

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14 pages, 946 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumer Intention toward Bringing Your Own Shopping Bags in Taiwan: An Application of Ethics Perspective and Theory of Planned Behavior

by Sheng-Hsiung Chang and Ching-Hsien Chou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1815; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061815 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 7890

Abstract

Following Chan and coworkers’ (2008) research, the current study integrated Hunt and Vitell’s (1986) ethics perspective and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to present a model that explains consumers’ intention to “Bring Your Own Shopping Bags” (BYOB) with grocery shopping. The proposed model [...] Read more.

Following Chan and coworkers’ (2008) research, the current study integrated Hunt and Vitell’s (1986) ethics perspective and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to present a model that explains consumers’ intention to “Bring Your Own Shopping Bags” (BYOB) with grocery shopping. The proposed model is empirically validated in Taiwan. Based on a survey of 601 respondents, the findings suggest that consumers’ deontological evaluation is positively related to their attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, while teleological evaluation is positively related to perceived behavioral control only. In addition, the results also indicate that consumers’ attitude and perceived behavioral control has a positive relationship with BYOB intention, while subjective norm does not have a signification relationship with BYOB intention. In sum, this study contributes to the literature by providing insights for applying general ethics and theory of planned behavior to explain consumers’ BYOB behavior. The results also provide policy makers guidelines regarding BYOB. Managerial implications and research limitations are discussed at the end of this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Action in Consumption and Production)

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18 pages, 493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Small and Medium Enterprises and the Relation between Social Performance and Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from Korea

by Jun H. Choi, Saerona Kim and Dong-Hoon Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1816; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061816 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6147

Abstract

Most studies on the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) have focused on large enterprises and archival tests for SMEs have been relatively few. There is a need for SME studies that are comparable to the research on [...] Read more.

Most studies on the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) have focused on large enterprises and archival tests for SMEs have been relatively few. There is a need for SME studies that are comparable to the research on large enterprises. In this study, we tested the CSP-CFP relationship of SMEs in Korea using a massive archival database. Although common theories on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in SMEs describe SMEs as non-strategic performers, we found a strong positive relationship between CSP-CFP for the larger or hi-tech SMEs. Therefore, some SMEs are similar to multinational companies in that they approach CSR effectively. This study makes a contribution to the literature on both CSR and SMEs because it empirically demonstrates the heterogeneity of SMEs and it presents a CSR-SME study that is methodologically comparable to the research on big corporations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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22 pages, 2238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating a Procurement Management Process into Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM): A Case-Study on Oil and Gas Projects, the Piping Process

by Sung-Hwan Jo, Eul-Bum Lee and Kyoung-Youl Pyo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061817 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 13404

Abstract

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of oil and gas megaprojects often experience cost overruns due to substantial schedule delays. One of the greatest causes of these overruns is the mismanagement of the project schedule, with the piping works (prefabrication and installation) occupying a [...] Read more.

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of oil and gas megaprojects often experience cost overruns due to substantial schedule delays. One of the greatest causes of these overruns is the mismanagement of the project schedule, with the piping works (prefabrication and installation) occupying a majority of that schedule. As such, an effective methodology for scheduling, planning, and controlling of piping activities is essential for project success. To meet this need, this study used the Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) to develop a piping construction delay prevention methodology, incorporating material procurement processes for EPC megaprojects. Recent studies indicate that the traditional scheduling method used on oil and gas mega projects has critical limitations regarding resource scarcity, calculation of activity duration, and dealing with uncertainties. To overcome these limitations, the Theory of Constraints-based CCPM was proposed and implemented to provide schedule buffers management. Nonexistent in literature, and of critical importance, is this paper’s focus on the resource buffer, representing material uncertainty and management. Furthermore, this paper presents a step-by-step process and flow chart for project, construction, and material managers to effectively manage a resource buffer through the CCPM process. This study extends the knowledge of traditional resource buffers in CCPM to improve material and procurement management, thus avoiding the shortage of piping materials and minimizing delays. The resultant process was validated by both deterministic and probabilistic schedule analysis through two case studies of a crude pump unit and propylene compressor installation at a Middle Eastern Refinery Plant Installation. The results show that the CCPM method effectively handles uncertainty, reducing the duration of piping works construction by about a 35% when compared to the traditional method. Furthermore, the results show that, in not considering material uncertainty (resource buffers), projects schedules have the potential for approximately a 5% schedule growth with the accompanying delay charges. The findings have far-reaching applications for both oil and gas and other sectors. This CCPM case-study exemplifies that the material management method represents an opportunity for industry to administrate pipeline installation projects more effectively, eliminate project duration extension, develop schedule-based risk mitigation measures pre-construction, and enable project teams to efficiently manage limited human and material resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy, Ethical Funds, and Engineering Projects)

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16 pages, 1308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Influence of Prior on Subsequent Street Robbery Location Choices: A Case Study in ZG City, China

by Dongping Long, Lin Liu, Jiaxin Feng, Suhong Zhou and Fengrui Jing

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1818; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061818 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5810

Abstract

The literature shows that offenders’ subsequent crime location choices are affected by their prior crime location choices. However, the published studies have focused on the influence of time and place of a previous crime, without testing the impact of whether the offender was [...] Read more.

The literature shows that offenders’ subsequent crime location choices are affected by their prior crime location choices. However, the published studies have focused on the influence of time and place of a previous crime, without testing the impact of whether the offender was arrested during the act of the prior crime. On the basis of the literature, this study further examines the influence of the prior robbery experiences on the subsequent street robbery location choices, by testing explicit hypotheses on how the time, place, and being arrested in the act of previous robberies affect a robber’s subsequent decisions of where to commit robberies. The data set used in this study includes 1262 detected robberies committed by 527 street robbers from the ZG City Public Security Bureau in China. Results of a mixed logit model demonstrate that prior street robbery experiences have a strong effect on subsequent street robbery location choices. A shorter time interval and less possibility of being arrested in the act of a prior street robbery significantly increase the likelihood of a robber returning to the previous location. However, the impact of distance of journey to prior crime location is not statistically significant. Full article

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14 pages, 467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Cultural Comparison between German, French and Dutch Consumer Preferences for Meat Substitutes

by Ramona Weinrich

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1819; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061819 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 80 | Viewed by 11247

Abstract

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for consumers when purchasing food. As meat production has a significant impact on the environment, meat substitutes are becoming more and more popular in Europe. However, consumers who regularly buy meat substitutes are still the exception. [...] Read more.

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for consumers when purchasing food. As meat production has a significant impact on the environment, meat substitutes are becoming more and more popular in Europe. However, consumers who regularly buy meat substitutes are still the exception. Although there are some initial results indicating why this proportion is still low, most research has been concentrated in the Netherlands. This paper aims to compare reasons for consuming or not consuming meat substitutes in three European countries—Germany, the Netherlands and France. As very little is known about the underlying reasons, an explorative approach was chosen. Focus group discussions were carried out in all three countries, six altogether. The results show that all participants can enumerate meat substitutes. The main reason for not consuming meat substitutes is the taste of meat. Further, eating habits seem to be fixed and convenience might also be an impediment to reducing meat consumption in favour of meat substitutes, as is confusion regarding healthy eating. Full article

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22 pages, 7563 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictive Diagnosis of Agricultural Periurban Areas Based on Territorial Indicators: Comparative Landscape Trends of the So-Called “Orchard of Europe”

by Salvador García-Ayllón

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061820 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4913

Abstract

The Mediterranean southeastern area of Spain has traditionally been known as the “Orchard of Europe”. This configuration, which is based fundamentally on traditional agriculture in periurban areas, has evolved in recent decades as a consequence of the sophistication of the agrifood processes transforming [...] Read more.

The Mediterranean southeastern area of Spain has traditionally been known as the “Orchard of Europe”. This configuration, which is based fundamentally on traditional agriculture in periurban areas, has evolved in recent decades as a consequence of the sophistication of the agrifood processes transforming its landscape. In addition, tourism, the growth of cities, and the impact of the real estate bubble between 1995 and 2007 have configured important alterations which have generated heterogeneous phenomena in these periurban areas. The present article studies this process by analyzing the evolution of the territory and diagnosing its transformation at a large scale. The evolution of three very representative periurban and similar in size environments of this so-called Europe’s orchard will be compared by using different GIS tools: the El Ejido area, the Campo de Cartagena—Mar Menor area and the Huerta de Murcia area. Through the implementation of different territorial indicators, the current issues will be established from an objective and quantifiable perspective. Moreover, possible future scenarios for 2030 will be raised according to the current transformation trends. This approach will lead us to consider the concept of life cycle in the transformation process of a territory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

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29 pages, 9767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Occupant-Oriented Calculation Method of Building Interior Cooling Load Design

by Zhaoxia Wang, Yan Ding, Huiyan Deng, Fan Yang and Neng Zhu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1821; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061821 - 31 May 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4834

Abstract

Given continued improvement in the thermal performance of building envelopes, interior disturbances caused by occupant behavior now have the greatest impact on building loads and energy consumption. The accurate calculation of interior load during design stage was emphasized in this paper, and a [...] Read more.

Given continued improvement in the thermal performance of building envelopes, interior disturbances caused by occupant behavior now have the greatest impact on building loads and energy consumption. The accurate calculation of interior load during design stage was emphasized in this paper, and a new method was proposed. Indoor occupants were considered as the core of interior disturbances, and the relationship with other interior disturbances was explored. The interior heat release was arbitrarily combined with the representative cooling load to be utilized in building cooling load calculation. Field surveys were conducted in three typical university buildings: an office building, a teaching building, and a library, located in a university in Tianjin, China. The oversized chillers supplying cooling for the buildings resulted from the over-estimating of the indoor occupant number and the power density of electric appliances. Through quantitative analysis, it was observed that the maximum representative interior loads were 196.43, 329.94, and 402.58 W/person, respectively, for the case buildings, at least 50% less than the empirical design data. Compared to the measured cooling load during the testing period, the accuracy of the modified cooling load was greater than 90%. This research is intended to serve as a reference for calculating and optimizing the design loads of cooling systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Built Environment)

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17 pages, 265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

University Social Responsibility towards Engineering Undergraduates: The Effect of Methodology on a Service-Learning Experience

by Luis Cabedo, Marta Royo, Lidón Moliner and Teresa Guraya

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1823; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061823 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 71 | Viewed by 6270

Abstract

Service-Learning (SL) experiences enable University Social Responsibility (USR) to be worked on in engineering studies as a core of education for Sustainability. The combined use of such experiences with active student-centered teaching methodologies fosters the acquisition of general and specific competences. On the [...] Read more.

Service-Learning (SL) experiences enable University Social Responsibility (USR) to be worked on in engineering studies as a core of education for Sustainability. The combined use of such experiences with active student-centered teaching methodologies fosters the acquisition of general and specific competences. On the basis of students’ perception, this study investigated and sought evidence of empirical foundations to understand whether and how Project Based Learning (PBL) affects the acquisition of USR-related competences when SL experience was implemented as the regular exercise in core courses in engineering studies. This research studied 100 second year undergraduate students in Industrial Design Engineering and Product Development. The students were divided into two groups, one of which experienced Service-Learning only in one class activity while the other group carried out a PBL activity. A survey consisting of 28 items was delivered to all these students and their answers were analyzed from a descriptive statistics viewpoint to understand how the students perceived their degree of attainment of USR competences. The findings suggest a clear difference between the methodologies used, which shows that PBL methodology may lead to a greater acquisition of USR competences than SL activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Holistic View of Sustainability Assessment in Higher Education: From Campus Operations to Curricula, Research and Outreach)

15 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting Time Spent Visiting Heritage City Areas

by Esther Martinez-Garcia, Josep M. Raya-Vilchez and Nuria Galí

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061824 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3842

Abstract

Urban tourism is growing fast, and in many cities visitor influx tends to concentrate in historic urban centers. When there are large numbers of visitors, deepening the knowledge on visitor time consumption is critical to better managing their impact on the city, and [...] Read more.

Urban tourism is growing fast, and in many cities visitor influx tends to concentrate in historic urban centers. When there are large numbers of visitors, deepening the knowledge on visitor time consumption is critical to better managing their impact on the city, and creating a sustainable city tourism destination. This has generated an increasing interest in the micro-spatial and temporal dimensions of tourist behavior in city tourism research and planning. This article focuses on modelling the factors affecting the duration of visits to each heritage attraction, and to the whole visit to the heritage city. This study adds to previous research in several ways: it uses survival models; distinguishes between attractions with and without an entrance fee; and tests how visitor type affects time behavior, for example, day visitor versus tourists, peak season versus off-peak season, informed visitors versus non-informed visitors, highly motivated visitors versus visitors with low motivation. Results show that there is significant heterogeneity in time consumption. This is generated by factors such as traveling with children, cultural proximity, rating of the attraction, and price and time constraints. Some evidence is also found, which suggests first-time visitor and informed visitors have an impact on time consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Tourism)

14 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bridging Gaps in the Agricultural Phosphorus Cycle from an Animal Husbandry Perspective—The Case of Pigs and Poultry

by Michael Oster, Henry Reyer, Elizabeth Ball, Dario Fornara, John McKillen, Kristina Ulrich Sørensen, Hanne Damgaard Poulsen, Kim Andersson, Daniel Ddiba, Arno Rosemarin, Linda Arata, Paolo Sckokai, Elizabeth Magowan and Klaus Wimmers

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1825; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061825 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 8271

Abstract

Since phosphorus (P) is an essential element for life, its usage and application across agricultural production systems requires great attention. Monogastric species such as pigs and poultry can significantly contribute to global food security but these animals remain highly dependent on the supply [...] Read more.

Since phosphorus (P) is an essential element for life, its usage and application across agricultural production systems requires great attention. Monogastric species such as pigs and poultry can significantly contribute to global food security but these animals remain highly dependent on the supply of mineral inorganic P in their feeds. Pig and poultry, which represent 70% of the global meat production, are also major P excretors and thus represent important sources of environmental P inputs. Balancing the P cycle within farming systems is crucial to achieve P sustainable and resilient livestock production. Therefore, the interconnection of animal feed, livestock farming, manure, and soil/aquatic ecosystems requires multidisciplinary approaches to improve P management. With regard to a sustainable agricultural P cycle, this study addresses aspects of feeding strategies and animal physiology (e.g., phase feeding, P conditioning, liquid feeding, phytase supplementation, genetics), soil agroecosystems (e.g., P cycling, P losses, P gains), reuse and recycling (e.g., manure, slaughter waste), measures of farmers’ economic performance (e.g., bio-economic models), and P governance/policy instruments (e.g., P quota, P tax). To reconcile the economic and ecological sustainability of animal husbandry, the strategic objective of future research will be to provide solutions for a sufficient supply of high-quality animal products from resource-efficient and economically competitive agro-systems which are valued by society and preserve soil and aquatic ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation)

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19 pages, 1400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inclusion of Life Cycle Thinking in a Sustainability-Oriented Consumer’s Typology: A Proposed Methodology and an Assessment Tool

by Anna Lewandowska, Joanna Witczak, Pasquale Giungato, Christian Dierks, Przemyslaw Kurczewski and Katarzyna Pawlak-Lemanska

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1826; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061826 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4486

Abstract

Characterizing consumers in terms of their propensity to practice sustainable consumption represents an interesting research challenge in which a crucial role is played by the questionnaire in terms of its structure and classification criteria. Various classification rules have been proposed in the literature, [...] Read more.

Characterizing consumers in terms of their propensity to practice sustainable consumption represents an interesting research challenge in which a crucial role is played by the questionnaire in terms of its structure and classification criteria. Various classification rules have been proposed in the literature, which can be used to identify consumer types and signify their propensity to practice the principles of sustainable development in daily life. In this paper, we based our approach in designing a classification tool on a combination of two elements: the concept of voluntary simplicity as a pillar for consumer characteristics and the idea of assessing consumers by using filters, in a modified form introducing many new aspects of life-cycle thinking. The tool proposed provides insight into the relationship between the consumer’s typology and behavior during purchasing decisions in daily life. The main function of the proposed tool is to assign respondents to one of the proposed consumer types distinguished and characterized in terms of many aspects of life cycle thinking. A pilot survey has been performed in order to verify the proposed tool, and the survey results have been presented in the paper, as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marketing and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influencing Factors on the Ecological Protection Behaviors of Entrepreneurial Farmers in Chinese Forest Zones

by Yong-Ji Xue, Ting Deng and KuoRay Mao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061827 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3170

Abstract

Following the collective forest tenure reforms in China, many households pursued entrepreneurial activities creating substantial pressure on the environment. This study examines data collected from 462 informants in 10 provinces in Southern China to understand how changes in attitudes toward ecological protection behavior [...] Read more.

Following the collective forest tenure reforms in China, many households pursued entrepreneurial activities creating substantial pressure on the environment. This study examines data collected from 462 informants in 10 provinces in Southern China to understand how changes in attitudes toward ecological protection behavior occur. The internal mechanisms of ecological attitudes were explored using structural equation modeling to obtain a function path. Ecological emotion has a direct effect on ecological protection behavior by acting as an intermediary between ecological knowledge and ecological protection. Perceived ecological severity mediates between ecological knowledge and emotion influencing entrepreneurial farmers’ ecological protection behavior. The perception of individual effect is mediated by perceptions of ecological severity and ecological emotion, eventually affecting ecological protection behavior. A model of cognition–emotion–practice is proposed based on the findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

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21 pages, 1437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediating Role of the Six Sigma Implementation Strategy and Investment in Human Resources in Economic Success and Sustainability

by Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz, Giner Alor-Hernández, Cuauhtémoc Sánchez-Ramírez, Emilio Jiménez-Macías, Julio Blanco-Fernández and Juan I. Latorre-Biel

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1828; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061828 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5491

Abstract

Six Sigma is a methodology widely used in manufacturing production to guarantee quality and several factors facilitate its success. This paper presents a structural equations model to identify the relationships between managerial commitment, Six Sigma implementation strategy, investments in human resources and the [...] Read more.

Six Sigma is a methodology widely used in manufacturing production to guarantee quality and several factors facilitate its success. This paper presents a structural equations model to identify the relationships between managerial commitment, Six Sigma implementation strategy, investments in human resources and the economic benefits obtained; and five hypotheses are proposed. These variables are also related to sustainability, especially human resources, a paradigm very combinable with Six Sigma. The model is evaluated using partial least squares and information obtained from 301 Mexican manufacturing companies from different industrial sectors. The results indicate that managerial commitment is the basis for Six Sigma success, but requires an adequate implementation strategy focused on customers and their needs, which must integrate an investment plan in human resources that is focused on training and teamwork. In addition, managers must have a reward program that encourages motivation and recognizes the achievements of the human resources involved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Management and Sustainable Development)

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17 pages, 5536 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Context Matters: Contrasting Ladybird Beetle Responses to Urban Environments across Two US Regions

by Monika Egerer, Kevin Li and Theresa Wei Ying Ong

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061829 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5174

Abstract

Urban agroecosystems offer an opportunity to investigate the diversity and distribution of organisms that are conserved in city landscapes. This information is not only important for conservation efforts, but also has important implications for sustainable agricultural practices. Associated biodiversity can provide ecosystem services [...] Read more.

Urban agroecosystems offer an opportunity to investigate the diversity and distribution of organisms that are conserved in city landscapes. This information is not only important for conservation efforts, but also has important implications for sustainable agricultural practices. Associated biodiversity can provide ecosystem services like pollination and pest control, but because organisms may respond differently to the unique environmental filters of specific urban landscapes, it is valuable to compare regions that have different abiotic conditions and urbanization histories. In this study, we compared the abundance and diversity of ladybird beetles within urban gardens in California and Michigan, USA. We asked what species are shared, and what species are unique to urban regions. Moreover, we asked how beetle diversity is influenced by the amount and rate of urbanization surrounding sampled urban gardens. We found that the abundance and diversity of beetles, particularly of unique species, respond in opposite directions to urbanization: ladybirds increased with urbanization in California, but decreased with urbanization in Michigan. We propose that in California water availability in gardens and the urbanization history of the landscape could explain the divergent pattern. Thus, urban context is likely a key contributor to biodiversity within habitats and an important consideration for sustainable agricultural practices in urban agroecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

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6 pages, 215 KiB

Open AccessShort Note

The Marginal Value of Heat in the Korean Manufacturing Industry

by Hyo-Jin Kim, Hee-Hoon Kim and Seung-Hoon Yoo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061830 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2872

Abstract

Thirty industrial heat (IH) providers in Korea have better energy efficiency and emit lower air pollutants than individual companies that produce and consume heat for their industrial production. Because these providers collect waste heat from garbage incineration plants, power plants, or industrial processes [...] Read more.

Thirty industrial heat (IH) providers in Korea have better energy efficiency and emit lower air pollutants than individual companies that produce and consume heat for their industrial production. Because these providers collect waste heat from garbage incineration plants, power plants, or industrial processes of steel and chemical companies, as well as heat generated through combined heat and power plants and boilers. IH is an important input, used in industrial production as a form of hot water or steam. This note tries to assess the marginal value (MV) of IH in the manufacturing industry, using the specific case of Korea. To this end, a trans-log production function is estimated using the data gathered from a survey of 256 manufacturing firms in Korea. The MV of IH is estimated to be KRW 203,696 (USD 175.40) per tonne. This estimate is statistically significant at the 1% level. The average price of IH, defined as total expenditure on IH purchased in 2016 divided by total amount of IH purchased in 2016, is KRW 39,455 (USD 34.00) per tonne. Therefore, the MV of IH is about five times as large as the average price of IH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Utilization of Waste Heat)

19 pages, 680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Investment Decision in Bangladesh

by Sayema Sultana, Norhayah Zulkifli and Dalilawati Zainal

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1831; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061831 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 112 | Viewed by 28576

Abstract

As a key facet of sustainable development, environmental, social and governance (ESG) discretion on stock market investment decision is gaining prevalence following the global financial crisis. ESG considers the sustainable return, risk reduction, and accountability aspects of investments. This study is an exploration [...] Read more.

As a key facet of sustainable development, environmental, social and governance (ESG) discretion on stock market investment decision is gaining prevalence following the global financial crisis. ESG considers the sustainable return, risk reduction, and accountability aspects of investments. This study is an exploration of the individual stock market investors’ preferences for ESG issues and the influence that purpose of investment has on investment decision-making, by testing the investment horizon as a moderator. The theoretical background was taken from the theory of planned behavior (TPB), goal setting theory (GST), and the behavioral asset pricing model (BAPM). The study uses the sequential mix method of research, starting with an interview followed by a survey, which was conducted among individual stock market investors in Bangladesh, using simple random sampling. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was carried out using Warp PLS version 6.0. The key findings of this study delineate the effect of ESG issues and the purpose of investment on investment decision-making. The contribution of the study signifies the moderating role of the investment horizon, which confirms the importance of the long-term horizon as a time and risk diversification factor. The sparse utilization of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) (2004) and Thomson Reuters Corporate Responsibility Index (TRCRI) (2013) as measurement scales in this study is mentioned. This study has made practical contributions for managers, investors, and regulators. Full article

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19 pages, 1861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Economic Analysis of Subsidies for New and Renewable Energy in South Korea

by Gobong Choi, Eunnyeong Heo and Chul-Yong Lee

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1832; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061832 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5236

Abstract

Many countries are increasing the supply of new and renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy security. Subsidies for new and renewable energy are considered a useful means to increase supply, although a close assessment is needed of whether the [...] Read more.

Many countries are increasing the supply of new and renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy security. Subsidies for new and renewable energy are considered a useful means to increase supply, although a close assessment is needed of whether the subsidies improve the economic feasibility of new and renewable energy. Thus, this study conducted an economic analysis on South Korea’s housing support program for new and renewable energy sources from the perspectives of the government and consumers. The results showed that, in 2014, the use of solar photovoltaics (PV) led to constant improvements in economic feasibility, which benefited both the government and consumers, but fuel cell failed to do so from both perspectives. Solar thermal and geothermal heat showed improved economic feasibility throughout the program for consumers. In particular, solar PV reported high economic feasibility in 2014 and 2015 for consumers, indicating that a significant subsidy amount was provided for solar PV facilities. This also confirmed the possibility of achieving economic feasibility for other energy sources within a limited budget by distributing subsidies across the various sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Policy and Policy Implications—Good Examples and Critical Reflections)

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19 pages, 3166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ensuring the Long-Term Sustainability Cooperation with Stakeholders of Sports Organizations in SLOVAKIA

by Michal Varmus, Milan Kubina, Gabriel Koman and Patrik Ferenc

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061833 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6082

Abstract

Organizations, nowadays, operate in highly dynamically-developing environments. This fact also applies to sports organizations, which are looking for various ways to succeed or survive in these environments. There are various solutions available, but from a long-term perspective it is important for sports organizations [...] Read more.

Organizations, nowadays, operate in highly dynamically-developing environments. This fact also applies to sports organizations, which are looking for various ways to succeed or survive in these environments. There are various solutions available, but from a long-term perspective it is important for sports organizations to think in a complex way. One of the solutions of this issue is to ensure the long-term sustainability and development of these organizations. The aim of this paper is to focus on strategic factors in the management of mutual relationships with stakeholders. The importance of managing cooperation with stakeholders is very high for the achievement of both short-term and long-term objectives. This paper presents, in addition to the results of research aimed at the cooperation of sports organizations and their stakeholders (425 respondents participated in the research), solutions to issues currently troubling sports organizations in this field. These issues include the lack of funds for the functioning of the sports organization, as well as the insufficient size of sports organization membership. Sports organizations cannot only reduce the intensity of these issues, but can also eliminate them by utilising selected key factors in the management of mutual relationships with stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alliances and Network Organizations for Sustainable Development)

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24 pages, 732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Financial Pressure, Poverty Governance, and Environmental Pollution in China

by Zenglian Zhang and Wenju Zhao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061834 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4135

Abstract

The traditional environmental governance theory attributes pollution to the result of market failure, but ignores the institution-level factors and the possibility of government failure. Using provincial panel data from 2001 to 2016 in China, and by drawing impulse response function graphs and building [...] Read more.

The traditional environmental governance theory attributes pollution to the result of market failure, but ignores the institution-level factors and the possibility of government failure. Using provincial panel data from 2001 to 2016 in China, and by drawing impulse response function graphs and building PVAR models, this paper studies the financial pressure and poor governance effect on environmental pollution. Financial pressure represents fiscal decentralization and debt pressure. The study finds that the increase of fiscal autonomy brings about the reduction of various types of pollutant emissions; the expansion of the scale of government debt causes very large pressure on the local governments to repay their debts and exacerbates environmental pollution in order to obtain debt repayment funds. For a long time, there was indeed a phenomenon in China in which the goal of reducing poverty was achieved at the cost of the environment. However, since 2012, the reduction of the poverty-stricken population has brought about a good trend of reducing emissions of various types of pollutants. There are no “PPE vicious circles” and “environmental traps” in China. There has been no contradiction between poverty reduction and the green development strategy implementation since 2012. There is a win-win trend in the process of environmental protection and poverty governance in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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14 pages, 5432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Characteristics of Environmental Behaviors and Spatial Types in Open and Gated Housing Blocks: A Case Study of Changchun, China

by Jiayu Huang, Suguru Mori and Rie Nomura

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1835; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061835 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4385

Abstract

Physical characteristics of residential areas affect many aspects of living sustainability, including the environmental behavior of residents. Based on the policy issued in China in 2016, the guideline of transforming existing gated housing blocks into open mode is being gradually implemented in some [...] Read more.

Physical characteristics of residential areas affect many aspects of living sustainability, including the environmental behavior of residents. Based on the policy issued in China in 2016, the guideline of transforming existing gated housing blocks into open mode is being gradually implemented in some cities. However, the transforming of boundary walls and internal roads has changed the living environment such as the open space that residents have been accustomed to and has affected environmental behaviors correspondingly. From perspectives of spatial types and environmental behaviors, this research compared an open housing block (which is reconstructed from gated one) with a comparable original gated housing block. The Behavior Mapping Method was used to capture environmental behaviors in two housing blocks; factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to extract spatial characteristics and classify spatial types; and finally differences between the open housing block and the gated housing block were shown by comparing the distribution of environmental behaviors in each space type. The results indicate that the presence or absence of the enclosing walls affects the division of space types and environmental behaviors in housing blocks. For gated housing blocks, spaces with strong privacy attract various types of activities, which are overwhelming in categories and the number of people, while in the open housing blocks, this situation is not as obvious as in the former. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Built Environment)

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18 pages, 1243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Emission Reduction Potential in East and South Coastal China: Scenario Analysis Based on STIRPAT

by Wenyan Wang, Juan Wang and Fang Guo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061836 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3821

Abstract

East and south coastal China is made up of a cluster of six developed provinces whose CO₂ emissions account for one third of the total CO₂ emissions in China. As such, it is meaningful to predict carbon emissions in this region [...] Read more.

East and south coastal China is made up of a cluster of six developed provinces whose CO₂ emissions account for one third of the total CO₂ emissions in China. As such, it is meaningful to predict carbon emissions in this region to assess whether China can achieve emission reduction targets. This paper employed STIRPAT to analyze the factors impacting the carbon emissions of this area from 2000 to 2015, including population (POP), urbanization (UR), GDP per capita (GDP), energy intensity (EI), and industrial structure (IS). The results showed that GDP was mainly responsible for increasing carbon emissions while EI played a significant role in reducing it. Considering the importance of GDP, EI, and IS obtained from regression analysis, basic, highest-rate, middle, and advanced scenarios were set to predict carbon emissions according to different change rates. In the basic scenario, carbon intensity was reduced by 48.5% in 2020 compared to 2005, which was slightly higher than the national target of 40–45%, and was reduced by 59.7% in 2030, which was close to a 60–65% reduction. Nevertheless, in the advanced scenario, carbon intensity was reduced by 51.7% in 2020 and 69.1% in 2030 compared to 2005, which were higher than the national targets. Therefore, improving energy efficiency, optimizing energy structure, and adjusting industrial structure were suggested to be major strategies for carbon intensity mitigation. Full article

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14 pages, 269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Market Reaction to Other Comprehensive Income

by HeeJin Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061837 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4243

Abstract

The comprehensive income statement was adopted as the standard type of financial statement in 2011, and other comprehensive income (OCI) was included in the text of the financial statements. While OCI (unrealized income) is less sustainable than net income, it can help to [...] Read more.

The comprehensive income statement was adopted as the standard type of financial statement in 2011, and other comprehensive income (OCI) was included in the text of the financial statements. While OCI (unrealized income) is less sustainable than net income, it can help to assess a firm’s value. Therefore, testing the usefulness of OCI is important in analyzing whether persistence of earning information affects a firm’s value. The text of the financial statements enables market participants to access not only the realized net income (operating income, non-operating income), but also information on comprehensive income, which has not yet been realized. Although levels of realized and unrealized income indicate an increase in net worth, changes in realized and unrealized income differ in terms of uncertainty; it is, therefore, more important for market participants to judge information’s usefulness. This study examines whether OCI increases earnings response coefficients (ERC). We analyzed the information content of OCI before and after international financial reporting standards (IFRS) to verify whether the information content varies as the format of OCI reporting changes from a footnote to the main text of the financial statement. In addition, we analyzed dividing OCI into positive OCI and negative OCI. The analysis showed that under the condition in which the realized income is constant, OCI (which is unrealized earnings) has additional information effects. This means that differences might be observed in the decision-making process depending on whether or not the OCI information is used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Time Series Analyses in Business)

18 pages, 932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Impact Relationships Between Urban Development Intensity Characteristics and Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Korea

by Cheol Hee Son, Jong In Baek and Yong Un Ban

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1838; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061838 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2952

Abstract

The goal of this study is to analyze the interrelated direct and indirect impacts of urban development intensity (UDI) characteristics on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Korea. The study also compares the main arguments and analysis results of previous studies on [...] Read more.

The goal of this study is to analyze the interrelated direct and indirect impacts of urban development intensity (UDI) characteristics on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Korea. The study also compares the main arguments and analysis results of previous studies on cities that are effective in reducing CO₂ emissions. To do this, factors attributable to the UDI characteristics of Korea were selected, and CO₂ emissions were calculated. Then, the impact of UDI characteristics on CO₂ emissions was analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation model. The main results show that the physical, spatial, and socio-demographic characteristics of UDI have a direct impact on CO₂ emissions, and physical, economic, and city-type characteristics indirectly affect CO₂ emissions. As a result, we reach the following conclusions: (i) dense urban forms reduce CO₂ emissions; (ii) economic characteristics of UDI have impact on total CO₂ emissions, having both negative and positive effects; and (iii) medium and small cities have higher per capita CO₂ emissions than do large cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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18 pages, 1095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tendency of Embodied Carbon Change in the Export Trade of Chinese Manufacturing Industry from 2000 to 2015 and Its Driving Factors

by Ji Guo, Lei Zhou and Xianhua Wu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1839; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061839 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3064

Abstract

The manufacturing industry is an important part of the national industrial system, and is usually an industry with high carbon content. However, few studies have been carried out on the total amount, structure and the trend of the embodied carbon emission in the [...] Read more.

The manufacturing industry is an important part of the national industrial system, and is usually an industry with high carbon content. However, few studies have been carried out on the total amount, structure and the trend of the embodied carbon emission in the international trade of the Chinese manufacturing industry. Based on the input–output method, the thesis proposes the coefficient of direct carbon emission and complete carbon emission and a method for calculating the embodied carbon of the export trade. It also calculates the coefficient of direct carbon emission and complete carbon emission for the Chinese manufacturing sector from 2000 to 2015 and breaks down the embodied carbon change of export trade in the manufacturing industry to a technological effect, structural effect and scale effect by using the method of structural decomposition. Several inspiring conclusions could be drawn from the thesis. For example: (1) the coefficient of both the direct carbon emission and the complete carbon emission has been decreasing significantly, indicating the achievements of the energy saving and emission reduction of the Chinese manufacturing industry. (2) The embodied carbon emission from the manufacturing exports remains high and presents a rising tendency. The main sectors that export the embodied carbon includes “S10 mechanical equipment and instruments”, “S9 metal products”, “S6 chemical industry”, etc., which should be the key sectors on reducing embodied carbon in exports. (3) The driving force of the embodied carbon exports lies in the scale effect of the manufacturing industry, on which the technical effect of the industry has a significant negative effect. The structural effect should have a positive influence that takes on a rising tendency; generally, this effect is only two-thirds of the scale effect. Finally, the corresponding policy suggestions have been made. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transition from China-Made to China-Innovation )

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16 pages, 4698 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Sustainable Renovation: Key Performance Indicators for Quality Monitoring

by Tatjana Vilutiene and Česlovas Ignatavičius

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061840 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4567

Abstract

The aim of this study is to propose the rational quality monitoring of the renovation process with methodology for data collection and analysis. The presented approach is based on a complex system of criteria that enables the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to propose the rational quality monitoring of the renovation process with methodology for data collection and analysis. The presented approach is based on a complex system of criteria that enables the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of the renovation process. Methodology that is developed for the rational quality monitoring of the renovation process can be used for long term monitoring activities to ensure that the system is up to date, while reflecting the concerns of the key stakeholders and the transfer of requirements. The main emphasis lies on the identification of the rapidly changing environment (regulations, technologies, needs and expectations of building owners, etc.). Quality monitoring will also serve as an analytical framework to analyze the effects of renovation and to identify what measures shall be undertaken to ensure that the renovation delivers the most positive results. This paper presents the case study analysis of renovated multi-family apartment buildings, the existing indicators of the renovation monitoring scheme and the structure of the proposed monitoring system of the renovation processes, key indicators, the main components of the system, and their links. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Construction Engineering)

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23 pages, 7070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smoking Gentlemen—How Formula One Has Controlled CO₂ Emissions

by Paulo Reis Mourao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1841; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061841 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 14506

Abstract

This article reports estimates of the level of CO₂ emissions created by Formula One (F1) cars on Sunday races. Supported by a variety of sources and using Monte Carlo iterations, we obtained values identifying important periods of change. These periods were identified [...] Read more.

This article reports estimates of the level of CO₂ emissions created by Formula One (F1) cars on Sunday races. Supported by a variety of sources and using Monte Carlo iterations, we obtained values identifying important periods of change. These periods were identified using tests of structural breaks. We observe that the 1966–1970 period (related to the dominance of DFV/Cosworth engines) is associated with an increase in CO₂ emissions, whereas the 1992–1995 period (related to lighter and more efficient engines) is associated with a decrease in estimated levels of emitted CO₂. Our results do not identify the deep modifications following more “green” regulations in 2009–2011 as a relevant change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 13968 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Comprehensive Assessment for Post-Disaster Recovery Process in a Tourist Town

by Byungyun Yang and Israt Jahan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1842; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061842 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5898

Abstract

This paper develops a comprehensive assessment of post-disaster housing and tourism resource recovery. It enables us to address how many natural and man-made features in a tourist town have recovered after a hurricane event. The assessment uses a variety of sources, at different [...] Read more.

This paper develops a comprehensive assessment of post-disaster housing and tourism resource recovery. It enables us to address how many natural and man-made features in a tourist town have recovered after a hurricane event. The assessment uses a variety of sources, at different spatial scales and at different points in time. Furthermore, this study develops a measurement scale to quantify damage and recovery appropriate for the available resources. In particular, the study focuses on the development of a methodological approach to tracking housing and tourism resource recovery and helping local communities recover faster the damaged areas after disaster. The effort uses multiple sources of data, including questionnaire data, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) damage data, airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, and remote sensing satellite images. The data are quantitatively analyzed to fulfill the objectives of assessing housing recovery rate over time and are represented on maps. The maps are used to represent the status of damaged buildings (e.g., no damage, minor or major damage, affected or destroyed). Furthermore, repaired buildings in specified time intervals are represented on the maps. Eventually, this study develops two schematic diagrams illustrating the average damage and the weighed recovery from multiple data sources. The outcomes of this study will help decision makers emphasize on the locations identified as experiencing differential progress in the reconstruction, rebuilding, and repairing of houses or tourism resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism in Sensitive Environments: Mountains, Islands, Coastal and Polar Regions)

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13 pages, 1177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Product Innovation and Firm Performance: Assessing the Moderating Effect of Novelty-Centered and Efficiency-Centered Business Model Design

by Yuan Ma, Qiyue Yin, Yajun Pan, Wei Cui, Baogui Xin and Ziqian Rao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1843; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061843 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 7004

Abstract

Motivated by government policies and decision-makers’ opportunity perception, many firms have invested in green product innovation. The effect of this type of innovation has been analyzed in extant literature thoroughly, but how to improve innovator’s economic performance is still under-researched. When considering this [...] Read more.

Motivated by government policies and decision-makers’ opportunity perception, many firms have invested in green product innovation. The effect of this type of innovation has been analyzed in extant literature thoroughly, but how to improve innovator’s economic performance is still under-researched. When considering this research gap, the business model theory is used in this paper. An empirically based and testable framework is developed. Using survey data from 231 traditional manufacturing firms in China, these hypotheses are tested. The results show that novelty-centered and efficiency-centered business model design themes all play a moderating effect on the relationship between green product innovation and firm performance, while a fit between green product innovation and novelty-centered design theme is better for firm performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Associated with Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The ASSO Project

by Antonino Bianco, Ambra Gentile, Stefano Boca, Antonio Paoli, Giuseppe Messina, Manuel Gómez-López, Antonio Palma and Garden Tabacchi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1847; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061847 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3819

Abstract

Monitoring physical fitness (fitness) and identifying, since the beginning, possible determinants in youth could be useful to preserve health and avoid morbidities in adulthood. The main objective of this study is to provide details on the fitness levels of a sample of adolescents [...] Read more.

Monitoring physical fitness (fitness) and identifying, since the beginning, possible determinants in youth could be useful to preserve health and avoid morbidities in adulthood. The main objective of this study is to provide details on the fitness levels of a sample of adolescents living in the Southern area of Italy and describe its associations with biological/genetic, socio-cultural/environmental, and lifestyle (physical activity/sedentariness, alcohol/smoking, meal patterns/habits) factors. The study was conducted within the Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and examining adolescents’ lifestyle in relation to obesity. Fitness measures were collected through the ASSO-fitness tests battery (FTB) and examined in relation to 79 selected possible influencing factors, which were collected through a web-based questionnaire included in the ASSO-NutFit software. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations, with ORs and 95% CIs estimated as crude and adjusted. A total of 919 participants were initially recruited, but fitness data were collected for 544 students aged 13–19 (68% M, 32% F). Fitness level was low for 14.2% of the students, medium for 67.8%, and high for 18.0%. The independent determinants of low physical fitness in our sample of adolescents were included in the biological/genetic and physical activity/sedentariness dimensions: female gender (Adj OR 8.33, CI 2.08–33.33), obesity (Adj OR 1.97, CI 1.10–9.22), practicing sport less than 3 h/week (Adj OR 6.09, CI 1.63–22.72), practicing sport with strength/speed as prevalent biomotor ability (Adj OR 8.97, CI 1.43–56.19), using PC/internet for more than 3 h/day (Adj OR 4.46, CI 1.17–16.98). Drinking alcohol was instead a protective factor. This study confirms that females and obese individuals need more attention in the interventions aimed at increasing fitness levels. It suggests that local actions should be implemented with the aim of increasing sport practices and reducing sedentary time spent in front of PC/internet. The focus should be particularly addressed to sports with strength or speed as dominant biomotor abilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity as a Means of Culture, Leisure and Free Time)

19 pages, 1724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Holistic Management and Adaptive Grazing: A Trainers’ View

by Carolyn Mann and Kate Sherren

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1848; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061848 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 10713

Abstract

Holistic Management (HM) is a grazing practice that typically uses high-intensity rotation of animals through many paddocks, continually adapted through planning and monitoring. Despite widespread disagreement about the environmental and production benefits of HM, researchers from both sides of that debate seem to [...] Read more.

Holistic Management (HM) is a grazing practice that typically uses high-intensity rotation of animals through many paddocks, continually adapted through planning and monitoring. Despite widespread disagreement about the environmental and production benefits of HM, researchers from both sides of that debate seem to agree that its emphasis on goal-setting, complexity, adaptivity and strategic decision-making are valuable. These ideas are shared by systems thinking, which has long been foundational in agroecology and recognized as a valuable tool for dealing with agricultural complexity. The transmission of such skills is thus important to understand. Here, twenty-five Canadian and American adaptive grazing trainers were interviewed to learn more about how they teach such systems thinking, and how they reflect upon their trainees as learners and potential adopters. Every trainer considered decision-making to be a major component of their lessons. That training was described as tackling both the “paradigm” level—changing the way participants see the world, themselves or their farm—and the “concept/skill” level. Paradigm shifts were perceived as the biggest challenge for participants. Trainers had difficulty estimating adoption rates because there was little consensus on what constituted an HM-practitioner: to what level must one adopt the practices? We conclude that: (1) trainers’ emphasis on paradigms and decision-making confirms that HM is systems thinking in practice; (2) the planning and decision-making components of HM are distinct from the grazing methods; and (3) HM is a fluid and heterogeneous concept that is difficult to define and evaluate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology for the Transition towards Social-Ecological Sustainability)

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11 pages, 620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Comfort Indicators for School Buildings in Sustainability Assessment Tools

by Tatiana Santos Saraiva, Manuela De Almeida, Luís Bragança and Maria Teresa Barbosa

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1849; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061849 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6843

Abstract

Decades ago, the only requirement to construct a building was to give men the right conditions for the execution of their work or leisure activities. With the development of knowledge about the internal and external environments of buildings, other requirements have been added [...] Read more.

Decades ago, the only requirement to construct a building was to give men the right conditions for the execution of their work or leisure activities. With the development of knowledge about the internal and external environments of buildings, other requirements have been added such as the issue of user comfort. New construction techniques have been incorporated and new products have been created to improve internal environment comfort. This research addressed the importance of using indicators related to environmental comfort in sustainability assessment tools applied to school buildings. It also considered the importance of environmental issues for the good performance of human beings, and the harmonious coexistence of the comfort indicators indoor air quality, thermal comfort, visual comfort, acoustic comfort and ergonomic comfort based on data gathered in research carried out with users of high schools (only students). This research was carried out in two different cities of different countries, Guimarães (Portugal) and Juiz de Fora (Brazil), that have similar characteristics of teaching standards and climate conditions (temperature and air humidity). In this study, interviews were made through questionnaires and, later, the information collected was analyzed. This study demonstrates the need to include an ergonomic indicator for school buildings in sustainability assessment tools. Full article

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18 pages, 817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Explanatory Power of Reciprocal Behavior for the Inter-Organizational Exchange Context

by Martina Pieperhoff

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061850 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4370

Abstract

In order to create sustainable competitive advantages, organizations are embedded in dyadic exchange relationships, which depend on the coordination of the behavior of the actors involved. Often, coordinated behavior is explained by trust. Since trust develops in a process of reciprocal responses to [...] Read more.

In order to create sustainable competitive advantages, organizations are embedded in dyadic exchange relationships, which depend on the coordination of the behavior of the actors involved. Often, coordinated behavior is explained by trust. Since trust develops in a process of reciprocal responses to presumed trustworthy behavior, it is a reciprocity-based concept. While inter-organizational exchange relationships can appear in different stages (forming, establishing, broken), different reciprocity types (direct, indirect, negative) can be distinguished. The study links reciprocal behavior to different stages of inter-organizational exchange relationships in order to investigate reciprocity as a possible coordination mechanism of behavior and thus explore the basis of coordination of trust-based behavior. Qualitative Comparative Analysis as a set-theoretic approach is applied to analyze the empirical data consisting of 78 qualitative semi-structured interviews with managers of small-, medium- and large-sized companies. The results show that different reciprocity types become effective in different stages of an inter-organizational exchange relationship: For forming inter-organizational exchange relationships indirect reciprocal behavior, besides direct reciprocity, becomes effective while in establishing inter-organizational exchange relationships, direct reciprocal behavior is evident. Negative reciprocal behavior leads to a break up of relationships. Using these results, on the one hand, the concept of trust can be sharpened by deepening the understanding of the trust-building mechanisms and on the other hand, reciprocity can be seen as coordination mechanism in exchange relationships of different stages. In doing so, with this knowledge, relationships can be coordinated towards a long-term orientation in order to create sustainable advantages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trust Management: Key Factor of the Sustainable Organizations Embedded in Network)

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16 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residents’ Involvement in Urban Tourism Planning: Opportunities from a Smart City Perspective

by Lidija Lalicic and Irem Önder

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061852 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 10049

Abstract

In this paper, we speculate that new advances in technologies will reshape tourism planning and residents engagement in many ways which subsequently will help cities to work towards sustainable urban planning practices. The paper addresses the question how should destinations prepare themselves for [...] Read more.

In this paper, we speculate that new advances in technologies will reshape tourism planning and residents engagement in many ways which subsequently will help cities to work towards sustainable urban planning practices. The paper addresses the question how should destinations prepare themselves for being ‘smart’ and responsive to co-participative tourism planning? The paper reviews the most relevant literature on the topics of resident’s attitude towards tourism, residents’ involvement and smart cities. Furthermore, examples are provided of cities who through the implementation of smart principles, plan specific domains in their cities with their residents. Important questions related to managerial challenges and residents-related challenges and set a general research avenues are set out. City planners can use this paper to start designing their strategies to effectively involve and collaborate with residents at the intersection of ICT and tourism in their cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Tourism)

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16 pages, 235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“The First Generation to End Poverty and the Last to Save the Planet?”—Western Individualism, Human Rights and the Value of Nature in the Ethics of Global Sustainable Development

by Andreas Spahn

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061853 - 3 Jun 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 9818

Abstract

The UN Agenda 2030 lends itself to an interpretation in light of the human rights framework and related contractualist ethical theories. These frameworks have been developed in the context of Western individualism. This paper analyses the sustainable development goals in light of the [...] Read more.

The UN Agenda 2030 lends itself to an interpretation in light of the human rights framework and related contractualist ethical theories. These frameworks have been developed in the context of Western individualism. This paper analyses the sustainable development goals in light of the debate between human rights on the one side and the rights of nature on the other side. It argues that human rights are often (though not exclusively) linked to social contract theories. The paper points out strengths and weaknesses of contractualist individualism. It discusses various challenges to the contractualist framework. How can contractualist individualism deal with the representation of future generations? What assumptions does the social contract make with regard to the nature of the individual? Should we conceive of them, e.g., as utility maximizers or as idealized rational agents? A final weakness of the framework is that contractualism seems to ignore other values, especially the value of nature. The paper therefore sketches recent developments in ethical theory that attempt to go beyond Western individualism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Ethics: Reflections on the UN Sustainable Development Goals)

17 pages, 1324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Construction Risk Perceptions in the Kuwaiti Construction Industry

by Dalya Ismael and Tripp Shealy

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1854; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061854 - 3 Jun 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 8758

Abstract

Sustainable construction is fundamentally different than traditional construction because it requires whole systems thinking, early collaboration across stakeholders, and core principles like reducing resource consumption, eliminating toxins, and applying life cycle costing. Construction professionals unfamiliar with this mindset and approach may perceive sustainable [...] Read more.

Sustainable construction is fundamentally different than traditional construction because it requires whole systems thinking, early collaboration across stakeholders, and core principles like reducing resource consumption, eliminating toxins, and applying life cycle costing. Construction professionals unfamiliar with this mindset and approach may perceive sustainable construction as risky. One of the global regions in need of more sustainable construction is the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. The MENA region is one of the fastest developing in the world. However, it is the slowest one in implementing sustainable construction practices. Kuwait, in particular, contributes 53% more carbon emissions per capita than the United States. To understand how the Kuwaiti construction industry perceives risks associated with more sustainable construction, a survey was developed with 52 risk elements in which 131 industry professionals responded. The results indicate that industry professionals perceive a lack of public awareness as the risk element with the highest probability of occurrence. The risk element with the highest possible negative impact on future projects is designers’ and contractors’ inexperience with sustainable construction. Other risks were found to include a high initial cost for materials and overall project costs. Educational interventions, changes in risk allocation, and behavioral science to reframe upfront costs as long-term savings are offered as possible solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Construction Engineering)

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16 pages, 1753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Sharing of Benefits from a Logistics Alliance Based on a Hub-Spoke Network: A Cooperative Game Theoretic Approach

by Minyoung Yea, Seokhyun Chung, Taesu Cheong and Daeki Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061855 - 3 Jun 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5062

Abstract

This study investigates a strategic alliance as a horizontal cooperation in the logistics and transportation industries by considering various sharing rules with a cooperative game approach. Through forging a strategic alliance, carriers gain extra benefits from resource sharing and high efficiency resource utilization. [...] Read more.

This study investigates a strategic alliance as a horizontal cooperation in the logistics and transportation industries by considering various sharing rules with a cooperative game approach. Through forging a strategic alliance, carriers gain extra benefits from resource sharing and high efficiency resource utilization. In particular, our research focuses on the cost savings from using larger vehicles utilizing collective market demand and regarding them as benefits of cooperation. The model conceptualizes the characteristic function of cost savings by coalitions that take into account the hub-spoke network which is common in transportation services. To share the improved profits fairly between members, we use different allocation schemes: the Shapley value, the core center, the

τ

-value, and the nucleolus. By analyzing those cooperative game theoretic solutions employing an alliance composed of three carriers, we investigate whether satisfaction in this specific coalition provides an incentive for carriers to join such a coalition. Our results from the analysis, with respect to fair allocation schemes, provide a practical and academic foundation for further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alliances and Network Organizations for Sustainable Development)

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14 pages, 1730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Oasis Sustainability Based on Emergy and Decomposition Analysis

by Ting Chang, Degang Yang, Jinwei Huo, Fuqiang Xia and Zhiping Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061856 - 3 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3479

Abstract

The human welfare and sustainability of oases have received wide attention because of the fragility of the ecological environment and the instability of these systems. In this study, the sustainability level and the driving forces of emergy utilization in the Hotan Prefecture (in [...] Read more.

The human welfare and sustainability of oases have received wide attention because of the fragility of the ecological environment and the instability of these systems. In this study, the sustainability level and the driving forces of emergy utilization in the Hotan Prefecture (in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China) from 2005 to 2015 were evaluated using the emergy approach combined with the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method. The emergy analysis showed that non-renewable resources (N) accounted for a large proportion of net emergy (U). The Emergy Sustainability Index (ESI) continued to decline in the study period, implying increasing environmental stress. From a long-term perspective, the system’s development is not sustainable. According to the emergy analysis and the LMDI results, it is imperative to pursue the following aims: (1) increase the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and labor productivity, (2) improve the efficiency of state investment and aid fund utilization, (3) enhance the area’s sustainability level and economic independence, and (4) protect the area’s fragile ecological environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for Sustainable Development in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions)

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15 pages, 1964 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creating Green Space Sustainability through Low-Budget and Upcycling Strategies

by Krzysztof Herman, Madalina Sbarcea and Thomas Panagopoulos

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1857; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061857 - 3 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 10371

Abstract

Frugality is a core notion of sustainability, and responsible resource management should be prioritized in urban planning and landscape architecture. Low-budget strategies as a deliberate means of creating valuable, attractive, well-used, sociable public spaces are recognized by some influential designers using the “Light, [...] Read more.

Frugality is a core notion of sustainability, and responsible resource management should be prioritized in urban planning and landscape architecture. Low-budget strategies as a deliberate means of creating valuable, attractive, well-used, sociable public spaces are recognized by some influential designers using the “Light, cheap, quick” methodology. Unused spaces, just like objects and waste, can be creatively changed, reinvented with little resource input through a circular solution of upcycling. Case study methodology was predominantly used in the inquiry with three new parks, built after the year 2004, in Faro, Portugal. The study examined how the success rate and the current state of these public green areas correlates with the amount of financial resources invested in each of the projects. The case studies show key aspects in the building of the three spaces including: urban context, management and community participation. The success rate of a place is established based on user activity observations, user counts and questionnaires—conveyed amongst both experts and local residents. Results illustrate how low-budget strategies and limited use of funds and resources can be translated into a successful project of a public greenery. Comparative studies from Warsaw and Berlin further extend the discussion to the concept of upcycling as a sustainable solution for landscape architecture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transition towards Low-Impact and Regenerative Human Settlements)

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28 pages, 4136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contemporary Resource Policy and Decoupling Trends—Lessons Learnt from Integrated Model-Based Assessments

by Mark Meyer, Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers and Martin Distelkamp

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061858 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5338

Abstract

Addressing climate change and natural resource depletion has been key to the international and national sustainability agenda for almost 30 years. Despite existing efforts, global CO₂ emissions and raw material use levels continue to grow. This seems to suggest the need for [...] Read more.

Addressing climate change and natural resource depletion has been key to the international and national sustainability agenda for almost 30 years. Despite existing efforts, global CO₂ emissions and raw material use levels continue to grow. This seems to suggest the need for more systemic approaches in environmental policy. Our paper contributes modelling results to assess the potential of efficiency improvements to achieve absolute decoupling of global raw material use and environmental impacts from economic growth. We apply the global, dynamic MRIO model GINFORS to simulate potential effects of raw material efficiency improvements in production against a climate mitigation scenario baseline. Our simulation experiments indicate that (rather radical) progress in the raw material efficiency of production technologies in concert with extensive climate mitigation efforts could enable an absolute decoupling of resource use and CO₂ emissions from GDP growth at a global level and for some countries. The absolute raw material extraction levels achieved, however, still exceed the material use reduction targets suggested by sustainability scientists. Our findings highlight that achieving such targets without addressing rebound effects is implausible. Hence, we call upon policy makers to integrate rebound mitigation strategies and move beyond exclusively improving efficiency to tackling structural and behavioural changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Environmental and Sustainability Policy: Assessing the Past and charting a Course for the Future)

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17 pages, 1321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Culture as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Development. An Investigation into the Process of Cultural Content Digitisation in Romania

by Mina Fanea-Ivanovici

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1859; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061859 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5908

Abstract

In an age of rapid technological changes, new ways of cultural production–consumption and dissemination–access to cultural content are creating great opportunities for promoting cultural heritage at home and abroad as a prerequisite for sustainable development. The aims of this paper are to scrutinize [...] Read more.

In an age of rapid technological changes, new ways of cultural production–consumption and dissemination–access to cultural content are creating great opportunities for promoting cultural heritage at home and abroad as a prerequisite for sustainable development. The aims of this paper are to scrutinize the main opportunities of the process of cultural content digitisation with a focus on Romania and to highlight the main fields in which the country is still lagging behind. The article discusses technical internet-related endowment and use of internet by households in urban and rural areas, the existing digital cultural content, the importance of open access, e-accessibility, digital archives, e-museums, e-libraries, etc., as well as the main national and European strategies and agendas that Romania has based its cultural digitisation and heritage preservation priorities on. The paper is an empirical inquiry into the progress achieved, the positioning among the other European countries and the perspectives of cultural digitisation for Romania. Such matters are important determinants of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, as long as access to public services and cultural content is a major objective of Europe 2020 Strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainability in a Turbulent Economic Environment–Selected Papers from the 12th International Conference on Business Excellence)

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15 pages, 4192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Land Use and Cover Changes in the Metropolitan Area of Tepic-Xalisco (1973–2015) through Landsat Images

by Armando Avalos Jiménez, Fernando Flores Vilchez, Oyolsi Nájera González and Susana M. L. Marceleño Flores

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061860 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4159

Abstract

Land use and cover changes (LUCC) have been identified as one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and deforestation in the world. Fundamentally, the urban land use has replaced agricultural and forest cover causing loss of environmental services. Monitoring and quantifying LUCC [...] Read more.

Land use and cover changes (LUCC) have been identified as one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and deforestation in the world. Fundamentally, the urban land use has replaced agricultural and forest cover causing loss of environmental services. Monitoring and quantifying LUCC are essential to achieve a proper land management. The objective of this study was to analyze the LUCC in the metropolitan area of Tepic-Xalisco during the period 1973–2015. To find the best fit and obtain the different land use classes, supervised classification techniques were applied using Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC), Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The results were validated with control points (ground truth) through cross tabulation. The best results were obtained from the SVMs method with kappa indices above 85%. The transition analysis infers that urban land has grown significantly during 42 years, increasing 62 km² and replacing agricultural areas at a rate of 1.48 km²/year. Forest loss of 5.78 km² annually was also identified. The results show the different land uses distribution and the dynamics developed in the past. This information may be used to simulate future LUCC and modeling different scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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12 pages, 2349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Risk Assessment of the Southern Fujian Golden Triangle in China Based on Regional Transportation Development

by Xinyi Yang, Lina Tang, Yuqiu Jia and Jiantao Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1861; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061861 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3529

Abstract

Regional transportation development (RTD) is an important stressor of urban agglomeration ecosystems. Groundwater recharge potential may be adversely affected when natural soil is replaced by impervious materials. To systematically identify the urban agglomeration ecological risk (UAER) of RTD in the southern Fujian Golden [...] Read more.

Regional transportation development (RTD) is an important stressor of urban agglomeration ecosystems. Groundwater recharge potential may be adversely affected when natural soil is replaced by impervious materials. To systematically identify the urban agglomeration ecological risk (UAER) of RTD in the southern Fujian Golden Triangle, water regulation was used as an assessment endpoint, and RTD was considered the stressor. We used the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number method (SCS-CN) to analyze the internal relationship between the assessment endpoint and the stressor factors. Then, a multi-level risk characterization method was used to show the evolutionary process of risk, and to provide a scientific basis for the management of UAER. Based on the current RTD plan, the UAER assessment shows that there is a 0.90 probability of that the risk distribution results will occur by 2030. The intensity of stress from arterial roads on the urban agglomeration ecosystem is greater than that of the railway system. By considering the development of the railway system as a factor in the stress of RTD, this study of UAER assessment differs from past studies of urban ecological risk assessment, since the latter considers only highways. We also propose a systematic method of risk assessment simulation-prediction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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20 pages, 947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vulnerability Assessment of Rural Households to Urmia Lake Drying (the Case of Shabestar Region)

by Rasoul Maleki, Mehdi Nooripoor, Hossein Azadi and Philippe Lebailly

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1862; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061862 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5293

Abstract

One of the most important environmental problems in Iran is the destruction and drying of Urmia Lake (UL). UL is one of the main causes of suitable weather for agricultural boom and tourist attraction and it should be considered that the villagers exposed [...] Read more.

One of the most important environmental problems in Iran is the destruction and drying of Urmia Lake (UL). UL is one of the main causes of suitable weather for agricultural boom and tourist attraction and it should be considered that the villagers exposed to UL drying have a strong dependence on vulnerable resources such as water, air, soil and plants for their livelihoods and have low adaptive capacity with this crisis for reasons such as poverty, lack of awareness and lack of infrastructure. This study was designed to evaluate the vulnerability of rural households to UL drying in the Shabestar region. The vulnerability was calculated based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) definition and using vulnerability index (VI). Research population included rural households of Shabestar region (N = 19,249) and about 347 households were selected as the research sample using multistage cluster sampling technique. Results showed that the average score of respondents was 0.455 (moderate) in exposure, 0.359 (moderate to low) in sensitivity, 0.404 (moderate to low) in adaptive capacity and finally, the vulnerability index (VI) was 0.470 (range of 0 to 1). 12.8% of households had low, 70.5% had medium and 16.7% had high vulnerability towards UL drying. Full article

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19 pages, 541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cycle Tourism as a Driver for the Sustainable Development of Little-Known or Remote Territories: The Experience of the Apennine Regions of Northern Italy

by Patrizia Gazzola, Enrica Pavione, Daniele Grechi and Paola Ossola

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1863; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061863 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 13083

Abstract

One form of cycle tourism can be represented features tourism that focuses on the relation between biking and the discovery of a territory. Geared toward forms of holiday that allow for the low consumption of natural resources and a connection with the landscape, [...] Read more.

One form of cycle tourism can be represented features tourism that focuses on the relation between biking and the discovery of a territory. Geared toward forms of holiday that allow for the low consumption of natural resources and a connection with the landscape, cycle tourism represents a concrete expression of sustainable tourism. As an emerging phenomenon in Italy, cycle tourism requires further understanding in order to identify methods of development and applicable business models. The aim of this paper is to explore the characteristics of cycle tourism’s development in northern Italy in order to identify the links that exist between sustainability and the group of cycle tourists who prefer to spend their holidays discovering little-known or remote territories. For this study, we selected three different destinations in sensitive mountain areas that converge on the common goal to use cycling to rejuvenate the tourism sector. It has been found that the development of cycle tourism in areas not characterized by mass tourism, such as those considered here, is economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial. The business models through which cycle tourism usually develops include a bottom up approach or a top down approach, involving the cooperation of several local destination stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism in Sensitive Environments: Mountains, Islands, Coastal and Polar Regions)

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17 pages, 3437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Carbon Storage and Its Influencing Factors in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

by Zhonghe Zhao, Gaohuan Liu, Naixia Mou, Yichun Xie, Zengrang Xu and Yong Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1864; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061864 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5974

Abstract

Land use/cover change (LUCC) is one of the major factors influencing the storage of ecosystem carbon. The carbon storage in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the world’s highest plateau, is affected by a combination of many factors. Using MCD12Q1 land classification data, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, [...] Read more.

Land use/cover change (LUCC) is one of the major factors influencing the storage of ecosystem carbon. The carbon storage in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the world’s highest plateau, is affected by a combination of many factors. Using MCD12Q1 land classification data, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, soil carbon and humus carbon data, as well as field sampling data for parameters verification, we applied the InVEST model to simulate the ecosystem carbon storage and the impacts of driving factors. The field survey samples were used to test the regression accuracy, and the results confirmed that the model performance was reasonable and acceptable. The main conclusions of this study are as follows: From 2001 to 2010, carbon storage in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau increased by 10.39 billion t when assuming that the carbon density in each land cover type was constant. Changes of the land cover types caused carbon storage to increase by 116 million t, which contributed 13.82% of the dynamic carbon storage. Consequently, changes in carbon density accounted for 86.18% of the carbon storage change. In addition, we investigated the soil organic matter and aboveground biomass characteristics between 2012 and 2014 and found that the influences of fencing and dung on carbon storage were positive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data Analytics on Sustainable, Resilient and Just Communities)

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12 pages, 1293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

sEMG-Based Gesture Recognition with Convolution Neural Networks

by Zhen Ding, Chifu Yang, Zhihong Tian, Chunzhi Yi, Yunsheng Fu and Feng Jiang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1865; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061865 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 108 | Viewed by 7370

Abstract

The traditional classification methods for limb motion recognition based on sEMG have been deeply researched and shown promising results. However, information loss during feature extraction reduces the recognition accuracy. To obtain higher accuracy, the deep learning method was introduced. In this paper, we [...] Read more.

The traditional classification methods for limb motion recognition based on sEMG have been deeply researched and shown promising results. However, information loss during feature extraction reduces the recognition accuracy. To obtain higher accuracy, the deep learning method was introduced. In this paper, we propose a parallel multiple-scale convolution architecture. Compared with the state-of-art methods, the proposed architecture fully considers the characteristics of the sEMG signal. Larger sizes of kernel filter than commonly used in other CNN-based hand recognition methods are adopted. Meanwhile, the characteristics of the sEMG signal, that is, muscle independence, is considered when designing the architecture. All the classification methods were evaluated on the NinaPro database. The results show that the proposed architecture has the highest recognition accuracy. Furthermore, the results indicate that parallel multiple-scale convolution architecture with larger size of kernel filter and considering muscle independence can significantly increase the classification accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Autonomous and Sustainable Computing for preparing the Internet of Things Environment)

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14 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency Assessment of Inbound Tourist Service Using Data Envelopment Analysis

by Han-Shen Chen, Bi-Kun Tsai, Gwo-Bao Liou and Chi-Ming Hsieh

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061866 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3839

Abstract

The successful and sustainable development of inbound tourism necessitates a long-term commitment, balancing between tourism supply and tourist demands. This study manipulated a performance appraisal of tourism service quality in Taiwan with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) by employing input and output constructs to [...] Read more.

The successful and sustainable development of inbound tourism necessitates a long-term commitment, balancing between tourism supply and tourist demands. This study manipulated a performance appraisal of tourism service quality in Taiwan with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) by employing input and output constructs to assess service quality efficiency. The empirical results of the estimation of technical efficiency (TE) revealed that (1) the domestic tourism market is competitive, but still needs enhancements for tourism service; (2) Mainland Chinese tourists had the highest score among all foreign tourists, followed by Hong Kong and Macau tourists, tourists from other countries, Japanese tourists, and South Korean tourists; and (3) South Korean tourists had higher travel expenditure than others, but felt less satisfaction with travel services, which can be regarded as inefficient. Tourists from other countries had lower travel expenditure, but had higher satisfaction levels, which was considered efficient based on input and output index. The findings could contribute to bridging the gap between research and practice in assessing the efficiency of inbound tourist service. Tourism practitioners should be aware of tourists’ needs and interests, as these could be key fundamentals for improving tourists’ satisfaction with Taiwan’s service offerings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Employment and Income Growth from Sustainable Tourism)

19 pages, 5503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic Carbon Concentrations in High- and Low-Productivity Areas of the Sulu Sea

by Charissa M. Ferrera, Gil S. Jacinto, Chen-Tung Arthur Chen and Hon-Kit Lui

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1867; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061867 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5451

Abstract

The sequestration of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the form of organic carbon and its eventual deposition in the sediments is an important component of the marine carbon cycle. In the Sulu Sea, Philippines, organic carbon contents in the sediments have been relatively well [...] Read more.

The sequestration of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the form of organic carbon and its eventual deposition in the sediments is an important component of the marine carbon cycle. In the Sulu Sea, Philippines, organic carbon contents in the sediments have been relatively well studied, but the processes that describe the organic carbon distributions in the water column have not been elucidated. Dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC, POC) concentrations were measured at several stations in the Sulu Sea during the northeast monsoon of 2007/2008 to understand the dynamics of organic carbon in this unique internal sea. Analyses of primary productivity estimates, beam attenuation coefficient (at 660 nm) profiles, and correlation coefficients among DOC, POC and other parameters (e.g., apparent oxygen utilization) at different layers of the water column indicate that surface primary productivity, upwelling, bottom intensified flows across sills, and ventilation from shallow sills, which may contain semi-labile DOC that is estimated to largely contribute to microbial respiration in the bathypelagic layer, are the major processes that affect the DOC and POC distributions in the Sulu Sea. The variability of these processes should be taken into consideration when assessing the sustainability of internal and marginal seas as carbon sinks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Carbon Cycles)

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20 pages, 1620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Public Transit Usage and Bikesharing Behaviors in The United States

by Yuanyuan Zhang and Yuming Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061868 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 4706

Abstract

Public bikesharing systems have rapidly expanded across many cities in the United States (US). Previous studies in the literature found that, in general, bikesharing is associated with public transit ridership. However, the interdependencies between public transit usage and bikesharing behaviors have been mixed [...] Read more.

Public bikesharing systems have rapidly expanded across many cities in the United States (US). Previous studies in the literature found that, in general, bikesharing is associated with public transit ridership. However, the interdependencies between public transit usage and bikesharing behaviors have been mixed and have not been fully understood. Therefore, the objective of this research is to examine the associations between the frequency of public transit usage and the probability and frequency of bikesharing usage in the US using data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey. The respondents were asked how many times they had used public transit and bikesharing in the last 30 days. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were conducted to assess the associations between the frequency of public transit usage and the probability and frequency of bikesharing usage. The results show that, in general, a one-unit increase in the frequency of public transit usage is significantly associated with a 4.0% increase in the probability of bikesharing usage and a 1.4% increase in the frequency of bikesharing usage. The significantly positive relationship between the frequency of public transit usage and the frequency of bikesharing usage is more pronounced among those living in areas with higher population density or with rail service. The empirical results demonstrate that public transit usage is significantly positively associated with bikesharing usage, and suggest policy implications that improving public transit usage tends to increase the usage of bikesharing. This study also provides significant empirical evidence for the formulation of interventions and policies targeting to promote integrated transportation systems that support multimodal transportation and mutually sustainable transport networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

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38 pages, 2045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Quantitative Method for Prediction of Environmental Aspects in Construction Sites of Residential Buildings

by Luis Claudio A. Borja, Sandro Fábio César, Rita Dione A. Cunha and Asher Kiperstok

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1870; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061870 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7574

Abstract

Despite the sectoral initiatives, the construction industry faces difficulties in incorporating effective environmental impact control systems in construction sites. Most of the instruments have been adopting a qualitative approach to environmental issues, with few cases of a quantitative approach. This article introduces a [...] Read more.

Despite the sectoral initiatives, the construction industry faces difficulties in incorporating effective environmental impact control systems in construction sites. Most of the instruments have been adopting a qualitative approach to environmental issues, with few cases of a quantitative approach. This article introduces a quantitative method for predicting environmental aspects and impacts during the construction of residential buildings, through the integration between environmental indicators and construction cost bases. The methodology was based on the analysis of the relationships among activities, aspects and environmental impacts considered in EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) for the development of the method and its mathematical representation. A case study was carried out to evaluate the method using the bill of quantities (BOQ) from two residential construction sites to measure their environmental aspects. The results suggest the usefulness of the method in the decision-making process on the allocation of control systems and, in some cases, recommending the execution of off-site services to reduce the impacts on the site’s neighborhood. Additionally, the method proved to be easy to apply to evaluate construction sites, as well as flexible to incorporate other activities, adapting to the demand of builders and municipalities to reduce the environmental impacts of construction sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction, Development and Management in the Built Environment)

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22 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Enterprises Radical Innovation and Performance: Insights into Strategic Orientation of Cultural and Creative Enterprises

by Tsui-Yii Shih

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061871 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5400

Abstract

A firm’s strategic orientation determine its business direction and scope of operation. Several researchers have tried to identify how strategic orientations affect business development. However, only a few scholars have explored how strategic orientations shape a firm’s organizational capability. In addition, the extent [...] Read more.

A firm’s strategic orientation determine its business direction and scope of operation. Several researchers have tried to identify how strategic orientations affect business development. However, only a few scholars have explored how strategic orientations shape a firm’s organizational capability. In addition, the extent to which radical innovation contributes to a firm’s operations has not been well researched. Given these research shortcomings, this study explores the integration of firms’ strategic orientations, radical innovation, competitive advantages, and business performance within a conceptual framework. A sample of 86 cultural and creative firms was obtained. The results of the regression analysis and of the PLS SEM model are compared in this study. Our findings suggest that factors from either market orientation or entrepreneurial orientation add to a firm’s radical innovation capability and adoption. Lastly, the brand advantage is identified to be the most important factor in firms’ performance after a radical innovation capability and product advantage. This paper offers several contributions to the research. First, it advances knowledge of the strategic orientations of cultural and creative firms in a developing market. Second, it demonstrates the usefulness of radical innovation capability in profiling the development of competitive advantages. Lastly, it adds to our understanding of factors that facilitate the business performance of cultural and creative entrepreneurs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Green Building Index (GBI) Certification System to Effectively Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Korea’s Building Industry

by Seungjun Roh, Sungho Tae and Rakhyun Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1872; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061872 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7198

Abstract

The building industry is currently strengthening the building life cycle assessment (LCA) criteria of the green building certification system to encourage carbon emission reduction. However, the voluntary approach of the LCA criteria does not provide sufficient incentive to effectively drive green building construction. [...] Read more.

The building industry is currently strengthening the building life cycle assessment (LCA) criteria of the green building certification system to encourage carbon emission reduction. However, the voluntary approach of the LCA criteria does not provide sufficient incentive to effectively drive green building construction. Furthermore, additional costs associated with green building construction are not given enough weightage, thus hampering the incorporation of green building technologies. This study developed a Green Building Index (GBI) Certification System to effectively reduce carbon emissions in South Korea’s building industry. Consequently, the assessment areas for green buildings were divided into a carbon emission index, a building habitability index, and a carbon economic index, and assessment methods were suggested for each area. In addition, eco-efficiency, which represents an environmental value, was incorporated into the three indices from the perspective of green building certification and used to estimate a GBI that represents overall building sustainability. This GBI was then integrated into an overall GBI Certification System, and a case study was used to evaluate its applicability. The results indicate the validity of the proposed GBI Certification System, which promotes voluntary carbon emission reduction by evaluating cost effectiveness based on life cycle carbon emissions and carbon economic efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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23 pages, 725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Foraging in Berlin: People, Plants and Practices within the Metropolitan Green Infrastructure

by Jonah L. Landor-Yamagata, Ingo Kowarik and Leonie K. Fischer

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1873; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061873 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 73 | Viewed by 10160

Abstract

Gathering wild plants in cities (urban foraging) is likely an important, but understudied human-nature interaction globally. As large European cities are critically understudied in this regard, we performed in-depth ethnography-based interviews in Berlin, Germany, to shed light on the cultural background of foragers, [...] Read more.

Gathering wild plants in cities (urban foraging) is likely an important, but understudied human-nature interaction globally. As large European cities are critically understudied in this regard, we performed in-depth ethnography-based interviews in Berlin, Germany, to shed light on the cultural background of foragers, their motivations and which plants and fungi are gathered for which purposes. Results demonstrate multiple uses of 125 taxa, mostly frequently-occurring species but also some Red List species, from a range of formal and informal greenspace types. Both native and non-native species were gathered, with significant differences in use patterns. Use for food was most common, followed by medicinal uses, and personal enjoyment was a frequent motivation, indicating that urban foraging combines provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. Familial and childhood foraging exposure were common, pointing to influences of early-in-life exposure on later-in-life activities and transgenerational aspects of the practice. Results further suggest legacy effects from the post-war and communist eras on foraging knowledge. Although non-commercial foraging is allowed in Berlin, over-harvesting was not evident. Interviews indicate that stewardship of urban biodiversity is common among foragers. Results thus suggest considering urban foraging as a promising vehicle for linking humans with nature when developing a biodiverse urban green infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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14 pages, 1768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Forest Restoration on Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Their Stoichiometry in Hunan, Southern China

by Chuanhong Xu, Wenhua Xiang, Mengmeng Gou, Liang Chen, Pifeng Lei, Xi Fang, Xiangwen Deng and Shuai Ouyang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1874; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061874 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5104

Abstract

Forest restoration affects nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the dynamics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P), and their stoichiometry (C:N:P ratio) in the soil during forest restoration are poorly understood in subtropical areas. In the current study, we collected soil [...] Read more.

Forest restoration affects nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the dynamics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P), and their stoichiometry (C:N:P ratio) in the soil during forest restoration are poorly understood in subtropical areas. In the current study, we collected soil samples at three depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) at three restoration stages (early, intermediate, and late) in subtropical forests. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorous (P) concentrations were determined. Forest restoration significantly affected soil nutrient concentrations and stock (p < 0.05). SOC concentrations increased from 12.6 to 18.6 g/kg and N concentrations increased from 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg, while P decreased from 0.3 to 0.2 g/kg. A similar pattern of change was found for the nutrient stock as restoration proceeded. C:P and N:P ratios increased to a greater extent than that of C:N ratios during forest restoration, implying that subtropical forests might be characterized by P limitation over time. The slopes and intercepts for the linear regression relationships between SOC, N, and P concentrations were significantly different across the forest restoration stages (p < 0.05). This indicated that forest restoration significantly affects the coupled relationships among C-N, C-P, and N-P in subtropical forest soil. Our results add to the current body of knowledge about soil nutrient characteristics and have useful implications for sustainable forest management in subtropical areas. Full article

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18 pages, 929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Location-Based Service Factors on Usage Intentions for Technology Acceptance: The Moderating Effect of Innovativeness

by Sung Hee Jang and Chang Won Lee

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1876; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061876 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8060

Abstract

This study presents features of location-based services (LBS) that influence usage intentions in users and the moderating effects of innovativeness for LBS in sustainable mobile-related industries. As LBS attributes, this study identifies location awareness, reputation, trust, and entertainment. This study model is developed [...] Read more.

This study presents features of location-based services (LBS) that influence usage intentions in users and the moderating effects of innovativeness for LBS in sustainable mobile-related industries. As LBS attributes, this study identifies location awareness, reputation, trust, and entertainment. This study model is developed based on technology acceptance behavior (TAB) and is applied to LBS users to identify LBS usage intention factors and TAB perspectives. Research measures are identified and examined on 220 LBS users. The study results are discussed to explore significant factors affecting LBS technology acceptance intentions. The results show that LBS users are more likely to adopt LBS with features of location awareness, reputation, trust, and entertainment. In addition, user attitudes toward LBS are found to play a significant positive role, as are user usage intentions. The moderating effects of personal innovativeness on the relationship between reputation, trust, and entertainment and user attitudes toward LBS are found to be insignificant. The implications for theory and practices are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences of Corporate Environmental Responsibility in Small and Medium Enterprises: Spain and Norway

by Elisabet Aguado and Adelheid Holl

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1877; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061877 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6116

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that are related to Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs’) environmental attitude. We focus on Spain and Norway—two contrasting countries in this regard. Drawing on evidence from the Flash Eurobarometer 381 Survey: SMEs, Resource [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that are related to Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs’) environmental attitude. We focus on Spain and Norway—two contrasting countries in this regard. Drawing on evidence from the Flash Eurobarometer 381 Survey: SMEs, Resource Efficiency and Green Markets, the results show that there is a significant difference on environmental commitment in favor of Norway. Our estimation results show that firms’ structural characteristics are strong factors influencing attitudes towards environmental responsibility, but even after controlling for such firm-specific differences, Norwegian firms still show a higher probability for a pro-environmental attitude. Moreover, our estimation results also show that the drivers for firms to go beyond environmental legislation are not the same in the two countries. Norwegian firms are more market-driven than Spanish firms in their pro-environmental attitude. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in SMEs)

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14 pages, 9862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Drylands Biorefineries: Valorisation of Forage Opuntia for the Production of Edible Coatings

by Alba Iris Nájera-García, Raúl Eduardo López-Hernández, Carlos Alexander Lucho-Constantino and Gabriela A. Vázquez-Rodríguez

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061878 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3908

Abstract

Species of the genus Opuntia may be a well-suited feedstock for biorefineries located in drylands, where biomass is scarcer than in humid or temperate regions. This plant has numerous uses in Mexico and Central America, and its mucilage is a specialty material with [...] Read more.

Species of the genus Opuntia may be a well-suited feedstock for biorefineries located in drylands, where biomass is scarcer than in humid or temperate regions. This plant has numerous uses in Mexico and Central America, and its mucilage is a specialty material with many promising applications. We extracted the mucilage from a forage species, O. heliabravoana Scheinvar, and mixed it with a thermoplastic starch to produce an edible coating. The coating was applied to blackberries, which were then evaluated in terms of several physicochemical and microbiological variables. During a 10-day evaluation period, the physicochemical variables measured in the coated fruits were not significantly different from those of the control group. However, the microbiological load of the coated fruits was significantly lower than that of the uncoated fruits, which was attributed to a decreased water activity under the edible coating. Multivariate analysis of the physicochemical and microbial variables indicated that the storage time negatively affected the weight and size of the coated and uncoated blackberries. Although some sensory attributes have yet to be optimised, our results support the use of the mucilage of forage Opuntia for the formation of edible coatings, as well as their valorisation through a biorefinery approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Food Innovation)

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26 pages, 14435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agent-Based Evaluation of the Airplane Boarding Strategies’ Efficiency and Sustainability

by Camelia Delcea, Liviu-Adrian Cotfas and Ramona Paun

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061879 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 8726

Abstract

The airplane turnaround time costs money to the airline companies and, over the years, it has been determined that the best way to reduce it is by using efficient boarding strategies. Many boarding strategies have been proposed but a consensus as to which [...] Read more.

The airplane turnaround time costs money to the airline companies and, over the years, it has been determined that the best way to reduce it is by using efficient boarding strategies. Many boarding strategies have been proposed but a consensus as to which is the best method has not been reached yet. The aim of this paper is to gather and test all these strategies considering the same initial conditions in order to help airline companies identify the best boarding strategy. Minimizing the costs not only contributes to airlines’ sustainability and long-term performance, but also influences their ticketing policy, and has an impact on their customers’ choices. Moreover, airports can benefit from the fact that the airline companies are optimizing their boarding strategies as they can extend the number of services offered to more airlines during one day without investing in new infrastructure. Thus, this paper considers 24 boarding strategies and builds a configurable agent-based model using NetLogo 6.0.2 to perform different simulations. The results are analysed using grey systems theory considering the aircraft dimensions, aircraft occupancy and whether or not passengers are carrying hand luggage that may need storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Transitions and the Spatial Interface: Developing Conceptual Perspectives

by Meike Levin-Keitel, Tanja Mölders, Frank Othengrafen and Jens Ibendorf

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1880; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061880 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 8933

Abstract

Sustainability transitions research lacks a crucial perspective: the spatial dimension. The interrelations between space and sustainability transition processes are thus underexposed. The spatial dimension is, of course, implicitly addressed in transition research but it often remains unclear which spatial concept is used and [...] Read more.

Sustainability transitions research lacks a crucial perspective: the spatial dimension. The interrelations between space and sustainability transition processes are thus underexposed. The spatial dimension is, of course, implicitly addressed in transition research but it often remains unclear which spatial concept is used and how the spatial conditions are embedded in the transition processes. This paper approaches the problem in two steps: (1) analysing the various understandings of transitions research and their implications for different spatial concepts relating to spatial sustainability transition; and (2) focusing on different spatial concepts (from a positivist mode to relational and socio-cultural approaches) and their reflections in different disciplines of social, natural and technical sciences as well as in practice. By identifying the links between sustainable transition approaches on the one hand and spatial conceptualizations on the other hand, this paper aims at deepening both the spatial perspective and the understanding of sustainable transition research. The results of this paper are three conceptual perspectives wherein space or spatial conceptualizations can provide added value for sustainability transition research in inter- and transdisciplinary modes. These three perspectives include (1) space as a “bridging concept,” (2) space as a “normative concept,” and (3) space as an “approach to action.” Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Putting Sustainability Transitions into Spatial and Socio-Cultural Context)

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23 pages, 2923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Project-Based Governance Framework for an Agri-Food Cooperative

by Ana Teresa Herrera-Reyes, Ignacio De los Ríos Carmenado and Jesús Martínez-Almela

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1881; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061881 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5045

Abstract

In a context that approaches the limits of environmental and social problems, and in view of the challenges that the agri-food sector faces today, the need to produce more food, linking environmental sustainability and human health, constitutes a means for sector organizations to [...] Read more.

In a context that approaches the limits of environmental and social problems, and in view of the challenges that the agri-food sector faces today, the need to produce more food, linking environmental sustainability and human health, constitutes a means for sector organizations to turn these new conditions into opportunities to achieve their strategic objectives in project governance. The objective of this study is to analyze the governance of an agri-food cooperative comprised of farmers with more than 40 years of experience. In addition, we propose, based on the findings obtained, a plan for the organization to integrate the culture of the projects and project management in its governance system. This paper is based on a conceptual framework that takes into account the systemic nature and dynamics of social and organizational interactions, with the aim of moving towards sustainability within the agri-food system, through the analysis of an empiric study in the agriculture cooperative sector in the southeast of Spain. The findings show that working by projects offers a novel and effective governance model for the sector, and that integrating expert and experienced knowledge, working with people, is a fundamental condition for moving towards sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Project Management and Sustainable Development)

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28 pages, 3102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

E-Government Maturity Model for Sustainable E-Government Services from the Perspective of Developing Countries

by Pusp Raj Joshi and Shareeful Islam

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1882; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061882 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 20478

Abstract

Electric government (e-government) projects in developing countries are facing many challenges to deliver sustainable e-government services. From the existing literature, we found that most of the studies considered lack of technology, and limitations in budgets and human resources as the main hurdles in [...] Read more.

Electric government (e-government) projects in developing countries are facing many challenges to deliver sustainable e-government services. From the existing literature, we found that most of the studies considered lack of technology, and limitations in budgets and human resources as the main hurdles in effective implementation of e-government services. Along with these limitations, we found that the e-government maturity models adopted by developing countries are failing to provide an appropriate strategic plan to deploy sustainable e-government services. While assessing the existing e-government maturity model, we made several observations on the lack of detail, the technology-centric nature, the emphasis on implementation, and the lack of an adoption strategy. This work contributes toward the proposition of a new e-government maturity model that would address the limitations of exiting e-government maturity models, and would support governments in developing countries to achieve sustainable e-government services. To achieve this goal, we considered five determinants—a detailed process, streamlined services, agile accessibility, use of state-of-the-art technology, and trust and awareness. The proposed model was validated by employing an empirical investigation through case-study and survey methods. We found that both the implementers (government) and adopters (users) of the e-government services benefited from the proposed model, resulting in an increased sustainability of e-government services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) for Sustainability)

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34 pages, 8755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing the International Knowledge Flow of China’s Wind and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industries: Patent Analysis and Implications for Sustainable Development

by Yuan Zhou, Meijuan Pan and Frauke Urban

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061883 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8307

Abstract

Climate-relevant technologies, like wind and solar energy, are crucial for mitigating climate change and for achieving sustainable development. Recent literature argues that Chinese solar firms play more active roles in international knowledge flows, which may better explain their success in international markets when [...] Read more.

Climate-relevant technologies, like wind and solar energy, are crucial for mitigating climate change and for achieving sustainable development. Recent literature argues that Chinese solar firms play more active roles in international knowledge flows, which may better explain their success in international markets when compared to those of Chinese wind firms; however, empirical evidence remains sparse. This study aims to explore to what extent and how do the international knowledge flows differ between China’s wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries? From a network perspective, this paper develops a three-dimensional framework to compare the knowledge flows in both explicit and tacit dimensions: (i) inter-country explicit knowledge clusters (by topological clustering of patent citation network); (ii) inter-firm explicit knowledge flow (patent citation network of key firms); and, (iii) inter-firm tacit knowledge flow (by desktop research and interviews). The results show that China’s PV industry has stronger international knowledge linkages in terms of knowledge clustering and explicit knowledge flow, but the wind power industry has a stronger tacit knowledge flow. Further, this study argues that the differences of global knowledge links between China’s wind and solar PV industries may be caused by technology characteristics, market orientation, and policy implementation. This suggests that these industries both have strong connections to global knowledge networks, but they may involve disparate catch-up pathways that concern follower-modes and leader-modes. These findings are important to help us understand how China can follow sustainable development pathways in the light of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

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11 pages, 2355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Climate Impact of the US Policy Choices Using an Economic and Earth System Model

by Shili Yang, Changxin Liu, Wenjie Dong, Jieming Chou, Di Tian, Ting Wei and Yuan Tian

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1884; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061884 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3679

Abstract

Climate policy plays an important role in keeping global temperature rises below the target of 1.5–2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and technological innovations are key to determining the effectiveness of climate policy. In this study, we investigated the climate impact of the USA’s [...] Read more.

Climate policy plays an important role in keeping global temperature rises below the target of 1.5–2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and technological innovations are key to determining the effectiveness of climate policy. In this study, we investigated the climate impact of the USA’s policy choices using the enforced multi-factor regional climate and economy system (EMRICES,) and the Earth system model from Beijing Normal University (BNU-ESM). Three emission scenarios were designed based on the assumption of whether or not the US follows its proposed nationally determined contribution (NDC) and makes use of technological innovations. The results showed that if the US does not implement the NDC and had no technological progress, there would be an extra 176.7 Gt of cumulative carbon emissions by the end of the 21st century compared to that of all the countries that follow their NDC. The additional emissions would lead to an increase of 62 ppm in CO₂ concentration and a 0.4 °C increase in global warming by 2100. It would also lead to a 2% loss for the US and Chinese economies, compared to the NDC scenario. The Earth system model results also show that even if all the countries follow the DNC, it would be difficult to keep the temperature from increasing less than 1.5 °C. This study implies that the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and their refusal to adopt technological progress is not conducive to achieving the 1.5 °C goal, and more stringent emission reduction targets or technology innovations would be required for the world to control global warming to a level below 1.5 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

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12 pages, 1732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Statistical Assessment of Water Quality Issues in Hongze Lake, China, Related to the Operation of a Water Diversion Project

by Yi Wu, Rong Dai, Yongfeng Xu, Jiangang Han and Pingping Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1885; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061885 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5136

Abstract

The Hongze Lake serves as the first important transfer and storage path along the East Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP-ER). After the Project began operating in 2013, eutrophication in the lake has created increasing public concern regarding the direct effect [...] Read more.

The Hongze Lake serves as the first important transfer and storage path along the East Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP-ER). After the Project began operating in 2013, eutrophication in the lake has created increasing public concern regarding the direct effect on water quality from the project. In this paper, we used multivariate statistical methods to examine the variances between water quality variables at four site groups (inlets and outlets in the study area) and during three seasons (wet, normal, and dry seasons) in Eastern Hongze Lake. We also used redundancy analysis (RDA) to analyze environmental factors’ impact on water quality. We found that (1) the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were exceeding the standard values; (2) No significant spatial heterogeneity regarding nitrogen and phosphorus among the inlet/outlet of Eastern Hongze Lake existed in normal and wet seasons, and there was no evidence demonstrating that SNWDP-ER could improve eutrophication or even contribute to eutrophication in the dry season; (3) Environmental factors (land use, water diversion, and population) have limited influences on water quality, which was possibly caused by the overly-high river input and artificial input of nitrogen and phosphorus. Thus, it is critical to reinforce the control of pollution sources and enhance the ecological restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Eutrophication and Sustainable Management of Water)

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22 pages, 1832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Literacy on Ecotourism: A Study on Student Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavioral Intentions in China and Taiwan

by Wei-Ta Fang, Ching-Yu Lien, Yueh-Wen Huang, Guosheng Han, Guey-Shin Shyu, Jui-Yu Chou and Eric Ng

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1886; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061886 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 10192

Abstract

This study aims to gain further insights to Chinese and Taiwanese university students’ environmental literacy on ecotourism. A structural equation model is developed and validated in an effort to explore the differences between Chinese and Taiwanese university students in terms of their environmental [...] Read more.

This study aims to gain further insights to Chinese and Taiwanese university students’ environmental literacy on ecotourism. A structural equation model is developed and validated in an effort to explore the differences between Chinese and Taiwanese university students in terms of their environmental knowledge, environmental attitude, and behavioral intentions. The results showed that the ecotourism perception of Chinese and Taiwanese university students affect their behavioral intentions. Chinese university students exhibited a higher correlation between ecotourism knowledge and behavioral intentions than their Taiwanese counterparts. The findings also revealed differences between the Chinese and Taiwanese students in their perception of ecotourism, and this disparity was particularly evident with regards to how ecotourism should be governed. A moderate difference in ecotourism behavioral intentions was also identified, in which Taiwanese university students were less likely to engage in self-empowerment or private empowerment, to be more educated in the field of ecotourism than their Chinese counterparts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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27 pages, 1005 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Poverty Matter in Payment for Ecosystem Services Program? Participation in the New Stage Sloping Land Conversion Program

by Linjing Ren, Jie Li, Cong Li, Shuzhuo Li and Gretchen C. Daily

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1888; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061888 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4514

Abstract

Poverty is increasingly stressed in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, from targeting to outcomes. As the world’s largest PES scheme of its kind, the Sloping Land Conversion Program in China started its new stage (NSLCP), aiming to convert another 2.9 million ha [...] Read more.

Poverty is increasingly stressed in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, from targeting to outcomes. As the world’s largest PES scheme of its kind, the Sloping Land Conversion Program in China started its new stage (NSLCP), aiming to convert another 2.9 million ha sloping croplands into forest or grasslands. This paper examines whether and to what extent different dimensions of poverty impact households’ participation in the NSLCP. By using the data collected from a key demonstration area, Wuqi County in 2015, based on Sen’s capability theory, we measure the multidimensional poverty of the households, like poverty in education, physical health, food security, rights, assets and living standards. Then, we evaluate the effects of different poverty dimensions on households’ participation in the NSLCP and their efforts to comply with the policy. We find that different dimensions of poverty had very different impacts, as revealed in the participating rate and the intensity of efforts to manage the enrolled lands through different methods. The households with poverty in education, food security, or rights were less likely to be enrolled in the NSLCP. Dimensions like income, health and assets were significant contributions to fulfill the practices required by the NSLCP. Besides, the degree of multidimensional poverty further weakened households’ efforts to manage and protect the trees on enrolled lands. Full article

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12 pages, 1916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do the Industrial Structure Optimization and Urbanization Development Affect Energy Consumption in Zhejiang Province of China?

by Huiqin Jiang, Xiao Zhang, Xinxiao Shao and Jianqiang Bao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061889 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3396

Abstract

In response to global climate change, China has voluntarily assumed responsibility and has pledged to reach its peak in carbon emissions by 2030. Industrial structure and urbanization have important impacts on energy consumption. This paper empirically analyzes the dynamic influence of industrial structure [...] Read more.

In response to global climate change, China has voluntarily assumed responsibility and has pledged to reach its peak in carbon emissions by 2030. Industrial structure and urbanization have important impacts on energy consumption. This paper empirically analyzes the dynamic influence of industrial structure and urbanization on energy consumption in the Zhejiang Province of China by constructing a structural vector auto regressive model using impulse response function and variance decomposition. The results show a positive impact of urbanization on energy consumption, which increases and then gradually decreases, and an impact of industrial structure on energy consumption. The results also indicate that it will take a certain period of time for an increase in the proportion of tertiary industry to curb the growth of energy consumption. Urbanization has a greater impact on energy consumption than does industrial structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religious Experiences of Travellers Visiting the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (Spain)

by Rafael Robina Ramírez and Manuel Pulido Fernández

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1890; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061890 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4001

Abstract

The Royal Monastery of Guadalupe has been one of the most important religious destinations in Spain since the 14th century, when the black wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary (sculpted in the 1st century AD) was found. It was declared a World Heritage [...] Read more.

The Royal Monastery of Guadalupe has been one of the most important religious destinations in Spain since the 14th century, when the black wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary (sculpted in the 1st century AD) was found. It was declared a World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) in 1993 and is presently a tourism attraction of international interest. It is visited by more than 60,000 tourists annually, including pilgrims and other people interested in the cultural and natural heritage of the area. The aim of this study was to decipher ways that religiousness is experienced by tourists with different motivations, i.e., to better understand how religion is linked to tourism through embodied notions of godliness in different modalities of tourism. A total of 242 visitors were interviewed in the summer of 2017. They were asked about the main motivations for their visits, which were classified into five groups (religious, cultural, environmental, social, and educational reasons) and used as latent variables in a path structural equation model (SEM). The model showed strong predictive power (R² = 87.5%) reporting a significant positive influence of religious, cultural, and environmental motivations on religious tourism in this region. Full article

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20 pages, 1623 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Location-Inventory Problem in a Closed-Loop Supply Chain with Secondary Market Consideration

by Hao Guo, Congdong Li, Ying Zhang, Chunnan Zhang and Mengmeng Lu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061891 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5636

Abstract

To design sustainable supply chain systems in today’s business environment, this paper studies a location-inventory problem in a closed-loop supply chain by considering the sales of new and used products in the primary and secondary markets, respectively. This problem is formulated as a [...] Read more.

To design sustainable supply chain systems in today’s business environment, this paper studies a location-inventory problem in a closed-loop supply chain by considering the sales of new and used products in the primary and secondary markets, respectively. This problem is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear program to optimize facility location and inventory management decisions jointly, and the logistics flows between the two markets are modeled dynamically. To solve this problem efficiently, a new heuristic approach is also developed by introducing an effective adaptive mechanism into differential evolution. Finally, numerical experiments are presented to validate the solution approach and provide valuable managerial insight. This paper makes a meaningful contribution to the literature by incorporating the secondary market into the study of closed-loop supply chains, and practically, it is also greatly beneficial to improve the sustainability and efficiency of modern supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain System Design and Optimization)

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16 pages, 917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perception and Attitudes of Local People on Sustainable Cultural Tourism on the Islands: The Case of Nicosia

by Mustafa Yeniasır and Burak Gökbulut

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1892; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061892 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5927

Abstract

Today, for the sake of gaining tourism revenues, culture, nature and historical values are being ignored especially in island countries. As a result, tourism activities in the country decelerate and even vanish in time. According to the current tourism understanding, tourists are curious [...] Read more.

Today, for the sake of gaining tourism revenues, culture, nature and historical values are being ignored especially in island countries. As a result, tourism activities in the country decelerate and even vanish in time. According to the current tourism understanding, tourists are curious about the historical and cultural structure, which reflects the spirit of the region, and plan their travels accordingly. In this sense, it is essential that sustainable cultural tourism policies are determined by people-government-civil society cooperatively. One of the first steps of this action is to determine the opinions and attitudes of local people on sustainable cultural tourism. In this paper, Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus, was chosen as the research area and a survey was conducted with 100 people living in this area in order to measure their perception and attitudes on sustainable cultural tourism and preservation of cultural heritage. SPSS 24.0 statistical package program was used in analyzing the obtained data. Frequency, percentage and chi-square calculations were made. Based on the results of the study, it can be claimed that an environment should be created where people of Nicosia would participate in tourism activities and some plans should be made to realize such an environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 1236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Creation Dynamics in Urban Living Labs

by Emma Puerari, Jotte I. J. C. De Koning, Timo Von Wirth, Philip M. Karré, Ingrid J. Mulder and Derk A. Loorbach

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1893; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061893 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 171 | Viewed by 19861

Abstract

Citizens and urban policy makers are experimenting with collaborative ways to tackle wicked urban issues, such as today’s sustainability challenges. In this article, we consider one particular way of collaboration in an experimental setting: Urban Living Labs (ULLs). ULLs are understood as spatially [...] Read more.

Citizens and urban policy makers are experimenting with collaborative ways to tackle wicked urban issues, such as today’s sustainability challenges. In this article, we consider one particular way of collaboration in an experimental setting: Urban Living Labs (ULLs). ULLs are understood as spatially embedded sites for the co-creation of knowledge and solutions by conducting local experiments. As such, ULLs are supposed to offer an arena for reflexive, adaptive, and multi-actor learning environments, where new practices of self-organization and novel (infra-) structures can be tested within their real-world context. Yet, it remains understudied how the co-creation of knowledge and practices actually takes place within ULLs, and how co-creation unfolds their impacts. Hence, this paper focuses on co-creation dynamics in urban living labs, its associated learning and knowledge generation, and how these possibly contribute to urban sustainability transitions. We analyzed empirical data from a series of in-depth interviews and were actively involved with ULLs in the Rotterdam-The Hague region in the Netherlands. Our findings show five distinct types of co-creation elements that relate to specific dynamics of participation, facilitation, and organization. We conclude with a discussion on the ambivalent role of contextualized knowledge and the implications for sustainability transitions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Putting Sustainability Transitions into Spatial and Socio-Cultural Context)

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20 pages, 3972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Satellite Inherent Optical Properties Index in Coastal Waters of the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico)

by Jesús A. Aguilar-Maldonado, Eduardo Santamaría-Del-Ángel, Adriana González-Silvera, Omar D. Cervantes-Rosas and María-Teresa Sebastiá-Frasquet

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1894; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061894 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5573

Abstract

The Yucatán Peninsula hosts worldwide-known tourism destinations that concentrate most of the Mexico tourism activity. In this region, tourism has exponentially increased over the last years, including wildlife oriented tourism. Rapid tourism development, involving the consequent construction of hotels and tourist commodities, is [...] Read more.

The Yucatán Peninsula hosts worldwide-known tourism destinations that concentrate most of the Mexico tourism activity. In this region, tourism has exponentially increased over the last years, including wildlife oriented tourism. Rapid tourism development, involving the consequent construction of hotels and tourist commodities, is associated with domestic sewage discharges from septic tanks. In this karstic environment, submarine groundwater discharges are very important and highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution. Nutrient loadings are linked to harmful algal blooms, which are an issue of concern to local and federal authorities due to their recurrence and socioeconomic and human health costs. In this study, we used satellite products from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) to calculate and map the satellite Inherent Optical Properties (IOP) Index. We worked with different scenarios considering both holiday and hydrological seasons. Our results showed that the satellite IOP Index allows one to build baseline information in a sustainable mid-term or long-term basis which is key for ecosystem-based management. Full article

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16 pages, 1363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Geographical Analysis of the Poverty Causes in China’s Contiguous Destitute Areas

by Yuan Tian, Zheng Wang, Jincai Zhao, Xuan Jiang and Rongxing Guo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1895; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061895 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 8285

Abstract

One of the most critical development problems in China is the existence of a considerable number of contiguous destitute areas (also known as regional poverty), and the causes behind such regional poverty might structurally differ by geographical characteristics. To deal with the problem, [...] Read more.

One of the most critical development problems in China is the existence of a considerable number of contiguous destitute areas (also known as regional poverty), and the causes behind such regional poverty might structurally differ by geographical characteristics. To deal with the problem, this paper, based on the “Three Nature” theory of New Economic Geography, first establishes an analytical index system of poverty causes, and then uses the gray relational method to identify the causes of poverty in 14 contiguous destitute areas. The results show that, at present, the main poverty causes in the mountain areas in eastern part of China, such as the Dabie mountain area, the Yanshan-Taihang mountain area and the southern Greater Khingan mountain area, are the shortage of human capital and information technology. In contrast, the main factors behind regional poverty in the central mountain areas such as the LuoXiao mountain area, the Lvliang mountain area and the Wuling mountain area are poor transport, locational and other natural factors. The western mountain regions such as Tibet, Tibetan areas in four provinces, South Xinjiang’s three districts and the West Yunnan border area are especially affected by natural endowments, but each area’s specific cause for poverty is different from one another. Finally, this paper discusses relevant policy issues regarding the fact that poverty causes are different by distinct natural factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Uses and Rural Governance)

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26 pages, 1386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Consistency in Environmental Policy Mixes through Policy, Stakeholder, and Contextual Interactions

by Jenny Lieu, Niki Artemis Spyridaki, Rocio Alvarez-Tinoco, Wytze Van der Gaast, Andreas Tuerk and Oscar Van Vliet

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1896; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061896 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 7162

Abstract

This paper introduces a method to analyse and explore consistency within policy mixes in order to support the policymaking cycle and applies it to energy and climate change policies in the United Kingdom (UK) biofuels policy context. The first part of the paper [...] Read more.

This paper introduces a method to analyse and explore consistency within policy mixes in order to support the policymaking cycle and applies it to energy and climate change policies in the United Kingdom (UK) biofuels policy context. The first part of the paper introduces a multi-level method to evaluate consistency within policy mixes implemented over a period of time. The first level explores consistency across policy design features in policy mixes. The second level evaluates how stakeholders, and their interactions with policy instruments and each other, can impact consistency within a given context. These interactions influence the implementation of policies and can lead to unintended outcomes that fail to meet the overarching goals. In the second part of the paper, we apply our method to the UK biofuels policy mix, to explore a sector that cuts across the policy areas of transportation, energy, land-use, air, and climate change. Our analysis demonstrates how, by overlooking complex interactions in the design and implementation of policies in the biofuels sector, policy mixes have conflicted with the development of a potential low-carbon technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Policy and Policy Implications—Good Examples and Critical Reflections)

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17 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diffusion of Corporate Philanthropy in Social and Political Network Environments: Evidence from China

by Wenqing Wu, Kexin Yu, Chien-Chi Chu, Jie Zhou, Hong Xu and Sang-Bing Tsai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061897 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3788

Abstract

Based on the strong influence social networks have on managerial decision-making, as an important aspect of the strategic decision of the company, it is necessary to study how corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions could be affected by social networks. An analysis of 1725 [...] Read more.

Based on the strong influence social networks have on managerial decision-making, as an important aspect of the strategic decision of the company, it is necessary to study how corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions could be affected by social networks. An analysis of 1725 Chinese listed firms and 40,484 executives from 2010 to 2014 showed that corporate philanthropy behavior will diffuse in social networks; more concretely, the higher the degree of social network centrality, the higher the enterprise’s donation level. Furthermore, the results also show that the role of social network centrality on corporate donation levels can be moderated by political connections. This study offers empirical evidence for developing a theoretical framework of CSR interaction and communication relevant to social networks, and offers insights into corporate philanthropy behavior based on social networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy, Ethical Funds, and Engineering Projects)

19 pages, 655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Writing a Recipe for Teaching Sustainable Food Systems: Lessons from Three University Courses

by Christy Anderson Brekken, Hikaru Hanawa Peterson, Robert P. King and David Conner

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061898 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 8000

Abstract

The sustainability of the food system is at the forefront of academic and policy discussions as we face the challenge of providing food security to a growing population amidst environmental uncertainty and depletion, social disruptions, and structural economic shocks and stresses. Crafting a [...] Read more.

The sustainability of the food system is at the forefront of academic and policy discussions as we face the challenge of providing food security to a growing population amidst environmental uncertainty and depletion, social disruptions, and structural economic shocks and stresses. Crafting a sustainable and resilient food system requires us to go beyond disciplinary boundaries and broaden critical and creative thinking skills. Recent literature calls for examples of pedagogical transformations from food systems courses to identify successful practices and potential challenges. We offer a recipe for what to teach by framing systems thinking concepts, then discuss how to teach it with five learning activities: deductive case studies, experiential learning, reflective narrative learning, system dynamics simulations and scenarios, and inductive/open-ended case studies, implemented with collaborative group learning, inter/trans-disciplinarity, and instructor-modeled co-learning. Each learning activity is animated with concrete examples from our courses at Oregon State University, University of Minnesota, and University of Vermont, USA. We discuss opportunities and challenges implementing these strategies in light of student, instructor, and institutional expectations and constraints. But the challenge is worth the effort, because food system transformation requires active learners and systemic thinkers as engaged citizens, food system advocates, entrepreneurs, and policy makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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14 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Interpretations of Degrowth—Actors, Arenas and Attempts to Influence Policy

by Katarina Buhr, Karolina Isaksson and Pernilla Hagbert

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1899; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061899 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4497

Abstract

During the last decade, degrowth has developed into a central research theme within sustainability science. A significant proportion of previous works on degrowth has focused on macro-level units of analysis, such as global or national economies. Less is known about local interpretations of [...] Read more.

During the last decade, degrowth has developed into a central research theme within sustainability science. A significant proportion of previous works on degrowth has focused on macro-level units of analysis, such as global or national economies. Less is known about local interpretations of degrowth. This study explored interpretations of growth and degrowth in a local setting and attempts to integrate degrowth ideas into local policy. The work was carried out as a qualitative single-case study of the small town of Alingsås, Sweden. The results revealed two different, yet interrelated, local growth discourses in Alingsås: one relating to population growth and one relating to economic growth. Individuals participating in the degrowth discourse tend to have a sustainability-related profession and/or background in civil society. Arenas for local degrowth discussions are few and temporary and, despite some signs of influence, degrowth-related ideas have not had any significant overall impact on local policy and planning. In practice, degrowth-interested individuals tend to adjust their arguments to the mainstream sustainability discourse and turn to arenas beyond the formal municipal organization when discussing transformative ideas about development, progress, and quality of life. Based on these findings, the conditions for a further integration of degrowth into local policy and planning are discussed. Suggested themes for further research are institutional change and the role of local politicians. Full article

14 pages, 258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Montenegro on the Path to Paris MoU Accession: Towards Achieving a Sustainable Shipping Industry

by Jelena Nikcevic

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1900; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061900 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4431

Abstract

In order to ensure the sustainability of the shipping industry and marine ecosystem of Montenegro, it is necessary that Montenegro becomes a full member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) on Port State Control. The reasons for doing so are numerous: [...] Read more.

In order to ensure the sustainability of the shipping industry and marine ecosystem of Montenegro, it is necessary that Montenegro becomes a full member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) on Port State Control. The reasons for doing so are numerous: the full adoption of standards stipulated by the Memorandum in relation to ship control; continuously keeping pace with, and development of, new standards in compliance with turbulent changes in the maritime industry and operation (including the increasing scope of maritime transport); the decrease in the number of detained ships which meet the requirements stipulated in international Conventions and the elimination of substandard ships in perspective; and the prevention of environmental pollution, and sea and port incidents. This justified endeavour is supported by the fact that Montenegro is one of two countries in Europe that are not full members of the Paris MoU. Additionally, in this context it is necessary to emphasise the fact that the marine ecosystem of Montenegro is an integral part of the world ocean. Accordingly, the improvement of the quality of national legislation which is compliant with international requirements is an imperative which has positive implications on regional and global sustainability. Full article

21 pages, 9217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic–Environmental Sustainability in Building Projects: Introducing Risk and Uncertainty in LCCE and LCCA

by Elena Fregonara, Diego Giuseppe Ferrando and Sara Pattono

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061901 - 6 Jun 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 5198

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology for supporting decision-making in the design stages of new buildings or in the retrofitting of existing heritages. The focus is on the evaluation of economic–environmental sustainability, considering the presence of risk and uncertainty. [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology for supporting decision-making in the design stages of new buildings or in the retrofitting of existing heritages. The focus is on the evaluation of economic–environmental sustainability, considering the presence of risk and uncertainty. An application of risk analysis in conjunction with Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is proposed for selecting the preferable solution between technological options, which represents a recent and poorly explored context of analysis. It is assumed that there is a presence of uncertainty in cost estimating, in terms of the Life-Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCEs) and uncertainty in the technical performance of the life-cycle cost analysis. According to the probability analysis, which was solved through stochastic simulation and the Monte Carlo Method (MCM), risk and uncertainty are modeled as stochastic variables or as “stochastic relevant cost drivers”. Coherently, the economic–financial and energy–environmental sustainability is analyzed through the calculation of a conjoint “economic–environmental indicator”, in terms of the stochastic global cost. A case study of the multifunctional building glass façade project in Northern Italy is proposed. The application demonstrates that introducing flexibility into the input data and the duration of the service lives of components and the economic and environmental behavior of alternative scenarios can lead to opposite results compared to a deterministic analysis. The results give full evidence of the environmental variables’ capacity to significantly perturb the model output. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Real Estate Economics, Management and Investments)

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20 pages, 2730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Product Development with Consumer Heterogeneity under Horizontal Competition

by Bing Xu, Qingyun Xu, Qiushi Bo and Qifan Hu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061902 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3367

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the pricing and greenness issues of two competitive firms without and with consumer heterogeneity. We derive and compare the optimal solutions and profits employed by firms under different scenarios. Then, we identify the effects of consumer heterogeneity under [...] Read more.

In this paper, we explore the pricing and greenness issues of two competitive firms without and with consumer heterogeneity. We derive and compare the optimal solutions and profits employed by firms under different scenarios. Then, we identify the effects of consumer heterogeneity under different competition intensities. The analytical results reveal that if market competition is at a relatively low level, we find that: (i) when the greenness sensitivity of consumers with no preference is sufficiently small, more consumers have high environmental awareness, and companies easily achieve their environmental goals as well as economic goals; (ii) when the greenness sensitivity of consumers with no preference is at a medium level, as the fraction of consumers with high environmental awareness increases, and the firm might achieve economic goals at the cost of reducing environmental goals; and (iii) when the greenness sensitivity of consumers with no preference is at a high level, the fraction of consumers with high environmental awareness increases, but firms might have more difficulty achieving their environmental and economic goals. On the other hand, if the market competition is at a relatively high level, the presence of consumer heterogeneity can help improve environmental goals, but make achievement of economic goals difficult. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marketing and Sustainability)

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16 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toward a More Resilient Financial System: Should Banks Be Diversified?

by Laura Baselga-Pascual, Olga Del Orden-Olasagasti and Antonio Trujillo-Ponce

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1903; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061903 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4284

Abstract

This article empirically analyzes the effects of revenue diversification on the profitability and risk of a large sample of Eurozone banks over the period from 2000 to 2012. We use the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator, which is also referred to as [...] Read more.

This article empirically analyzes the effects of revenue diversification on the profitability and risk of a large sample of Eurozone banks over the period from 2000 to 2012. We use the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator, which is also referred to as the system-GMM estimator. We conclude that higher income diversification favors bank profitability. However, our study does not find a significant relationship between revenue diversification and bank risk, even when considering a crisis period. Our results suggest that establishing restrictions in the universal banking model could damage the resilience of the financial system, and thus affect the sustainability of the uneven economic recovery in Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics)

14 pages, 1541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Capital and Stock Market Participation via Technologies: The Role of Households’ Risk Attitude and Cognitive Ability

by Ya-Fang Cheng, Eugene Burgos Mutuc, Fu-Sheng Tsai, Kun-Hwa Lu and Chien-Ho Lin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1904; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061904 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5550

Abstract

This article reviews the relation between social capital and stock market participation via new technology. Its purpose is to acquire a thorough understanding of the structural, relational, and cognitive aspects of social capital’s influences and to recommend further empirical research ideas to the [...] Read more.

This article reviews the relation between social capital and stock market participation via new technology. Its purpose is to acquire a thorough understanding of the structural, relational, and cognitive aspects of social capital’s influences and to recommend further empirical research ideas to the existing body of knowledge on household finance. It discusses the consideration of modern and highly technological platforms such as the internet stock market exchange platforms and applications. The stock market participation puzzle remains unsolved despite the progress in explaining the economic rationality behind investors decision making through behavioral finance. Furthermore, the researchers develop four propositions which can expound the existing relationship between social capital dimensions such as the structural, relational, and cognitive aspects and stock market participation of households. Doing so, we discuss the roles of risk attitude and the influence of cognitive ability such as financial awareness, financial literacy, and IQ (intelligence quotient) to enhance the existing body of knowledge. Practically, this article adds valuable ideas in solving the issue of limited participation not just in the stock market but in other financial markets through reflecting on the sociological and (green) technological concepts. Lastly, the implications for sustainable financial markets are elaborated. Full article

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12 pages, 1348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Farmers’ Cognition and Behavioral Response towards Cultivated Land Quality Protection in Northeast China

by Hongbin Liu and Yuepeng Zhou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061905 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3846

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of farmers’ cognition of cultivated land quality protection (CLQP) on their behavioral response to land use practices. To this end, this paper establishes a theoretical framework linking farmers’ cognition (on CLQP status, policies [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of farmers’ cognition of cultivated land quality protection (CLQP) on their behavioral response to land use practices. To this end, this paper establishes a theoretical framework linking farmers’ cognition (on CLQP status, policies and patterns) to their behavioral response (choices of farming methods, land inputs and agricultural waste disposal methods). A field survey was conducted in suburban areas in Liaoning province, Northeast China. A total of 240 households were selected using stratified random sampling. Results show that: (i) in regards to household cognition on CLQP, although a majority of households agree that CLQP is important and have a strong willingness to protect cultivated land quality, their cognition on the future prospect of CLQP is not optimistic; (ii) with regard to household responses to land use practices, a number of households have realized the importance of crop rotation, however, the use of chemical fertilizers is mostly based on past experience and is often excessive. Besides, the disposal of agricultural waste is inappropriate; (iii) household cognition on CLQP policies is found to be the most powerful factor that could lead to an improvement of CLQP practices. It is thus concluded that the government should help households adopt effective farming methods which are environmentally-friendly and sustainable by enhancing publicity of CLQP policies and strengthening farmers’ confidence in CLQP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions and Policies for Rural Land Conversion in the Quest for Sustainability)

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21 pages, 3902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participatory Climate Change Impact Assessment in Three Czech Cities: The Case of Heatwaves

by Eliška Krkoška Lorencová, Charlotte E. L. Whitham, Petr Bašta, Zuzana Veronika Harmáčková, Petr Štěpánek, Pavel Zahradníček, Aleš Farda and David Vačkář

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1906; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061906 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6450

Abstract

Cities are complex socioecological systems that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and are also exposed to other trends, such as urbanization and population aging. Due to the changing climate, days with extreme temperatures are expected to become more numerous, [...] Read more.

Cities are complex socioecological systems that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and are also exposed to other trends, such as urbanization and population aging. Due to the changing climate, days with extreme temperatures are expected to become more numerous, which is particularly important for urban areas, where the urban heat island phenomenon is observed. This study presents an example of a spatially explicit potential climate change impact assessment of heatwaves integrating both science and stakeholder participation for three large Czech cities (Prague, Brno, and Pilsen). Stakeholder participation exercises were used to prioritize climate change risks, provide impetus and opportunity for knowledge co-production, and support adaptation planning. Potential climate change impacts of heatwaves in the three Czech cities for the current baseline (1981–2010) and for the future (2021–2040) using Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)—RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, were mapped at two levels describing “in-city” and “inter-city” comparison. When comparing the potential impact of heatwaves across the three cities (“inter-city”), the most affected city is Brno, with 10.5% of its area in the very high impact category for the baseline and both RCPs. The “in-city” comparison shows the differences between the baseline and future scenarios of each city. The assessment of heatwaves’ impacts was further used to support urban adaptation planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Resilient Urban Development)

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14 pages, 2390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crafting Sustainability: Handcraft in Contemporary Art and Cultural Sustainability in the Finnish Lapland

by Elina Härkönen, Maria Huhmarniemi and Timo Jokela

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061907 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 11986

Abstract

Crafting sustainability is discussed here with respect to the dimensions of handcraft traditions in contemporary art for promoting cultural sustainability in the Scandinavian North. Aspects of decolonization, cultural revitalisation, and intergenerational dialogue form an integral part of the negotiations around the need for [...] Read more.

Crafting sustainability is discussed here with respect to the dimensions of handcraft traditions in contemporary art for promoting cultural sustainability in the Scandinavian North. Aspects of decolonization, cultural revitalisation, and intergenerational dialogue form an integral part of the negotiations around the need for cultural survival and renewal for a more sustainable future. These dimensions should also be considered in the development of the current education of art teachers. Learning traditional skills and applying them in contemporary art constitute an influential method when striving for cultural sustainability. This study examines three handcraft-based contemporary art cases through art-based action research conducted in the Finnish and the Swedish Lapland. The results show that handcraft-based contemporary art practices with place-specific intergenerational and intercultural approaches create an open space for dialogue where the values and the perceptions on cultural heritage can be negotiated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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14 pages, 568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Agricultural Labor Transfer and Structural Adjustment on Chemical Application: Comparison of Past Developments in the Ecological Civilization Pilot Zones of China and Their Future Implications

by Hua Lu, Hualin Xie, Qianru Chen and Jinfa Jiang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1909; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061909 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

Reducing the application of agricultural chemicals is a key point in promoting the construction of an ecological civilization and the green development of the agricultural sector. Based on statistical yearbook data from provinces which became the first national ecological civilization pilot zones in [...] Read more.

Reducing the application of agricultural chemicals is a key point in promoting the construction of an ecological civilization and the green development of the agricultural sector. Based on statistical yearbook data from provinces which became the first national ecological civilization pilot zones in China, this paper quantitatively analyzes the impact of labor transfers and structural adjustment of agriculture on the application of agricultural chemicals by using comparative analysis and a panel data model. The results show that the amplitude of the agricultural labor force in Fujian, Guizhou, and Jiangxi decreases successively. The planting structure adjustment for grain crops is slowest in Jiangxi, while the sown area of cash crops, such as vegetables, increases at the fastest rate in Guizhou. The increase of horticultural plants, such as orchards is the most obvious in Jiangxi. The application of agricultural chemicals grows quickly. The influence of the agricultural labor force scale on the application of fertilizers and pesticides is statistically significantly negative. The ratio of the sown area of non-grain crops to the total sown area has a positive effect on the application of fertilizers and pesticides. In the context of the continuing agricultural labor transfer in China, combining the structural adjustment of agriculture and the supply of high-quality agricultural products, the government should actively guide and support new agricultural business entities in applying organic manure. Additionally, it should accelerate the development of smaller agricultural machinery that can be used for smaller land areas and by elderly people to reduce the application of chemical fertilizer and pesticide. Full article

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20 pages, 2062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regenerative Development as an Integrative Paradigm and Methodology for Landscape Sustainability

by Leah V. Gibbons, Scott A. Cloutier, Paul J. Coseo and Ahmed Barakat

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1910; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061910 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 15787

Abstract

Although the integration of sustainability, ecology, and design has been recognized as necessary by scientists and practitioners, most transdisciplinary frameworks are not inclusive of the worldviews, paradigms, aims, processes, and components necessary for sustainability. Landscape sustainability science helps to focus scientist, scholar, practitioner, [...] Read more.

Although the integration of sustainability, ecology, and design has been recognized as necessary by scientists and practitioners, most transdisciplinary frameworks are not inclusive of the worldviews, paradigms, aims, processes, and components necessary for sustainability. Landscape sustainability science helps to focus scientist, scholar, practitioner, and stakeholder efforts toward sustainability at a pivotal level; however, collaboration and progress have been slow. Significant potential exists for design to be an integrative and transformational methodology toward landscape sustainability, yet it has not fulfilled this ambitious role. In this paper, we first build a case for regenerative development, a development and design methodology based on an ecological worldview, as an integrative platform for a new paradigm. This new paradigm, which we call regenerative landscape development, has the potential to thoroughly catalyze a shift toward regenerative sustainability. We then detail this new paradigm as a process that could continually enhance the capacities of living systems to increase health, well-being, and happiness. Next, to illustrate regenerative development in practice, we provide brief case studies of projects in Viña del Mar, Chile and Juluchuca, Guerrero, Mexico. Finally, we propose future recommendations and precautions in the construction of regenerative landscape development as a new paradigm. If fully understood, embraced, and realized, regenerative development holds incredible potential for a sustainable future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Defining and Assessing Landscape and Urban Sustainability: Linking Spatial Patterns, Ecosystems Services, and Human Wellbeing)

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14 pages, 2331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamically Controlled Length of Training Data for Sustainable Portfolio Selection

by Sarunas Raudys, Aistis Raudys and Zidrina Pabarskaite

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061911 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2913

Abstract

In a constantly changing market environment, it is a challenge to construct a sustainable portfolio. One cannot use too long or too short training data to select the right portfolio of investments. When analyzing ten types of recent (up to April 2018) extremely [...] Read more.

In a constantly changing market environment, it is a challenge to construct a sustainable portfolio. One cannot use too long or too short training data to select the right portfolio of investments. When analyzing ten types of recent (up to April 2018) extremely high-dimensional time series from automated trading domains, it was discovered that there is no a priori ‘optimal’ length of training history that would fit all investment tasks. The optimal history length depends of the specificity of the data and varies with time. This statement was also confirmed by the analysis of dozens of multi-dimensional synthetic time series data generated by excitable medium models frequently considered in studies of chaos. An algorithm for determining the optimal length of training history to produce a sustainable portfolio is proposed. Monitoring the size of the learning data can be useful in data mining tasks used in the analysis of sustainability in other research disciplines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction, Development and Management in the Built Environment)

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15 pages, 759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensities for the Livestock Sector in Indonesia, Based on the National Specific Data

by Eska Nugrahaeningtyas, Chun-Youl Baek, Jung-Hwan Jeon, Hyun-Jung Jo and Kyu-Hyun Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1912; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061912 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7264

Abstract

The aims of this study were to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to identify the trends of GHG emission intensity, based on meat production from the livestock sector in Indonesia, which had not been done before. The total emissions from the livestock [...] Read more.

The aims of this study were to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to identify the trends of GHG emission intensity, based on meat production from the livestock sector in Indonesia, which had not been done before. The total emissions from the livestock sector from 2000 to 2015 in Indonesia were calculated using the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guideline (2006 IPCC GL) using Tier 1 and Tier 2, with its default values and some of the country specific data that were found in the grey literature. During 2000 to 2015, the change from the Tier 1 to Tier 2 methods resulted in an approximately 7.39% emission decrease from enteric fermentation and a 4.24% increase from manure management, which resulted in a 4.98% decrease in the total emissions. The shared emission from manure management increased by about 9% and 6% using Tier 1 and Tier 2, respectively. In contrast with the total emissions, the overall emission intensity in Indonesia decreased (up to 60.77% for swine), showing that the livestock productivity in Indonesia has become more efficient. In order to meet the meat demand with less GHG emissions, chicken farming is one option to be developed. The increased emission and share from manure management indicated that manure management system needs to be of concern, especially for beef cattle and swine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology: Principles and Application for Efficient and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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16 pages, 3229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zonation and Directional Dynamics of Mangrove Forests Derived from Time-Series Satellite Imagery in Mai Po, Hong Kong

by Mingfeng Liu, Hongsheng Zhang, Guanghui Lin, Hui Lin and Danling Tang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1913; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061913 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 7378

Abstract

Mangrove deforestation is occurring globally at a rapid rate, and is causing serious ecological and economic losses on all scales. Monitoring mangrove changes is the first important step for mangrove management and conservation. Zonation of mangrove species (ZMS) is the predictable and discrete [...] Read more.

Mangrove deforestation is occurring globally at a rapid rate, and is causing serious ecological and economic losses on all scales. Monitoring mangrove changes is the first important step for mangrove management and conservation. Zonation of mangrove species (ZMS) is the predictable and discrete ordering of mangrove species caused by a unique, intertidal environment. Mapping the ZMS is critical to understanding the mangrove community at a species level. In this paper, the Standard Deviational Ellipse (SDE) was proposed as a method to evaluate mangrove species from a new dimension of directional changes. Three dominant mangrove species, Kandelia obovata (KO), Avicennia marina (AM), and Acanthus ilicifolius (AI), in Mai Po, Hong Kong were analyzed using SDEs based on the time series Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) and Gaofen-1 (GF-1) satellite images. The SDE results demonstrated that in the past 25 years: (1) The overall spatial extent of the mangroves in Mai Po expanded significantly, approximately from 150 to 350 Ha, and show a zonation pattern with a clear sequence of species perpendicular to the shoreline; (2) KO was the dominant species in most years, showing the strongest directional characteristic; (3) All three species zones have moved toward the north and west, as observed by the SDE centers. The SDE was proved to be a useful tool for understanding the temporal and spatial changes of mangrove zonation. Full article

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13 pages, 238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Academic Relational Civility as a Key Resource for Sustaining Well-Being

by Annamaria Di Fabio and Maureen E. Kenny

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1914; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061914 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5253

Abstract

In the 21st century, which has been characterized by complexity, instability, and continuous change, the well-being of individuals is threatened. The health and well-being of individuals are recognized as one of the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations. From a primary [...] Read more.

In the 21st century, which has been characterized by complexity, instability, and continuous change, the well-being of individuals is threatened. The health and well-being of individuals are recognized as one of the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations. From a primary prevention perspective, physical and psychological health can be augmented through the early identification and promotion of key psychological resources that sustain well-being across one’s lifetime. With that goal in mind, the present study explored potential relationships between academic relational civility and both hedonic (positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction) and eudaimonic well-being (meaning in life and flourishing), controlling for the effect of personality traits among university students. The Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ), the Academic Relational Civility Scale (ARCS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Meaning in Life Measure (MLM), and the Flourishing Scale (FS), were administered to 241 Italian university students. Regression analyses identified that academic relational civility contributed significantly to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being beyond the contribution of stable personality factors. Academic relational civility may represent one psychological resource for supporting and sustaining hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, suggesting the need for further research and intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development)

32 pages, 4188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incorporating Power Transmission Bottlenecks into Aggregated Energy System Models

by Karl-Kiên Cao, Johannes Metzdorf and Sinan Birbalta

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1916; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061916 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5414

Abstract

Energy scenario analyses are able to provide insights into the future and possible strategies for coping with challenges such as the integration of renewable energy sources. The models used for analyzing and developing future energy systems must be simplified, e.g., due to computational [...] Read more.

Energy scenario analyses are able to provide insights into the future and possible strategies for coping with challenges such as the integration of renewable energy sources. The models used for analyzing and developing future energy systems must be simplified, e.g., due to computational constraints. Therefore, grid-related effects and regional differences are often ignored. We tackle this issue by presenting a new methodology for aggregating spatially highly resolved transmission grid information for energy system models. In particular, such approaches are required in studies that evaluate the demand for spatially balancing power generation and consumption in future energy systems. Electricity transmission between regions is crucial, especially for scenarios that rely on high shares of renewable energy sources. The presented methodology estimates transmission line congestions by evaluating the nodal price differences and then applies a spectral clustering on these particular link attributes. The objective of the proposed approach is to derive aggregated model instances that preserve information regarding electricity transmission bottlenecks. The resulting models are evaluated against observables such as the annual amount of redispatched power generation. For a selection of defined performance indicators, we find a significantly higher accuracy compared to the commonly used, spatially aggregated models applied in the field of energy scenario analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Power Grid for Sustainable Energy Transition)

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22 pages, 16630 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cost Implication of Implementing External Facade Systems for Commercial Buildings

by Vivian W. Y. Tam, Khoa N. Le and J. Y. Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1917; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061917 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7467

Abstract

The significance of cost effectiveness in sustainable design has heightened over the past ten years due to the need for reducing building operational expenses and improving environmental quality. This paper determines life-cycle cost over a 20-year period for eleven external facade systems from [...] Read more.

The significance of cost effectiveness in sustainable design has heightened over the past ten years due to the need for reducing building operational expenses and improving environmental quality. This paper determines life-cycle cost over a 20-year period for eleven external facade systems from seven Australian capital cities. Factors affecting life-cycle expenditure in implementing external facade systems of commercial buildings are considered, including construction cost, space heating and cooling cost, maintenance cost and rental loss due to the thickness of external facade systems. The most cost-effective external facade system is identified for each city. Double-glazing facade is found to be the most cost-effective system in Sydney; however, masonry-veneer facade performs the best overall. This paper can provide insight for commercial design teams in designing buildings with cost-effectiveness and sustainable throughout its life-cycle and highlight the importance of a holistic cost review at design stage in ensuring client satisfaction. Full article

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18 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Game Theoretic Approach for Improving Environmental and Economic Performance in a Dual-Channel Green Supply Chain

by Weimin Ma, Zhengrong Cheng and Shiwei Xu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1918; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061918 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4271

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate economic performance and environmental performance of a dual-channel green supply chain (GSC). Given that most relevant literature still focus on the descriptive aspect of GSC, we adopt game theoretic approach rather than qualitative analysis method to address the [...] Read more.

In this paper, we investigate economic performance and environmental performance of a dual-channel green supply chain (GSC). Given that most relevant literature still focus on the descriptive aspect of GSC, we adopt game theoretic approach rather than qualitative analysis method to address the following problems: (1) How can the integration of environmental and economic sustainability goals be achieved in GSC? (2) What is the impact of customer environmental awareness on the green level and profitability of the GSC? (3) How does the market demand changes in the presence of the online direct channel in addition to the traditional one? We establish four game models, which are decentralized scenario, centralized scenario, retailer-led revenue-sharing scenario and bargaining revenue-sharing scenario. In the decentralized scenario, participants in a GSC make individual decisions based on their specific interests. In the centralized scenario, the GSC is regarded as a whole and the participants make collective decisions to maximize the overall profit of the GSC. In addition, in the two revenue-sharing scenarios, revenue-sharing contracts as the important profit coordination systems are set up and the revenue-sharing ratio is determined either by the retailer or through bargaining. Moreover, the cost of green product research and development, customer environmental awareness and price sensitivity are also taken into account in the four scenarios. By comparing and analyzing the four game models, we recommend the two revenue-sharing scenarios as the optimum choice and improving green awareness as a feasible strategy to achieve the integration of economic and environmental goals of the GSC. Additionally, we find that online sales has become a major distribution channel of the GSC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Industrial Engineering along Product-Service Life Cycle/Supply Chain)

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20 pages, 25336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Server Operation and Virtualization to Save Energy and Cost in Future Sustainable Computing

by Jun-Ho Huh

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1919; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061919 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6328

Abstract

Since the introduction of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) service, we have lived in a time of expanding amounts of data. The amount of data produced has increased every year with the increase of smart phone distribution in particular. Telecommunication service providers have [...] Read more.

Since the introduction of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) service, we have lived in a time of expanding amounts of data. The amount of data produced has increased every year with the increase of smart phone distribution in particular. Telecommunication service providers have to struggle to secure sufficient network capacity in order to maintain quick access to necessary data by consumers. Nonetheless, maintaining the maximum capacity and bandwidth at all times requires considerable cost and excessive equipment. Therefore, to solve such a problem, telecommunication service providers need to maintain an appropriate level of network capacity and to provide sustainable service to customers through a quick network development in case of shortage. So far, telecommunication service providers have bought and used the network equipment directly produced by network equipment manufacturers such as Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, and Samsung. Since the equipment is specialized for networking, which satisfied consumers with their excellent performances, they are very costly because they are developed with advanced technologies. Moreover, it takes much time due to the purchase process wherein the telecommunication service providers place an order and the manufacturer produces and delivers. Accordingly, there are cases that require signaling and two-way data traffic as well as capacity because of the diversity of IoT devices. For these purposes, the need for NFV (Network Function Virtualization) is raised. Equipment virtualization is performed so that it is operated on an x86-based compatible server instead of working on the network equipment manufacturer’s dedicated hardware. By operating in some compatible servers, it can reduce the wastage of hardware and cope with the change thanks to quick hardware development. This study proposed an efficient system of reducing cost in network server operation using such NFV technology and found that the cost was reduced by 24% compared to existing network equipment. The technique proposed in this study is expected to be a foundation technology for future sustainability computing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Advanced IT based Future Sustainable Computing)

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14 pages, 255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Women’s Empowerment and Climate Change Adaptation in Gujarat, India: A Case-Study Analysis of the Local Impact of Transnational Advocacy Networks

by Peggy Spitzer Christoff and Jamie M. Sommer

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1920; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061920 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5659

Abstract

(1) As on-the-ground projects come into existence and continue to expand to adapt to climate change and empower women, it is important to understand their location within Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANs). Using Bhungroo technology, we conduct case-study research to assess the potential of [...] Read more.

(1) As on-the-ground projects come into existence and continue to expand to adapt to climate change and empower women, it is important to understand their location within Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANs). Using Bhungroo technology, we conduct case-study research to assess the potential of TANs to increase the scope and scale of local projects as well as the ability of similar and emerging projects to create sustainable social and environmental change at local levels; (2) Using the theoretical and cross-disciplinary contributions of Keck and Sikkink and Appiah, our methodology focuses on analyzing interviews and earned media hits data from the UNFCCC Momentum for Change; (3) We find that while TANs may help increase the scale and scope of climate change projects, increasing their ability to effectively reach more people and areas is not completely certain, based on this case study; (4) We conclude by proposing ways women’s political participation may be enhanced by similar projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Opportunities and Roles of Experimentation in Addressing Climate Change)

19 pages, 3369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Semantic Analysis of Learners’ Emotional Tendencies on Online MOOC Education

by Ling Wang, Gongliang Hu and Tiehua Zhou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1921; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061921 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 61 | Viewed by 7008

Abstract

As a new education product in the information age, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) command momentous public attention for their unexpected rise and flexible application. However, the striking contrast between the high rate of registration and the low rate of completion has put [...] Read more.

As a new education product in the information age, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) command momentous public attention for their unexpected rise and flexible application. However, the striking contrast between the high rate of registration and the low rate of completion has put their development into a bottleneck. In this paper, we present a semantic analysis model (SMA) to track the emotional tendencies of learners in order to analyze the acceptance of the courses based on big data from homework completion, comments, forums and other real-time update information on the MOOC platforms. Through emotional quantification and machine learning calculations, graduation probability can be predicted for different stages of learning in real time. Especially for learners with emotional tendencies, customized instruction could be made in order to improve completion and graduation rates. Furthermore, we classified the learners into four categories according to course participation time series and emotional states. In the experiments, we made a comprehensive evaluation of the students’ overall learning status by kinds of learners and emotional tendencies. Our proposed method can effectively recognize learners’ emotional tendencies by semantic analysis, providing an effective solution for MOOC personalized teaching, which can help achieve education for sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Education for Sustainable Development – Between the Power of Technology and the Need for Responsible Citizenship)

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17 pages, 547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Labor Union Influence on Corporate Social Responsibility

by Hong-Min Chun and Sang-Yi Shin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1922; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061922 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6183

Abstract

This study examines the effects of labor union influence on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Korean firms, which is regarded as a pertinent sustainable factor to meet the various demands of the organizations around a firm. Further, this paper implies [...] Read more.

This study examines the effects of labor union influence on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Korean firms, which is regarded as a pertinent sustainable factor to meet the various demands of the organizations around a firm. Further, this paper implies that labor unions might be part of a group of stakeholders that affect firms’ CSR activity. The empirical results suggest labor union existence as well as the labor unionization ratio is negatively associated with firms’ CSR activity. Additionally, this negative association is more pronounced for non-owner manager firms. Additional robustness tests using quantile regression, two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression, and the Heckman two-step analysis support the above findings. Therefore, we conclude that labor unions might cooperate with non-owner managers to decrease firms’ CSR activity because decreasing CSR expenditure makes for a favorable wage negotiation process that advocates labor unions’ rent seeking behavior and non-owner managers’ agreement with labor unions in terms of business performance during their tenure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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19 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Typology Framework for Trade-Offs in Development and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Case Study of Typhoon Haiyan Recovery in Tacloban, Philippines

by Heidi Tuhkanen, Michael Boyland, Guoyi Han, Anjalee Patel, Karlee Johnson, Arno Rosemarin and Ladylyn Lim Mangada

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061924 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 11719

Abstract

Development and disaster risk are deeply linked. Disasters reverse development gains; development initiatives influence the risk, vulnerability, and exposure of people, assets, and environments to disasters. Hence, knowledge of key dimensions of the potential trade-offs between development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) may [...] Read more.

Development and disaster risk are deeply linked. Disasters reverse development gains; development initiatives influence the risk, vulnerability, and exposure of people, assets, and environments to disasters. Hence, knowledge of key dimensions of the potential trade-offs between development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) may inform decision-making processes, goals, and initiatives in ways that have potential to address unsustainable development practices that are commonplace in countries of all economic levels. This paper presents, explores, and tests a conceptual framework for analysing the trade-offs that underpin this relationship as evidenced through policy goals, initiatives, and decision-making processes. We categorise key dimensions of relevant trade-offs into five specific dimensions: (i) The aggregation of development and DRR gains and losses, (ii) risk prioritisation when seeking to reduce multiple risks, (iii) the equity of decision-making processes and outcomes, (iv) the balancing of near- and long-term goals, and (v) the distribution of power and participation. By framing key questions related to each trade-off dimension, we test the framework in the context of a major disaster recovery process in Tacloban, the Philippines, following Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013. We consider how decision-making trade-offs can be made more visible and useful in the pursuit of transformative change in development and DRR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transforming Development and Disaster Risk)

16 pages, 2137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Conservation and the Tourism Industry Affect Local Livelihoods? A Comparative Study of Two Nature Reserves in China

by Weiye Wang, Jinlong Liu, Robert Kozak, Mengmeng Jin and John L. Innes

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1925; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061925 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4616

Abstract

Drawing on a comparison of two different nature reserves (NRs) in China, this paper explores the effect of the establishment of the NRs and the associated tourism industry development on local livelihoods, and analyzes why they differed. One hundred semi-structured interviews were administered [...] Read more.

Drawing on a comparison of two different nature reserves (NRs) in China, this paper explores the effect of the establishment of the NRs and the associated tourism industry development on local livelihoods, and analyzes why they differed. One hundred semi-structured interviews were administered with local elites, villagers, and government officials to identify livelihood changes. Based on a modified sustainable livelihoods framework, we found that the livelihoods of people living in both NRs had improved, but there was a loss of traditional culture and weakened social connections. The provision of alternative livelihoods options was critical for local people, with these options needing to have strong connections to China’s development policies. The results point to the importance of providing alternative livelihood strategies when establishing new conservation areas. This requires holistic management plans that not only address conservation, but also consider the impacts on local people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 1494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unique Bee Communities within Vacant Lots and Urban Farms Result from Variation in Surrounding Urbanization Intensity

by Frances S. Sivakoff, Scott P. Prajzner and Mary M. Gardiner

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1926; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061926 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 6811

Abstract

We investigated the relative importance of vacant lot and urban farm habitat features and their surrounding landscape context on bee community richness, abundance, composition, and resource use patterns. Three years of pan trap collections from 16 sites yielded a rich assemblage of bees [...] Read more.

We investigated the relative importance of vacant lot and urban farm habitat features and their surrounding landscape context on bee community richness, abundance, composition, and resource use patterns. Three years of pan trap collections from 16 sites yielded a rich assemblage of bees from vacant lots and urban farms, with 98 species documented. We collected a greater bee abundance from vacant lots, and the two forms of greenspace supported significantly different bee communities. Plant–pollinator networks constructed from floral visitation observations revealed that, while the average number of bees utilizing available resources, niche breadth, and niche overlap were similar, the composition of floral resources and common foragers varied by habitat type. Finally, we found that the proportion of impervious surface and number of greenspace patches in the surrounding landscape strongly influenced bee assemblages. At a local scale (100 m radius), patch isolation appeared to limit colonization of vacant lots and urban farms. However, at a larger landscape scale (1000 m radius), increasing urbanization resulted in a greater concentration of bees utilizing vacant lots and urban farms, illustrating that maintaining greenspaces provides important habitat, even within highly developed landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

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27 pages, 6695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring a Stakeholder Based Urban Densification and Greening Agenda for Rotterdam Inner City—Accelerating the Transition to a Liveable Low Carbon City

by Nico Tillie, Judith Borsboom-van Beurden, Duzan Doepel and Martin Aarts

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061927 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7657

Abstract

Work on a liveable low carbon city has often been approached in a technocratic way, not linking to other disciplines and urban practices at a large scale. This paper explores a stakeholder based urban agenda for a more liveable low carbon city by [...] Read more.

Work on a liveable low carbon city has often been approached in a technocratic way, not linking to other disciplines and urban practices at a large scale. This paper explores a stakeholder based urban agenda for a more liveable low carbon city by densifying and greening with the case study of Rotterdam inner city. Rotterdam presents a unique European case with a modernistic inner city. Like many North American cities, the inner city for a long time mainly served as a business or shopping district with few inhabitants and few synergetic links between flows, urban functions, and areas. In line with other cities, Rotterdam aims to reduce carbon emissions and provide a high quality of life. To address this, the hypothesis ‘densifying and greening leads to a more sustainable inner city’, was tested and applied with stakeholders using transition management combined with urban data, modelling, and design. With sustainability indicators, geographic information system (GIS) mapping, and urban models, a baseline study was completed and expected outcomes were described and, where possible, validated in reality. The outcomes confirmed the stated hypothesis and showed that linking design, GIS mapping, and city data to transition management proved successful. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Smart Villages Research: Rethinking Security, Safety, Well-being and Happiness)

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17 pages, 589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Antecedents of Green Tourism Behaviors: A Case Study in Suburban Areas of Taipei, Taiwan

by Judith Chen-Hsuan Cheng, Ai-Hsuan Chiang, Yulan Yuan and Ming-Yuan Huang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061928 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6344

Abstract

Understanding user behaviors is the foundation to support the design and development of a sustainably built environment. This exploratory study used a mixed method to explore people’s perception, motivation, intention, and behaviors of green tourism in Taiwan. The qualitative approach explored intrinsic and [...] Read more.

Understanding user behaviors is the foundation to support the design and development of a sustainably built environment. This exploratory study used a mixed method to explore people’s perception, motivation, intention, and behaviors of green tourism in Taiwan. The qualitative approach explored intrinsic and extrinsic factors that could influence people’s intention to participate in green tourism. The quantitative approach provided evidence of influencing factors of green tourism. The findings suggested that variables, such as perception, attitudes, and self-efficacy, can indirectly influence green tourism behaviors through behavioral intention. This study suggests that government agencies should emphasize environmental education regarding the relationship between climate change and people’s life; therefore, people will increase their environmental awareness regarding the urgent conditions of the environment, in addition to supporting green tourism and being more responsible for their tourism behaviors. For cities intending to accommodate tourism or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are interested in promoting green tourism, it is critical to incorporate relevant factors, such as destination services and educational elements, into the design and development principles to built environment that supports green tourism activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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30 pages, 1485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Paris Agreement to Action: Enhancing Climate Change Familiarity and Situation Awareness

by Abby Muricho Onencan and Bartel Van de Walle

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1929; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061929 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5801

Abstract

The Paris Agreement was a monumental stride towards global climate change governance. It unlocked the climate change gridlock, introducing country-subjective commitments and a five-year review mechanism. To support the implementation of the Paris Agreement, we designed the Nzoia WeShareIt climate change game. Game [...] Read more.

The Paris Agreement was a monumental stride towards global climate change governance. It unlocked the climate change gridlock, introducing country-subjective commitments and a five-year review mechanism. To support the implementation of the Paris Agreement, we designed the Nzoia WeShareIt climate change game. Game sessions were conducted in June and July 2015, and 35 respondents completed a pre- and post-game situation awareness (SA) questionnaire and an in-game performance measurement system. The questionnaire uses a 10-dimensional situation awareness rating technique (SART). Subsequently, we conducted a factorial MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance) to assess the interaction effects between familiarity, team, and gender. Results indicate an increase in situation awareness. However, policymakers’ action was not contingent on the increased SA only, there was a significant interaction effect between familiarity and SA, to lead to climate change actions. Therefore, we recommend more emphasis on the role of familiarity in enhancing SA and, subsequently, supporting the implementation to the Paris five-year review country commitments. We also recommend the increased usage of symbols and capacity development of policymakers on connective capacity to enable them to span the climate change boundaries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 2065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Employee Fitness Programs: Exploring Relationships between Perceived Organizational Support toward Employee Fitness and Organizational Sustainability Performance

by Zhe Wang, Chunhong Liu, Shuai Yang and Lei Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1930; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061930 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7211

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of employee fitness programs on organizational sustainability performance from the perspective of organizational support as perceived by employees. Organizational sustainability performance was specified as a second-order factor, which was affected by three first-order factors: financial performance, social performance, [...] Read more.

This study investigates the influence of employee fitness programs on organizational sustainability performance from the perspective of organizational support as perceived by employees. Organizational sustainability performance was specified as a second-order factor, which was affected by three first-order factors: financial performance, social performance, and environmental performance. A snowball sampling method was employed to conduct an online survey of working adults in Shanghai to test the proposed hypotheses. Results show that perceived organizational support toward employee fitness has a positive and significant effect on organizational sustainability performance, and the positive effect is mediated by job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This study also provides theoretical and managerial implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leisure, Tourism, Sport and Community Development)

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23 pages, 3046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Sensitivity of Multi-Species Afforestation in Semi-Arid Benin

by Florent Noulèkoun, Asia Khamzina, Jesse B. Naab, Ni’matul Khasanah, Meine Van Noordwijk and John P. A. Lamers

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1931; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061931 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4881

Abstract

The early growth stage is critical in the response of trees to climate change and variability. It is not clear, however, what climate metrics are best to define the early-growth sensitivity in assessing adaptation strategies of young forests to climate change. Using a [...] Read more.

The early growth stage is critical in the response of trees to climate change and variability. It is not clear, however, what climate metrics are best to define the early-growth sensitivity in assessing adaptation strategies of young forests to climate change. Using a combination of field experiments and modelling, we assessed the climate sensitivity of two promising afforestation species, Jatropha curcas L. and Moringa oleifera Lam., by analyzing their predicted climate–growth relationships in the initial two years after planting on degraded cropland in the semi-arid zone of Benin. The process-based WaNuLCAS model (version 4.3, World Agroforestry Centre, Bogor, Indonesia) was used to simulate aboveground biomass growth for each year in the climate record (1981–2016), either as the first or as the second year of tree growth. Linear mixed models related the annual biomass growth to climate indicators, and climate sensitivity indices quantified climate–growth relationships. In the first year, the length of dry spells had the strongest effect on tree growth. In the following year, the annual water deficit and length of dry season became the strongest predictors. Simulated rooting depths greater than those observed in the experiments enhanced biomass growth under extreme dry conditions and reduced sapling sensitivity to drought. Projected increases in aridity implied significant growth reduction, but a multi-species approach to afforestation using species that are able to develop deep-penetrating roots should increase the resilience of young forests to climate change. The results illustrate that process-based modelling, combined with field experiments, can be effective in assessing the climate–growth relationships of tree species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forests as a Key Climate Solution)

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32 pages, 2495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Cultivated Land Use Efficiency of the Main Grain-Producing Areas in China under the Constraints of Carbon Emissions and Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution

by Hualin Xie, Yanwei Zhang and Yongrok Choi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1932; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061932 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 4778

Abstract

The carbon emissions and agricultural nonpoint source pollution constraints were incorporated into the input–output index system, and the epsilon-based measure (EBM) super efficiency model and global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) index were used to measure the cultivated land use efficiency and changes in the total [...] Read more.

The carbon emissions and agricultural nonpoint source pollution constraints were incorporated into the input–output index system, and the epsilon-based measure (EBM) super efficiency model and global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) index were used to measure the cultivated land use efficiency and changes in the total factor productivity (TFP) of cultivated land use in the main grain-producing areas in China from 1993–2016. The results indicate that: (1) from 1993 to 2016, the cultivated land use efficiency in the main grain-producing areas in China showed a tendency to fluctuate and increase, with obvious stage characteristics; however, the overall level was not high. (2) There is a significant difference in the cultivated land use efficiency under the constraints of carbon emissions and nonpoint source pollution in the main grain-producing areas in the different provinces, and low-efficiency provinces have higher input redundancy and undesired output redundancy than high-efficiency provinces. It can be observed that input redundancy and undesired output redundancy have a significant negative effect on cultivated land use efficiency. (3) The TFP of cultivated land use under the constraints of carbon emissions and nonpoint source pollution in China’s main grain-producing areas is estimated by the GML index. The results show that the TFP of cultivated land use in the main provinces in the main grain-producing regions is greater than 1, indicating that the productivity levels of all the provinces in China’s main grain-producing areas are increasing. From the perspective of the power sources in each province, global pure technological change (GPTC) and global scale technological change (GSTC) are the main driving forces for the TFP of cultivated land use, while global pure efficiency change (GPEC) and global scale efficiency change (GSEC) are the bottlenecks for increasing the TFP of cultivated land use. Full article

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15 pages, 600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Perceived Barriers on Innovation Resistance of Hydrogen-Electric Motorcycles

by Han-Shen Chen, Bi-Kun Tsai and Chi-Ming Hsieh

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1933; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061933 - 9 Jun 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 7297

Abstract

As environmental awareness among the public gradually improves, it is predicted that the trend of green consumption will make green products enter the mainstream market. Hydrogen-electric motorcycles, with eco-friendly and energy-efficient characteristics, have great advantages for development. However, as a type of innovative [...] Read more.

As environmental awareness among the public gradually improves, it is predicted that the trend of green consumption will make green products enter the mainstream market. Hydrogen-electric motorcycles, with eco-friendly and energy-efficient characteristics, have great advantages for development. However, as a type of innovative product, hydrogen-electric motorcycles require further examination with regard to consumer acceptance and external variables of the products. In this study, consumer behavioral intention (BI) for the use of hydrogen-electric motorcycles and its influencing factors are discussed, using innovation resistance as the basis and environmental concern as the adjusting variable. Consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for hydrogen-electric motorcycles is estimated using the contingent valuation method (CVM). The results found that (1) perception barriers, viz., usage barrier, value barrier, risk barrier, tradition barrier, and price barrier are statistically significant, whereas image barrier is not; (2) a high degree of environmental concern will reduce the consumers’ innovation resistance to the hydrogen-electric motorcycles; (3) up to 94.79% of the respondents of the designed questionnaire suggested that the promotion of hydrogen-electric motorcycles requires a subsidy of 21.9% of the total price from the government. The mean WTP of consumers for the purchase of hydrogen-electric motorcycles is 10–15% higher than that of traditional motorcycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen Production and Utilization)

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12 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Constructing an Evaluation Framework for Eco-Museum Operations-Management Performance, Based on the Case of Jhushan, Taiwan

by Kuo-Wei Hsu, Meng-Li Lin, Jen-Chih Chao and Shu-Fang Huang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1934; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061934 - 9 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3831

Abstract

The bamboo-art industry in Taiwan’s Jhushan Township is inseparable from local life. In the face of local industrial-development difficulties in smaller towns, the Taiwan government aimed to achieve a range of (re)development goals using eco-museums as collaboration platforms and required such museums to [...] Read more.

The bamboo-art industry in Taiwan’s Jhushan Township is inseparable from local life. In the face of local industrial-development difficulties in smaller towns, the Taiwan government aimed to achieve a range of (re)development goals using eco-museums as collaboration platforms and required such museums to combine their operations management with cultural preservation, local industrial development, and local residents’ goals. As such, the likely future performance of such operations management has emerged as a crucially important factor in decision-making about whether such museums should be constructed. This study, therefore, reviews the relevant literature on the operations-management performance of museums, with special attention to eco-museums, and proposes an operations-management performance measurement framework for eco-museums based on that review and a two-stage questionnaire administered to experts. The first stage utilized the Fuzzy Delphi Method, which focuses on impact factors, and the second, the Analytica Network Process Method, deals with performance factors. The results indicate that the key impacts on the performance of eco-museums and their operations management were, in order of importance, (1) community symbiosis, (2) cultural inheritance, and (3) regional revitalization. The preservation of cultural heritage, local identity, and community participation are the most important criteria in the operations management of eco-museums, and Jhushan Town can promote such museums through these guidelines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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21 pages, 16509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Method for Monitoring Iron and Steel Factory Economic Activity Based on Satellites

by Yi Zhou, Fei Zhao, Shixin Wang, Wenliang Liu and Litao Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061935 - 9 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7105

Abstract

The Chinese government has promulgated a de-capacity policy for economic growth and environmental sustainability, especially for the iron and steel industry. With these policies, this study aimed to monitor the economic activities and evaluate the production conditions of an iron and steel factory [...] Read more.

The Chinese government has promulgated a de-capacity policy for economic growth and environmental sustainability, especially for the iron and steel industry. With these policies, this study aimed to monitor the economic activities and evaluate the production conditions of an iron and steel factory based on satellites via Landsat-8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) data and high-resolution images from January 2013 to October 2017, and propel next economic adjustment and environmental protection. Our methods included the construction of a heat island intensity index for an iron and steel factory (ISHII), a heat island radio index for an iron and steel factory (ISHRI) and a dense classifying approach to monitor the spatiotemporal changes of the internal heat field of an iron and steel factory. Additionally, we used GF-2 and Google Earth images to identify the main production area, detect facility changes to a factory that alters its heat field and verify the accuracy of thermal analysis in a specific time span. Finally, these methods were used together to evaluate economic activity. Based on five iron and steel factories in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, when the ISHII curve is higher than the seasonal changes in a time series, production is normal; otherwise, there is a shut-down or cut-back. In the spatial pattern analyses, the ISHRI is large in normal production and decreases when cut-back or shut-down occurs. The density classifying images and high-resolution images give powerful evidence to the above-mentioned results. Finally, three types of economic activities of normal production, shut-down or cut-back were monitored for these samples. The study provides a new perspective and method for monitoring the economic activity of an iron and steel factory and provides supports for sustainable development in China. Full article

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14 pages, 1369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Colony Development and Reproductive Success of Bumblebees in an Urban Gradient

by Chatura Vaidya, Kaleigh Fisher and John Vandermeer

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1936; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061936 - 9 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4826

Abstract

Approximately 35% of all crop production is dependent on animal-mediated pollination. Many wild bee species are declining rapidly across North America and Europe, a potential consequence of land-use change driven by agricultural intensification and urbanization. In this study we assessed the impact of [...] Read more.

Approximately 35% of all crop production is dependent on animal-mediated pollination. Many wild bee species are declining rapidly across North America and Europe, a potential consequence of land-use change driven by agricultural intensification and urbanization. In this study we assessed the impact of urbanization on the reproductive success and population growth rate of bumblebees in an urbanization gradient. We placed experimental nests in ten sites; all except one were community gardens, ranging from a 0–99% degree of urbanization. Reproductive success and colony size were positively correlated with cumulative weight gain of the nests (p < 0.05). We did not find an effect of urbanization on the population growth rate of the nests or on forager activity (p > 0.05). Growth rate was strongly negatively affected by the abundance of wax moth larvae (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with parasite diversity (p < 0.05) and the number of foragers entering the nest (p < 0.01). With this study we show that not only bottom-up but also top-down effects are equally important for pollinator population dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

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15 pages, 2542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bayesian Approach for Estimating the Probability of Cartel Penalization under the Leniency Program

by Jihyun Park, Juhyun Lee and Suneung Ahn

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061938 - 10 Jun 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3492

Abstract

Cartels cause tremendous damage to the market economy and disadvantage consumers by creating higher prices and lower-quality goods; moreover, they are difficult to detect. We need to prevent them through scientific analysis, which includes the determination of an indicator to explain antitrust enforcement. [...] Read more.

Cartels cause tremendous damage to the market economy and disadvantage consumers by creating higher prices and lower-quality goods; moreover, they are difficult to detect. We need to prevent them through scientific analysis, which includes the determination of an indicator to explain antitrust enforcement. In particular, the probability of cartel penalization is a useful indicator for evaluating competition enforcement. This study estimates the probability of cartel penalization using a Bayesian approach. In the empirical study, the probability of cartel penalization is estimated by a Bayesian approach from the cartel data of the Department of Justice in the United States between 1970 and 2009. The probability of cartel penalization is seen as sensitive to changes in competition law, and the results have implications for market efficiency and the antitrust authority’s efforts against cartel formation and demise. The result of policy simulation shows the effectiveness of the leniency program. Antitrust enforcement is evaluated from the estimation results, and can therefore be improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics)

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15 pages, 6305 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Co-Digestion of the OFMSW: Improving Biogas Production and Startup

by Constantin Stan, Gerardo Collaguazo, Constantin Streche, Tiberiu Apostol and Diana Mariana Cocarta

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1939; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061939 - 10 Jun 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5833

Abstract

This paper presents experimental results regarding anaerobic co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and fruit and vegetable waste in order to establish the efficiency of a 2 m³ volume pilot plant in terms of biogas and methane yield and [...] Read more.

This paper presents experimental results regarding anaerobic co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and fruit and vegetable waste in order to establish the efficiency of a 2 m³ volume pilot plant in terms of biogas and methane yield and stability of the process. The research study presents the feasibility of developing anaerobic digestion as an effective method for municipal solid waste management. The experiments were conducted in mesophilic conditions (35 °C). Domestic waste water was used as inoculum. The results showed that the inoculum presence, temperature, and pH control, were essential in order to improve biogas production and its composition. Using liquid inoculum, the CH₄ percentage in the biogas oscillated between 44% and 51%, and the biogas production from 0.504 and 0.6 m³/day. Compared to domestic waste water, animal manure increased the CH₄ concentration in biogas (up to 63%), while the daily biogas production increased by 26% and varied from 0.693 to 0.786 m³. The cumulative biogas production at the end of the experiments were 11.7 m³ and 15.89 m³, respectively. Using inoculum and co-digestion, the plant startup time was significantly reduced, the total solids content decreased from 22.7% to 19.8%, while the volatile solids decreased from 37.6% to 31.2%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Trends in Municipal Solid Waste Management)

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16 pages, 3189 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of Membrane Bioreactors with Edible Filamentous Fungi for Valorization of Expired Milk

by Rahul Thunuguntla, Amir Mahboubi, Jorge A. Ferreira and Mohammad J. Taherzadeh

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1940; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061940 - 10 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5931

Abstract

Around 29 million tons of milk end as waste yearly in Europe, representing an environmental issue but also a potential substrate for biological valorization given its nutritional value. Aspergillus oryzae and Neurospora intermedia are edible filamentous fungi with dissimilar metabolism when grown in [...] Read more.

Around 29 million tons of milk end as waste yearly in Europe, representing an environmental issue but also a potential substrate for biological valorization given its nutritional value. Aspergillus oryzae and Neurospora intermedia are edible filamentous fungi with dissimilar metabolism when grown in expired milk. Neurospora intermedia is more devoted to lactose consumption; 68 and 57% of lactose was consumed after cultivation in expired milk and its liquid fraction, respectively. Aspergillus oryzae consumed less lactose in expired milk (14%), but led to better microfiltration characteristics of the final effluent due to fat and protein degradation. A two-stage fed-batch cultivation using membrane bioreactors (MBRs) was developed, bringing together both fungal metabolic characteristics when grown in 70% diluted expired milk. In the first MBR, A.oryzae degraded fat and protein, improved microfiltration, and produced ca 11 g/L of biomass. In the second MBR, N. intermedia consumed the remaining lactose in the permeate and originated ca 7 g/L of biomass. The developed system was successful for valorization of non-sterile milk due to the balance between consumption of bacterial growth-derived acids, consequent pH, and fungal enzymatic activities. Besides, a final clear effluent (83% reduction of COD) was obtained, which is of interest considering wastewater treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The New Paradigm of Waste Management: Waste as Resources)

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18 pages, 2723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Key Features of Electric Vehicle Diffusion and Its Impact on the Korean Power Market

by Dongnyok Shim, Seung Wan Kim, Jörn Altmann, Yong Tae Yoon and Jin Gyo Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061941 - 10 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4293

Abstract

The market share of electric vehicles is growing and the interest in these vehicles is rapidly increasing in industrialized countries. In the light of these circumstances, this study provides an integrated policy-making package, which includes key features for electric vehicle diffusion and its [...] Read more.

The market share of electric vehicles is growing and the interest in these vehicles is rapidly increasing in industrialized countries. In the light of these circumstances, this study provides an integrated policy-making package, which includes key features for electric vehicle diffusion and its impact on the Korean power market. This research is based on a quantitative analysis with the following steps: (1) it analyzes drivers’ preferences for electric or traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with respect to key automobile attributes and these key attributes indicate what policy makers should focus on; (2) it forecasts the achievable level of market share of electric vehicles in relation to improvements in their key attributes; and (3) it evaluates the impact of electric vehicle diffusion on the Korean power market based on an achievable level of market share with different charging demand profiles. Our results reveal the market share of electric vehicles can increase to around 40% of the total market share if the key features of electric vehicles reach a similar level to those of traditional vehicles. In this estimation, an increase in the power market’s system generation costs will reach around 10% of the cost in the baseline scenario, which differs slightly depending on charging demand profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 3992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Improvement of Gain-Loss Price Bounds on Options Based on Binomial Tree and Market-Implied Risk-Neutral Distribution

by Shi-jie Jiang, Mujun Lei and Cheng-Huang Chung

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1942; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061942 - 10 Jun 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3404

Abstract

This paper investigates the approximated arbitrage bounds of option prices in an incomplete market setting and draws implications for option pricing and risk management. It gives consideration to periods of global financial crisis and European sovereign debt crisis. To this end, we employ [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the approximated arbitrage bounds of option prices in an incomplete market setting and draws implications for option pricing and risk management. It gives consideration to periods of global financial crisis and European sovereign debt crisis. To this end, we employ the gain-loss ratio method combined with the market-implied risk-neutral distribution calculated by binomial tree to investigate the options price bounds. Our implied gain-loss bounds of option prices are preference-free and parametric-free to avoid the misspecification error of subjective choice on the benchmark model of gain-loss ratio, and consequently, greatly reduce model risk and market risk. The empirical results show that there are option prices breaking the gain-loss bounds, even after taking into account the market information. This means that a good risk management technique and good-deal investment opportunities exist if the implied binomial tree is used as a benchmark model in the gain-loss bounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics)

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15 pages, 4009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Features of Urban Heat Island and Its Relationship with Land Use/Cover in Mountainous City: A Case Study in Chongqing

by Chunxia Liu and Yuechen Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061943 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3997

Abstract

The urban heat island (UHI) becomes more and more serious with the acceleration of urbanization. Many researchers have shown interest in studying the UHI by using remote sensing data, but these studies rarely examine the mountainous cities. Studies on UHI in mountainous cities [...] Read more.

The urban heat island (UHI) becomes more and more serious with the acceleration of urbanization. Many researchers have shown interest in studying the UHI by using remote sensing data, but these studies rarely examine the mountainous cities. Studies on UHI in mountainous cities often used empirical parameters to estimate the land surface temperature (LST), and lacked satellite-ground synchronous experiments to test the accuracy. This paper revised the parameters in the mono-window algorithm used to retrieve the LST according to the characteristics of mountainous cities. This study examined the spatial and temporal patterns of the UHI intensity in Chongqing, a typical mountainous city, and its relationship with land cover from 2007 to 2016 based on the Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 TIRS data and the improved method. The accuracy of the LST derivation increased by about 1 °C compared to the traditional method. The high LST areas increased and extended from the downtown to suburban area each year, but the rate of change decreased. The UHI is dramatically impacted by the rivers. There is a good relationship between the urban sprawl and the UHI. The LST was reduced by about 1 °C within a 300 m distance from large urban fringe green spaces. The urban landscape parks had a strong effect relieving the UHI at a 100 m distance. The LST was reduced by about 0.5 °C. This study greatly improves the accuracy of LST derivation, and provides reliable parameters for the UHI researched in mountainous cities. Full article

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20 pages, 722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Policies and Actors’ Attitudes, Interests and Interactions Influence Farmland Conversion Outcomes in Land-Use Planning?

by Kristine Lien Skog

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1944; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061944 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4201

Abstract

Conversion of farmland to built-up land threatens future supply of food and other ecosystem services. However, little research covers how different goods provided by farmland are taken into consideration in planning processes or how different actors influence land-use outcomes. This paper explores this [...] Read more.

Conversion of farmland to built-up land threatens future supply of food and other ecosystem services. However, little research covers how different goods provided by farmland are taken into consideration in planning processes or how different actors influence land-use outcomes. This paper explores this by undertaking a comparative case study in two Norwegian municipalities. One of the main findings is that the national policies’ emphasis on food security is not decisive for local farmland preservation decisions. The land-use plan of the municipality which has the strictest farmland conversion policy is guided by other local values, such as the farmland’s provision of place identity and local food. In both municipalities, informal support networks of developers, other landowners, business interests, and politicians are established. Farmland preservation interests were less visible locally, and politicians found conversion proposals difficult to resist. The municipality which had converted most farmland was in favor of opening more land for development than needed. Then, the possibility space for development interest groups to influence land-use outcome increased. Findings indicate that farmland preservation policies require more emphasis on local public goods and inclusion of farmland preservation interests within the community. Further, farmland preservation strategies could benefit from linking agricultural policies and land-use planning, as well as more restrictive land-use planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions and Policies for Rural Land Conversion in the Quest for Sustainability)

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15 pages, 243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

‘They had to Go’: Indian Older Adults’ Experiences of Rationalizing and Compensating the Absence of Migrant Children

by Ajay Bailey, Jyoti Hallad and K. S. James

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1946; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061946 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6378

Abstract

In transnational families, it is often the older adults who are left-behind or choose to stay behind. Currently the population aged 60 years and older in India constitutes over 7 percent of the total population (1.25 billion) and is projected to triple in [...] Read more.

In transnational families, it is often the older adults who are left-behind or choose to stay behind. Currently the population aged 60 years and older in India constitutes over 7 percent of the total population (1.25 billion) and is projected to triple in the next four decades. In the past family has been the major source of support in later life. One of the consequences of increased mobility is the decreasing role of family in care provision. The Indian middle-class norms on higher education, which stressed on engineering and medicine, have resulted in professionally educated children leaving the parental home to seek work and thus family life in other geographical locations. In this paper we examine how transregional and transnational mobilities and the resulting absences impact the lives of older adults. We draw upon 37 in-depth interviews conducted in Dharwad district of Karnataka, India. The results show that older adults employ two strategies of rationalizing absence and compensating absence of migrant children. These strategies reflect the resilience of the older adults to make sense of this trans-local family life, that in a previous generation they were not aware of. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development at the Crossroads of Capital Flows and Migration: Leaving no One Behind?)

25 pages, 1283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Thought Experiment on Sustainable Management of the Earth System

by Jobst Heitzig, Wolfram Barfuss and Jonathan F. Donges

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061947 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5808

Abstract

We introduce and analyze a simple formal thought experiment designed to reflect a qualitative decision dilemma humanity might currently face in view of anthropogenic climate change. In this exercise, each generation can choose between two options, either setting humanity on a pathway to [...] Read more.

We introduce and analyze a simple formal thought experiment designed to reflect a qualitative decision dilemma humanity might currently face in view of anthropogenic climate change. In this exercise, each generation can choose between two options, either setting humanity on a pathway to certain high wellbeing after one generation of suffering, or leaving the next generation in the same state as the current one with the same options, but facing a continuous risk of permanent collapse. We analyze this abstract setup regarding the question of what the right choice would be both in a rationality-based framework including optimal control, welfare economics, and game theory, and by means of other approaches based on the notions of responsibility, safe operating spaces, and sustainability paradigms. Across these different approaches, we confirm the intuition that a focus on the long-term future makes the first option more attractive while a focus on equality across generations favors the second. Despite this, we generally find a large diversity and disagreement of assessments both between and within these different approaches, suggesting a strong dependence on the choice of the normative framework used. This implies that policy measures selected to achieve targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can depend strongly on the normative framework applied and specific care needs to be taken with regard to the choice of such frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Ethics: Reflections on the UN Sustainable Development Goals)

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19 pages, 4795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional Durability Design Nine—A Tool for Product Longevity

by Merryn Haines-Gadd, Jonathan Chapman, Peter Lloyd, Jon Mason and Dzmitry Aliakseyeu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1948; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061948 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 78 | Viewed by 20555

Abstract

How can we develop products that consumers want to use for longer? The lifetime of electrical products is an ongoing concern in discussions about the circular economy. It is an issue that begins at an industry level, but that directly influences the way [...] Read more.

How can we develop products that consumers want to use for longer? The lifetime of electrical products is an ongoing concern in discussions about the circular economy. It is an issue that begins at an industry level, but that directly influences the way in which consumers use and discard products. Through a series of workshops and knowledge exchange sessions with Philips Lighting, this paper identifies which design factors influence a consumer’s tendency to retain their products for longer. These were distilled into a guiding framework for new product developers—The Emotional Durability Design Nine—consisting of nine themes: relationships, narratives, identity, imagination, conversations, consciousness, integrity, materiality, and evolvability. These nine themes are complemented by 38 strategies that help in the development of more emotionally engaging product experiences. We propose that the framework can be applied at multiple points during the new product development process to increase the likelihood that ‘emotion building’ features are integrated into an end product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Design and Consumer Behavior in A Circular Economy)

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11 pages, 781 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measures and Steps for More Efficient Use of Buildings

by Mattias Höjer and Kristina Mjörnell

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1949; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061949 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4922

Abstract

As urbanization continues and more people move into cities and urban areas, pressure on available land for new constructions will continue to increase. This situation constitutes an incentive to review the need for interior space and uses of existing buildings. A great deal [...] Read more.

As urbanization continues and more people move into cities and urban areas, pressure on available land for new constructions will continue to increase. This situation constitutes an incentive to review the need for interior space and uses of existing buildings. A great deal can be gained from using existing buildings more efficiently instead of constructing new ones: Reduced resource usage during construction (investments, natural resources, and energy), operation, and maintenance; more activity per square meter of buildings creates a greater basis for public transport and other services; more intensive use of buildings creates a more vibrant city without building on virgin land. The aim of this paper is to initiate a discussion regarding how digitalization can affect the demand and supply of interior space in existing buildings and elaborate on how policy can support more resource-efficient uses of space. New activity-based resource measurements intended for use in buildings are proposed, and several principles that have the potential to decrease environmental impact through more efficient usage of space are outlined. Based on these ideas for encouraging the flexible use of building spaces that are facilitated by digitalization and the new measurement approaches, a four-step principle for construction is proposed: The first step is to reduce the demand for space, the second is to intensify usage of existing space, the third is to reconstruct and adapt existing buildings to current needs, and the fourth is to construct new buildings. Urging political, municipal, construction, and real-estate decision makers to contemplate this principle, particularly in view of the new conditions that digitalization entails, will lead to more sustainable construction and, in the long term, a sustainable built environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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22 pages, 2806 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Running Start or a Clean Slate? How a History of Cooperation Affects the Ability of Cities to Cooperate on Environmental Governance

by Rui Mu and Wouter Spekkink

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061950 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3933

Abstract

Since 2013, the Chinese central government has pushed cooperation on environmental governance in Urban Agglomerations (UAs). In some of these UAs, cities have previously been developing environmental governance activities autonomously, in the absence of inter-city cooperation, while on others, spontaneous cooperation has previously [...] Read more.

Since 2013, the Chinese central government has pushed cooperation on environmental governance in Urban Agglomerations (UAs). In some of these UAs, cities have previously been developing environmental governance activities autonomously, in the absence of inter-city cooperation, while on others, spontaneous cooperation has previously taken place. These differences in historical context provide us with an opportunity to study, in a comparative way, how a history of cooperation influences the effectiveness of inter-city cooperation on environmental governance. Our approach to carrying out this comparison is to reconstruct the trajectories of events that describe the evolution of environmental governance in two UAs (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta), covering the period from the early 90s to 2016. The main findings of this study are that the trajectory of environmental governance in a historical context of prior spontaneous cooperation is more effective in achieving goal intertwinement than that in a historical context of no prior cooperation; and that informal forms of cooperation, along with decentralized coordination by local actors, are critical and more influential in bringing about more effective cooperation. On the other hand, in a historical context of no prior cooperation there is an opportunity to design a cooperative structure from scratch; in this process attention should be paid to the creation of an equal playing ground, with balanced costs and benefits for all partners. By contrast, cooperation on environmental governance in a context where there is a history of spontaneous cooperation the central government can still play a role in the further facilitation of cooperation. Full article

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21 pages, 2228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of Public-Private Partnership Projects from the Perspective of Efficiency, Economic, Effectiveness, and Equity: A Study of Residential Renovation Projects in China

by Xuhui Cong and Li Ma

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1951; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061951 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5123

Abstract

The performance evaluation index system was established on the basis of 4E (Efficiency, Economic, Effectiveness, Equity) theory to improve performance evaluation of Public-Private Partnership Projects for Residential Renovation (4P2R). Moreover, the index weighting model was demonstrated based on Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). Finally, [...] Read more.

The performance evaluation index system was established on the basis of 4E (Efficiency, Economic, Effectiveness, Equity) theory to improve performance evaluation of Public-Private Partnership Projects for Residential Renovation (4P2R). Moreover, the index weighting model was demonstrated based on Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). Finally, the cloud model was used for performance evaluation, through the cloud uncertainty reasoning to determine the quantitative performance evaluation index value, the positive reverse cloud to calculate the qualitative performance evaluation index value, and the normal cloud to measure the project performance. The proof-of-concept application shows that the performance evaluation index system and evaluation model can better identify the deficiencies in the project, and provide targeted improvement measures for similar projects in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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19 pages, 4662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transformations for Resilient Rural Futures: The Case of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand

by Nicholas A Cradock-Henry, Joanna Fountain and Franca Buelow

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1952; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061952 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 9462

Abstract

On 14 November 2016, a magnitude (M_w) 7.8 earthquake struck the small coastal settlement of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand. With an economy based on tourism, agriculture, and fishing, Kaikōura was immediately faced with significant logistical, economic, and social challenges caused by [...] Read more.

On 14 November 2016, a magnitude (M_w) 7.8 earthquake struck the small coastal settlement of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand. With an economy based on tourism, agriculture, and fishing, Kaikōura was immediately faced with significant logistical, economic, and social challenges caused by damage to critical infrastructure and lifelines, essential to its main industries. Massive landslips cut off road and rail access, stranding hundreds of tourists, and halting the collection, processing and distribution of agricultural products. At the coast, the seabed rose two metres, limiting harbour-access to high tide, with implications for whale watching tours and commercial fisheries. Throughout the region there was significant damage to homes, businesses, and farmland, leaving owners and residents facing an uncertain future. This paper uses qualitative case study analysis to explore post-quake transformations in a rural context. The aim is to gain insight into the distinctive dynamics of disaster response mechanisms, focusing on two initiatives that have emerged in direct response to the disaster. The first examines the ways in which agriculture, food harvesting, production and distribution are being reimagined with the potential to enhance regional food security. The second examines the rescaling of power in decision-making processes following the disaster, specifically examining the ways in which rural actors are leveraging networks to meet their needs and the consequences of that repositioning on rural (and national) governance arrangements. In these and other ways, the local economy is being revitalised, and regional resilience enhanced through diversification, capitalising not on the disaster but the region’s natural, social, and cultural capital. Drawing on insights and experience of local stakeholders, policy- and decision-makers, and community representatives we highlight the diverse ways in which these endeavours are an attempt to create something new, revealing also the barriers which needed to be overcome to reshape local livelihoods. Results reveal that the process of transformation as part of rural recovery must be grounded in the lived reality of local residents and their understanding of place, incorporating and building on regional social, environmental, and economic characteristics. In this, the need to respond rapidly to realise opportunities must be balanced with the community-centric approach, with greater recognition given to the contested nature of the decisions to be made. Insights from the case examples can inform preparedness and recovery planning elsewhere, and provide a rich, real-time example of the ways in which disasters can create opportunities for reimagining resilient futures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transforming Development and Disaster Risk)

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20 pages, 2096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Special Incentives for Rehabilitation of Tourism Destinations to Improve the Profitability of Accommodations: The Case of the Canary Islands

by Rosa Rodríguez-Díaz and Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061953 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3626

Abstract

Public administrations’ commitment to improving tourist destinations has contributed to a consensus in the Canary Islands, particularly with the private sector, about regulations for urban development and the necessary financing alternatives for the rehabilitation of lodgings. The objective of the study is to [...] Read more.

Public administrations’ commitment to improving tourist destinations has contributed to a consensus in the Canary Islands, particularly with the private sector, about regulations for urban development and the necessary financing alternatives for the rehabilitation of lodgings. The objective of the study is to demonstrate their favorable impact on companies’ profitability, a significant variable to consider in the decision-making process of managers. The analysis of incentives as well as urban planning and financing requirements, comparing some of them to other regions, is carried out. The study concludes that the more ambitious the project is in terms of the increase in the number of beds and the category, the better the company’s position will be, because the revenues increase without a proportional growth in costs. Full article

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18 pages, 1348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Relationship among University–Research Institute–Industry Innovations Using a Coupling Coordination Degree Model

by Jing Li, Hong Fang, Siran Fang and Sultana Easmin Siddika

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061954 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4060

Abstract

With the socio-economic development in China, the central government pays more and more attention to innovations. Universities, research institutes, and industries (URI) are the main bodies of innovation. Therefore, in order to perform sustainable development of innovation, it is essential for Chinese policy [...] Read more.

With the socio-economic development in China, the central government pays more and more attention to innovations. Universities, research institutes, and industries (URI) are the main bodies of innovation. Therefore, in order to perform sustainable development of innovation, it is essential for Chinese policy makers to better understand the relationship among URI innovations. In this paper, indicators for evaluating URI innovations are collected, which are classified into three subsystems. Utilizing regional data from 2009–2015 in China, the entropy method is subsequently used to examine the contribution of indicators to the relative innovation subsystems. Then, a coupling coordination degree model is developed based on the physical concept “coupling” to investigate the relationship of URI innovation subsystems in China. The results reveal that in the period of study: (1) research and development (R&D) input and output indicators are both important to the regional innovation levels of URI, namely, they are critical for improving the coupling coordination degree among the three innovation subsystems; (2) There is an increasing trend of the coupling coordination of URI innovation system in China; however, the gap between regions/provinces becomes larger due to different innovative resource endowments and socio-economic development conditions. The results shown in this paper can provide important implications for policy makers to obtain the sustainable development of URI innovation subsystems in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

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15 pages, 517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of E-Commerce Websites with Semantic Web Technologies

by Sabina-Cristiana Necula, Vasile-Daniel Păvăloaia, Cătălin Strîmbei and Octavian Dospinescu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061955 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7055

Abstract

This paper analyses the potential enhancement of e-commerce websites with Semantic web technologies from the consumers’ informational perceived satisfaction point of view. Information quality is a central preoccupation in the field of business information systems’ discipline and it relates to the semantic interoperability [...] Read more.

This paper analyses the potential enhancement of e-commerce websites with Semantic web technologies from the consumers’ informational perceived satisfaction point of view. Information quality is a central preoccupation in the field of business information systems’ discipline and it relates to the semantic interoperability field of research. The purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between the enhancement of product text descriptions with semantic annotations and the perceived consumers’ satisfaction. We conducted and analyzed a survey questionnaire addressed to e-commerce consumers who bought online products. We found that consumers are interested in finding products with synonym names or that belong to different categories, not necessarily from the same category of products. In addition, consumers are interested about additional text descriptions on different product characteristics and on information about the importance of product characteristics. The main conclusion is that the perceived satisfaction of the online consumers is influenced by an enhanced user experience that relates to specific Semantic web technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in E-Business)

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18 pages, 1003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Property Rights Integrity Improve Tenure Security? Evidence from China’s Forest Reform

by Yuepeng Zhou, Xianlei Ma, Dengyan Ji, Nico Heerink, Xiaoping Shi and Hongbin Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1956; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061956 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5165

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of land property rights integrity, subdivided into use rights, mortgage rights, and transfer rights, on household perceptions of long-term tenure security in China. To this end, we establish a theoretical framework that links [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of land property rights integrity, subdivided into use rights, mortgage rights, and transfer rights, on household perceptions of long-term tenure security in China. To this end, we establish a theoretical framework that links China’s collective forest tenure reforms undertaken since 2003 to property rights integrity and two sources of tenure (in)security based on property rights theory: forestland reallocation and expropriation. Probit models are applied in the empirical analysis to household data collected in Jiangxi province in 2011 and 2013. The results indicate that household perceptions of tenure insecurity resulting from forestland reallocation expectations are affected by transfer rights, whereas household perceptions of insecurity resulting from forestland expropriation expectations are not affected by forestland rights. We thus suggest that it is crucial for policymakers to identify the sources of local property rights insecurity before they take steps to strengthen land tenure security. This paper contributes to the available literature on the relationship between property rights integrity and tenure security by identifying different sources of tenure insecurity, emphasizing the effect of property rights integrity on long-term tenure security, and taking into account the potential endogeneity problem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions and Policies for Rural Land Conversion in the Quest for Sustainability)

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12 pages, 10185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Oasis Expansion and Its Impact on Oasis Landscape Patterns in the Southern Margin of Tarim Basin, Northwest China

by Yi Liu, Jie Xue, Dongwei Gui, Jiaqiang Lei, Huaiwei Sun, Guanghui Lv and Zhiwei Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061957 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6032

Abstract

Oasis landscape change and its pattern dynamics are considered one of the vital research areas on global land use and landscape change in arid regions. An agricultural oasis is the main site of food security and ecosystem services in arid areas. Recently, the [...] Read more.

Oasis landscape change and its pattern dynamics are considered one of the vital research areas on global land use and landscape change in arid regions. An agricultural oasis is the main site of food security and ecosystem services in arid areas. Recently, the dramatic exploitation of agricultural oases has affected oasis stability, inducing some ecological and environmental issues such as water shortage and land degradation. In this study, the Qira oasis on the southern margin of Tarim Basin, Northwest China, was selected as a study area to examine the spatiotemporal changes in an agricultural oasis and the influence on oasis landscape pattern. Based on the integration of Thematic Mapper, Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and GF-1 images, the agricultural Qira oasis has rapidly increased, with annual change rates of −0.3%, 1.6%, 3.7%, and 1.5% during 1970–1990, 1990–2000, 2000–2013, and 2013–2016, respectively. With the agricultural oasis expansion, the agricultural land has increased from 91.10 km² in 1970 to 105.04 km² in 2016. The percentage of farmland area has increased by 15.3% in 2016 compared with that in 1970. The natural vegetation is decreasing owing to the reclamation of desert–oasis ecotone. The oasis landscape change and pattern are mainly affected by agricultural expansion under water-saving technological utilization, land use policy, and regional economic development demand. The expansion of agricultural oasis is alarming due to human overexploitation. Thus, the government should adjust the layout of agricultural development and pay considerable attention to the oasis environment sustainability. This study can provide a valuable reference on the impact of climate change and human activities on a landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Long-Term Perspective of Human Impact on Landscape for Environmental Change and Sustainability)

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27 pages, 2581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Historical and Empirical Basis for Communal Title in Minerals at the National Level: Does Ownership Matter for Human Development?

by Gary Flomenhoft

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1958; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061958 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5415

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of mineral ownership on the resource curse as measured by the Human Development Index. We start from the basic assumption that the Earth and its minerals are common pool resources, and the sharing of benefits would improve development [...] Read more.

This paper explores the impact of mineral ownership on the resource curse as measured by the Human Development Index. We start from the basic assumption that the Earth and its minerals are common pool resources, and the sharing of benefits would improve development outcomes. Communal title to minerals exists at the international level for the deep seabed, outer space objects, and, potentially Antarctica, and at the sub-national level through communal title to land, such as traditional landowners and aboriginal tribes. A comprehensive summary of national mining title laws for 199 countries was completed in order to determine if communal ownership is recognized at the national level. The finding is that this type of ownership is non-existent at the national level. The methods include historiography, extensive compilation of national constitutions and mining laws, and linear regression analysis. Ownership titles were combined into centralized and decentralized categories, and simple regression conducted to determine correlation with the human development index (HDI) for 199 countries. Initial findings are that decentralized mineral ownership titles are statistically correlated with higher HDI outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in the Mining, Minerals and Energy Industries)

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15 pages, 2225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using a Hybrid Model on Joint Scheduling of Berths and Quay Cranes—From a Sustainable Perspective

by Aijun Liu, Haiyang Liu, Sang-Bing Tsai, Hui Lu, Xiao Zhang and Jiangtao Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1959; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061959 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4173

Abstract

In response to the problem of the unfair distribution of berths and quay cranes, as well as the optimization of the traffic path in port scheduling, a berth-crane joint scheduling model is proposed. Firstly, a ship is coded according to its geographical location [...] Read more.

In response to the problem of the unfair distribution of berths and quay cranes, as well as the optimization of the traffic path in port scheduling, a berth-crane joint scheduling model is proposed. Firstly, a ship is coded according to its geographical location and its arrival time in the form 0, 1. Then, the shortest port time, the minimum system cost, and the minimum unfairness are taken into account with the status quo of the port. Thus, a multi-objective joint scheduling model is established and solved by an improved NSGA-II algorithm. Finally, a practical example is given to verify the validity of the proposed method, the stable and the convergent of the proposed method are proved by many times computer simulations. The novelty of this paper is that we have taken psychological factors of fairness as well as social factors of sustainable development into consideration, and proposed an improved NSGA-II algorithm with random repair operator and self-adaptive operator to solve the multi-objective decision problem on joint scheduling of berths and quay crane. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Objective and Multi-Attribute Optimisation for Sustainable Development Decision Aiding)

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15 pages, 2658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participatory Mapping as an Approach to Identify Grazing Pressure in the Altay Mountains, Mongolia

by Brianne A. Altmann, Greta Jordan and Eva Schlecht

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061960 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4320

Abstract

Sustainable rangeland management is crucial for maintaining forage resources in pastoral systems, globally. However, pastoral regions are often remote and therefore data poor when it comes to resource monitoring. We tested participatory mapping as a means to rapidly assess rangeland use to identify [...] Read more.

Sustainable rangeland management is crucial for maintaining forage resources in pastoral systems, globally. However, pastoral regions are often remote and therefore data poor when it comes to resource monitoring. We tested participatory mapping as a means to rapidly assess rangeland use to identify areas with high grazing pressure. Participatory geographic information system data and herbaceous biomass production data were collected and georeferenced to establish a grazing pressure index for a summer pasture in the Mongolian Altay; simultaneously, a survey on herder perceptions and their recommended rangeland management measures was conducted. Areas with intense use, such as campsites and small and bovine ruminant grazing areas, corresponded with low biomass production and were found to be unsustainably grazed, likely prone to rangeland degradation. Participatory mapping was well received by herders and proved to be an effective method to appraise their herds’ impact on rangeland resources. The process incited discussion and awareness regarding not only spatial, but also temporal aspects of rangeland management. Participatory mapping is thus a valuable tool that should be incorporated into local management initiatives in order to quickly monitor rangeland use for creating feasible management plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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14 pages, 1119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of EDTA and Olive Mill Wastewater to Enhance As, Pb, and Zn Phytoextraction by Pteris vittata L. from a Soil Heavily Polluted by Mining Activities

by Georgios Kalyvas, Gerasimos Tsitselis, Dionisios Gasparatos and Ioannis Massas

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1962; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061962 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3399

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Na₂-EDTA 0.01 M (E) and olive mill wastewater 15% (OMW) on As, Pb, and Zn uptake by Pteris vittata L. grown in a soil highly contaminated by mining activities. A two-factor [...] Read more.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Na₂-EDTA 0.01 M (E) and olive mill wastewater 15% (OMW) on As, Pb, and Zn uptake by Pteris vittata L. grown in a soil highly contaminated by mining activities. A two-factor experimental design was followed; 3 treatments (E, OMW, and E + OMW) × 2 batches (single or double dose). Six weeks after the P. vittata transplanting, all pots received the selected dose of each treatment (Batch I). At 8 weeks, in half of the pots, a second dose of the same treatments was added (Batch II). Plants were harvested after 10 weeks and As, Pb, and Zn concentrations were determined in fronds and roots. Depending on the element, both treatment and batch effects were significant. In Batch II, EDTA application resulted in a 55% increase of As and 9- and 4-fold of Pb and Zn concentrations in the fronds, while OMW treatment substantially reinforced plant uptake when combined with EDTA. Roots to fronds translocation of the metal(loid)s highly increased in Batch II. After harvest, composite soil samples of all treatment–batch combinations were subjected to sequential extraction, but no significant differentiations of As, Pb, and Zn partitioning in soil phases were detected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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9 pages, 877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indicators of Land Insecurity for Urban Farms: Institutional Affiliation, Investment, and Location

by Joshua Arnold and Paul Rogé

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1963; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061963 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8341

Abstract

As urban agriculture (UA) continues to expand in the United States, many practitioners question its continuation in cities with high property values and increased economic incentives for development. Frequently, these pressures make urban farmers anxious about investing resources, time, and energy in land [...] Read more.

As urban agriculture (UA) continues to expand in the United States, many practitioners question its continuation in cities with high property values and increased economic incentives for development. Frequently, these pressures make urban farmers anxious about investing resources, time, and energy in land suitable for food production if tenure is insecure. Despite these concerns, UA continues to persist in areas experiencing increased property values and rent-seeking. Based on surveys with over 56 urban farm managers in California, we identify possible indicators of land tenure insecurity for urban farms. Our analysis finds that urban farms with greater land security have more financial and institutional support, and are located in census tracts with higher economic opportunity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

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23 pages, 402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leveraging Smart Open Innovation for Achieving Cultural Sustainability: Learning from a New City Museum Project

by Luisa Errichiello and Roberto Micera

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061964 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 7484

Abstract

In recent years, cultural sustainability has attracted increasing attention within the discourse of sustainable development and sustainable cities. Notwithstanding some effort put on conceptualizing the relationship between culture and sustainability, research on the issue is still in a pre-paradigmatic stage and related empirical [...] Read more.

In recent years, cultural sustainability has attracted increasing attention within the discourse of sustainable development and sustainable cities. Notwithstanding some effort put on conceptualizing the relationship between culture and sustainability, research on the issue is still in a pre-paradigmatic stage and related empirical studies are scant. In particular, further knowledge is required to understand not only how cultural sustainability has been addressed strategically but also implemented in practice. In this direction, research has pointed out the role of social structures (e.g., partnerships, collaborations, etc.) for achieving cultural sustainability goals. However, focusing on smart cities, attention is limited to how collaborative arrangements can be leveraged within the development of new city services (e.g., smart open innovation) to sustain goals of environmental, economic and social sustainability, with cultural sustainability still playing a marginal role. This paper develops a new framework linking together the strategic level and the practice level in addressing cultural sustainability and conceptualizing the role of collaborative structures in the development of smart innovation. The framework is then used as a frame of reference for analyzing the case of MuseoTorino, a new city museum realized within the smart city strategy of Turin (Italy). The analysis provides evidence of some practices adopted to leverage collaboration and stakeholders’ engagement to strategically address cultural sustainability and to realize it in practice throughout the new service development process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 5888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Timber Transport—Economic Aspects of Aerodynamic Reconfiguration

by Erik Johannes, Petter Ekman, Maria Huge-Brodin and Matts Karlsson

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1965; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061965 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4985

Abstract

There is a need to reduce fuel consumption, and thereby reduce CO₂-emissions in all parts of the transport sector. It is also well known that aerodynamic resistance affects the fuel consumption in a major way. By improving the aerodynamics of the [...] Read more.

There is a need to reduce fuel consumption, and thereby reduce CO₂-emissions in all parts of the transport sector. It is also well known that aerodynamic resistance affects the fuel consumption in a major way. By improving the aerodynamics of the vehicles, the fuel consumption will also decrease. A special type of transportation is that of timber, which is performed by specialized trucks with few alternative uses. This paper follows up on earlier papers concerning Swedish timber trucks where aerodynamic improvements for timber trucks were tested. By mapping the entire fleet of timber trucks in Sweden and investigating reduced fuel consumption of 2–10%, financial calculations were performed on how these improvements would affect the transport costs. Certain parameters are investigated, such as investment cost, extra changeover time and weight of installments. By combining these results with the mapping of the fleet, it can be seen under which circumstances these improvements would be sustainable. The results show that it is possible through aerodynamics to lower the transportation costs and make an investment plausible, with changeover time being the most important parameter. They also show that certain criteria for a reduced transportation cost already exist within the vehicle fleet today. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Freight Transport)

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13 pages, 661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Sustainability as Innovation Objectives on Innovation Efficiency

by Jaeho Shin, Changhee Kim and Hongsuk Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1966; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061966 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6267

Abstract

Though sustainability exists as major objective of pursuing innovation, the effect of it on innovation performance is still unanswered. While the outcome of innovation should consider both input and output, moreover, studies on sustainable innovation are yet to consider the overall efficiency, but [...] Read more.

Though sustainability exists as major objective of pursuing innovation, the effect of it on innovation performance is still unanswered. While the outcome of innovation should consider both input and output, moreover, studies on sustainable innovation are yet to consider the overall efficiency, but rather the performance itself. To fill the gap between the effect of sustainability as the objective of innovation and its innovation performance, and to bridge the hole between the outcome of sustainable innovation and its efficiency, we analyze the relationship between sustainability as innovation objective and innovation efficiency. We use 441 manufacturing companies in Korea from 2016 KIS data, and perform the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method to calculate efficiency score of each firm and tobit regression analysis to investigate the effect of sustainability as an objective of innovation on innovation efficiency. The results show that the objective of ‘environmental improvement’ negatively affects innovation efficiency, while ‘safety improvement’ positively affects the efficiency. On the contrary, the effect of ‘material and energy reduction’ as an objective of innovation on innovation efficiency is not verified. The implications, limitations, and guidelines for future research are presented. Full article

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13 pages, 404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Daily Emotional Labor, Negative Affect State, and Emotional Exhaustion: Cross-Level Moderators of Affective Commitment

by Hyewon Kong and Joo-Eon Jeon

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061967 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5367

Abstract

Employees’ emotional-labor strategies, experienced affects, and emotional exhaustion in the workplace may vary over time within individuals, even within the same day. However, previous studies on these relationships have not highlighted their dynamic properties of these relationships. In addition, although the effects of [...] Read more.

Employees’ emotional-labor strategies, experienced affects, and emotional exhaustion in the workplace may vary over time within individuals, even within the same day. However, previous studies on these relationships have not highlighted their dynamic properties of these relationships. In addition, although the effects of surface and deep acting on emotional exhaustion have been investigated in emotional-labor research, empirical studies on these relationships still report mixed results. Thus, we suggest that moderators may affect the relationship between emotional labor and emotional exhaustion. Also, this study examines the relationship between emotional labor and emotional exhaustion within individuals by repeated measurements, and verifies the mediating effect of a negative affect state. Finally, our study confirms the moderating effects that affective commitment has on the relationship between emotional labor and emotional exhaustion. Data was collected from tellers who had a high degree of interaction with clients at banks based in South Korea. A total of 56 tellers participated in the survey and responded for five working days. A total of 616 data entries were collected from the 56 respondents. We used a hierarchical linear model (HLM) to examine our hypothesis. The results showed that surface-acting emotional labor increases emotional exhaustion; furthermore, the relationship between surface acting emotional labor and emotional exhaustion is mediated by a negative affect state within individuals. In addition, this study verified that affective commitment buffers the negative effects that surface acting emotional labor has on emotional exhaustion. These results suggest that emotional labor is a dynamic process within individuals, and that emotional exhaustion caused by emotional labor differs among individuals, and is dependent upon factors such as the individual’s level of affective commitment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Labor Contracts, Negative Shocks and Job Protection)

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15 pages, 1906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Lake–Reservoir Pumped-Storage Operations on Temperature and Water Quality

by Ulrike Gabriele Kobler, Alfred Wüest and Martin Schmid

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1968; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061968 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7041

Abstract

Pumped-storage (PS) hydropower plants are expected to make an important contribution to energy storage in the next decades with growing market shares of new renewable electricity. PS operations affect the water quality of the connected water bodies by exchanging water between them but [...] Read more.

Pumped-storage (PS) hydropower plants are expected to make an important contribution to energy storage in the next decades with growing market shares of new renewable electricity. PS operations affect the water quality of the connected water bodies by exchanging water between them but also by deep water withdrawal from the upper water body. Here, we assess the importance of these two processes in the context of recommissioning a PS hydropower plant by simulating different scenarios with the numerical hydrodynamic and water quality model CE-QUAL-W2. For extended PS operations, the results show significant impacts of the water exchange between the two water bodies on the seasonal dynamics of temperatures, stratification, nutrients, and ice cover, especially in the smaller upper reservoir. Deep water withdrawal was shown to strongly decrease the strength of summer stratification in the upper reservoir, shortening its duration by ~1.5 months, consequently improving oxygen availability, and reducing the accumulation of nutrients in the hypolimnion. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the effects of different options for water withdrawal depths in the design of PS hydropower plants, as well as the relevance of defining a reference state when a PS facility is to be recommissioned. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower Production)

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16 pages, 2612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Development of Perennial Barley for Cold Temperate Climates—Evaluation of Wild Barley Relatives as Genetic Resources

by Anna Westerbergh, Estelle Lerceteau-Köhler, Mohammad Sameri, Girma Bedada and Per-Olof Lundquist

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1969; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061969 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8476

Abstract

Perennial cereal crops could limit the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment and climate change. In cold temperate climates, perennial plants must be adapted to seasonal changes and abiotic stresses, such as frost, to be able to regrow for several years. Wild [...] Read more.

Perennial cereal crops could limit the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment and climate change. In cold temperate climates, perennial plants must be adapted to seasonal changes and abiotic stresses, such as frost, to be able to regrow for several years. Wild crop relatives that are perennials and already adapted to cold temperate climates may provide genetic resources for breeding new perennial cereal grain crops. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the most important cereals in northern agricultural areas, and its related perennial species may be good candidates for the development of perennial cereals. We evaluated a diverse set of 17 wild perennial Hordeum species represented by 67 accessions in field conditions with a cold winter climate and long days during summer in Central Sweden (latitude 60° N). Six species (H. brevisubulatum, H. bulbosum, H. fuegianum, H. jubatum, H. lechleri and H. secalinum) showed regrowth and formation of spikes for four seasons. The most distant perennial relative of barley, H. stenostachys, showed weak regrowth. H. bulbosum, the closest perennial barley relative, had a large number of accessions with wide geographic origins that showed good regrowth. Together with its storage bulbs and its cross-compatibility with barley, this makes H. bulbosum an important genetic resource for the development of perennial Hordeum grains using either the domestication or the wide-hybridization strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies, Advances and Challenges of Breeding Perennial Grain Crops)

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30 pages, 13009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Questionnaire Case Study of Chinese Opinions on the Haze Pollution and Economic Growth

by Frederick Qiu, Ethan Wang, Matthew Fan, Hong Liao, Litao Wang and Zuyi Huang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1970; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061970 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6467

Abstract

Haze pollution in China has reshaped daily life for the Chinese and led to serious health issues. At the same time, the Chinese have enjoyed the rapid economic growth that has contributed to this pollution. While questionnaire-based studies have been conducted within certain [...] Read more.

Haze pollution in China has reshaped daily life for the Chinese and led to serious health issues. At the same time, the Chinese have enjoyed the rapid economic growth that has contributed to this pollution. While questionnaire-based studies have been conducted within certain regions of China to learn the public’s opinions of haze pollution, little work has been done to understand how Chinese citizens value haze treatment in relation to their nation’s economic growth at a nationwide scale. To fill this knowledge gap, this project conducted a nationwide investigation of Chinese opinions on the benefits of economic growth versus the disadvantages of haze pollution, as well as their responses to efforts by the Chinese government to combat haze and to the influence of haze on Chinese daily life and on personal health. The study also sought suggestions for combatting haze. In particular, an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 29 questions was given in the summer and fall of 2017 to 1233 people of different genders, ages, child statuses, educational backgrounds, occupations, living areas (rural, suburban, and urban), and living regions. The statistical Chi squared test was then used to identify the demographic group of respondents supporting the economic slowdown policy or requesting more efforts from the Chinese government to combat haze pollution. A multivariate statistical approach—principal component analysis—was further applied to visualize respondents’ feedback on the impact of haze on their daily life and personal health, as well as the change of environment and economic conditions in the last 10 years. The results show that more than 50% of respondents, especially those with children, those between the ages of 31 to 50, and those living in high-pollution regions, supported the economic slowdown policy. Totally 40.63% of the entire group of respondents believed the government’s efforts to control haze were small or very small. Only 27.84% of respondents held the opposite opinions. In total, 72.91% of respondents believed the environment in China became worse or much worse in the past 10 years; however, most responded positively to the idea of resolving the haze issue within 15 or more years. Haze has caused health issues in and around half of the respondents and has significantly reshaped their outdoor activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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13 pages, 1689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Replacing Self-Efficacy in Physical Activity: Unconscious Intervention of the AR Game, Pokémon GO

by Hana Kim, Hyung Jin Lee, Hosoo Cho, Eungdo Kim and Junseok Hwang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061971 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5662

Abstract

With increases in aging and chronic disease, there have been efforts to apply IT to healthcare. Many studies show that the will to exercise (self-efficacy) is the most important factor contributing to physical activity. However, those who need exercise do not have this [...] Read more.

With increases in aging and chronic disease, there have been efforts to apply IT to healthcare. Many studies show that the will to exercise (self-efficacy) is the most important factor contributing to physical activity. However, those who need exercise do not have this will so that an approach to increase the motivation for physical activity should be unconscious. Thus, playing Pokémon GO, an augmented reality (AR) mobile game requiring players to ambulate in reality, increases the physical activity of individuals with a simple motivation of enjoyment. A survey on 237 Pokémon GO players was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) considering libertarian paternalism. The results show that self-efficacy had a non-significant effect on attitude toward the game Pokémon GO, while previous studies found that self-efficacy is the most important factor in increasing physical activity. This indicates that playing AR drives physical activity, subconsciously and effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity as a Means of Culture, Leisure and Free Time)

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19 pages, 672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Laboratory Experiments of Tradable Development Rights: A Synthesis of Different Treatments

by Till Proeger, Lukas Meub and Kilian Bizer

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1972; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061972 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3491

Abstract

Tradable development rights (TDR) are considered by scholars and regulators in various countries as a means of reducing land consumption efficiently. Similar to the development of CO₂-certificate trading schemes, the methodology of experimental economics can be used to derive empirical evidence [...] Read more.

Tradable development rights (TDR) are considered by scholars and regulators in various countries as a means of reducing land consumption efficiently. Similar to the development of CO₂-certificate trading schemes, the methodology of experimental economics can be used to derive empirical evidence on the core parameters and problems of TDR schemes, thus extending theoretical modelling and evidence from case studies. Building on a common laboratory experimental framework, we discuss results from five distinct experiments that consider mechanisms of allocation, resilience against external shocks, political business cycles, communication and collusion, and risk. These results provide initial empirical directions for the further study and introduction of TDR schemes for managing and reducing environmental issues related to land consumption for building projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions and Policies for Rural Land Conversion in the Quest for Sustainability)

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31 pages, 2315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Derivation of Factors Influencing the Successful Integration of Corporate Volunteers into Public Flood Disaster Inquiry and Notification Systems

by Chia-Lee Yang, Ming-Chang Shieh, Chi-Yo Huang and Ching-Pin Tung

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061973 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4390

Abstract

Flood hazards have become increasingly common and serious over the last few centuries. Volunteers can observe instant flood information in their local environment, which presents a great opportunity to gather flood information. The information provided by individual volunteers is too much for them [...] Read more.

Flood hazards have become increasingly common and serious over the last few centuries. Volunteers can observe instant flood information in their local environment, which presents a great opportunity to gather flood information. The information provided by individual volunteers is too much for them to truly understand. Corporate volunteers can offer more accurate and truthful information due to their understanding of the roles and requirements of specific tasks. Past studies of factors influencing the success of corporate volunteers in flood disaster are limited. Thus, this research aims to derive the factors that enable corporate volunteers to successfully integrate the flood information to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths being caused by flood disasters. This research used the information success model and the public-private partnership (PPP) model to develop an analytic framework. The nature of flood disaster management problems is inherently complex, time-bound, and multifaceted. Therefore, we proposed a novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model to address the key influence factors and the cause-effect relationships between factors. An empirical study in Taiwanese public flood disaster inquiry and notification systems was used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The research results can serve as guidelines for improving the government’s policies and the public sector in the context of corporate volunteer involvement in flood disaster inquiry and notification and in relation to other natural and manmade disasters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development)

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15 pages, 470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study on Sustainable Innovation Academic Entrepreneurship Process Model

by Xiao-Duo Qian, Jing Xia, Wei Liu and Sang-Bing Tsai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1974; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061974 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6481

Abstract

As academic entrepreneurs, university faculty members and researchers with rich knowledge resources play an important role in the technology commercialization process, and in the creation and development of university spinoff enterprises. In this paper, we used a case study method to construct a [...] Read more.

As academic entrepreneurs, university faculty members and researchers with rich knowledge resources play an important role in the technology commercialization process, and in the creation and development of university spinoff enterprises. In this paper, we used a case study method to construct a sustainable innovative academic entrepreneurship process model from the perspective of entrepreneurial behavior. Then, we used this model to provide a deeper understanding of the activities and roles of academic entrepreneurs. This paper also expounded the process of value creation that is a result of sustainable innovative academic entrepreneurship, and compared and analyzed three types of university technology commercialization models. Our results showed that in the sustainable innovative academic entrepreneurship process model, the motivation of academic entrepreneurs leads them to play multiple roles as academic researchers, enterprise founders, and enterprise managers. In creating enterprises as the founders, and establishing and developing their enterprises, academic entrepreneurs realize the commercial value of the technology, while also incrementing their personal value. The sustainable innovative academic entrepreneurship process model provides a new path for effective transfer of technological innovations from academic research to the commercial market, creates social as well as economic value, and promotes regional economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Innovation in Organizations for Improving Decisions)

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20 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Legitimacy: Chinese Government Inspections and Public Approval of Village Leadership

by Jinrui Xi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1975; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061975 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3754

Abstract

Inspections to villages are an important mechanism for the Chinese government to gain and retain its ruling legitimacy. However, whether inspections have been effectively utilized for that designated purpose of sustainable governance remains less clear. We know very little about how the Chinese [...] Read more.

Inspections to villages are an important mechanism for the Chinese government to gain and retain its ruling legitimacy. However, whether inspections have been effectively utilized for that designated purpose of sustainable governance remains less clear. We know very little about how the Chinese government employs inspections to boost its public approval. This study sets out to examine that effect, contending that inspections to Chinese villages significantly boost the public approval of village leaderships by promoting the governing efficacy of village leaders. The consistent practice of inspections results in a sustained level of public support for the Chinese government. This causal relationship between inspections and public approval holds, first, by improving village social welfare and economic development, and second, by securing for village leaders essential political and financial support from higher authorities to better represent villagers’ interests and mediate conflicts among villagers. Using data of 961 randomly selected villages across China, the empirical analysis shows that Chinese government inspections significantly boost villagers’ approval regarding their village leaders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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23 pages, 3402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tourism and Sustainability: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

by Fernando J. Garrigos-Simon, Yeamduan Narangajavana-Kaosiri and Ismael Lengua-Lengua

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1976; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061976 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 149 | Viewed by 12559

Abstract

Sustainability is a growing research topic in tourism due to the importance of environmental and social issues, and the maintenance of patrimony and other facilities to conserve the potential of tourism destinations. Specifically, sustainability in tourism is crucial in order to guarantee a [...] Read more.

Sustainability is a growing research topic in tourism due to the importance of environmental and social issues, and the maintenance of patrimony and other facilities to conserve the potential of tourism destinations. Specifically, sustainability in tourism is crucial in order to guarantee a consistent development of destinations, measured by growth in income and employment. This relevance has been translated into an explosive growth in the sustainability literature regarding tourism, income, and employment. However, there is a lack of bibliometric and visualization research on tourism sustainability (TS), and specifically on its relationship with income and employment. This paper aims to present a bibliometric overview of TS research, and specifically TS related to income and employment. The current work analyzed 2279 references collected from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database and used the visualization of similarities (VOS)viewer program to graphically map the material. The study used co-occurrence of keywords, co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and co-authorship analyses. The results identify the development status and the leading trends in terms of impact, main journals, papers, topics, authors, institutions, and countries. The analysis and graphical presentations are relevant, as they can help researchers and practitioners better understand the state of the art of TS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Employment and Income Growth from Sustainable Tourism)

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23 pages, 7290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selection Criteria and Assessment of the Impact of Traffic Accessibility on the Development of Suburbs

by Milan Stanković, Pavle Gladović, Vladimir Popović and Vesko Lukovac

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1977; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061977 - 12 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4011

Abstract

When defining criteria that have an influence on traffic accessibility in suburbs, it is necessary to take into account the specificity of a concrete urban unit. In existing scientific papers, the authors have dealt with the impact of the remoteness of settlements and [...] Read more.

When defining criteria that have an influence on traffic accessibility in suburbs, it is necessary to take into account the specificity of a concrete urban unit. In existing scientific papers, the authors have dealt with the impact of the remoteness of settlements and their accessibility from the city center. The main aims of this paper are to define and quantify the criteria that have the greatest influence on traffic accessibility in suburban areas, that is, to develop a model of traffic accessibility. This model refers to traffic accessibility in suburban areas, where an urban public transport system is operational and represents a qualitative approach to research. Research has shown that factors such as a network of public transport (PT) lines, a network of accessible roads in a settlement, travel time, and timetables are of great importance in the description and generation of a new model. This model was tested in 23 suburban districts with regard to the needed walking time. The Fuzzy AHP (FAHP) method, one of the most popular methods for multi-criteria decision making, was used. Based on the results presented in this paper, it is expected that the application of this model will enable development and sustainability in suburban areas, as well as greater social equality and involvement of dwellers (especially the younger generation) in social activities, in view of achieving a better quality of life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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13 pages, 1090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Factors Affecting Public Risk Perception of Thai High-Speed Railway Projects Based on “Belt and Road Initiative”

by Sangsomboon Ploywarin, Yan Song and Dian Sun

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1978; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061978 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4988

Abstract

Studies on the factors affecting public risk perception of high-speed railway projects in Thailand are very limited. The aim of this study was to assess the influencing factors of public railway project risk perception, which described the public trust degrees of government, enterprise, [...] Read more.

Studies on the factors affecting public risk perception of high-speed railway projects in Thailand are very limited. The aim of this study was to assess the influencing factors of public railway project risk perception, which described the public trust degrees of government, enterprise, media and experts with a combination of variables. Therefore, the study used the widely accepted influential factors and proposed a comprehensive framework to clarify the mechanism among various factors in the public risk perception. Dataset of 675 samples was collected from Don Muang area Bangkok, Pak Thong Chai, Pak Chong, Kaengkhoi area, and Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand through questionnaire. Rationality of the questionnaire was ensured through its high reliability and efficiency. The dimension hypothesis of the second-order factor was validated by confirmatory factor analysis, and the relationship among information acquisition, trust, emotion and risk perception was analyzed through the structural equation model. The results show that, within the factors that affect risk perception, the public has a more direct effect on the factors of social emotion of railway projects compared with information acquirement and the factors of trust level of each subject. This study exerts practical implications to reduce public risk perception of railway projects and promote the development of railway in Thailand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Construction Engineering)

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14 pages, 3111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landscape Connectivity as a Tool in Green Space Evaluation and Optimization of the Haidan District, Beijing

by Shiyi Guo, Kaoru Saito, Weida Yin and Chang Su

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061979 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5649

Abstract

The demand for urban construction has placed growing pressure on biodiversity conservation. In China, landscape fragmentation caused by rapid urbanization has resulted in an immense amount of damage to the ecological system. Taking the Haidian District of Beijing as the study area, this [...] Read more.

The demand for urban construction has placed growing pressure on biodiversity conservation. In China, landscape fragmentation caused by rapid urbanization has resulted in an immense amount of damage to the ecological system. Taking the Haidian District of Beijing as the study area, this study distinguishes the vital patches and corridors for landscape connectivity maintenance through morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA), the probability of connectivity (PC), and the least-cost path analysis. Although we adopted and combined these methods from the existing research about landscape modeling, we went deeper into two parameters: the resistance value and the distance threshold. In order to get a species-specific result, we selected two focal species: the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchius) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), whose biological characteristics and habitat types are assumed to represent most of the habitats in Beijing. The result shows the different habitats and corridors for two species. Then, the results of two simulated scenarios are overlaid to obtain the final landscape pattern. Based on this case study, we propose a paradigm of ecological network identification of multiple species, which may contribute to landscape modeling and green space planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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19 pages, 2880 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transition of the Swiss Phosphorus System towards a Circular Economy—Part 2: Socio-Technical Scenarios

by Michael Jedelhauser, Jonas Mehr and Claudia R. Binder

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1980; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061980 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5222

Abstract

A transition towards a circular economy of phosphorus (P) in Switzerland is a multi-faceted challenge as P use is subject to a variety of influencing factors comprising policy interventions, consumption trends, or technological innovations on different spatial scales. Therefore, scenarios for P use [...] Read more.

A transition towards a circular economy of phosphorus (P) in Switzerland is a multi-faceted challenge as P use is subject to a variety of influencing factors comprising policy interventions, consumption trends, or technological innovations on different spatial scales. Therefore, scenarios for P use that take into account both the social and the technical dimension of change are needed for investigating possible pathways of a transition towards more sustainable P futures. Drawing on the multi-level perspective of transition theory, we develop scenarios on the landscape level, i.e., a balanced and healthy human diet, on the regime level, i.e., P recovery from sewage sludge (ash) and meat and bone meal, and on the niche level, i.e., urine separation. Based on the P system of the year 2015, we assess the quantitative implications of the scenarios for the Swiss P system. While scenario 1 mainly affects the agricultural system by reducing the overall P throughput, scenario 2 significantly changes P use in waste management, because P losses to landfills and cement plants decrease and the production of secondary P increases. Scenario 3 shows little quantitative impact on the national P system. From a qualitative transition perspective, however, urine separation entails fundamental socio-technical shifts in the wastewater system, whereas P recovery from sewage sludge (ash) represents an incremental system adaptation. The combination of flow- and transition-oriented research provides more general insights into how a circular economy of P can be reached. Furthermore, the analysis of P recycling scenarios reveals that transition processes in Switzerland are embedded in a global resource economy. Thus, a sole focus on concepts of national P self-sufficiency and the reduction of Switzerland’s P import dependency tend to fall short when analysing the economisation of secondary P materials in the face of transnational resource flows and markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation)

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25 pages, 280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Urban Tourism: Reflections on the Need for Building-Related Indicators

by Antonella Lerario and Silvia Di Turi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1981; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061981 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 8512

Abstract

A solid and consistent research production has, up to now, considerably contributed to the identification and exploration of the meanings, theoretical foundations, and possible implications of tourism in the cities. The focus on pursuing sustainable tourism activities has also inspired different approaches (eco-tourism, [...] Read more.

A solid and consistent research production has, up to now, considerably contributed to the identification and exploration of the meanings, theoretical foundations, and possible implications of tourism in the cities. The focus on pursuing sustainable tourism activities has also inspired different approaches (eco-tourism, responsible tourism, pro-poor tourism, among others). Nevertheless, difficulties still exist in the definition of concrete solutions to the complex problem of how to activate and facilitate the diffusion of sustainable urban tourism practices. Given the central role of indicators in the monitoring of transformation and defining impact mitigation measures, this article proposes an unexplored interpretation of such tools, which are specific for the built environment as a main component of the urban context. Starting from a broad examination of the literature on urban tourism and its related impacts, and focusing on heritage destinations, the authors highlight the potential of the built environment to play an active role in reducing the extent of potential flow impacts upstream of their actual occurrence. As a result, possible building-scale indicators that could integrate current downstream evaluation and mitigation practices are identified and suggested, and their possible implications are discussed alongside those of existing indicators. Finally, further developments for future research are suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Tourism)

13 pages, 2252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Channel Capacity Analysis of Cooperative Networks Using Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP)

by Shujaat Ali Khan Tanoli, Mubashir Rehman, Muhammad Bilal Khan, Ihtesham Jadoon, Farman Ali Khan, Faiza Nawaz, Syed Aziz Shah, Xiaodong Yang and Ali Arshad Nasir

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1983; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061983 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5191

Abstract

Cooperative communication (CC) is one of the best solutions to overcome channel fading and to improve channel capacity. However, most of the researchers evaluate its performance based on mathematical modeling or by simulations. These approaches are often unable to successfully capture many real-world [...] Read more.

Cooperative communication (CC) is one of the best solutions to overcome channel fading and to improve channel capacity. However, most of the researchers evaluate its performance based on mathematical modeling or by simulations. These approaches are often unable to successfully capture many real-world radio signal propagation problems. Hardware based wireless communication test-bed provides reliable and accurate measurements, which are not attainable through other means. This research work investigates experimental performance analysis of CC over direct communication (DC) in the lab environment. The experimental setup is built using Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) and Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW). A text message is transmitted by using Phase Shift Keying (PSK) modulation schemes. The setup uses amplify and forward (AF) relaying mode and two time slot transmission protocols. The maximum ratio combining (MRC) technique is used for combining SNR at the receiver. Channel capacity analysis is performed in order to evaluate the performance of CC over DC with and without obstacle. Moreover, optimal position of the relay is also analyzed by varying the position of the relay. Extensive experiments are carried out in the lab environment to evaluate the performance of the system for different hardware setups. The results reveal that cooperative communication attains significant improvement in terms of channel capacity of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Mobile Services and Scenarios: Challenges and Solutions)

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14 pages, 455 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Uncovering Patterns of Location of Brownfields to Facilitate Their Regeneration: Some Remarks from the Czech Republic

by Kamila Turečková, Jan Nevima, Jaroslav Škrabal and Stanislav Martinát

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061984 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3969

Abstract

The issue of brownfield regeneration is closely connected to balanced and sustainable development of regions, towns, and cities as it endeavors to reuse buildings and sites that have already lost their original use, but at the same time offers a possibility to generate [...] Read more.

The issue of brownfield regeneration is closely connected to balanced and sustainable development of regions, towns, and cities as it endeavors to reuse buildings and sites that have already lost their original use, but at the same time offers a possibility to generate new beneficial activities for the whole society that exceed just material or physical changes of the brownfield sites. The regeneration of every brownfield is usually a highly site-specific issue and individual and unique impacts of regeneration on the particular locality are obvious. Yet, several patterns in sets of non-regenerated brownfields can be identified. By finding and defining such patterns, a framework of indicators to facilitate brownfield regeneration can be created and the importance and strength of a particular indicator can be defined. By means of the analyses, we are able to recommend various relevant and most suitable approaches with regards to brownfield regeneration in individual regions. We have employed Factor Analysis (FA) for the identification of key factors of brownfield regeneration. In particular, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to conduct analyses of 1304 non-regenerated brownfields located in seven regions of the Czech Republic (NUTS 3 level). Data were obtained from publicly available brownfield databases of individual regional administrations. By means of Factor Analysis, it was ascertained that the most frequent factor that is typical for the surveyed non-regenerated brownfields is the ownership. The second most frequent factor is the size of the brownfields. As the third factor according to importance, the distance between the location of the individual brownfield and the municipality of extended powers (the so-called small district) was identified. By taking into account the results of the conducted analyses, brownfield regeneration policies of individual regions might be adapted to be more suitably targeted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alliances and Network Organizations for Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applying Blockchain Technology: Evidence from Norwegian Companies

by Anne H. Gausdal, Karen V. Czachorowski and Marina Z. Solesvik

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061985 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 122 | Viewed by 13987

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop a theoretical framework for blockchain, operations in particular. Furthermore, we aim to identify the main drivers and barriers of digital innovation and explore the general possibilities of blockchain applications within the maritime industry. A case [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to develop a theoretical framework for blockchain, operations in particular. Furthermore, we aim to identify the main drivers and barriers of digital innovation and explore the general possibilities of blockchain applications within the maritime industry. A case study approach is applied: the Norwegian offshore industry. Primary data is collected through interviews, while secondary data is collected from industrial and company reports, the Internet, and national and international media reports. We have discovered that cost reduction intentions, the high level of regulation in the maritime industry, and the large amount of data that maritime companies should process, along with the intention to work more effectively, are the main drivers of digital innovation. On the other hand, the high cost of implementation, the bad quality of Internet connections offshore, the old age of decision-makers, the technology-oriented culture, the lack of investment initiatives, the low level of blockchain diffusion through the supply chain, and risk aversion are the main barriers. The results of the qualitative study show that some of the barriers and motives of digital innovation and the introduction to blockchain technology were pointed out by earlier studies. However, we have identified several unique drivers and barriers specific to the industry. Finally, the blockchain process framework is developed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alliances and Network Organizations for Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Challenging Ingrained Thoughts? The Joint Effect of Stereotypes and Awareness of Related Information on Pro-Environmental Behavior in China

by Majid Ghorbani and Liyan Xuan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1986; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061986 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4111

Abstract

This research applies a positive stereotype perspective to test the effect of individuals’ choices between pro-environmental versus pro-safety behavior, while considering the role of media exposure. We test our hypotheses in China, where both food-safety and environment are major issues and are widely [...] Read more.

This research applies a positive stereotype perspective to test the effect of individuals’ choices between pro-environmental versus pro-safety behavior, while considering the role of media exposure. We test our hypotheses in China, where both food-safety and environment are major issues and are widely covered by the media and government reports. Based on a quasi-experiments and survey questionnaires focused on attitudes towards disposable chopsticks, we find that individuals form cognitive perceptions in ways that either have stronger positive environmental or safety stereotypes. Based on these stereotypes, they either believe that reusable chopsticks are more environmentally friendly or that disposable chopsticks are safer, each impacting individuals’ choices differently. In addition, awareness of information related to the environment augments the link between environmental stereotypes and pro-environmental behavior, while having no influence on the effect of safety stereotypes on pro-safety behavior. On the other hand, while awareness of safety-related information accentuates the link between safety-related stereotypes and pro-safety behavior, it has no impact on the effect of environmental stereotypes on pro-environmental behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Retailers Could Contribute to Sustainable Development)

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30 pages, 929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reviewing the Long-Term Sustainability of Urban Water System Rehabilitation Strategies with an Alternative Approach

by Stian Bruaset, Håkon Rygg and Sveinung Sægrov

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1987; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061987 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5141

Abstract

It is generally difficult to assess the performance of an infrastructure with a substantially longer life span than economic models can handle, and the life cycle concepts in urban water systems are normally limited to single-asset projects. In order to explore the long-term [...] Read more.

It is generally difficult to assess the performance of an infrastructure with a substantially longer life span than economic models can handle, and the life cycle concepts in urban water systems are normally limited to single-asset projects. In order to explore the long-term impact of urban water infrastructure rehabilitation strategies, a life cycle approach for survival functions is suggested. A life cycle factor based on survival functions is introduced, which is a measuring value of the total expected service life of all pipes within a group of pipes. Another factor, termed the sustainability factor, is based on the relationship between the life cycle factor and a rehabilitation reference method, which makes it possible to correct the long-term performance of rehabilitation methods based on their expected service life provision. A case study presents the implications for investments in infrastructure rehabilitation when applying the sustainability factor in long-term planning, and shows the importance of considering the service life of rehabilitation methods when planning renewal interventions that minimize costs over their life cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Civil Engineering: from Sustainable Materials to Sustainable Cities)

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23 pages, 305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Land Use, Soil Protection and Phosphorus Management from a Cross-National Perspective

by Jessica Stubenrauch, Beatrice Garske and Felix Ekardt

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061988 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7279

Abstract

The scarcity of phosphorus (P) is a global concern that is not restricted to western industrialized nations. Until now, most countries in the world are highly dependent on importing mineral P fertilizers for agriculture. The industrialized nation of Germany, the emerging economy of [...] Read more.

The scarcity of phosphorus (P) is a global concern that is not restricted to western industrialized nations. Until now, most countries in the world are highly dependent on importing mineral P fertilizers for agriculture. The industrialized nation of Germany, the emerging economy of Costa Rica, and the developing country of Nicaragua are examined with regard to their legislation in the field of environmental protection and agriculture, in particular with regard to soil protection and fertilizer law. Based on the structure of agriculture in each country, control weaknesses in legislation in the individual countries, which is largely determined by command-and-control law, are identified and compared. It becomes clear that soil protection in all three countries has not yet been adequately standardised in law and at the same time the efficient use of organic or recycled P fertilizers instead of (finite) mineral P fertilizers is inadequately regulated. In particular, frugality, i.e., the strategy of lower (and not only more efficient) consumption of P fertilizers, has so far played no regulatory role in land-use governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Governance of Sustainable Soil Management)

21 pages, 2232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Day-Ahead Probabilistic Model for Scheduling the Operation of a Wind Pumped-Storage Hybrid Power Station: Overcoming Forecasting Errors to Ensure Reliability of Supply to the Grid

by Jakub Jurasz and Alexander Kies

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061989 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3828

Abstract

Variable renewable energy sources (VRES), such as solarphotovoltaic (PV) and wind turbines (WT), are starting to play a significant role in several energy systems around the globe. To overcome the problem of their non-dispatchable and stochastic nature, several approaches have been proposed so [...] Read more.

Variable renewable energy sources (VRES), such as solarphotovoltaic (PV) and wind turbines (WT), are starting to play a significant role in several energy systems around the globe. To overcome the problem of their non-dispatchable and stochastic nature, several approaches have been proposed so far. This paper describes a novel mathematical model for scheduling the operation of a wind-powered pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) hybrid for 25 to 48 h ahead. The model is based on mathematical programming and wind speed forecasts for the next 1 to 24 h, along with predicted upper reservoir occupancy for the 24th hour ahead. The results indicate that by coupling a 2-MW conventional wind turbine with a PSH of energy storing capacity equal to 54 MWh it is possible to significantly reduce the intraday energy generation coefficient of variation from 31% for pure wind turbine to 1.15% for a wind-powered PSH The scheduling errors calculated based on mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) are significantly smaller for such a coupling than those seen for wind generation forecasts, at 2.39% and 27%, respectively. This is even stronger emphasized by the fact that, those for wind generation were calculated for forecasts made for the next 1 to 24 h, while those for scheduled generation were calculated for forecasts made for the next 25 to 48 h. The results clearly show that the proposed scheduling approach ensures the high reliability of the WT–PSH energy source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Electrical Energy Storage Technologies in Energy Production)

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21 pages, 647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Willingness to Comply with Corporate Law: An Interdisciplinary Teaching Method in Higher Education

by Rafael Robina Ramirez and Pedro R. Palos-Sanchez

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061991 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3839

Abstract

Using an innovation training project, an interdisciplinary cross-sectional teaching strategy was developed to enhance students’ willingness to comply with the law. Thirty-five business, finance and accounting teachers examined the effects of ethical education on 484 university students’ willingness to comply with corporate law. [...] Read more.

Using an innovation training project, an interdisciplinary cross-sectional teaching strategy was developed to enhance students’ willingness to comply with the law. Thirty-five business, finance and accounting teachers examined the effects of ethical education on 484 university students’ willingness to comply with corporate law. Ethical education was based on building students’ ethical decisions on three court judgments in the new Spanish Corporate Governance Code. The ethical training was carried out by developing and applying social justice counter arguments. This perspective allowed students to imagine what decisions other person could have taken if they had managed the company ethically. The results suggest that ethics education in higher education can improve the willingness to comply the law. This methodology can be applied to interdisciplinary departments teaching ethics in business, finance and accounting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics in Sustainability Education)

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23 pages, 41827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Evolution Analysis of the Urban Heat Island: A Case Study of Zhengzhou City, China

by Min Min, Hongbo Zhao and Changhong Miao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1992; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061992 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5815

Abstract

During the progress of urbanization in China, a large number of natural landscapes have been replaced by impervious surfaces. The strong interference from human activities has led to the intensification of urban heat island (UHI) effects and has had a negative influence on [...] Read more.

During the progress of urbanization in China, a large number of natural landscapes have been replaced by impervious surfaces. The strong interference from human activities has led to the intensification of urban heat island (UHI) effects and has had a negative influence on the health of residents. Zhengzhou, as a new representative city of rapid urbanization, can be used as a case study for UHI. This study built an inversion model of the land surface temperature (LST) of Zhengzhou in 1996, 2000, 2006, 2010 and 2014. On this foundation, the four indicators of land use/land cover (LULC), density of the population, urban construction, and industrial development were chosen to establish a quantitative analysis model between them and the LST. The conclusions were as follows: (1) From 1996–2014, the average LST in Zhengzhou increased by 2.939 °C, and the standard deviation decreased from 4.08 to 2.64. (2) Since 2006, the development zone far from the center of city has become a new urban high temperature zone. The distribution characteristics of the UHI have changed from “centralization in downtown” to “downtown and suburban distribution”. (3) Construction land and vegetation had the most significant impacts on the UHI effect. The construction land was positively correlated with LST, and the vegetation showed the opposite effect. The population density, urban construction and industrial development have strong driving effects on the UHI effect, of which the driving force of industrial development is the most intense. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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22 pages, 3554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurements of Pedestrian Friendliness of Residential Area: A Case Study in Hexi District of Nanjing

by Caiyun Qian, Difei Zhu, Yang Zhou and Jiadeng Chen

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1993; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061993 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3522

Abstract

As part of urban transportation, walking plays an important role in promoting the development of urban green transportation systems. Through the analysis of resident travel preference and the influence factors on travel choice of land use and related effects, this paper puts forward [...] Read more.

As part of urban transportation, walking plays an important role in promoting the development of urban green transportation systems. Through the analysis of resident travel preference and the influence factors on travel choice of land use and related effects, this paper puts forward the walking accessibility, pedestrian route directness (PRD), street walking popularity and the ratio of green interface as a quantitative index of the measurement system of pedestrian friendliness, to evaluate the effect of land use and urban space on the residents’ walking. Based on this, this paper takes Nanjing Hexi District as an example, using ArcGIS software to quantify the city residents’ travel purpose. Two-dimensional space characteristic analysis verifies that the high density and high degree of mixing, high accessibility blocks with good street environmental quality and open environment on the pedestrian block has a good role in promoting walking, and then puts forward optimization suggestions to promote the pedestrian friendliness in Hexi District. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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24 pages, 4107 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Developing Countries in the Lead—What Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies?

by Doris Knoblauch, Linda Mederake and Ulf Stein

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1994; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061994 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 84 | Viewed by 19578

Abstract

While diffusion patterns are quite well understood in the context of the Global North, diffusion research has only been applied to a limited extent to investigate how policies spread across developing countries. In this article, we therefore analyze the diffusion patterns of plastic [...] Read more.

While diffusion patterns are quite well understood in the context of the Global North, diffusion research has only been applied to a limited extent to investigate how policies spread across developing countries. In this article, we therefore analyze the diffusion patterns of plastic bag bans and plastic bag taxes in the Global South and Global North to contribute to the further refinement of diffusion theory by specifically addressing the under-researched Global South. Moreover, with an in-depth investigation of plastic bag policies through the lens of diffusion research, the article provides insights in the rather new and still underexplored policy field of plastic pollution. We find that industrialized countries have mostly adopted plastic bag taxes, while developing countries have mainly introduced plastic bag bans and thus more stringent legislation than countries in the Global North. So far, the key driving force for the diffusion of plastic bag policies in the Global North has been the global public pressure. In the Global South, where plastic bag litter is much more visible and harmful due to limited waste collection and recycling rates, national problem pressure has been much more influential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Environmental and Sustainability Policy: Assessing the Past and charting a Course for the Future)

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16 pages, 3174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Approach to Artificial and Natural Green Walls According to Ecological Sustainability

by Alperen Meral, Nermin Başaran, Emrah Yalçınalp, Ezgi Doğan, Mehmet Kıvanç Ak and Engin Eroğlu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061995 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5610

Abstract

Together with the rapid industrialization of the world, urbanization is also uncontrollably increasing. Such an increase in urbanization exerts the greatest pressure on natural resources, obligating people to live in intense structural spaces and increasing the need for green spaces in cities. Because [...] Read more.

Together with the rapid industrialization of the world, urbanization is also uncontrollably increasing. Such an increase in urbanization exerts the greatest pressure on natural resources, obligating people to live in intense structural spaces and increasing the need for green spaces in cities. Because of the expensive costs of horizontal surfaces being “green”, urban places are faced with serious green-infrastructure problems. In recent years, alternatives have been searched for to eliminate such deficiencies. These alternatives, such as rain gardens, green walls (GWs), ecological designs, and green roofs, are commonly included in urban landscape designs. Besides rocky or steep-slope natural green walls (NGWs), natural green covers over buildings, walls, and so forth, structural members are also encountered in urban or rural places. On the other hand, artificial green walls (AGWs) have recently been used as a significant component of urban design. Although the AGWs are able to address various functional needs, they have not yet gained the desired popularity because of construction costs, static loads, constructional damages, and maintenance costs. In addition, such sites are largely left to exotic species with limited ecological requirements; these species are far from meeting ecological functions and resistance to extreme conditions. This study was conducted for a benchmarking assessment of artificial and natural green walls (A&NGWs) with a high potential in urban landscape design not only for esthetics, but also for ecological and economical purposes. Plant species, initial establishment, maintenance costs, and some other parameters of selected GWs were assessed. The study was considered as pioneering research for low-cost minimum-maintenance AGWs to be included in urban landscape designs. It was concluded, on the basis of the present findings, that the GW systems established with natural plant species, rock, and other materials already existing in natural landscapes could be constructed at fairly low costs, and such wall systems could have great ecological contributions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetated Roofs and Walls)

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23 pages, 2789 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Passenger’s Travel Mode Choice Behavior Waiting at Bus Station Based on SEM-Logit Integration Model

by Yan Han, Wanying Li, Shanshan Wei and Tiantian Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1996; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061996 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 10010

Abstract

To improve the mode share of public transport and reduce the transition to private transport of passengers waiting at bus station, the mechanism of passengers’ decision-making procedure and influence factors of the travel mode choice were analyzed. Some latent variables such as safety, [...] Read more.

To improve the mode share of public transport and reduce the transition to private transport of passengers waiting at bus station, the mechanism of passengers’ decision-making procedure and influence factors of the travel mode choice were analyzed. Some latent variables such as safety, comfort, convenience, flexibility and economy were selected to reflect the satisfaction degree of passengers on the service level of public transport. Taking Jinan City as an example, the questionnaire of passengers’ travel choice behavior at bus station was designed and carried out. Based on the structure equation model (SEM), the relationship between the satisfaction degree and some latent variables such as safety and comfort was discussed. The SEM method analysis shows that, of the influence level of the latent variables to the service level of public transport, flexibility is the most significant variable affecting passenger’s satisfaction degree followed by safety, convenience, comfort and economy. Travel mode choice model of passengers waiting at bus station was established with an integration approach of SEM and nested logit (NL) model. The SEM-NL integration model results reveal that gender, monthly income, purpose of the trip, travel distance, safety and convenience service level have a significant effect on the choice of the upper model (public transport or private transport). Passenger’s age, vehicle ownership and bus ride frequency have great influence on the choice of the lower mode (ORB: original route bus; ARB: alternative route bus; Taxi; and Shared bike). Sensitivity analysis reveals that the transition probabilities from private transport to public transport can reach the highest point (respectively, 69.85%, 68.84% and 35.51%) when safety service reaches level 4, convenience service reaches level 3, or comfort service reaches level 2, indicating that the safety level equal to 4, convenience level equal to 3 and comfort level equal to 2 are the key threshold to increase the public transport mode share. Some proposals such as ensuring good accessibility of public transport, shortening the transfer distance of different routes, creating a comfortable travel environment and integrating bus ticket system have been put forward for the sustainable development of public transport system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

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17 pages, 3743 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Ownership, Rent-Seeking, and Rural Gentrification: Reconstructing Villages for Sustainable Urbanization in China

by Jinkun Yang, Eddie C. M. Hui, Wei Lang and Xun Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061997 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6399

Abstract

Gentrification is a widespread urban phenomenon across the post-industrial world. However, rural gentrification has been explored insufficiently in the context of China’s unprecedented urbanization. By reviewing the redevelopment processes in Zengcuoan village, Xiamen City, China, this study empirically reveals that the socio-spatial transformation [...] Read more.

Gentrification is a widespread urban phenomenon across the post-industrial world. However, rural gentrification has been explored insufficiently in the context of China’s unprecedented urbanization. By reviewing the redevelopment processes in Zengcuoan village, Xiamen City, China, this study empirically reveals that the socio-spatial transformation of this village has been mainly led by artists and villagers based on institutional arrangements of land ownership. Rural gentrification, which involves refurbishing houses and public spaces, has played a key role in social life and the engagement between indigenous villagers and artists. As active rent-seekers, indigenous villagers contribute to gentrification in a combined effect with China’s rural land property rights. Contrary to Western findings, villagers in China act as landlords who benefit from rural gentrification, which in turn causes grassroots artists or young people to move out because of the increasing rent or property prices. This paper attempted to enrich the extant understanding of rural Chinese gentrification and broaden the analytics of gentrification studies of the institutional arrangements from a land-ownership perspective. Contributing to the literature on rural gentrification, this study highlights the excessive commercialization of rent-seeking as the trigger of gentrification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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16 pages, 1061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Who Uses Smart City Services and What to Make of It: Toward Interdisciplinary Smart Cities Research

by Miltiadis D. Lytras and Anna Visvizi

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1998; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061998 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 322 | Viewed by 16774

Abstract

As research on smart cities garners increased attention and its status consolidates as one of the fanciest areas of research today, this paper makes a case for a cautious rethink of the very rationale and relevance of the debate. To this end, this [...] Read more.

As research on smart cities garners increased attention and its status consolidates as one of the fanciest areas of research today, this paper makes a case for a cautious rethink of the very rationale and relevance of the debate. To this end, this paper looks at the smart cities debate from the perspectives of, on the one hand, citizens’ awareness of applications and solutions that are considered ‘smart’ and, on the other hand, their ability to use these applications and solutions. Drawing from a detailed analysis of the outcomes of a pilot international study, this paper showcases that even the most educated users of smart city services, i.e., those arguably most aware of and equipped with skills to use these services effectively, express very serious concerns regarding the utility, safety, accessibility and efficiency of those services. This suggests that more pragmatism needs to be included in smart cities research if its findings are to remain useful and relevant for all stakeholders involved. The discussion in this paper contributes to the smart cities debate in three ways. First, it adds empirical support to the thesis of ‘normative bias’ of smart cities research. Second, it suggests ways of bypassing it, thereby opening a debate on the preconditions of sustainable interdisciplinary smart cities research. Third, it points to new avenues of research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Smart Villages Research)

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13 pages, 2142 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Admission Control Mechanism for 5G LWA

by Rojeena Bajracharya, Rakesh Shrestha and Sung Won Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1999; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061999 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4944

Abstract

To alleviate the spectrum scarcity problem in fifth-generation (5G) networks, traditional mobile data offloading schemes from long term evolution (LTE) to wireless local area networks (WLANs) have been revised by the third-generation partnership project (3GPP) in release 13, which is known as LTE-WLAN [...] Read more.

To alleviate the spectrum scarcity problem in fifth-generation (5G) networks, traditional mobile data offloading schemes from long term evolution (LTE) to wireless local area networks (WLANs) have been revised by the third-generation partnership project (3GPP) in release 13, which is known as LTE-WLAN aggregation (LWA). With LWA, user equipment units (UEs) supporting both LTE and WLAN can utilize both LTE and WLAN links simultaneously. Thus, UEs under the coverage of an LWA network will be surrounded by multiple standards, such as LTE, WLAN, and LWA, along with cells of different sizes and coverage. Providing the LWA service to all UEs unconditionally may lead to serious intra-cell unfairness, degradation of system-level quality of service (QoS), and a reduction in system resource utilization. Hence, to resolve this issue, two important challenges need to be addressed: Which LTE UEs should be transferred, and how many LTE UEs need to be transferred. In this paper, we propose a user-offloading algorithm for evolved node B (eNB) hardware that smartly allocates the deprived LTE UEs and assigns the LWA service to an optimal number of UEs without degrading the QoS for existing WLAN UEs. With this proposed scheme, all LWA-preferred UEs with poor LTE performance and a good WLAN condition have the opportunity to access LWA service to improve performance. We show that the proposed scheme maximizes the throughput performance of the whole network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Mobile Services and Scenarios: Challenges and Solutions)

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17 pages, 1115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Stakeholder and Multi-Level Interventions to Tackle Climate Change and Land Degradation: The Case of Iran

by Farshad Amiraslani and Arnaud Caiserman

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2000; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062000 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 10003

Abstract

Iran faces environmental challenges such as erosion and extreme events, namely droughts and floods. These phenomena have frequently affected the country over the past decades and temperature rise has led to a more challenging situation. Iran started to implement national and provincial policies [...] Read more.

Iran faces environmental challenges such as erosion and extreme events, namely droughts and floods. These phenomena have frequently affected the country over the past decades and temperature rise has led to a more challenging situation. Iran started to implement national and provincial policies in the 1950s to cope with these phenomena. To provide an overview of Iran’s efforts to tackle land degradation and climate change, this paper examined through literature since 2000 the stakeholders’ policies, their interventions and obstacles to the mitigation of these environmental challenges. Government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international projects have been the primary actors. Erosion-sensitive soil plantation, drought-resistant seeds, and water-saving irrigation systems were the main interventions of these policies. However, the research stresses the lack of coordination between these stakeholders, and the absence of a comprehensive database that could enable climate change to be tackled better in the future. Full article

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48 pages, 2341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table

by Roland W. Scholz, Eric J. Bartelsman, Sarah Diefenbach, Lude Franke, Arnim Grunwald, Dirk Helbing, Richard Hill, Lorenz Hilty, Mattias Höjer, Stefan Klauser, Christian Montag, Peter Parycek, Jan Philipp Prote, Ortwin Renn, André Reichel, Günther Schuh, Gerald Steiner and Gabriela Viale Pereira

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2001; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062001 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 91 | Viewed by 19165

Abstract

We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of the digital transition. Seventeen experts provided 42 propositions from ten different perspectives as input for the ERT. A full-day ERT deliberated communalities [...] Read more.

We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of the digital transition. Seventeen experts provided 42 propositions from ten different perspectives as input for the ERT. A full-day ERT deliberated communalities and relationships among these unseens and provided suggestions on (i) what the major unseens are; (ii) how rebound effects of digital transitioning may become the subject of overarching research; and (iii) what unseens should become subjects of transdisciplinary theory and practice processes for developing socially robust orientations. With respect to the latter, the experts suggested that the “ownership, economic value, use and access of data” and, related to this, algorithmic decision-making call for transdisciplinary processes that may provide guidelines for key stakeholder groups on how the responsible use of digital data can be developed. A cluster-based content analysis of the propositions, the discussion and inputs of the ERT, and a theoretical analysis of major changes to levels of human systems and the human–environment relationship resulted in the following greater picture: The digital transition calls for redefining economy, labor, democracy, and humanity. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based machines may take over major domains of human labor, reorganize supply chains, induce platform economics, and reshape the participation of economic actors in the value chain. (Digital) Knowledge and data supplement capital, labor, and natural resources as major economic variables. Digital data and technologies lead to a post-fuel industry (post-) capitalism. Traditional democratic processes can be (intentionally or unintentionally) altered by digital technologies. The unseens in this field call for special attention, research and management. Related to the conditions of ontogenetic and phylogenetic development (humanity), the ubiquitous, global, increasingly AI-shaped interlinkage of almost every human personal, social, and economic activity and the exposure to indirect, digital, artificial, fragmented, electronically mediated data affect behavioral, cognitive, psycho-neuro-endocrinological processes on the level of the individual and thus social relations (of groups and families) and culture, and thereby, the essential quality and character of the human being (i.e., humanity). The findings suggest a need for a new field of research, i.e., focusing on sustainable digital societies and environments, in which the identification, analysis, and management of vulnerabilities and unseens emerging in the sociotechnical digital transition play an important role. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Digital Environment)

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22 pages, 312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversified Agglomeration, Specialized Agglomeration, and Emission Reduction Effect—A Nonlinear Test Based on Chinese City Data

by Neng Shen, Yuqing Zhao and Qunwei Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2002; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062002 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4123

Abstract

Industrialization and urbanization has rapidly advanced in China. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between industrial agglomeration and environmental pollution resolves questions if intensive or dispersed development should be adopted for the future Chinese industry or not. By distinguishing between specialized and diversified agglomeration, this [...] Read more.

Industrialization and urbanization has rapidly advanced in China. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between industrial agglomeration and environmental pollution resolves questions if intensive or dispersed development should be adopted for the future Chinese industry or not. By distinguishing between specialized and diversified agglomeration, this paper adopts the threshold regression method to investigate the differentiated influence of industrial agglomeration stages on pollution emission reduction. This was based on panel data from 2003 to 2016 on 285 prefecture-level cities in China. The result indicates that moderate degrees of industrial agglomeration and suitable agglomeration modes are conducive for the reduction of pollution emission. From a perspective of environmental protection, the development of diversified agglomeration is superior to that of specialized agglomeration. Specifically, a “U-shaped” relationship was found between specialized agglomeration and environmental pollution, suggesting that the former first mitigated and then worsened environmental pollution. This staged evolution of diversified agglomeration exerts a more-complex influence on environmental pollution. The following policy implications have been proposed: The currently implemented industrial growth pole strategy in China should fully utilize the “self-purification” effect of agglomeration to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction. Furthermore, differentiated agglomeration policies should be formulated in response to various growth poles according to different stages of industrial agglomeration. In addition, efforts should be made towards creating an interactive early warning mechanism for the spatial distribution of both economic activities and pollution. Full article

14 pages, 508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Initiatives Adoption and Environmental Performance of Public Listed Companies in Malaysia

by Nor Azah Abdul Aziz, Tze San Ong, Soon Yau Foong, Rosmila Senik and Hassan Attan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2003; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062003 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6737

Abstract

Environmental issues bring about thoughtful questions on the roles of business organisations in society. Irrespective of whether they are contributing to a better environment or worsening it, organisations have to acknowledge environmental or green issues through impact research and measurement. This article aims [...] Read more.

Environmental issues bring about thoughtful questions on the roles of business organisations in society. Irrespective of whether they are contributing to a better environment or worsening it, organisations have to acknowledge environmental or green issues through impact research and measurement. This article aims to examine the extent of green initiatives adoption and its impact on environmental performance of public listed companies (PLCs) in Malaysia. A questionnaire survey was conducted on PLCs and data from 120 samples were analysed using a statistical tool partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Interviews were also conducted with a few selected companies to obtain in-depth information on green practices and to support the survey findings. The findings reveal that the extent of green initiatives adoption and environmental performance is at moderate level. Green initiatives adoption positively affects the environmental performance of Malaysian PLCs. The present study contributes to the literature of environmental management in the context of green and sustainable development. It also provides some important contributions for management practices by providing empirical evidence to managers that green initiatives should be extensively adopted to enhance environmental performances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Sustainable Competitive Strategies)

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15 pages, 3359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Sustainability through Corrosion Resistance of Reinforced Concrete by Using a Manufactured Blended Cement and Fly Ash

by Hector Gerardo Campos Silva, Pedro Garces Terradillos, Emilio Zornoza, Jose Manuel Mendoza-Rangel, Pedro Castro-Borges and Cesar Antonio Juarez Alvarado

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062004 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4321

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to report the improvement of sustainability through the increase of reinforced concrete corrosion resistance by using a blended cement and fly ash. Different reinforced concrete mixtures were prepared with partial substitution of a manufactured blended cement with [...] Read more.

The objective of this paper is to report the improvement of sustainability through the increase of reinforced concrete corrosion resistance by using a blended cement and fly ash. Different reinforced concrete mixtures were prepared with partial substitution of a manufactured blended cement with fly ash from a thermal power plant in Andorra (Teruel, Spain). These mixtures were manufactured using three different water/cement ratios (0.46, 0.59, and 0.70) and three substitution percentages of cement by fly ash (0%, 25%, and 50%). The test cylinders underwent an accelerated carbonation process and exposure to different chloride levels, with the aim of characterizing the corrosion level of the different mixtures. The addition of local FA matched or even improved the resistance of the control mixture against carbonation and chlorides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cementitious Materials for the Construction Industry)

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19 pages, 1113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research Field

by Paul Sarango-Lalangui, Jane Lucia S. Santos and Esther Hormiga

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2005; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062005 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 114 | Viewed by 13252

Abstract

Sustainable entrepreneurship has received substantial recognition from academics and practitioners in the last decade, with a noticeable and rapidly increases of publications on the topic. Through bibliometric techniques and tools, this study allows mapping the main academic literature on sustainable entrepreneurship and analyzes [...] Read more.

Sustainable entrepreneurship has received substantial recognition from academics and practitioners in the last decade, with a noticeable and rapidly increases of publications on the topic. Through bibliometric techniques and tools, this study allows mapping the main academic literature on sustainable entrepreneurship and analyzes the most substantial contributions to the advances of research in this field. The chronological analysis of literature from the Web of Science-Social Sciences Citation Index (WoS-SSCI) database—until January 2018—provides new insights not previously reviewed, such as the journals, authors and articles more influential so far. As a result, 282 articles were retrieved, which were published in 140 journals and written by 663 authors affiliated to 413 institutions, from 50 countries. The analysis allowed identifying publication evolution over time, and provides clues about the opportunities for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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27 pages, 2555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy of China Thermal Power Enterprises’ Business Performance Considering Environmental Costs under the Background of Carbon Trading

by Xiaohua Song, Xiao Jiang, Xubei Zhang and Jinpeng Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2006; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062006 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3735

Abstract

With the development of China’s energy structure adjustment and energy conservation and emission reduction, China’s carbon trading market has been fully launched. As an important participant in the carbon trading market, thermal power enterprises that play a major role in China’s power supply [...] Read more.

With the development of China’s energy structure adjustment and energy conservation and emission reduction, China’s carbon trading market has been fully launched. As an important participant in the carbon trading market, thermal power enterprises that play a major role in China’s power supply structure may bear huge environmental cost pressures, including carbon transaction costs. Under such a circumstance, thermal power enterprises urgently need to ensure operating performance through environmental cost management. This article takes the thermal performance of Chinese thermal power companies under the background of carbon trading as the study object, designs a measurement method for the environmental costs of thermal power companies, and analyzes the influence mechanism of the environmental cost based on the principle of system dynamics. Relying on the correlation analysis between environmental costs and business performance of thermal power companies, the company’s business performance is evaluated by data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency. After reaching the study conclusion, the article proposes an optimization strategy for thermal enterprises to manage and control their environmental cost and business performance. This paper closely integrates the actual background of carbon trading, including carbon transaction costs into environmental costs, and conducts an econometric analysis. It constructs a composite measurement of environmental costs that accounts for carbon transaction costs and conducts performance evaluations of power generation companies based on factors such as environmental costs, which all has a certain degree of innovation. Full article

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16 pages, 1752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study on Effective Tax Rate and CEO Promotion: Evidence from Local SOEs in China

by Kai Wang, Haomin Zhang, Sang-Bing Tsai, Jin Jiang, Yun Sun and Jiangtao Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062007 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3587

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of effective tax payment on the CEO promotion in local State Owned Enterprise (SOE) in China. Based on the analysis of listed local SOEs in China from 2004 to 2010, this paper tests the relationship between CEO promotion [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the influence of effective tax payment on the CEO promotion in local State Owned Enterprise (SOE) in China. Based on the analysis of listed local SOEs in China from 2004 to 2010, this paper tests the relationship between CEO promotion and tax payment. In addition, the moderating effect of pyramid layer is tested. This paper finds that there is a significant positive relationship between Effective Tax Rate (ETR) and CEO promotion, which suggests that CEOs may be aggressive in tax payment to please the local governments, who ultimately own the local SOEs. The current paper also finds that the relationship between ETR and CEO promotion is weakened as pyramid layers increase. Our conclusions enrich the literature on CEO turnover and the role of pyramid structure. The conclusions are also helpful for the SOEs’ reform in China and other developing countries. First, this paper is among the first to investigate the relationship between ETR and CEO turnover. Second, this paper highlights the function of pyramid structure in mitigating government intervention. Third, this paper also adds to the research on effective tax. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)

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16 pages, 493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Green Lending on Credit Risk in China

by Yujun Cui, Sean Geobey, Olaf Weber and Haiying Lin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2008; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062008 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 161 | Viewed by 21752

Abstract

This study explores China’s green credit policy from a credit risk perspective. Green finance has been growing rapidly in China since the government issued its Green Credit Policy. The objective of this study is to explore whether green loans are less risky than [...] Read more.

This study explores China’s green credit policy from a credit risk perspective. Green finance has been growing rapidly in China since the government issued its Green Credit Policy. The objective of this study is to explore whether green loans are less risky than non-green loans. Based on a five-year dataset of 24 Chinese banks, we used panel regression techniques, including two-stage least square regression analysis and random-effect panel regression to examine whether a higher green credit ratio reduces a bank’s non-performing loan ratio (NPL ratio). The results suggest that allocating more green loans to the total loan portfolio does reduce a bank’s NPL ratio. We conclude that institutional pressure by the Chinese Green Credit Policy has a positive effect on both the environmental and the financial performance of banks. The study contributes to the literature on the correlation between green lending and credit risks, as well as to the literature on the impact of institutional pressure on environmental and financial risks. Full article

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19 pages, 2014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Re-Evaluation of the Impacts of Dietary Preferences on Macroinvertebrate Trophic Sources: An Analysis of Seaweed Bed Habitats Using the Integration of Stable Isotope and Observational Data

by Xijie Zhou, Yumeng Liu, Kai Wang, Jing Zhao, Xu Zhao and Shouyu Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2010; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062010 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3644

Abstract

Stable isotope analyses of food webs have been used in previous decades to determine trophic sources and food web structures. The use of stable isotope models to estimate consumption contributions is based on a type of multivariate beta distribution called the Dirichlet distribution. [...] Read more.

Stable isotope analyses of food webs have been used in previous decades to determine trophic sources and food web structures. The use of stable isotope models to estimate consumption contributions is based on a type of multivariate beta distribution called the Dirichlet distribution. The Dirichlet distribution does not conclude the p_i = 0 and p_i = 1 situation. Thus, scientists have previously assumed that every potential trophic source contributes to consumption in stable isotope models. However, animals have dietary preferences and some trophic resources may not contribute to consumption. Less is known about the effects of species-specific dietary processes on stable isotope analyses, especially in regard to trophic contribution estimation. In this study, we develop methods to determine consumers’ “real potential trophic sources” and “discrimination factors” using lab-based observations and lab-based discrimination experiments. We describe a dietary process-based stable isotope mixing model (D-SIMM) that integrates lab-based dietary preference observations and the stable isotope mixing model (SIMM) to estimate trophic contributions. Then, we present the application of D-SIMM on three representative macroinvertebrate species in our study area (sea urchin: Anthocidaris crassispina (A. crassispina); gastropod: Turbo cornutus (T. cornutus); and mussel: Septifer virgatus (S. virgatus)) to re-evaluate source-consumer contributions. Thus, we compare the differences between the source contribution estimation results of SIMM and D-SIMM by calculating the standardized convex hull area (TA) of species-specific trophic sources and the consumer standard ellipses area (SEA) of the potential trophic source group. Three examples illustrate significant differences in species-specific dietary preferences between consumers, resulting in systematic difference for TA, SEA and trophic source contribution estimation results between SIMM and D-SIMM. As such, D-SIMM explains p_i = 0 of certain trophic sources, which often causes uncertainty and is ignored in previous SIMM research. In addition, species-specific discrimination factors should be noticed during trophic source estimation. For estimation of the trophic contribution of source-consumers, our findings imply that the dietary preferences of consumers should be fully considered before SIMM analysis, and that D-SIMM is a more ecological process and robust measure. Additionally, we found high macroalgae (MAC) coverage in seaweed beds and a high detritus contribution of MAC to sedimentary organic matter (SOM). These findings, combined with the high contributions of MAC and SOM to consumers, suggest that MAC and its debris are the basal trophic sources for gastropods, sea urchins and mussels in seaweed bed habitats. The conservation of seaweed beds should be fully considered to ensure sustainable utilization of shellfish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecosystems: Monitoring, Management, Restoration, Preservation, and Valuation)

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26 pages, 3943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Potential Business Benefits of Ecodesign Implementation: A Logic Model Approach

by Vinícius P. Rodrigues, Daniela C. A. Pigosso, Jakob W. Andersen and Tim C. McAloone

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062011 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7064

Abstract

The business benefits attained from ecodesign programs in manufacturing companies have been regularly documented by several studies from both the academic and corporate spheres. However, there are still significant challenges for adopting ecodesign, especially regarding the evaluation of these potential business benefits prior [...] Read more.

The business benefits attained from ecodesign programs in manufacturing companies have been regularly documented by several studies from both the academic and corporate spheres. However, there are still significant challenges for adopting ecodesign, especially regarding the evaluation of these potential business benefits prior to the actual ecodesign implementation. To address such gap, this study proposes an exploratory and theory-driven framework based on logic models to support the development of business cases for ecodesign implementation. The objective is to offer an outlook into how ecodesign implementation can potentially affect key corporate performance outcomes. This paper is based on a three-stage research methodology with six steps. Two full systematic literature reviews were performed, along with two thematic analyses and a grounded theory approach with the aim of developing the business case framework, which was then evaluated by seven industry experts. This research contributes to the literature of ecodesign especially by laying out an ecodesign-instantiated logic model, which is readily available to be adapted and customized for further test and use in practice. Discussions on the usefulness and applicability of the framework and directions for future research are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marketing and Sustainability)

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20 pages, 485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Addressing Climate Change in Responsible Research and Innovation: Recommendations for Its Operationalization

by Ivan Ligardo-Herrera, Tomás Gómez-Navarro, Edurne A. Inigo and Vincent Blok

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2012; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062012 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4619

Abstract

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has only lately included environmental sustainability as a key area for the social desirability of research and innovation. That is one of the reasons why just a few RRI projects and proposals include environmental sustainability, and Climate Change [...] Read more.

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has only lately included environmental sustainability as a key area for the social desirability of research and innovation. That is one of the reasons why just a few RRI projects and proposals include environmental sustainability, and Climate Change (CC) in particular. CC is one of the grand challenges of our time and, thus, this paper contributes to the operationalization of CC prevention in RRI. To this end, the tools employed against CC were identified. Tools originated in corporate social responsibility and sustainable innovation which help to operationalize strategies against CC in RRI practice. Complementarily, the latest proposals by RRI projects and actors related to CC were reviewed. The findings of the document analysis and the web review were arranged in a framework intended for research and innovation that has an indirect but relevant negative impact due to CC. Thus, four main strategies for CC prevention in RRI were determined: a voluntary integration of the aims, a life cycle perspective, open access databases and key performance indicators, and stakeholder management. The article is finished acknowledging diverse barriers hindering the operationalization of CC prevention in RRI, and we introduce future avenues for research in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

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18 pages, 1878 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Infrastructure on Land Use and Land Cover Change (LUCC): The Case of Hangzhou International Airport, China

by Changsheng Xiong, Volker Beckmann and Rong Tan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062013 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6145

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the land use and land cover change (LUCC) of major infrastructure construction as exemplified by the case of Hangzhou International Airport (HIA, Hangzhou, China), which is one of the busiest airports in Eastern China. The airport’s effect [...] Read more.

This paper presents an analysis of the land use and land cover change (LUCC) of major infrastructure construction as exemplified by the case of Hangzhou International Airport (HIA, Hangzhou, China), which is one of the busiest airports in Eastern China. The airport’s effect on LUCC is evaluated by comparing the actual pattern from 1996 to 2001 with a counterfactual simulated land use pattern that would have occurred without the intervention of airport construction. This research is based on land use maps from Landsat images that were analyzed by supervised classification and visual interpretation. To simulate the land use pattern occurring without airport construction, the counterfactual, we applied a cellular automata (CA)–Markov model. Through before and after comparison, we found that cultivated land has decreased and that constructed land has increased because of airport construction. However, according to the counterfactual scenario, airport construction to some extent prevented a decrease in cultivated land and decelerated the expansion of constructed land at a small scale and in the short term. We discuss several reasons for this result, including governmental regulations, such as the setting of the airport clearance area for the safety of plane take-off and landing, the adverse effects of aviation noise or pollution, which may limit the construction activities in the surrounding areas of the airport, and, importantly, the unique land use and land management system in China, mainly the cultivated land requisition-compensation balance policy. We conclude that (1) the counterfactual CA–Markov model simulation is a suitable and unbiased way of evaluating the effect of infrastructure on LUCC that can solve the deficiency in the previous literature relying on before and after comparisons and (2) regulatory, economic, and institutional factors should be considered when explaining and assessing the LUCC due to large infrastructure projects, such as airports, in China and in other countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions and Policies for Rural Land Conversion in the Quest for Sustainability)

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15 pages, 3452 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Two-Stage Coordinate Optimal Scheduling of Seawater Pumped Storage in Active Distribution Networks

by Ning Liang, Changhong Deng, Yahong Chen, Weiwei Yao, Dinglin Li, Man Chen and Peng Peng

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2014; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062014 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3025

Abstract

The percentage of penetration in renewable energy generation (REG) in distribution networks has dramatically increased. Variable speed seawater pumped storage, which has a large power controllable range and flexible modes of operation, is an important tool to be applied in distribution networks to [...] Read more.

The percentage of penetration in renewable energy generation (REG) in distribution networks has dramatically increased. Variable speed seawater pumped storage, which has a large power controllable range and flexible modes of operation, is an important tool to be applied in distribution networks to realize peak shaving and valley filling, and to mitigate the negative effects of REG. This paper presents a two-stage coordinated optimal scheduling model for the day-ahead and real-time operation of active distribution networks containing seawater pumped storage, REG, and flexible loads. In the model, seawater pumped storage and flexible loads are dispatched in the first day-ahead stage based on short-term forecast information of REG and load demands to minimize total operational costs. Then in the second real-time stage, the operation schedule of seawater pumped storage is adjusted to mitigate the negative effects of forecast errors of REG on the operation of active distribution networks. Network nodes power quality is improved and power loss is reduced. Applying the model, disadvantages of low accuracy short-term forecast are minimized whereas advantages of high accuracy ultra-short term forecast are fully taken. This model is tested using a modified Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 33-bus system. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Energy Management for Smart Grids)

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15 pages, 418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Principal–Agent Leasing Model of “Company + n Farmers” under Two Division Modes

by Jianjun Yu, Xiaohuan Zheng, Yongwu Zhou and Qiongzhi Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2015; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062015 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

The principal–agent leasing model consisting of one risk-neutral company and n risk-averse farmers is proposed by taking into consideration the characteristics of contract-farming and the fulfilment issues existing in the production process of agricultural products. We also discuss the optimal incentive coefficients and [...] Read more.

The principal–agent leasing model consisting of one risk-neutral company and n risk-averse farmers is proposed by taking into consideration the characteristics of contract-farming and the fulfilment issues existing in the production process of agricultural products. We also discuss the optimal incentive coefficients and rents for n farmers under the two strategies of decentralization and concentration. The analysis suggests that the two division modes have no influence on the determination of the optimal effort level and the incentive coefficient of each party, and under the n farmers, the incentive coefficient given by the company to a single farmer household is not affected by the conditions of other farmer households. In terms of rent, land rent in the decentralized mode is strictly higher than land rent under the centralized mode. In the two modes of division, the total income of the company and the farmers is equal. Taking into account the randomness of the production process of agricultural products, the company will prefer to choose the centralized mode, and the farmers will tend to choose the decentralized mode in cooperation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainability: Supply Chain Collaboration and Governance)

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14 pages, 4221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Material Transitions and Associated Embodied Energy Input of Rural Buildings: Case Study of Qinyong Village in Ningbo China

by Wu Deng, Jing Xie and Zhen Peng

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2016; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062016 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3688

Abstract

From the early 1980s onward, construction practice in rural China has shown a gradual transformation from using locally available materials to urban-like and highly processed modern building materials. This transition may have a significant impact on a building’s environmental performance, such as its [...] Read more.

From the early 1980s onward, construction practice in rural China has shown a gradual transformation from using locally available materials to urban-like and highly processed modern building materials. This transition may have a significant impact on a building’s environmental performance, such as its indoor thermal comfort and embodied energy intensity. This paper examines three types of houses built in a village in China in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The research indicates that replacing traditional materials with modern ones has not improved the indoor thermal comfort equally with the increase of embodied energy input. Dismantling traditional houses to give way to new houses with modern materials is not the way to improve indoor thermal comfort. The buildings completed in the 1980s and the 1990s in rural China require special attention in future thermal retrofitting plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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18 pages, 11558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring and Modelling Coastal Vulnerability and Mitigation Proposal for an Archaeological Site (Kaulonia, Southern Italy)

by Diana Di Luccio, Guido Benassai, Gianluigi Di Paola, Carmen Maria Rosskopf, Luigi Mucerino, Raffaele Montella and Pasquale Contestabile

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2017; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062017 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4321

Abstract

This paper presents a Coastal Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) of a microtidal beach located on the Ionian Sea in Calabria region (southern Italy) in order to examine the influence of the different run-up equations on CVA score and propose mitigation measures for the most [...] Read more.

This paper presents a Coastal Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) of a microtidal beach located on the Ionian Sea in Calabria region (southern Italy) in order to examine the influence of the different run-up equations on CVA score and propose mitigation measures for the most vulnerable parts of the beach. The coastal area has been severely eroded by extreme wave storms, which have also damaged important archaeological structures located on a nearby cliff. A typical 1 year return period (T_r) storm, associated with the recent criticalities, was chosen to test the different run-up formulas (Holman (1986), Mase (1989) Stockdon et al. (2006) and Poate et al. (2016)) on a number of beach profiles in order to check the sensitivity of the CVA calculation with regard to the different run-up equations. The obtained results provide evidence that different run-up levels often give rise to different CVA scores. Based on vulnerability results, some mitigation measures have been proposed for the beach in front of the archaeological area, based on submerged detached breakwater and an adherent gabion wall for the cliff defence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Modelling Techniques for Sea Environment and Sustainable Development)

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14 pages, 4977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Footprint Assessment of Four Normal Size Hydropower Stations in China

by Ting Jiang, Zhenzhong Shen, Yang Liu and Yiyang Hou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2018; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062018 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5703

Abstract

The emission of Greenhouse gases (GHG) during the life cycle of four hydropower stations with installed capacity from 95 MW to 500 MW are assessed by the integrated GHG reservoir tool developed by International Hydropower Association. Model inputs are extracted from multi-source geographic [...] Read more.

The emission of Greenhouse gases (GHG) during the life cycle of four hydropower stations with installed capacity from 95 MW to 500 MW are assessed by the integrated GHG reservoir tool developed by International Hydropower Association. Model inputs are extracted from multi-source geographic datasets and construction planning documents. Three main conclusions are summarized: (1) In pre- and post-impoundment stages, areal GHG emission balance in reservoir area depends on the climate background, humid subtropical regions are more active than arid temperate regions. In the construction stage, emissions from fill, concrete and equipment account for more than 70% of the total. (2) GHG intensity falls rapidly when lifetime increases from 10 to 40 years and then drops slightly when lifetime becomes longer, which is 13.60 tCO₂e/GWh for 50 years and 8.13 tCO₂e/GWh for 100 years on average. The emission rates of hydropower stations with lower installed capacity are obviously large if they work for less than 30 years and differ less with stations possessing a higher installed capacity when their lifetime approaches 100 years. (3) Comparing with electricity generated by coal in China whose GHG intensity is 822 tCO₂e/GWh, hydroelectricity is almost 100 times more efficient and clean. Thus, hydropower station plays an important role in dealing with the global warming issue as a substitution for a fossil fuel power source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Life Cycle Assessment)

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14 pages, 382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theory of Reasoned Action as a Framework for Communicating Climate Risk: A Case Study of Schoolchildren in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam

by Quynh Anh Nguyen, Luc Hens, Charlotte MacAlister, Lester Johnson, Boripat Lebel, Sinh Bach Tan, Hung Manh Nguyen, The Ninh Nguyen and Louis Lebel

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2019; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062019 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 13876

Abstract

Communicating climate risks to vulnerable groups motivating them to take adaptive actions remains a significant challenge in many populations, especially to children. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) suggests that attitude and subjective norms are important for persuasive communication. This study assesses how [...] Read more.

Communicating climate risks to vulnerable groups motivating them to take adaptive actions remains a significant challenge in many populations, especially to children. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) suggests that attitude and subjective norms are important for persuasive communication. This study assesses how to apply TRA, its constructs and other relevant factors to predict behavior intention and beliefs and to change behavior tendency. The randomized field experiment method was applied to explore the differences between pre- and post-communication treatments (2 × 2 design). Can Tho city, located in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, was selected as the research context because of its vulnerability to climate change. The results show that, first, TRA was found to be a significant predictor model of children’s climate change behavior intentions. Second, attitude has a significant effect on the children’s intention to act while videos with subjective norm treatment had not. The treatment interaction of both constructs also had a significant effect. Third, TRA theory-based treatments are positively associated with changes in children’ salient beliefs on attitude and normative belief on social norm toward climate change. In addition, past practices, knowledge and gender are further factors that influence children’s behavior intentions. A theory-inspired design of communication strategy allows the prediction and influencing of intentions. This finding has strong implications for both research and development in Vietnam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Linkages Between acequia Farming and Rangeland Grazing in Traditional Agropastoral Communities of the Southwestern USA

by Stephanie C. López, Andrés F. Cibils, Ursula R. Smedly, Steven J. Guldan, Alexander G. Fernald, Carlos G. Ochoa, Kenneth G. Boykin and Lilian Cibils

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2021; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062021 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4000

Abstract

Many agropastoral systems worldwide are supported by important linkages between crop production and rangeland grazing. We explored the connections between smallholder farming and public rangeland grazing in northern New Mexico, USA. We retrieved historical data of livestock inventories, drought, and hay production which [...] Read more.

Many agropastoral systems worldwide are supported by important linkages between crop production and rangeland grazing. We explored the connections between smallholder farming and public rangeland grazing in northern New Mexico, USA. We retrieved historical data of livestock inventories, drought, and hay production which we analyzed using either ordinary least squares models, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models (GARCH), or exponential GARCH models. We also conducted a survey of farmers and ranchers (n = 74) of traditional communities in our study area using a mixed methods design. County hay production was the only predictor that explained year-to-year variation in allotment livestock numbers. Allotments that increased livestock numbers tended to have larger base properties (mostly irrigated cropland). Most survey respondents (95%) raised livestock and slightly more than half agreed that livestock provided better financial security than crops. Availability of summer grazing lands and ability to grow or purchase hay to feed livestock during winter were the factors cited least (6% of responses) and most (42%), respectively, as limiting farmers’ ability to increase their herd size. Livestock-raising apparently continues to be critical to the acequia agropastoral economy. Ability to acquire winter feed (hay) appears to regulate the demand for summer grazing on public forested rangelands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 1716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Environmental Impact of Onshore and Offshore Wind Farms in Texas

by Jesuina Chipindula, Venkata Sai Vamsi Botlaguduru, Hongbo Du, Raghava Rao Kommalapati and Ziaul Huque

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062022 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 94 | Viewed by 18965

Abstract

The last decade witnessed a quantum increase in wind energy contribution to the U.S. renewable electricity mix. Although the overall environmental impact of wind energy is miniscule in comparison to fossil-fuel energy, the early stages of the wind energy life cycle have potential [...] Read more.

The last decade witnessed a quantum increase in wind energy contribution to the U.S. renewable electricity mix. Although the overall environmental impact of wind energy is miniscule in comparison to fossil-fuel energy, the early stages of the wind energy life cycle have potential for a higher environmental impact. This study attempts to quantify the relative contribution of individual stages toward life cycle impacts by conducting a life cycle assessment with SimaPro^® and the Impact 2002+ impact assessment method. A comparative analysis of individual stages at three locations, onshore, shallow-water, and deep-water, in Texas and the gulf coast indicates that material extraction/processing would be the dominant stage with an average impact contribution of 72% for onshore, 58% for shallow-water, and 82% for deep-water across the 15 midpoint impact categories. The payback times for CO₂ and energy consumption range from 6 to 14 and 6 to 17 months, respectively, with onshore farms having shorter payback times. The greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) were in the range of 5–7 gCO₂eq/kWh for the onshore location, 6–9 CO₂eq/kWh for the shallow-water location, and 6–8 CO₂eq/kWh for the deep-water location. A sensitivity analysis of the material extraction/processing stage to the electricity sourcing stage indicates that replacement of lignite coal with natural gas or wind would lead to marginal improvements in midpoint impact categories. Full article

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14 pages, 1160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antecedents for College Students’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior: Implications for Collective Impact and Sustainable Tourism

by Yu Pan and Jian-Guo Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062024 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3853

Abstract

With the advent of mass tourism, tourism-related environmental problems are often reported in the news media. Tourists’ environmentally responsible behaviors (TERB) are critical for solving tourism environmental problems. This study argues that college students are a critical source of collective impact for tourism [...] Read more.

With the advent of mass tourism, tourism-related environmental problems are often reported in the news media. Tourists’ environmentally responsible behaviors (TERB) are critical for solving tourism environmental problems. This study argues that college students are a critical source of collective impact for tourism sustainability, and examines chained relationships that might determine college student TERB. Five hundred and twenty-five (525) college tourists were surveyed. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the relationships among the variables and the mediating effects. Results confirmed our proposed relationships of chained influences from tourism destination image (as key information) to tourist expectation (as cognition), to perceived quality and value (as experiences), to tourist satisfaction, loyalty, and complaints (as emotional reflection), and finally to TERB. Such results shed light on TERB education and construction, as well as on the collective impact for sustainable tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Impact and Sustainable Tourism)

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13 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Organic Cotton Apparel Purchase: A Comparison of Young Consumers in the U.S.A. and South Korea

by Tae-Im Han

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2025; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062025 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5675

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine consumers from distinct cultural groups and identify similarities and differences in their green purchase behaviors. The sample consisted of consumers from the U.S.A. and South Korea and the theory of planned behavior was used as [...] Read more.

The purpose of this research was to examine consumers from distinct cultural groups and identify similarities and differences in their green purchase behaviors. The sample consisted of consumers from the U.S.A. and South Korea and the theory of planned behavior was used as a theoretical framework to test the influence of diverse constructs on consumers’ purchase intentions toward organic cotton apparel. For both countries, perceived behavioral control (PBC) and descriptive norms were strong predictors of purchase intentions and injunctive norms strongly influenced attitude formation. However, the study also found different results between the two groups. For example, while attitude was the strongest predictor of purchase intentions in the U.S.A. group (strength of influence on intentions: attitude > descriptive norms > PBC > injunctive norms), it had an insignificant effect in the South Korea group. For the South Korea group descriptive norms and PBC had strongest effects on consumers purchase intentions (strength of influence on intentions: descriptive norms = PBC > injunctive norms > attitude). South Koreans were more affected by the social pressure: their purchase intentions were strongly influenced by both injunctive norms and descriptive norms in contrast to the findings from American consumers. Injunctive norms were an insignificant predictor of purchase intentions in the U.S.A. group. This result is consistent with previous research that suggest conformity is a crucial factor for people belonging to a collectivistic culture. Exposure of others’ purchasing behavior is particularly important in motivating consumers’ buying in collectivistic culture. Marketers of organic cotton apparel may consider using diverse formats of media to display consumers’ ethical buying behaviors or creating product design or packaging that can directly reveal the ethical features of the product to display greater exposure in the market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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16 pages, 830 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Doing Good Is Not Enough, You Should Have Been Authentic: Organizational Identification, Authentic Leadership and CSR

by Byung-Jik Kim, Mohammad Nurunnabi, Tae-Hyun Kim and Taejoong Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2026; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062026 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6526

Abstract

Previous studies on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational performance have emphasized how CSR influences the external stakeholders such as shareholders, customers, and local communities to explain the association. Thus, it is relatively less studied how CSR influences internal stakeholders, [...] Read more.

Previous studies on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational performance have emphasized how CSR influences the external stakeholders such as shareholders, customers, and local communities to explain the association. Thus, it is relatively less studied how CSR influences internal stakeholders, which ultimately accrue to organizational performance. Grounded on institutional theory which proposes that institutional enablers such as CSR activities affect macro-level outcomes (i.e., organizational performance) through micro-level mechanisms (i.e., attitudes or behaviors of members), we argue that internal processes are critical to explaining the CSR–performance link. Using 2-wave time-lagged survey data of 301 employees from various companies in South Korea, we first investigate how organizational identification (OI) mediates the CSR–performance link. In addition, we also investigate how authentic leadership moderates the link between CSR and OI. The results showed that OI is an important internal process that CSR enhances for organizational performance. In addition, authentic leadership positively moderated the effect of CSR on OI. Our results suggest that we need to understand “internal” intermediating mechanisms as well as critical contextual factors to elaborately explain the relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Developing Countries: Current Trends and Development)

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19 pages, 867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Relational Norms on User Interests in PPP Projects: Mediating Effect of Project Performance

by Xiaodan Zheng, Jingfeng Yuan, Jiyue Guo, Mirosław J. Skibniewski and Sujun Zhao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062027 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4024

Abstract

Protecting user interests is one of the most important public sector responsibilities in PPP (public-private partnership) projects. However, user interests could be damaged by poor project performance. Therefore, this study focuses on the protection of user interests in PPP projects and analyzes the [...] Read more.

Protecting user interests is one of the most important public sector responsibilities in PPP (public-private partnership) projects. However, user interests could be damaged by poor project performance. Therefore, this study focuses on the protection of user interests in PPP projects and analyzes the relationships among relational norms, project performance, and user interests in PPP projects. A questionnaire survey is conducted to collect the opinions of professionals from the public sector and private sector. Upon analyzing 109 valid questionnaires, the results demonstrate that the relational norms between the public sector and private sector have a positive effect on project performance, and project performance has a positive relationship on user interests. Moreover, project performance has a positive mediating effect on the relationships between relational norms and user interests. This finding can provide a theoretical foundation and suggest practical measures to help the public sector better protect user interests in PPP projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development)

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10 pages, 599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reuse of Animal Manure: A Case Study on Stakeholders’ Perceptions about Pelletized Compost in Northwestern Italy

by Niccolò Pampuro, Federica Caffaro and Eugenio Cavallo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062028 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7577

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating perceptions and preferences about the use and the chemical characteristics of pellets made from composted animal manure in a sample of Italian farmers and agricultural advisors (Piedmont region, Northwestern Italy). The study encompassed two different steps: At [...] Read more.

The present study aimed at investigating perceptions and preferences about the use and the chemical characteristics of pellets made from composted animal manure in a sample of Italian farmers and agricultural advisors (Piedmont region, Northwestern Italy). The study encompassed two different steps: At first, the participants were administered a questionnaire about their actual use of pellets and preferences about their chemical characteristics. Then, a subgroup participated into a hands-on experience with different pelletized animal manures and some final questions. Concerning the use of pellets made from composted animal manure, even if the participants affirmed to be interested in using organic pellets and declared to own the appropriate equipment needed for their application, the results indicated that pelletized compost utilization had not yet become a common practice for agricultural crops. The obtained results highlighted a lack of knowledge, especially among farmers, about the importance of some chemical properties of this pelletized organic material. The participants, both farmers and advisors, were particularly attracted by the total nitrogen content of organic pelletized fertilizers, probably because the supplying of nutrients, nitrogen particularly, is the function of fertilizers they were interested in the most due to its direct connection with crop production. The hands-on session allowed the participants to better understand the benefits of the principal chemical properties—organic matter and carbon to nitrogen ratio—of pelletized animal manure compost. On the other hand, organic matter content and carbon to nitrogen ratio, more related with biological fertility and biodiversity of soils, are immediately less interesting and, as the hands-on experience pointed out, require more effort to be appreciated by agricultural operators. Targeted information campaigns and training activities may be developed among the agricultural community to make them aware of the importance of increasing soil organic matter content, and the possible use of pelletized composted animal manure. Further studies should be addressed toward gaining more insights into the beneficial effects of the information and training activities for pelletized compost adoption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 3022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rethinking Rural Transformation Caused by Comprehensive Land Consolidation: Insight from Program of Whole Village Restructuring in Jiangsu Province, China

by Fu Chen, Man Yu, Fengwu Zhu, Chunzhu Shen, Shaoliang Zhang and Yongjun Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062029 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4874

Abstract

China has made great progress in its economy and urbanization in the past 30 years, but rural development has lagged behind the cities and the gap between urban and rural areas continues to widen. The Chinese government implemented the “Building New Countryside Plan” [...] Read more.

China has made great progress in its economy and urbanization in the past 30 years, but rural development has lagged behind the cities and the gap between urban and rural areas continues to widen. The Chinese government implemented the “Building New Countryside Plan” in 2006, which used a new policy of increasing the urban land quota linked with decreasing rural construction land to promote rural transformation and the coordinated development of the urban–rural area. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of rural transformation caused by comprehensive land consolidation and to improve the future practical operability of the policy, a field survey on 42 projects in Jiangsu Province was conducted from March–August 2016. The results of this study showed that: (1) Comprehensive land consolidation had a significant role in promoting rural transformation based on the premise of excluding the average growth rate and 88.1% of the project’s farmers’ income achieved a faster increase than other areas; (2) the increase in the farmer’s income was mainly attributed to non-agricultural income as non-agricultural employment was still a precondition for rural transformation and the degree of local industrialization and educational levels received by farmers were limited for rural transformation; (3) the transfer fees of the land quota were the key factor to maintain the financial balance between demolition and resettlement, but local land quota demand and government capacity in financial operations affected rural restructuring; and (4) the absence of rural social welfare systems significantly affected the land transfer rate. The above conclusions are helpful in understanding the dynamic mechanism of rural transformation, enriching the academic literature in related fields, and are of practical significance for rural revitalization in developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions and Policies for Rural Land Conversion in the Quest for Sustainability)

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24 pages, 1328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designing Learning for Sustainable Development: Digital Practices as Boundary Crossers and Predictors of Sustainable Lifestyles

by Andreja Istenic Starcic, Maja Terlevic, Lin Lin and Maja Lebenicnik

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062030 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6792

Abstract

Sustainable development (SD) is a multidimensional issue. However, research findings report a divide between students’ awareness and behavior. It is identified that study programs are designed more for awareness outcomes, and not so much for behavioral outcomes. For higher-order learning outcomes manifested in [...] Read more.

Sustainable development (SD) is a multidimensional issue. However, research findings report a divide between students’ awareness and behavior. It is identified that study programs are designed more for awareness outcomes, and not so much for behavioral outcomes. For higher-order learning outcomes manifested in a sustainable development behavior, the authors argue for a model based on an understanding of learning as boundary crossing. Based on this model, learning for sustainable development occurs in relating social practices, lifestyles, academic practices, professional practices, and students’ digital practices. To inform teachers’ approaches to teaching as an important driver of institutional change, we conducted a survey among students of urban and spatial planning in Slovenia. Examined factors included personal, academic, and digital predictors for sustainable development awareness, lifestyle, and behavioral intention. We hypothesized that a significant predictor for sustainable development behavior, which was measured as sustainable lifestyle and sustainable development behavioral intention, would be learning in social practices, and that learning in social practices would predict preferred teaching methods. The findings of hierarchical regression analysis indicated personal factors as the most important predictors of SD behavioral intention, and academic predictors as the most important factors for SD awareness. Digital practices were found to be the most important predictors of a sustainable lifestyle. Social practices of sustainable lifestyle, digital practices, and perceived teaching methods predicted students’ preferred teaching methods. We discuss the future directions of sustainable development education, considering digital social media practices as essential boundary crossers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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23 pages, 2595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green City Concept and a Method to Measure Green City Performance over Time Applied to Fifty Cities Globally: Influence of GDP, Population Size and Energy Efficiency

by Ogenis Brilhante and Jannes Klaas

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2031; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062031 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 91 | Viewed by 28271

Abstract

There are many concepts and methods trying to accommodate the growth of cities without impairing sustainability. However, most are too complex, cannot measure green performance over time and fail to deliver actionable advice to decision-makers. The Green City Concept (GCC) is one of [...] Read more.

There are many concepts and methods trying to accommodate the growth of cities without impairing sustainability. However, most are too complex, cannot measure green performance over time and fail to deliver actionable advice to decision-makers. The Green City Concept (GCC) is one of the latest of these concepts. This paper introduces a Green City Conceptual Framework (IHS-GCCF) and a harmonized method to measure Global Green City Performance over time (GGCPI). The IHS-GCCF highlights the importance of energy as a steward of resource efficiency and green performance. IHS-GCCF and GGCPI can be used to measure green performance, to explain possible factors influencing the calculated green performances over time, set targets and track achievements. They are adaptable to individual city needs. By applying the method to fifty cities worldwide through desk research, the paper shows that a green city is also sustainable and liveable. It also shows that GDP influences Green City Performances positively, population size influences it negatively and sanitation and air quality sectors influence green city performance the most. The paper addresses a range of gaps in the green city field. It consolidates prior research into one actionable conceptual framework and method. Full article

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20 pages, 2476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pricing Industrial Discharge Quota (IDQ): A Model Reflecting Opportunity Cost of Performing Ecological Responsibility

by Tengda Lu, Xieer Dai, Jun Chen and Ming Dai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062032 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2829

Abstract

The upper reaches of a river system are often trapped in the dilemma of choosing between industrial development and headwater protection. One of the solutions is eco-compensation, which, however, is a public-fiscal arrangement lacking inspiration and sustainability. Instead, industrial discharge quota (IDQ) was [...] Read more.

The upper reaches of a river system are often trapped in the dilemma of choosing between industrial development and headwater protection. One of the solutions is eco-compensation, which, however, is a public-fiscal arrangement lacking inspiration and sustainability. Instead, industrial discharge quota (IDQ) was put forward as a marketized approach: the maximum industrial discharge a river can afford is allocated as quotas and quotas are allowed to be traded. However, what pricing principle in the primary market can IDQ price refer to? How can enough incentives be given to local governments when they are reluctant to implement emission reduction policy? Given that some previous studies have proven the influence of fiscal income and reputation on governments’ incentives, this paper introduces these into our model as main factors. Through analysis, two models—government model and enterprise model—are formulated based on opportunity cost theory to deal with this problem. The first sets basic prices and the latter notifies enterprises’ behaviors. Then, this paper applies our first model to a sample region, Fogang County in Pearl River Basin. The results demonstrate that the upstream can obtain adequate compensation for their opportunity loss and local governments can be with strong motivation by our method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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32 pages, 6043 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scenario Analysis of Urban Road Transportation Energy Demand and GHG Emissions in China—A Case Study for Chongqing

by Xianchun Tan, Yuan Zeng, Baihe Gu, Yi Wang and Baoguang Xu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2033; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062033 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4673

Abstract

This study, using Chongqing City of China as an example, predicts the future motor vehicle population using the Gompertz Model and the motorcycle population using the piecewise regression model, and predicts and analyzes fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of motor vehicles [...] Read more.

This study, using Chongqing City of China as an example, predicts the future motor vehicle population using the Gompertz Model and the motorcycle population using the piecewise regression model, and predicts and analyzes fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of motor vehicles from 2016 to 2035 based on the bottom-up method under different scenarios of improving the fuel economy of conventional vehicles, promoting alternative fuel vehicles, and the mixed policy of the above two policy options. The results indicate that the total population of motor vehicles in Chongqing will increase from 4.61 million in 2015 to 10.15 million in 2035. In the business-as-usual scenario, the road-transportation energy demand in Chongqing will keep increasing from 2015 and will peak in 2030, before it begins to decline by 2035. The trends for the tank to wheel (TTW) and well to wheel (WTW) GHG emissions are similar to that of energy demand. The WTW GHG emissions will increase from 24.9 Mt CO₂e in 2016 to 50.5 Mt CO₂e in 2030 and will then gradually decline to 48.9 Mt CO₂e in 2035. Under the policy scenarios of improving fuel economy of conventional fuel passenger cars, promoting alternative fuel vehicles, and their mixed policy, direct energy consumption and TTW and WTW GHG emissions from 2016 to 2035 will be reduced to different levels. It is also found that the two types of policies have a hedging effect on the direct energy-consumption saving, TTW, and WTW GHG emission reductions. Sensitivity analysis of key parameters and policy settings is conducted to investigate the impact of their changes on the vehicle population projection, direct energy demand, and WTW GHG emissions. Some policy implications are suggested to provide reference for the formulation and adjustment of Chongqing’s, or even China’s, low-carbon road transportation policies in the future based on the analysis results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 2764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Energy System with Optimized Storage for Improvement of Sustainability in a Small Town

by Fengchang Jiang, Haiyan Xie and Oliver Ellen

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062034 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3540

Abstract

With the rise of renewable energy comes significant challenges and benefits. The current studies on the incorporation of renewable-energy policies and energy-storage technologies attempt to address the optimization of hybrid energy systems (HESs). However, there is a gap between the currents needs of [...] Read more.

With the rise of renewable energy comes significant challenges and benefits. The current studies on the incorporation of renewable-energy policies and energy-storage technologies attempt to address the optimization of hybrid energy systems (HESs). However, there is a gap between the currents needs of HES in small towns for energy independence and the understanding of integrated optimization approaches for employing the technology. The purpose of this research is to determine the technical, systematic and financial requirements needed to allow a city or community to become independent of the utilization of traditional energy and develop a reliable program for a clean and environment-friendly energy supply. This paper presents the sensitivity analysis and Bayesian prediction (SABP) method for the optimized design of a hybrid photo-voltaic wind energy system. This method uses the actual data to analyze and compare the main, optimized and desired scenarios of HES designs. The results show that optimized design can minimize the cost of the energy generated while reliably matching local electricity demand. The SABP system helps to eliminate the dependence on traditional energy resources, reduce transition costs by purchasing electricity, and decrease the financial burden of a small city. Full article

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10 pages, 698 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pet Food as the Most Concrete Strategy for Using Food Waste as Feedstuff within the European Context: A Feasibility Study

by Marta Castrica, Doriana E. A. Tedesco, Sara Panseri, Giovanni Ferrazzi, Vera Ventura, Dario G. Frisio and Claudia M. Balzaretti

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2035; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062035 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 10597

Abstract

Food loss and waste have a negative environmental impact due to the water, land, energy and other natural resources used to produce the wasted food, along with post-consumption disposal costs. Reducing food waste will thus help improve sustainability and decrease the environmental impact [...] Read more.

Food loss and waste have a negative environmental impact due to the water, land, energy and other natural resources used to produce the wasted food, along with post-consumption disposal costs. Reducing food waste will thus help improve sustainability and decrease the environmental impact of the food system. Using food waste for animal feed is of growing importance in terms of the policies targeted at tackling food waste but the current legal framework in the European Union (EU) strongly restricts the possibility of using food waste for this purpose. The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of innovative measures for feed production in the EU and to identify the best strategies to implement them. First, a technical evaluation of a case study is presented, which is a process developed in the United States for urban food waste transformation into animal feed. Second, there is an analysis of the potential application of this process in the European Union within the current legal framework. The results reveal that the feed product derived from food waste is compliant with EU safety requirements and is nutritionally valuable. This work also suggests that the implementation of this kind of process in the European Union has great potential, provided that food surplus is recovered and treated before it turns into waste and that the different types of food surplus identified are used as feed for the right animal type in accordance with European legislation (i.e., livestock, aquarium fish, pets). On these terms, pet food can be the most concrete strategy for using food waste within the European context. In general, the implementation of feed-from-food measures to reduce food waste in Europe is already possible and does not need to wait for further policy interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Methods for Food Waste Valorization)

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16 pages, 1487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Shanghai Consumer Preferences for Electric Vehicles and Their Attributes

by Yongyou Nie, Enci Wang, Qinxin Guo and Junyi Shen

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062036 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 6239

Abstract

In this study, we conducted a stated choice survey in Shanghai in order to examine the attitudes of Shanghai residents towards electric vehicles and their attributes. Multinomial Logit and Random Parameter Logit models were used to analyze the response data for three samples—the [...] Read more.

In this study, we conducted a stated choice survey in Shanghai in order to examine the attitudes of Shanghai residents towards electric vehicles and their attributes. Multinomial Logit and Random Parameter Logit models were used to analyze the response data for three samples—the full sample, a subsample of potential electric vehicle purchasers, and a subsample of unlikely electric vehicle purchasers. We found that the respondents in each of the three groups preferred electric vehicles with a longer driving range, a shorter charging time, a faster maximum speed, lower pollution emissions, lower fuel cost, and a lower price. However, an overlong driving range seems not to be a must for potential electric vehicles (EV) purchasers. In addition, a comparison of the two subsamples showed that potential electric vehicle purchasers were willing to pay more than their counterparts for enhancing vehicle attributes. We also investigated the determinants of likely electric vehicle purchase and found a number of demographic characteristics that were statistically significant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Environment in Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation. The Case of Family Firms

by Felipe Hernández-Perlines and Manuel Alejandro Ibarra Cisneros

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2037; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062037 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6240

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of the environment in the sustainable entrepreneurial orientation on the international performance of family firms. The results have been analyzed with Partial Least Squares regression. The three most important contributions of this work are: (1) The definition of [...] Read more.

This study analyzes the role of the environment in the sustainable entrepreneurial orientation on the international performance of family firms. The results have been analyzed with Partial Least Squares regression. The three most important contributions of this work are: (1) The definition of sustainable business orientation as a third-order composite that integrates entrepreneurial orientation and corporate social responsibility is adequate as it presents appropriate values of reliability and validity; (2) entrepreneurial orientation is the main component of sustainable entrepreneurial orientation, with having corporate social responsibility a plus for entrepreneurial orientation; and (3) sustainable entrepreneurial orientation manages to explain 58.6% of the variability in the international performance of family firms and, finally, the environment has a positive moderating role, increasing up to 73.5%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Cases for a Sustainable Accounting and Financial System)

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13 pages, 264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Improve Sustainable Competitive Advantage from the Distributor and the Supplier Networks: Evidence from the Paper-Making Industry in China

by Haifeng Wang, Pengfei Han and Weishu Liu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2038; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062038 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3482

Abstract

Confronted with urgent green requirements from customers and government, firms in high pollution and high resource-consuming industries must make changes and adopt green strategies as well as knowledge-management strategies to develop and sell green products to improve sustainable competitive advantage. To study how [...] Read more.

Confronted with urgent green requirements from customers and government, firms in high pollution and high resource-consuming industries must make changes and adopt green strategies as well as knowledge-management strategies to develop and sell green products to improve sustainable competitive advantage. To study how to leverage social networks to improve sustainable competitive advantage, our article sheds light on the effects of structural holes in the distributor network as well as in the supplier network and explores how mutual trust could moderate the impact of structural holes in both networks. Based on data from 122 matched pairs of suppliers and distributors of a high-pollution and high-resource-consuming industry, the Chinese paper-making industry, our empirical results demonstrate the positive effects of structural holes in the distributor and the supplier networks on the distributor sustainable competitive advantage. In addition, mutual trust could negatively moderate the relationship between structural holes in the distributor network and the distributor sustainable competitive advantage, but would positively moderate the relationship between structural holes in the supplier network and the distributor sustainable competitive advantage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

17 pages, 14508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Value Discovery of Land Consolidation Projects: An Empirical Analysis of Shanghai, China

by Yishao Shi, Xiangyang Cao, Dongmei Fu and Yuncai Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2039; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062039 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4140

Abstract

The purpose of land consolidation is to promote moderately sized agricultural operations, intensive land use, concentrated population living and agglomerated industrial development. Previous research has primarily been macro- or mesoscale studies based on land ledger data, and analyzed only the effect of land [...] Read more.

The purpose of land consolidation is to promote moderately sized agricultural operations, intensive land use, concentrated population living and agglomerated industrial development. Previous research has primarily been macro- or mesoscale studies based on land ledger data, and analyzed only the effect of land consolidation on landscape ecological changes, only the resource and economic effects, or social effects or environmental effects of land consolidation. Aimed at addressing these shortcomings, an empirical analysis on the micro-scale based on land use patch data rather than land ledger data was conducted. Then, comprehensive research on land consolidation projects by integrating landscape pattern analysis with production, living, and ecological benefit assessments was performed. Furthermore, the relationship between land consolidation projects and the “Three Concentrations” policy was considered. The results show that: (1) land consolidation has directly or indirectly improved landscape ecological patterns of the project area; and (2) land consolidation has clearly improved the balanced distribution of cultivated land and the concentrated distribution of construction land in the project area. These changes not only improve the living conditions of farmers but also meet the construction requirements of the “Three Concentrations” in the Shanghai metropolitan suburbs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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21 pages, 976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socially-Inclusive Development and Value Creation: How a Composting Project in Galicia (Spain) ‘Hit the Rocks’

by Paul Swagemakers, Maria Dolores Dominguez Garcia and Johannes S. C. Wiskerke

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062040 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5548

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of commoning in circular economies, and explores how commons reproduce over time. The starting point is that commoning can have an important role in fostering circular economies and sustainable and socially-inclusive development. By commoning, we refer to local [...] Read more.

This paper introduces the concept of commoning in circular economies, and explores how commons reproduce over time. The starting point is that commoning can have an important role in fostering circular economies and sustainable and socially-inclusive development. By commoning, we refer to local stakeholders working collectively to preserve or restore their natural resource base to generate benefits that are locally shared. Through the analysis of a specific case of a group of commoners’ associations in Galicia (Spain), the paper describes and discusses the development, and ultimate unravelling, of an innovative and decentralized waste management project to convert waste biomass from the monte (often-neglected upland green spaces, largely consisting of brush and trees) into compost. In order to make this composting project economically viable the possibility of collecting and processing urban green waste was also explored. While the project’s application of the principles of a circular economy had the potential to bring locally-shared economic and ecological benefits, and foster territorial prosperity and resilience, it was ultimately frustrated by questions of scale, administrative and regulatory barriers, competing and conflicting land-use claims and financial cutbacks in the public sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Circular Economy: Commons or Commodity?)

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20 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Distribution of Residual Controls and Risk Sharing: A Case Study of Farmland Transfer in China

by Hongyun Han and Hanning Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2041; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062041 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2828

Abstract

Structuring contracts to share interest and risk is the central premise of farmland transfer, yet the contract framework and its determinants have rarely been empirically tested based on micro-level data. In this study, we aim to examine factors underlying the balanced distribution of [...] Read more.

Structuring contracts to share interest and risk is the central premise of farmland transfer, yet the contract framework and its determinants have rarely been empirically tested based on micro-level data. In this study, we aim to examine factors underlying the balanced distribution of residual controls and risk sharing on contract framework by using field surveyed data of 353 individual farmland transfer contracts. Our evidence shows that the policy of farmland property rights registration has a significant effect on the contract framework and supports the implication of enforcement costs exerted by the effects of the scale ratio and the contract form, contract duration, conversion way, and long-lived assets input. Although our findings fail to support the typical implication of risk sharing as an explanation of contract framework of farmland transfer, given the symmetric positions of two contracted parties of rural farmer households, it is proved that right confirmation and contract duration are two important factors underlying contract options. Full article

13 pages, 2439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards an Impact Evaluation Framework to Measure Urban Resilience in Food Practices

by Catherine Dezio and Davide Marino

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062042 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3962

Abstract

The relationship among agriculture, food and cities is experiencing profound transformations that led us to reflect on causes and processes. Our research questions regarded the role of agriculture and food in territorial resilience, the relationship between global problems and local solutions (i.e., urban [...] Read more.

The relationship among agriculture, food and cities is experiencing profound transformations that led us to reflect on causes and processes. Our research questions regarded the role of agriculture and food in territorial resilience, the relationship between global problems and local solutions (i.e., urban scale), the relationship between the action scales and the results of a practice, and the means to measure the effectiveness of a practice. The following paper adopts the coevolutive approach, which recognizes territorial dynamics as products of biunivocal relations between social and environmental components. We also outline an impact evaluation framework for assessing territorial resilience of urban food systems. The paper includes an analysis conducted on 50 local practices regarding the relationship between food and city. This analysis was collected within the Observatory of Resilience Practices, a project funded by the Cariplo Foundation and conducted by the Polytechnic University of Milan. The paper concludes by suggesting implementation of the methodology for assessing the impact of practices, and includes broader reasoning regarding the role of local bottom-up practices in territorial governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Sustainability of Urban Agriculture: Methodological Advances and Case Studies)

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18 pages, 1493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barcelona, Housing Rent Bubble in a Tourist City. Social Responses and Local Policies

by Asunción Blanco-Romero, Macià Blázquez-Salom and Gemma Cànoves

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062043 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 120 | Viewed by 17919

Abstract

Ten years after the housing bubble burst, Barcelona has experienced an increase in rental prices. This increase in prices is due to a combination of factors such as household debt, urban entrepreneurialism and the marketing of the city, evictions, investment by speculative capital, [...] Read more.

Ten years after the housing bubble burst, Barcelona has experienced an increase in rental prices. This increase in prices is due to a combination of factors such as household debt, urban entrepreneurialism and the marketing of the city, evictions, investment by speculative capital, changes in tenancy and an increase in rental housing for tourists. Overcrowding from tourists is gaining ground as a concern in multifunctional cities. Through an analysis of statistics and in-depth interviews with qualified agents, it is possible to observe how social struggles and unsustainability have outraged citizens and pitted them against overcrowding from tourism and the commodification of the city. The local administration of Barcelona has tried to respond to the situation by initiating a process of regulation through urban and tourism planning. Our analysis shows that these actions are of great importance but are not enough to alleviate some of the drawbacks, such as the shortage of rental housing and an excess of hotel beds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Tourism)

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17 pages, 7092 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimum Size Selection of CHP Retrofitting in Existing UK Hotel Building

by Abdulazeez Rotimi, Ali Bahadori-Jahromi, Anastasia Mylona, Paulina Godfrey and Darren Cook

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062044 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4252

Abstract

Several studies have highlighted Combine Heat and Power (CHP) systems to be one of the proven and reliable technologies that can improve the efficiency of heat and electricity generation. The extensive adoption of this type of technology is crucial in reducing building emissions [...] Read more.

Several studies have highlighted Combine Heat and Power (CHP) systems to be one of the proven and reliable technologies that can improve the efficiency of heat and electricity generation. The extensive adoption of this type of technology is crucial in reducing building emissions globally and in the U.K. This work uses a dynamic simulation software to evaluate the effect of CHP on the energy performance of an existing U.K. hotel and subsequently an approach to aid in the selection of optimum CHP size. The outcome of the study indicated that CHP systems in hotel buildings can provide considerable economic and environmental benefits with either maximally-sized CHP founded on the building’s base heat demand or with reduced CHP size of more than 50% smaller than the estimated maximum size. The optimum size design can be obtained through evaluation of the relationship between the main performance parameters and their variation with CHP sizes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Various Energy Efficiency Measures on the Thermal and Energy Performance of Buildings)

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16 pages, 224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pre-Disaster Social Capital and Disaster Recovery in Wenchuan Earthquake-Stricken Rural Communities

by Jianwen Wei and Yang Han

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062046 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4429

Abstract

This study examined the impact of social capital on disaster recovery in the 2008 earthquake-stricken rural communities in Wenchuan, China. The results show that quake-affected households having more social capital recovered more easily and quickly from disasters. A larger network significantly increased the [...] Read more.

This study examined the impact of social capital on disaster recovery in the 2008 earthquake-stricken rural communities in Wenchuan, China. The results show that quake-affected households having more social capital recovered more easily and quickly from disasters. A larger network significantly increased the amount of government aid received for housing reconstruction. This indicates that network members assist the quake-affected households to apply for and obtain government aid. These findings imply that social capital, as a kind of non-institutionalized social force, facilitates earthquake-affected households’ recovery from disaster in rural China. Based on these results, this study suggests that policymakers should pay special attention to improving the social capital of existing local households to improve disaster recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disasters, Crisis, Hazards, Emergencies and Sustainable Development)

16 pages, 1096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Garden Pollinators and the Potential for Ecosystem Service Flow to Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture

by Gail Ann Langellotto, Andony Melathopoulos, Isabella Messer, Aaron Anderson, Nathan McClintock and Lucas Costner

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062047 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 12014

Abstract

Hedgerows, flowering strips, and natural areas that are adjacent to agricultural land have been shown to benefit crop production, via the provision of insect pollinators that pollinate crops. However, we do not yet know the extent to which bee habitat in the form [...] Read more.

Hedgerows, flowering strips, and natural areas that are adjacent to agricultural land have been shown to benefit crop production, via the provision of insect pollinators that pollinate crops. However, we do not yet know the extent to which bee habitat in the form of urban gardens might contribute to pollination services in surrounding crops. We explored whether gardens might provision pollinators to adjacent agricultural areas by sampling bees from gardens in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, and estimating typical foraging distances in the context of commercial- and residential-scale pollination-dependent crops up to 1000 m from garden study sites. We estimate that garden bees could forage outside of the garden in which they were collected, and that when pollination-dependent crops (commercial-scale or residential-scale) are nearby, 30–50% of the garden bee community could potentially provide pollination services to adjacent crops, if urban bees readily cross boundaries and forage among habitat types. Urban gardens might thus be well-positioned to provision neighboring farms and food gardens with pollination services, or could serve as a refuge for pollinators when forage is scarce or crop management practices are inhospitable. The actual capacity of gardens to serve as a refuge for pollinators from agricultural fields depends upon the extent to which bees forage across habitat types. However, relatively little is known about the degree to which bees move among habitat patches in heterogeneous landscapes. We thus propose a research agenda that can document the extent to which gardens contribute to pollinator health and pollination services at the interface of urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes. In particular, more data is needed on how landscape context impedes or promotes garden bee movement between habitat types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

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31 pages, 6765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Predictive Analytics Understanding of Cooperative Membership Heterogeneity and Sustainability

by Matthew Elliott, Lisa Elliott and Evert Van der Sluis

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062048 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4956

Abstract

Recent advances in cooperative theory have focused on membership heterogeneity as being a significant challenge for cooperative sustainability. We use predictive analytics to forecast U.S. farmer cooperative sustainability at an aggregate level and include multiple dimensions of membership heterogeneity. We report the importance [...] Read more.

Recent advances in cooperative theory have focused on membership heterogeneity as being a significant challenge for cooperative sustainability. We use predictive analytics to forecast U.S. farmer cooperative sustainability at an aggregate level and include multiple dimensions of membership heterogeneity. We report the importance and shape of the effect of membership heterogeneity when predicting and forecasting cooperative sustainability in the near-term. We also report forecasts of cooperative sustainability given expected changes to membership heterogeneity. The data this study used are from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Economic Research Service (ERS) Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) joined with USDA-Rural Development cooperative financial data at the state level. Membership heterogeneity was found to be less relevant than other variables included in the model for predicting cooperative business volume and number of cooperatives headquartered per state, and an estimate of cooperative sustainability. Membership heterogeneity effects were mostly offsetting given expected changes to member heterogeneity, and/or were offset due to changes to other macro factors. Consequently, we conclude membership heterogeneity may affect the number of cooperatives and extent consistent with theoretical literature at a micro level; however, we also expect a similar level of sustainability of cooperatives at an aggregate level in the near-term despite changes to membership heterogeneity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cooperative Longevity: Why are So Many Cooperatives So Successful?)

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30 pages, 9502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climatic Changes and Their Relation to Weather Types in a Transboundary Mountainous Region in Central Europe

by Andreas Hoy, Nils Feske, Petr Štěpánek, Petr Skalák, Andreas Schmitt and Petra Schneider

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062049 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4653

Abstract

A first-time common cross-border assessment of observed climatic changes in the Saxon–Bohemian region was the aim of the German–Czech climate cooperation INTERKLIM. This paper focuses on the observed changes of temperature and precipitation averages and extremes within the period 1961–2010, investigating how variations [...] Read more.

A first-time common cross-border assessment of observed climatic changes in the Saxon–Bohemian region was the aim of the German–Czech climate cooperation INTERKLIM. This paper focuses on the observed changes of temperature and precipitation averages and extremes within the period 1961–2010, investigating how variations of a range of climate indices were regionally shaped by changes in frequency and character of weather types. This investigation serves to enhance our understanding of the regional climate characteristics to develop transboundary adaptation strategies and focuses on the classification of the “Grosswetterlagen” using the parameters of air temperature and precipitation. Climate data were quality controlled and homogenized by a wide range of methods using the ProClimDB software with a subsequent comprehensive regional visualization based on Geographical Information Systems. Trends for the temperature averages showed increasing trend values mainly from January to August, especially for high temperature extremes. Precipitation trends displayed regionally varying signals, but a strong spatially uniform decrease from April to June (early growing season) and a distinctive increase from July to September (late growing season). Climatic changes were supported by frequency changes of weather types, e.g., the drying from April to June was related to a decrease/increase in patterns causing rather wet/dry conditions, while from July to September opposite trends were observed. Our results represent regional climatic changes in a complex topography and their dependency on variations in atmospheric circulation peculiarities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GISc Contributions to the Study and Understanding of Geographies of Change)

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14 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Preferences for Alternative Transportation Services and Loyalty towards Active Transportation during a Major Transportation Infrastructure Disruption

by Nazmul Arefin Khan and Muhammad Ahsanul Habib

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2050; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062050 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3022

Abstract

This paper investigates active transportation mode users’ preferences for alternative services during the temporary closure event of a bridge and its active transportation (AT) lanes. It also evaluates the loyalty of AT users during the event. The study uses data from a travel [...] Read more.

This paper investigates active transportation mode users’ preferences for alternative services during the temporary closure event of a bridge and its active transportation (AT) lanes. It also evaluates the loyalty of AT users during the event. The study uses data from a travel survey distributed to cyclists and pedestrians, who are the regular AT lane users of the Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Canada. Random parameter logit models are developed in this study that examine the effects of socio-demographic, travel and neighborhood characteristics on active transportation users’ preferences. Four alternative transportation services are considered in this study: free shuttle services, frequent ferry services, frequent bus services and other services. Results suggest that higher-income individuals are more likely to prefer frequent ferry services during the AT lane closure event. Transit commuters are found to prefer frequent bus services. Probability of preferring free shuttle services increases if individuals use AT lanes for cost savings. Loyalty towards AT is explored in this study by means of anticipated modal shift. For instance, higher mixed land use area dwellers tend to be loyal towards AT during the disruption event, as demonstrated by their lower probability to shift from current AT mode. This study offers critical behavioral insights, which would assist transportation planning and policies that aim to adopt sustainable transportation planning measures to retain current users’ loyalty towards active transportation and prevent a long-term behavioral shift. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

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13 pages, 3073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Nitrogen Oxides and Ultrafine Particulate Matter Emission Features of Urban Bus Based on Real-World Driving Conditions in the Yangtze River Delta Area, China

by Dengguo Liu, Diming Lou, Juan Liu, Liang Fang and Weiming Huang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2051; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062051 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3021

Abstract

A Portable Emission Measurement System was used in this study to evaluate the exhaust emission characteristics of nitrogen oxides (NOx), ultrafine particulate matter (PM), and ultrafine particulate number (PN) from buses in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Results showed that NOx emission factor [...] Read more.

A Portable Emission Measurement System was used in this study to evaluate the exhaust emission characteristics of nitrogen oxides (NOx), ultrafine particulate matter (PM), and ultrafine particulate number (PN) from buses in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Results showed that NOx emission factor (unit: g·km⁻¹) increased from 5.0 to 19.1, and PM emission factor (unit: g·km⁻¹) increased from 0.001 to 0.189. A nonlinear model was established based on scientific statistical method, which showed that NOx and PM emission factors significantly decreased with speed increasing. The model also showed a “long tail effect” of NOx and PM emission factors beyond 30 km·h⁻¹. Furthermore, hybrid bus exhausted less NOx, PM, and PN emissions compared to conventional bus in the acceleration condition. Exhaust rates of NOx, PM and PN emissions (unit: g·s⁻¹) increased with speed increasing under steady state driving condition, while PN emissions commonly showed a unimodal distribution at the speed of 20 km·h⁻¹. Full article

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17 pages, 1503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of the Urban Transport System under Changes in Weather and Road Conditions Affecting Vehicle Operation

by Dmitriy Zakharov, Elena Magaril and Elena Cristina Rada

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2052; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062052 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5241

Abstract

The paper suggests a methodological approach for assessing the sustainability of the urban transport system. Parameters were selected for assessing the sustainability of the transport system and significant factors affecting sustainability were determined. Parameters of the sustainability of the system when changes in [...] Read more.

The paper suggests a methodological approach for assessing the sustainability of the urban transport system. Parameters were selected for assessing the sustainability of the transport system and significant factors affecting sustainability were determined. Parameters of the sustainability of the system when changes in the weather and road conditions affect vehicle operation were estimated on the basis of the simulation modeling. An integral indicator of sustainability was introduced to evaluate the sustainability of the transport flow management subsystem and the methodological approach to its calculation was substantiated. The results from changing the parameters of the traffic flow were demonstrated in the case of a significant amount of precipitation and the constraints put on the movement of vehicles on the road infrastructure unit due to snow-removal operations and road traffic accidents. Also, the parameters of road traffic under the reconstruction of the main street of regulated traffic into a street of uninterrupted traffic were presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Travel Behaviour and Sustainable Transport of the Future)

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26 pages, 792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychosocial Traits Characterizing EV Adopters’ Profiles: The Case of Tenerife (Canary Islands)

by Maria Gracia Rodríguez-Brito, Alfredo J. Ramírez-Díaz, Francisco J. Ramos-Real and Yannick Perez

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2053; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062053 - 16 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4526

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze Rogers-system categories of electric vehicle adopters in Tenerife (Canary Islands) to highlight the psychological factors defining each category. The paper runs a model to calculate willingness to change and willingness to pay for an electric [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper is to analyze Rogers-system categories of electric vehicle adopters in Tenerife (Canary Islands) to highlight the psychological factors defining each category. The paper runs a model to calculate willingness to change and willingness to pay for an electric vehicle following the contingent valuation methodology. A survey performed in Tenerife Island collected data from 444 private cars drivers. The survey contained a set of questions on psychological and car-features issues, as well as other items querying the socioeconomic factors and mobility characteristics of the drivers. This paper brings key contributions to the literature. First, it uses two theoretical frameworks to define the categories of innovators from a psychosocial standpoint. Second, the results will usefully inform both policymakers and automaker marketing departments on specific actions to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. Our results confirm that electric vehicle adopter categories are similar in proportion and characteristics to those of Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory, and can be collapsed into two macro-groups of adopters distributed in a 50%–50% split in our sample, i.e., the earlier adopters and the later adopters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marketing and Sustainability)

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24 pages, 6708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Energy Sustainable Operations on a Historical Building. The Dante Alighieri High School in Florence

by Carla Balocco and Alessandro Colaianni

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062054 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4635

Abstract

Italy has a huge cultural heritage, most of which consists of historical buildings that have changed their original function and use over time. The complex question of building and plant system refurbishment and retrofitting mainly derives from this crucial aspect. The aim of [...] Read more.

Italy has a huge cultural heritage, most of which consists of historical buildings that have changed their original function and use over time. The complex question of building and plant system refurbishment and retrofitting mainly derives from this crucial aspect. The aim of this paper is to provide a simple provisional tool useful for the assessment of efficient, energy sustainable refurbishment solutions for historical buildings and their plant systems. The Dante Alighieri high school (with an important music department) in Florence was the case study. We proposed a method based on dynamic simulations that allows plant design guarantying indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort, as well as energy efficiency, but, at the same time offering reversibility and mobility as well as ease of management and maintenance. Transient simulations of building-plant system were specifically addressed dynamic control and adaptive proportional regulation, so as to ensure that the plant adapts to the change of building and indoor environment thermo-physics and thermo-hygrometric parameters. Results showed that important refurbishment and retrofitting operations for energy saving are possible and effective for historical buildings if they are oriented to sustainability—i.e., low environmental impact, indoor thermo-hygrometric conditions, ventilation, air quality, and user wellbeing improvement—in compliance with preventive protection constraints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Various Energy Efficiency Measures on the Thermal and Energy Performance of Buildings)

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24 pages, 5629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geographical Dynamics of Poverty in Nepal between 2005 and 2011: Where and How?

by Jifei Zhang, Chunyan Liu, Craig Hutton and Hriday Lal Koirala

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062055 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6947

Abstract

Poverty eradication is currently a central issue within the national economic development strategy in developing countries. Understanding the spatial changes and possible drivers of poverty from different geographical perspectives has the potential to provide a policy-relevant understanding of the trends in poverty. By [...] Read more.

Poverty eradication is currently a central issue within the national economic development strategy in developing countries. Understanding the spatial changes and possible drivers of poverty from different geographical perspectives has the potential to provide a policy-relevant understanding of the trends in poverty. By district-level data, poverty incidence (PI), and a statistical analysis of the period from 2005 to 2011 in Nepal, we used the location quotient (LQ), as well as the Lorenz curve, to inspect the poverty concentration and the spatial-temporal variation of poverty in Nepal. As such, this study analyzed the change in identified typologies of poverty using an approach, which accounts for inter-regional and three identified terrain components. The PI methodological approach was applied in order to (i) compare the spatial change in poverty for Nepal during the study period from a geographical-administrative perspective and (ii) to develop Lorenze curves which show the change of poverty concentration over the study period. Within the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) approach, PI was further used, in combination with the indices of poverty gap (PG) and squared poverty gap (SPG), in order to highlight the unidimensional poverty (UP), that is the incidence, depth, and severity of poverty between 2005 and 2011. Simultaneously, the spatial relationship between UP and economic development was assessed, leading to five specific economic modes or typologies of poverty. Our findings identified that proportional poverty appears to have grown in mountainous areas as well as more urbanized and developed regions, while the mid hill regions have steadily reduced proportions of poverty. We propose a hypothesis, for further examination, which suggests that the increase in proportional poverty in the mountain regions is as a result of the migration to the urban areas of Nepal of the relatively less poor, leaving behind a trapped poorer population. This migration to urban areas of the relatively less poor, rather counterintuitively, produced an increase in proportional poverty in the urban areas. This is due to the fact that while this population represents the wealthier mountain communities, they are still relatively poor in an urban setting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 4112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Simulation of Future Land Use/Cover Change Scenarios in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

by Ruci Wang, Ahmed Derdouri and Yuji Murayama

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2056; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062056 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 8043

Abstract

Simulating future land use/cover changes is of great importance for urban planners and decision-makers, especially in metropolitan areas, to maintain a sustainable environment. This study examines the changes in land use/cover in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) from 2007 to 2017 as a [...] Read more.

Simulating future land use/cover changes is of great importance for urban planners and decision-makers, especially in metropolitan areas, to maintain a sustainable environment. This study examines the changes in land use/cover in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) from 2007 to 2017 as a first step in using supervised classification. Second, based on the map results, we predicted the expected patterns of change in 2027 and 2037 by employing a hybrid model composed of cellular automata and the Markov model. The next step was to decide the model inputs consisting of the modeling variables affecting the distribution of land use/cover in the study area, for instance distance to central business district (CBD) and distance to railways, in addition to the classified maps of 2007 and 2017. Finally, we considered three scenarios for simulating land use/cover changes: spontaneous, sub-region development, and green space improvement. Simulation results show varied patterns of change according to the different scenarios. The sub-region development scenario is the most promising because it balances between urban areas, resources, and green spaces. This study provides significant insight for planners about change trends in the TMA and future challenges that might be encountered to maintain a sustainable region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Analysis of Urbanization towards Urban Sustainability)

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22 pages, 4810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Change on Daily Streamflow and Its Extreme Values in Pacific Island Watersheds

by Olkeba Tolessa Leta, Aly I. El-Kadi and Henrietta Dulai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2057; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062057 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8330

Abstract

The integration of hydrology and climate is important for understanding the present and future impact of climate on streamflow, which may cause frequent flooding, droughts, and shortage of water supply. In view of this, we assessed the impact of climate change on daily [...] Read more.

The integration of hydrology and climate is important for understanding the present and future impact of climate on streamflow, which may cause frequent flooding, droughts, and shortage of water supply. In view of this, we assessed the impact of climate change on daily streamflow duration curves as well as extreme peak and low flow values. The objectives were to assess how climate change impacts watershed-wide streamflow and its extreme values and to provide an overview of the impacts of different climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5) on streamflow and hydrological extremes when compared with the baseline values. We used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for daily streamflow and its extreme value modeling of two watersheds located on the Island of Oahu (Hawaii). Following successful calibration and validation of SWAT at three USGS flow gauging stations, we simulated the impact of climate change by the 2050s (2041–2070) and the 2080s (2071–2100). We used climate change perturbation factors and applied the factors to the historical time series data of 1980–2014. SWAT adequately reproduced observed daily streamflow with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of greater than 0.5 and bracketed >80% of observed streamflow data at 95% model prediction uncertainty at all flow gauging stations, indicating the applicability of the model for future daily streamflow prediction. We found that while the considered climate change scenarios generally show considerable negative impacts on daily streamflow and its extreme values, the extreme peak flows are expected to increase by as much as 22% especially under the RCP 8.5 scenario. However, a consistent decrease in extreme low flows by as much as 60% compared to the baseline values is projected. Larger negative changes of low flows are expected in the upstream part of the watersheds where higher groundwater contributions are expected. Consequently, severe problems, such as frequent hydrological droughts (groundwater scarcity), reduction in agricultural crop productivity, and increase in drinking water demand, are significantly expected on Oahu. Furthermore, the extreme values are more sensitive to rainfall change in comparison to temperature and solar radiation changes. Overall, findings generally indicated that climate change impacts will be amplified by the end of this century and may cause earlier occurrence of hydrological droughts when compared to the current hydrological regime, suggesting water resources managers, ecosystem conservationists, and ecologists to implement mitigation measures to climate change in Hawaii and similar Islands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers on Sustainable Water Resources Management from the 2017 and 2018 International SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) Conference)

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17 pages, 5119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Restoration of an Active MV Distribution Grid with a Battery ESS: A Real Case Study

by Matteo Manganelli, Mario Nicodemo, Luigi D’Orazio, Laura Pimpinella and Maria Carmen Falvo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2058; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062058 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5122

Abstract

In order to improve power system operation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) have been installed in high voltage/medium voltage stations by Distribution System Operators (DSOs) around the world. Support for restoration of MV distribution networks after a blackout or HV interruption is among [...] Read more.

In order to improve power system operation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) have been installed in high voltage/medium voltage stations by Distribution System Operators (DSOs) around the world. Support for restoration of MV distribution networks after a blackout or HV interruption is among the possible new functionalities of BESSs. With the aim to improve quality of service, the present paper investigates whether a BESS, installed in the HV/MV substation, can improve the restoration process indicators of a distribution grid. As a case study, an actual active distribution network of e-distribuzione, the main Italian DSO, has been explored. The existing network is located in central Italy. It supplies two municipalities of approximately 10,000 inhabitants and includes renewable generation plants. Several configurations are considered, based on: the state of the grid at blackout time; the BESS state of charge; and the involvement of Dispersed Generation (DG) in the restoration process. Three restoration plans (RPs) have been defined, involving the BESS alone, or in coordination with DG. A MATLAB^®/Simulink^® program has been designed to simulate the restoration process in each configuration and restoration plan. The results show that the BESS improves restoration process quality indicators in different simulated configurations, allowing the operation in controlled island mode of parts of distribution grids, during interruptions or blackout conditions. The defined restoration plans set the priority and the sequence of controlled island operations of parts of the grid to ensure a safe and better restoration. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that a BESS can be a valuable element towards an improved restoration procedure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Power System and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Power Reliability Dedicated for Sudden Disruptions: Its Application to Determine Capacity on the Basis of Energy Security

by Shoki Kosai, Chia Kwang Tan and Eiji Yamasue

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2059; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062059 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4063

Abstract

Given that a continuous power supply is fundamental to the economy and human well-being, development of a self-sustained electrical system that can withstand sudden disturbances by employing both renewable energy and storage technology is of significant importance. Most of the existing reliability approaches [...] Read more.

Given that a continuous power supply is fundamental to the economy and human well-being, development of a self-sustained electrical system that can withstand sudden disturbances by employing both renewable energy and storage technology is of significant importance. Most of the existing reliability approaches hardly represent a particular method of analyzing system adapting ability to remain self-sufficient in the short-term after the occurrence of sudden disruptions. In addition, existing reliability indexes are developed based on past experience, hardly covering the prediction of disruption risks. As such, a new electricity reliability quantification approach dedicated for sudden disruptions was established and the newly proposed electricity reliability prediction index was evaluated. The developed index was applied to determine optimal capacity sizing in the context of energy security. The availability of such electricity reliability predictions will allow the facility engineer to make wiser decisions to maintain a continuous power supply even after the occurrence of sudden disturbances. The developed algorithm can be readily implemented in any electrical system network including microgrid and rural electrification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment of Energy Accident Risks)

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24 pages, 9595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Management for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Based on Adaptive Simplified-ECMS

by Yuping Zeng, Yang Cai, Guiyue Kou, Wei Gao and Datong Qin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062060 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 6285

Abstract

When searching for the optimal solution, Equivalent Consumption Minimum Strategy (ECMS) has to calculate and compare the total equivalent fuel rate of huge candidates covered all over the control domain for each time instant. Therefore, this strategy still has a heavy computation burden [...] Read more.

When searching for the optimal solution, Equivalent Consumption Minimum Strategy (ECMS) has to calculate and compare the total equivalent fuel rate of huge candidates covered all over the control domain for each time instant. Therefore, this strategy still has a heavy computation burden problem; it is a challenge for ECMS to be implemented online for real-time control. To reduce ECMS’s calculation load, this paper proposes an adaptive Simplified-ECMS-based strategy for a parallel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). A convex piecewise function is applied to fit the total equivalent fuel rate with respect to the motor torque, which is the control variable. Then, the ECMS problem is simplified to calculate and compare only five candidates’ total equivalent fuel rate to determine the optimal torque distribution. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied to optimize the equivalent factor, and the MAPs of this factor under different driving cycles, driving distances and initial SOC are obtained. Based on this, the adaptive Simplified-ECMS-based strategy is proposed. Simulations were performed, and the results show that the Simplified-ECMS-based strategy can obviously shorten the calculation time compared to ECMS-based strategy, and the adaptive Simplified-ECMS-based strategy can decrease fuel consumption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle by 16.43% under the testing driving cycle, compared to CD-CS-based strategy. A road test on the prototype vehicle is conducted and the effectiveness of the Simplified-ECMS-based strategy is validated by the test data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control and Optimization of Alternative-Energy Vehicles for Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 2424 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterogeneous Preferences for Public Goods Provided by Agriculture in a Region of Intensive Agricultural Production: The Case of the Marchfeld

by Andreas Niedermayr, Lena Schaller, Petr Mariel, Pia Kieninger and Jochen Kantelhardt

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2061; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062061 - 17 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5124

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to elicit the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for the improved provision of public goods (PGs) by agriculture in a region of intensive agricultural production, embodying many of the environmental problems related to agriculture within and outside [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper is to elicit the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for the improved provision of public goods (PGs) by agriculture in a region of intensive agricultural production, embodying many of the environmental problems related to agriculture within and outside the European Union (EU). Our analysis was based on a participatory approach, combining the involvement of local stakeholders and a discrete choice experiment (DCE) in the Marchfeld region in Austria. We estimated a random parameters logit model (RPL), including interactions with socio-demographic factors, to disentangle preference heterogeneity and find a positive MWTP of the local population for all three PGs analyzed: (i) groundwater quality; (ii) landscape quality; and (iii) soil functionality in connection with climate stability. Furthermore, MWTP varies considerably with respect to age, farmers/non-farmers and locals/incomers. Further research could combine the results of this demand-side valuation with those of a supply-side valuation, where the opportunity costs of different management options for farmers are estimated. Based on such a cost–benefit analysis and further participation of local stakeholders, new governance mechanisms for the smart and sustainable provision of PGs by agriculture could be developed for the Marchfeld region and for comparable European regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perspectives in the Provision of Public Goods by Agriculture and Forestry)

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10 pages, 254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Value Creation from a Stakeholder Perspective

by Josefina Fernández-Guadaño and Jesús H. Sarria-Pedroza

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062062 - 18 Jun 2018

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 12873

Abstract

In recent years, we have witnessed how companies and institutions have devoted significant effort to developing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, basing their decision on the improvement in company results and the subsequent benefits for shareholders and other stakeholders. CSR means that managers [...] Read more.

In recent years, we have witnessed how companies and institutions have devoted significant effort to developing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, basing their decision on the improvement in company results and the subsequent benefits for shareholders and other stakeholders. CSR means that managers must go beyond the mere satisfaction of the shareholders and take steps to establish balanced relations with all their stakeholders. The principles behind the CSR approach empower stakeholder governance. To test whether CSR policy constitutes a factor in value creation for shareholders and certain stakeholders such as employees, creditors and the State, we conducted an explanatory study, using a Correlated Random Effects approach, which compares the socially responsible companies included in the Spanish sustainability index, FTSE4Good Ibex, with the companies listed on the other indices of the IBEX family. On the one hand, the data show that sustainability reporting is well established in large companies in Spain but that it needs to be introduced more extensively in small and medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, the findings point out that CSR has a positive and significant influence on the distribution of value in favor of the State, a negative influence for employees and no influence on other stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Developing Countries: Current Trends and Development)

23 pages, 1529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Nexus of FDI, R&D, and Human Capital on Chinese Sustainable Development: Evidence from a Two-Step Approach

by Sang-Do Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2063; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062063 - 18 Jun 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4193

Abstract

This study examines the effect of the foreign direct investment (FDI)–human capital and R&D–human capital interactions (FDIHC and RDHHC) on Chinese development between 1991 and 2015. Based on endogenous growth theory, the study focuses on FDI, R&D, and human capital as important factors [...] Read more.

This study examines the effect of the foreign direct investment (FDI)–human capital and R&D–human capital interactions (FDIHC and RDHHC) on Chinese development between 1991 and 2015. Based on endogenous growth theory, the study focuses on FDI, R&D, and human capital as important factors for sustained economic growth; the interactions among factors are set as the main variables affecting economic growth (GDP). In particular, this study attempts a two-step empirical analysis. First, data mining and semantic network analysis (SNA) are performed using variables as keywords; reliability and realism are reflected as variables. Second, using the vector error correction model (VECM), the study analyzes short and long run mutual influences between variables. The results show that, in data mining and SNA with FDI and R&D as keywords, words related to human capital show high frequency, centrality, and clustering. This finding implies that FDIHC and RDHHC have robustness as variables and can be used as interaction variables. According to the VECM results, FDIHC and RDHHC have positive influences on GDP in the short and long run. The results of a variance decomposition test show that RDHHC has strong mid- to long-run impacts on GDP, FDIHC, and R&D itself. Full article

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21 pages, 4284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contrasted Effects of Relative Humidity and Precipitation on Urban PM_2.5 Pollution in High Elevation Urban Areas

by Rasa Zalakeviciute, Jesús López-Villada and Yves Rybarczyk

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2064; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062064 - 18 Jun 2018

Cited by 91 | Viewed by 7739

Abstract

Levels of urban pollution can be influenced largely by meteorological conditions and the topography of the area. The impact of the relative humidity (RH) on the daily average PM_2.5 concentrations was studied at several sites in a mid-size South American city at [...] Read more.

Levels of urban pollution can be influenced largely by meteorological conditions and the topography of the area. The impact of the relative humidity (RH) on the daily average PM_2.5 concentrations was studied at several sites in a mid-size South American city at a high elevation over the period of nine years. In this work, we show that there is a positive correlation between daily average urban PM_2.5 concentrations and the RH in traffic-busy central areas, and a negative correlation in the outskirts of the city in more industrial areas. While in the traffic sites strong events of precipitation (≥9 mm) played a major role in PM_2.5 pollution removal, in the city outskirts, the PM_2.5 concentrations decreased with increasing RH independently of rain accumulation. Increasing PM_2.5 concentrations are to be expected in any highly motorized city where there is high RH and a lack of strong precipitation, especially in rapidly growing and developing countries with high motorization due to poor fuel quality. Finally, two models, based on a logistic regression algorithm, are proposed to describe the effect of rain and RH on PM_2.5, when the source of pollution is traffic-based vs. industry-based. Full article

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31 pages, 4095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Strategies for Urban Climate Change Adaptation: The Case of Six Metropolitan Cities in South Korea

by Jae-Seung Lee and Jeong Won Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2065; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062065 - 18 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 9997

Abstract

As interest in climate change adaptation grows, an increasing number of national and local governments are developing adaptation strategies. This study assesses the strategies for urban climate change adaptation of municipal governments in South Korea. The adaptation plans and budget expenditures of six [...] Read more.

As interest in climate change adaptation grows, an increasing number of national and local governments are developing adaptation strategies. This study assesses the strategies for urban climate change adaptation of municipal governments in South Korea. The adaptation plans and budget expenditures of six metropolitan cities in South Korea were compared, based on the Implementation Plan for Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (IPCCAS) 2012–2016 and annual expenditure reports of each city. The results show that the actual implementation of these adaptation programs varied vis-à-vis the original plans, in terms of the level of overall expenditure and sector-specific expenditure. The following findings were drawn from the analysis: First, in most cases, the highest adaptation priorities were disaster/infrastructure, water management, and the health sector. Second, actual expenditure on climate change adaptation programs was smaller than the planned budget in the IPCCAS. Third, the prioritized sectors matched for planning and implementation in Seoul, Daegu, Daejeon, and Incheon, but not in Busan and Ulsan. Fourth, the adaptation programs of South Korean metropolitan cities do not seem to have been well-tailored to each case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Resilient Urban Development)

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27 pages, 936 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Factors on the Capital Structure of Public–Private Partnership Projects: A Sustainability Perspective

by Jing Du, Hongyue Wu and Xianbo Zhao

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2066; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062066 - 18 Jun 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 8068

Abstract

Scientific capital structure is the key to guarantee sufficient funds and achievement of objectives of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) projects, while inappropriate capital structure has caused the failure of many projects. Meanwhile, sustainability is an important concept that should be concerned during the life [...] Read more.

Scientific capital structure is the key to guarantee sufficient funds and achievement of objectives of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) projects, while inappropriate capital structure has caused the failure of many projects. Meanwhile, sustainability is an important concept that should be concerned during the life cycle of PPP projects. Therefore, this study aimed to: (1) identify the critical factors influencing the capital structure of PPP projects from a sustainability perspective; and (2) analyze the relationships between the factors and the capital structure based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). This study identified seven critical factors influencing the capital structure of PPP projects. Moreover, the non-economic indicators should be concerned as well as the economic indicators. Thus, proper capital structure not only provides ample funds but also promotes the long-term healthy operation of projects and creates positive effects on the industry, region and society. Furthermore, the findings indicated that benefit, external situation, cost, ability of private sector and government support were the top critical factors. In addition, although risk did not show great importance, it had close relationship with other factors, which means risk should be concerned comprehensively. This study enriches the theoretical research about the capital structure of PPP projects and offers a new idea about the integration of sustainability and PPP projects. In addition, it supports the reasonable selection of capital structure in practice and promotes the practical application of sustainability on PPP projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction, Development and Management in the Built Environment)

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19 pages, 8167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vibration Suppression of a Single-Cylinder Engine by Means of Multi-objective Evolutionary Optimisation

by Suwin Sleesongsom and Sujin Bureerat

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2067; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062067 - 18 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5352

Abstract

This paper presents a new design strategy for the passive vibration suppression of a single-cylindrical engine (SCE) through multi-objective evolutionary optimisation. The vibration causes machine damages and human pain, which are unsustainable problemsthat need to be alleviated. Mathematical forced vibration analyses of a [...] Read more.

This paper presents a new design strategy for the passive vibration suppression of a single-cylindrical engine (SCE) through multi-objective evolutionary optimisation. The vibration causes machine damages and human pain, which are unsustainable problemsthat need to be alleviated. Mathematical forced vibration analyses of a single-cylinder engine, including dynamic pressure force due to ignition combustion, are presented. A multi-objective design problem is set to find the shape and size variables of the crank and connecting rod of the engine. The objective functions consist of the minimisation of the crank and connecting rod mass, and the minimisation of vibration response while the SCE is subject to inertial force and pressure force. Moreover, design constraints include crank and rod safety. The design problem is tackled by using an adaptation of a hybrid of multi-objective population-based incremental learning and differential evolution (RPBIL-DE). The optimum results found that the proposed design strategy is a powerful tool for the vibration suppression of SCE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Objective and Multi-Attribute Optimisation for Sustainable Development Decision Aiding)

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17 pages, 8377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agroecological Pest Management in the City: Experiences from California and Chiapas

by Helda Morales, Bruce G. Ferguson, Linda E. Marín, Dario Navarrete Gutiérrez, Peter Bichier and Stacy M. Philpott

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062068 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4711

Abstract

Urban gardens are a prominent part of agricultural systems, providing food security and access within cities; however, we still lack sufficient knowledge and general principles about how to manage pests in urban agroecosystems in distinct regions. We surveyed natural enemies (ladybeetles and parasitoids) [...] Read more.

Urban gardens are a prominent part of agricultural systems, providing food security and access within cities; however, we still lack sufficient knowledge and general principles about how to manage pests in urban agroecosystems in distinct regions. We surveyed natural enemies (ladybeetles and parasitoids) and conducted sentinel pest removal experiments to explore local management factors and landscape characteristics that influence the provisioning of pest control services in California, USA, and Chiapas, Mexico. We worked in 29 gardens across the two locations. In each location, we collected data on garden vegetation, floral availability, ground cover management, and the percentage of natural, urban, and agricultural land cover in the surrounding landscape. We sampled ladybeetles, Chalcidoidea, and Ichneumonoidea parasitoids with sticky traps, and monitored the removal of three different pest species. Ladybeetle abundance did not differ between locations; abundance decreased with garden size and with tree cover and increased with herbaceous richness, floral abundance, and barren land cover. Chalcicoidea and Ichneumonoidea parasitoids were more abundant in Chiapas. Chalcicoidea abundance decreased with herbaceous richness and with urban cover. Ichneumonoidea abundance increased with mulch and bare ground cover, garden size, garden age, and with agriculture land cover but decreased with tree richness and urban cover. Predators removed between 15–100% of sentinel prey within 24 h but prey removal was greater in California. Generally, prey removal increased with vegetation diversity, floral abundance, mulch cover, and urban land cover, but declined with vegetation cover and bare ground. Although some factors had consistent effects on natural enemies and pest control in the two locations, many did not; thus, we still need more comparative work to further develop our understanding of general principles governing conservation biological control in urban settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

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16 pages, 2903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Significance of a Building’s Energy Consumption Profiles for the Optimum Sizing of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System—A Case Study for a Student Residence Hall

by Khuram Pervez Amber, Antony R. Day, Naeem Iqbal Ratyal, Rizwan Ahmad and Muhammad Amar

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2069; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062069 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3865

Abstract

University buildings, such as student residence halls with year-round consistent energy demands, offer strong opportunities for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems. The economic and environmental feasibility of a CHP project is strongly linked with its optimum sizing. This study aims to undertake [...] Read more.

University buildings, such as student residence halls with year-round consistent energy demands, offer strong opportunities for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems. The economic and environmental feasibility of a CHP project is strongly linked with its optimum sizing. This study aims to undertake such an assessment for a CHP system for a student residence hall located in London, the United Kingdom (UK). The study also aims to undertake a sensitivity analysis to investigate the effect of different parameters on the project’s economics. Necessary data are collected via interviews with the University’s Energy Manager. Modeling of the CHP system is performed using the London South Bank University (LSBU, London, the UK) CHP model. Results demonstrate that optimum sizing of CHP is crucial for achieving higher economic and environmental benefits and strongly depends on the authenticity of the energy consumption data, based on which the CHP is being sized. Use of incorrect energy data could result in an undersized or oversized CHP system, where an oversized system will result in higher negative results compared to an undersized system. Finally, Monto Carlo statistical analysis shows that electricity price is the significant factor that could affect the project’s economics. With an increasing spark gap, the payback period decreases, and vice versa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Various Energy Efficiency Measures on the Thermal and Energy Performance of Buildings)

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27 pages, 2269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Marketing Approaches for a Circular Economy: Using Design Frameworks to Interpret Online Communications

by Lucy Chamberlin and Casper Boks

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2070; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062070 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 18652

Abstract

The Circular Economy has been posited as a solution to the rise of environmental decimation with growing global economic prosperity, by introducing new systems of production, consumption, and disposal. Current literature has explored circular economy business models, such as product service systems (PSSs), [...] Read more.

The Circular Economy has been posited as a solution to the rise of environmental decimation with growing global economic prosperity, by introducing new systems of production, consumption, and disposal. Current literature has explored circular economy business models, such as product service systems (PSSs), and has identified some issues that represent both behavioral barriers and motivating factors when it comes to consumer acceptance of these new models. However, there are few studies that incorporate a marketing and communications perspective on the circular economy or which focus on the ways in which businesses providing circular products or services currently use communications to market their offerings and influence consumer behavior. This paper represents an initial, exploratory study that identifies ten groups of concerns or ‘factors’ from the literature that affect consumer acceptance of circular value propositions. It then uses two models from the field of design (Dimensions of Behavior Change and Design with Intent) to interpret examples of web communications from four retailers of circular products and services, and to suggest future marketing and communications strategies for use in business and research. It finds that design frameworks can provide a relevant and comprehensive means to analyze marketing strategies and suggest less binary approaches than for instance green marketing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Design and Consumer Behavior in A Circular Economy)

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12 pages, 228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Firm’s Environmental Expenditure, R&D Intensity, and Profitability

by Tae Hyung Kim and Bowon Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2071; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062071 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4595

Abstract

In order to live up to its environmental responsibility, a firm makes an environmental expenditure to reduce its pollution emissions. Then, an important question is what impact the environmental expenditure has on the firm’s profitability. In this paper, we first propose and test [...] Read more.

In order to live up to its environmental responsibility, a firm makes an environmental expenditure to reduce its pollution emissions. Then, an important question is what impact the environmental expenditure has on the firm’s profitability. In this paper, we first propose and test a hypothesis that the more environmental expenditure the firm makes, the less profitability it enjoys, i.e., there is a negative relationship between the firm’s environmental expenditure and its profitability, more specifically its return on assets (ROA). We go further to suggest and test the second hypothesis that the more R&D-intensive the firm is, the lower the “negative impact” of the environmental expenditure on the firm’s profitability is, i.e., the firm’s R&D intensity moderates the negative relationship between firm’s environmental expenditure and its profitability. A significant implication is that since it has to spend money on reducing its pollution emission, the firm should also enhance its innovation capability. That is, by investing in its R&D, the firm can mitigate the negative impact of environmental expenditure on its profitability. In order to test the hypotheses, we collect financial data and carry out panel regression analyses. The analysis results support our hypotheses that there is a negative relationship between the firm’s environmental expenditure and its profitability and that the negative relationship is moderated by the firm’s R&D capability represented by its R&D intensity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Sustainable Competitive Strategies)

17 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Why Do People Consume and Provide Sharing Economy Accommodation?—A Sustainability Perspective

by Eunsuk Sung, Hongbum Kim and Daeho Lee

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2072; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062072 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 116 | Viewed by 13611

Abstract

In the platform-based sharing economy service, the consumer using the service and the service provider providing the service form a two-sided market around the platform. In the two-sided market, service users and service providers interact across the platform, and the value of the [...] Read more.

In the platform-based sharing economy service, the consumer using the service and the service provider providing the service form a two-sided market around the platform. In the two-sided market, service users and service providers interact across the platform, and the value of the platform increases with the size of the network. This study aims to study the virtuous circulation of consumption and production for sustainability of sharing economy. For this purpose, several hypotheses were established based on the literature and are tested with survey data of both consumer and service provider of Airbnb. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze whether the consumer acceptance intention model and the supplier acceptance intention model can be linked through the concept of network effect, which is a major characteristic of the sharing economy service platform. The research results are expected to contribute to development of a sustainable sharing economy model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Creation of an Ecovillage: Handling Identities in a Norwegian Sustainable Valley

by Hege Westskog, Tanja Winther and Marianne Aasen

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2074; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062074 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8444

Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative study of Hurdal Ecovillage in Norway. It explores how the actors involved have interacted over time and contributed to shaping the ecovillage. The study demonstrates that the ecovillage as a concept is continuously refined both internally on an [...] Read more.

This paper presents a qualitative study of Hurdal Ecovillage in Norway. It explores how the actors involved have interacted over time and contributed to shaping the ecovillage. The study demonstrates that the ecovillage as a concept is continuously refined both internally on an individual level and in the village, and in mainstream society. At stake is the question of ecovillage identity and what this should entail. The interviewed ecovillagers report two main motives for deciding to move to the village. One is to become part of the ecovillage community, while the other is grounded in the ecovillage as a means to achieve sustainability rather than as a goal in itself. Hurdal Ecovillage has undergone two distinct development phases. First, the members jointly owned the land, built their own houses, and attempted to be self-sufficient. The ecovillage was largely isolated from the local community. In the second phase, professional actors took over responsibility for developing the village, offering ready-made houses to be owned by individual families. This shift resulted in the ecovillage appearing more like conventional settlements. Today’s ecovillagers express a wish to constitute an attractive, sustainable alternative to conventional living, but to do so they have to maintain a distance between themselves and the wider community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Smart Villages Research)

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29 pages, 4751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Collaboration Initiatives on the Sustainability of the Cashew Supply Chain

by Susana G. Azevedo, Minelle E. Silva, João C. O. Matias and Gustavo P. Dias

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2075; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062075 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6739

Abstract

Collaboration is emerging as a requirement for strengthening relationships among supply chain members and sustainability is rising as a real-world solution for different environmental issues. There are numerous studies that approach both perspectives, but there are still many questions about their relationship, mostly [...] Read more.

Collaboration is emerging as a requirement for strengthening relationships among supply chain members and sustainability is rising as a real-world solution for different environmental issues. There are numerous studies that approach both perspectives, but there are still many questions about their relationship, mostly in the agri-food industry. Hence, this paper aims to address the influence of collaboration initiatives on the sustainability indicators of the cashew supply chain (SC). To reach this objective, a case study was performed among farmers belonging to the Cooperative of Cashews in the Piauí state (COCAJUPI), a local cooperative in Northern Brazil. Attending to the results, it is possible to state that the collaboration initiatives that have higher levels of implementation among research companies are the “trust among supply chain members” and the “sharing of standards information”. Moreover, the size of companies in the cashew SC does not influence the level of implementation of collaboration initiatives. The findings of this study demonstrate that the farms’ area of the companies from the cashew SC does not have a significant influence on their sustainability indicators. Furthermore, a weak relationship exists between the collaboration initiatives and the indicators associated to the three dimensions of sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainability: Supply Chain Collaboration and Governance)

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14 pages, 1356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Enhancement Effects of Using Ecological Principles in Managing the Lifecycle of Industrial Land

by Libin Guo, Lina Han, Huikun Hong and Tao Zhou

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2076; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062076 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3131

Abstract

This paper introduces a performance level concept for industrial land use. The performance level concept uses ecological principles to evaluate index systems for industrial land. We used this concept to integrate local economics, land use, development potential, environmental health and ecosystem management with [...] Read more.

This paper introduces a performance level concept for industrial land use. The performance level concept uses ecological principles to evaluate index systems for industrial land. We used this concept to integrate local economics, land use, development potential, environmental health and ecosystem management with innovation, harmony, floral preservation, and shared land use. The concept helps promote the efficient use of industrial land and the sustainable use of land resources. We used the chemical medicine manufacturing industry in Chongqing Changshou Economic and Technological Development Zone as a case study. We selected eight companies for analysis and calculated an industrial land performance level for each company. We created three industrial land performance levels: growth potential type, positive development type, and inefficient recession type. To determine economic development and land sustainability, we applied administrative, economic, legal and technical measures to evaluate the entire lifecycle of industrial land. This lifecycle included preliminary project audit access, mid-period dynamic supervision and post land exit management. We conclude by proposing measures to mitigate environmental harm occurring from the intensive use of land for industrial use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Analysis of Urbanization towards Urban Sustainability)

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19 pages, 2369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Suitability of Different Agricultural and Urban Organic Wastes as Feedstocks for the Production of Biochar—Part 2: Agronomical Evaluation as Soil Amendment

by Inés López-Cano, María Luz Cayuela, María Sánchez-García and Miguel A. Sánchez-Monedero

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2077; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062077 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4615

Abstract

The recycling of organic wastes in agriculture contributes to a circular economy by returning to the soil nutrients and reducing the need of mineral-based fertilisers. An agronomical and environmental evaluation of a series of biochars prepared from a range of urban and agricultural [...] Read more.

The recycling of organic wastes in agriculture contributes to a circular economy by returning to the soil nutrients and reducing the need of mineral-based fertilisers. An agronomical and environmental evaluation of a series of biochars prepared from a range of urban and agricultural wastes was performed by soil incubation experiments and pot trials. The impact of biochar addition (alone, or in combination with either mineral or organic fertiliser) on soil N, P and micronutrients was studied, as well as the potential limitations for their agricultural use (associated to phytotoxicity and presence of potentially toxic metals). The type and origin of feedstock only had a minor impact on the response of biochar in soil and its interaction with the most important nutrient cycles. The presence of ashes in biochars prepared from urban and pre-treated organic wastes caused an increase in the availability of N and P in soil, compared to raw lignocellulosic biochar. All tested biochars exhibited favourable properties as soil amendments and no phytotoxic effects or negative impacts on soil nutrient dynamics were observed during the soil incubation experiments. Their agricultural use is only limited by the presence of potentially toxic metals in biochars prepared from feedstocks of urban origins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Organic Waste Management)

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11 pages, 773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Marine Microorganisms on Limestone as an Approach for Calcareous Soil

by Juan Antonio Villarreal Sanchez, Lourdes Diaz Jimenez, Jose Concepcion Escobedo Bocardo, Jose Omar Cardenas Palomo, Nereida Elizabeth Guerra Escamilla and Jesus Salvador Luna Alvarez

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2078; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062078 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3241

Abstract

Calcareous soils generally have low levels of organic matter and nitrogen; they require modification to promote their support for agriculture production. Calcareous soils are commonly found in important agricultural areas throughout the world, mainly around the Mediterranean, America and Australia. In this study, [...] Read more.

Calcareous soils generally have low levels of organic matter and nitrogen; they require modification to promote their support for agriculture production. Calcareous soils are commonly found in important agricultural areas throughout the world, mainly around the Mediterranean, America and Australia. In this study, we the isolated and identified different groups of microorganisms, from a product made from seaweed, in relation to their soil improvement properties. The objective was to use these microorganisms for the solubilization of specific soil elements and reduce their accumulation as a result of overfertilization. The isolated microorganisms were grown in specific culture media and were applied on limestone to determine their effect on mobility of Ca, Mg and K. Also, changes in soil properties such as pH, texture and density were evaluated. This study demonstrated that the treatments applied were able to modify the solubility of Ca, Mg and K, increasing it, in some cases, up to 3500%. In addition, an increase of organic matter close to 200% was observed. Both the group of molds and yeasts, and the group of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, modified the proportion of sand, silt and clay in the treated limestone. These results open possibilities for the widespread use of marine microorganisms on a large scale in the agricultural sector, since they improve the nutrient availability present in the soil. Full article

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21 pages, 591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cloud–Fog–Based Smart Grid Model for Efficient Resource Management

by Saman Zahoor, Sakeena Javaid, Nadeem Javaid, Mahmood Ashraf, Farruh Ishmanov and Muhammad Khalil Afzal

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2079; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062079 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 88 | Viewed by 7963

Abstract

A smart grid (SG) is a modernized electric grid that enhances the reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and economics of electricity services. Moreover, it plays a vital role in modern energy infrastructure. The core challenge faced by SGs is how to efficiently utilize different kinds [...] Read more.

A smart grid (SG) is a modernized electric grid that enhances the reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and economics of electricity services. Moreover, it plays a vital role in modern energy infrastructure. The core challenge faced by SGs is how to efficiently utilize different kinds of front-end smart devices, such as smart meters and power assets, and in what manner to process the enormous volume of data received from these devices. Furthermore, cloud and fog computing provide on-demand resources for computation, which is a good solution to overcome SG hurdles. Fog-based cloud computing has numerous good characteristics, such as cost-saving, energy-saving, scalability, flexibility, and agility. Resource management is one of the big issues in SGs. In this paper, we propose a cloud–fog–based model for resource management in SGs. The key idea of the proposed work is to determine a hierarchical structure of cloud–fog computing to provide different types of computing services for SG resource management. Regarding the performance enhancement of cloud computing, different load balancing techniques are used. For load balancing between an SG user’s requests and service providers, five algorithms are implemented: round robin, throttled, artificial bee colony (ABC), ant colony optimization (ACO), and particle swarm optimization. Moreover, we propose a hybrid approach of ACO and ABC known as hybrid artificial bee ant colony optimization (HABACO). Simulation results show that our proposed technique HABACO outperformed the other techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5G Mobile Services and Scenarios: Challenges and Solutions)

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17 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examination of Differences in Water Quality and Quantity by Reservoir Catchment with a Different Land-Use Type in the Republic of Mauritius

by Fatema Nabybaccus, Don Koo Lee, Yohan Lee and Jung Il Seo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062080 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5241

Abstract

Forest buffers contribute to enhancing the quality and availability of water in catchments. This study aims to examine the effects of forest buffers on water quality and quantity in three reservoir catchments in Mauritius, including Mare aux Vacoas (MAV), Mare Longue (ML), and [...] Read more.

Forest buffers contribute to enhancing the quality and availability of water in catchments. This study aims to examine the effects of forest buffers on water quality and quantity in three reservoir catchments in Mauritius, including Mare aux Vacoas (MAV), Mare Longue (ML), and La Ferme (LF). While MAV and ML are surrounded by forests, the forested area of LF was cleared for photovoltaic panels for electricity generation and agriculture. We used catchment simulation modeling and empirical data analysis. The results showed that the concentrations of water quality parameters, such as conductivity, silica, total suspended solid (TSS), total organic carbon (TOC), NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, and total reactive P in LF were higher than those in MAV and ML. Sparsely vegetated lands can lead to water quality degradation due to surface runoff. In addition, the water quantity per unit area for MAV and ML were greater than that for LF, which indicated that a high percentage of forest buffer cover also positively influences the quantity of water in catchments. Our findings suggest that forest buffers have a critical importance in hydrological cycles and also enhance water production, and thus should help develop an effective and innovative water resource management strategy in Mauritius. Full article

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20 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Promotion of Environmental Management in the South Korean Health Sector—Case Study

by Jong-Ryool Kim, Eui-Chan Jeon, Seongmoon Cho and Hana Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2081; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062081 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7427

Abstract

Because of the comprehensiveness and urgency of environmental challenges, every stakeholder needs to be engaged in reducing environmental impacts. The healthcare sector has rarely been studied, despite its intense effects on the environment, particularly through generating various forms of hazardous waste and intensively [...] Read more.

Because of the comprehensiveness and urgency of environmental challenges, every stakeholder needs to be engaged in reducing environmental impacts. The healthcare sector has rarely been studied, despite its intense effects on the environment, particularly through generating various forms of hazardous waste and intensively consuming energy and water. Many healthcare facilities exist in South Korea, and every citizen frequently visits hospitals thanks to the convenient system. To reduce the environmental impacts of the healthcare sector, the South Korean government has implemented various policy measures aimed at promoting environmental management in that sector. This study evaluated the eco-efficiencies of 21 hospitals from 2012 to 2015 using data envelopment assessment (DEA), used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to analyze hospital staff members’ answers to a questionnaire asking about the relative importance and performance of individual environmental management tasks, and also identified environmental management tasks that should be prioritized by building an importance-performance analysis (IPA) matrix using those questionnaire responses. This study found that eco-efficiencies have improved during the period, and that mandatory policy measures were more effective than voluntary agreements for improving eco-efficiency. This implies that rigorous reporting and monitoring should be implemented along with any voluntary agreement. In addition, this study found that the top priorities are “establishment of vision and strategy for environmental management” and “organization of task team for environmental management and task assignment”. This shows the necessity of additional policy measures, such as training or consulting to promote the priorities. In addition to policy recommendations for diffusing environmental management in the South Korean healthcare sector, the methodological approach sheds light for researchers interested in environmental management in the healthcare sector because previous studies depended on qualitative approaches, particularly case studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy—Sustainable Energy and Waste Policies)

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21 pages, 3839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Refugee Students in Spain: The Role of Universities as Sustainable Actors in Institutional Integration

by Silvia Marcu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2082; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062082 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8568

Abstract

This article examines the role of institutions—particularly universities—in the recent refugee crisis. It contributes to the debate on the integration of refugees through the higher education system in Spain. Based on semi-structured interviews with refugees and experts in the institutions linked to the [...] Read more.

This article examines the role of institutions—particularly universities—in the recent refugee crisis. It contributes to the debate on the integration of refugees through the higher education system in Spain. Based on semi-structured interviews with refugees and experts in the institutions linked to the reception and integration of refugees, the paper presents evidence—albeit within an under-developed field of analysis—which has strong practical and sustainable policy implications. I argue that expanding access to university, by recognizing refugees’ qualifications and their overcoming of language barriers, increases the potential of refugees to contribute to the socio-economic progress of the receiving country and thus avoid marginalization. The evidence-based analysis of the effectiveness of the existing initiatives and programs for the integration of student refugees identifies challenges that still need to be addressed. The conclusions highlight the role of universities as sustainable actors in the integration of refugees, which through their programs make the reality of refugees more visible to other actors throughout Europe in the hope of encouraging institutions and other organizations to follow their lead in effective and sustainable initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Address the Sustainability Transition of Farming Systems? A Conceptual Framework to Organize Research

by Guillaume Martin, Sandrine Allain, Jacques-Eric Bergez, Delphine Burger-Leenhardt, Julie Constantin, Michel Duru, Laurent Hazard, Camille Lacombe, Danièle Magda, Marie-Angélina Magne, Julie Ryschawy, Vincent Thénard, Hélène Tribouillois and Magali Willaume

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062083 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8305

Abstract

Stakeholders from academic, political, and social spheres encourage the development of more sustainable forms of agriculture. Given its scale and scope, the sustainability transition is a challenge to the entire agricultural sector. The main question is, how to support the transition process? In [...] Read more.

Stakeholders from academic, political, and social spheres encourage the development of more sustainable forms of agriculture. Given its scale and scope, the sustainability transition is a challenge to the entire agricultural sector. The main question is, how to support the transition process? In this article, we explore how agricultural science can address the sustainability transition of farming systems to understand and support transition processes. We discuss the potential for articulating three research approaches: comprehensive analysis, co-design, and simulation modeling. Comprehensive analysis of the sustainability transition provides perspectives on the interplay between resources, resource management, and related performances of farming systems on the one hand and technical, economic, and sociocultural dimensions of change on the other. Co-design of the sustainability transition stimulates local-scale transition experiments in the real world and identification of alternatives for change. Simulation modeling explores future-oriented scenarios of management at multiple levels and assesses their impacts. We illustrate the articulation of research approaches with two examples of research applied to agricultural water management and autonomy in crop-livestock systems. The resulting conceptual framework is the first one developed to organize research to understand and support the sustainability transition of farming systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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24 pages, 6148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Case Study on Spatio-Temporal Data Mining of Urban Social Management Events Based on Ontology Semantic Analysis

by Shaohua Wang, Xianxiong Liu, Haiyin Wang and Qingwu Hu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062084 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5317

Abstract

The massive urban social management data with geographical coordinates from the inspectors, volunteers, and citizens of the city are a new source of spatio-temporal data, which can be used for the data mining of city management and the evolution of hot events to [...] Read more.

The massive urban social management data with geographical coordinates from the inspectors, volunteers, and citizens of the city are a new source of spatio-temporal data, which can be used for the data mining of city management and the evolution of hot events to improve urban comprehensive governance. This paper proposes spatio-temporal data mining of urban social management events (USMEs) based on ontology semantic approach. First, an ontology model for USMEs is presented to accurately extract effective social management events from non-structured UMSEs. Second, an explorer spatial data analysis method based on “event-event” and “event-place” from spatial and time aspects is presented to mine the information from UMSEs for the urban social comprehensive governance. The data mining results are visualized as a thermal chart and a scatter diagram for the optimization of the management resources configuration, which can improve the efficiency of municipal service management and municipal departments for decision-making. Finally, the USMEs of Qingdao City in August 2016 are taken as a case study with the proposed approach. The proposed method can effectively mine the management of social hot events and their spatial distribution patterns, which can guide city governance and enhance the city’s comprehensive management level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of University Technology Transfer: Mediating Effect of Inventor’s Technology Service

by Fang Li, Sheng Zhang and Yuhuan Jin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062085 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4338

Abstract

Based on the perspective of knowledge transfer and the technology acceptance model (TAM), this paper constructs a university technology transfer sustainable development model that considers the inventor’s technology service from the perspective of the long-term cooperation of enterprise, and analyzes the mediating effect [...] Read more.

Based on the perspective of knowledge transfer and the technology acceptance model (TAM), this paper constructs a university technology transfer sustainable development model that considers the inventor’s technology service from the perspective of the long-term cooperation of enterprise, and analyzes the mediating effect of the inventor’s technology service on university technology transfer sustainability. By using 270 questionnaires as survey data, it is found that the availability of an inventor’s technology service has a significant positive impact on the attitude tendency and practice tendency of enterprise long-term technological cooperation; enterprise technology absorption capacity and trust between a university and an enterprise also have significant influence on an inventor’s technical service availability. Therefore, the inventor’s technology service acts as a mediator in the relationship between university technology transfer sustainability and influence factors. Universities ought to establish the technology transfer model, which focuses on the inventor’s tacit knowledge transfer service, and promotes the sustainable development of the university. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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21 pages, 2053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Prospective of Nuclear Power in China

by Yan Xu, Junjie Kang and Jiahai Yuan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2086; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062086 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 15166

Abstract

From scratch to current stage, China’s nuclear power technology has experienced rapid development, and now China has begun to export nuclear power technology. As a kind of highly efficient and clean energy source, nuclear energy is also a priority option to solve energy [...] Read more.

From scratch to current stage, China’s nuclear power technology has experienced rapid development, and now China has begun to export nuclear power technology. As a kind of highly efficient and clean energy source, nuclear energy is also a priority option to solve energy crisis, replace traditional fossil fuels and reduce air pollution. By analyzing the short-term and long-term development trend of nuclear power in China, the paper has reached the following conclusions: (1) Under the current situation of excess supply, due to high investment cost of first-kind reactors, the decline of utilization hours and the additional cost of ancillary service obligations, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the third generation nuclear power will significantly increase, and the internal rate of return (IRR) will significantly fall. In the short term, market competitiveness of nuclear power will be a major problem, which affects investment enthusiasm. (2) With technology learning of third generation technology, the LCOE of nuclear power will be competitive with that of coal power in 2030. (3) The CO₂ emissions reduction potential of nuclear power is greater than coal power with CCS and the avoided CO₂ costs of nuclear power is much lower. Therefore, nuclear power is an important option for China’s long-term low-carbon energy system transition. The paper proposes to subsidize the technical learning costs of new technology through clean technology fund at the early commercialization stage. When designing power market rules, the technical characteristics of nuclear power should be fully considered to ensure efficient operation of nuclear power. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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24 pages, 2330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Environmental Awareness and Its Connection to Local Environmental Management in Water Conservation Zones: The Case of Beijing, China

by Yi Du, Xiaoyan Wang, Daniele Brombal, Angela Moriggi, Andrew Sharpley and Shujiang Pang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2087; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062087 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 70 | Viewed by 13196

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the change over time in the environmental awareness in rural Chinese communities and its correlation with environmental management measures implemented at the local level. We identify three main components of awareness, namely: perception, behavior, and attitude toward environmental [...] Read more.

This paper aims at investigating the change over time in the environmental awareness in rural Chinese communities and its correlation with environmental management measures implemented at the local level. We identify three main components of awareness, namely: perception, behavior, and attitude toward environmental management measures. Data were collected from two surveys in three villages in northern China in 2006 and 2015 that interviewed 125 and 129 respondents, respectively, and were analyzed employing an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The results discussed in the paper show that environmental awareness increased between 2006–2015, and was mainly manifested in better environmental behavior and understanding of environmental status due an improvement in rural infrastructure and a greater amount of information provided to rural residents about the environment. Place of residence had a considerable influence on respondents’ environmental awareness: residents in eco-villages had a higher environmental awareness than those living in common agricultural villages. This appears to indicate a positive nexus between the comprehensiveness of environmental management measures implemented locally, and environmental awareness. Also, the universality of environment issues reduced the importance of socioeconomic and demographic factors in determining the degree of environmental awareness. However, more attention should be paid to villagers’ external behavior and inner feelings, such as their attitude to governmental management policies. These findings yield important policy implications that are relevant to the promotion of environmental awareness in China’s rural communities, and the adoption of more effective environmental management measures. Full article

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21 pages, 5169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumer Intervention Mapping—A Tool for Designing Future Product Strategies within Circular Product Service Systems

by Matt Sinclair, Leila Sheldrick, Mariale Moreno and Emma Dewberry

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062088 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 11288

Abstract

Re-distributed manufacturing presents a number of opportunities and challenges for New Product Development in a future Circular Economy. It has been argued that small-scale, flexible and localised production systems will reduce resource consumption, lower transport emissions and extend product lifetimes. At the same [...] Read more.

Re-distributed manufacturing presents a number of opportunities and challenges for New Product Development in a future Circular Economy. It has been argued that small-scale, flexible and localised production systems will reduce resource consumption, lower transport emissions and extend product lifetimes. At the same time smart products within the Internet of Things will gather and report data on user behaviour and product status. Many sustainable design tools have previously been developed but few are able to imagine and develop visions of how future sustainable product service systems might be manifested. This paper introduces the concept of Consumer Intervention Mapping as a tool for creating future product strategies. The tool visualises the points within a product’s lifecycle where stakeholders are able to intervene in the product’s expected journey. This perspective enables the rapid construction of scenarios that explore and describe future circular product service systems. Validation of the tool in three workshops is described and the outcomes are presented. Consumer Intervention Mapping is successful in creating scenarios that describe existing product service systems and new product concepts adapted to a Circular Economy paradigm. Further work is required to refine the tool’s performance in more focused and reflective design exercises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Design and Consumer Behavior in A Circular Economy)

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18 pages, 2078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model of Power System Stabilizer Adapting to Multi-Operating Conditions of Local Power Grid and Parameter Tuning

by Wenping Hu, Jifeng Liang, Yitao Jin and Fuzhang Wu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2089; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062089 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4588

Abstract

The rapid development of the modern power grid has resulted in significant changes to the dynamic characteristics of regional power grids. Moreover, the operating conditions of power grids are increasingly complex, and uncertainty factors are on the rise, which makes it difficult for [...] Read more.

The rapid development of the modern power grid has resulted in significant changes to the dynamic characteristics of regional power grids. Moreover, the operating conditions of power grids are increasingly complex, and uncertainty factors are on the rise, which makes it difficult for a conventional power system stabilizer (PSS) to provide enough damping for the power system. To solve the problem where the conventional model and parameter-tuning method of a PSS cannot adapt to the multi-operating conditions of the modern power system, a new emergency control model of PSS (E-PSS) that can adapt to the multi-operating conditions of the local power grid and a method of parameter tuning based on probabilistic eigenvalue are proposed in this paper. An emergency control channel is also installed on the PSS2B. The conventional channel is used to control the system under normal operating conditions, which ensures that the system meets the conditions of dynamic stability in 99% of operating conditions, and the emergency control is adopted immediately in extreme conditions. Through the process of parameter tuning, the adaptability of the PSS to multi-operating conditions and damping coupling are both considered. Finally, it is verified that the emergency control model of the PSS and the parameter tuning method are effective and robust by a series of simulations based on MATLAB and its Power system analysis toolbox (PSAT). The rapidity of the emergency control can guarantee its effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Technologies: A Sustainable Energy Source)

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16 pages, 2065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Factors to Achieve Dockless Bike-Sharing Sustainability in China: A Stakeholder-Oriented Network Perspective

by Jian-gang Shi, Hongyun Si, Guangdong Wu, Yangyue Su and Jing Lan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062090 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 111 | Viewed by 11045

Abstract

In China, dockless bike-sharing programs (DBSPs) play a significant role in promoting the goals of sustainable urban travel and carbon emissions reduction. However, the sustainability of DBSPs is increasingly being challenged as various issues associated with different stakeholders emerge. While numerous studies have [...] Read more.

In China, dockless bike-sharing programs (DBSPs) play a significant role in promoting the goals of sustainable urban travel and carbon emissions reduction. However, the sustainability of DBSPs is increasingly being challenged as various issues associated with different stakeholders emerge. While numerous studies have focused on the barriers to traditional bike-sharing programs, the sustainability performance of new-generation DBSPs is largely overlooked. It is accordingly imperative to understand the primary challenges that impede the sustainability of DBSPs and to consider what stimulative measures can be taken. In this study, we investigate the factors that are critical to DBSPs’ sustainability from a network perspective. Stakeholder-associated factors and their interrelations were identified via literature analysis and interviews, and the social network analysis (SNA) method was employed to recognize the critical factors and links in DBSPs. As a result, 10 critical factors and 10 major interactions were identified and further classified into six challenges. Sharing transport schemes, legislative perfection, public private partnership (PPP), and product lifecycle management (PLM) were proposed to govern these challenges. This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge of bike-sharing programs via a network approach that integrates the key influencing factors with those factors’ associated stakeholders. Furthermore, these findings provide the government and operators with implications for mitigating the tough challenges and facilitating the sustainability of DBSPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Governance Model and Strategy to Improve a Sustainable Transport System)

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25 pages, 2111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of Critical Reflection in Management Education for Sustainability: A Proposal on Content and Form of Shared Value Rationality

by Janette Brunstein, Marta Fabiano Sambiase and Claudine Brunnquell

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2091; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062091 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4835

Abstract

This article describes and analyzes a proposal for the teaching-learning of strategic management for business students, from the angle of critical reflection (CR) presuppositions. The proposal was designed to broaden the dominant rationality in teaching strategies at business schools and has been in [...] Read more.

This article describes and analyzes a proposal for the teaching-learning of strategic management for business students, from the angle of critical reflection (CR) presuppositions. The proposal was designed to broaden the dominant rationality in teaching strategies at business schools and has been in progress since 2011 in a Brazilian business school. We argued that changes in the organizational environment and in competition demand not only a review of strategy theoretical content, but also of the way that strategy is taught with more critical and reflective teaching-learning approaches. We conducted a survey to analyze the results of this educational experience from students’ points of view. Considering a sample of 165 undergraduate students who have taken the course since its implementation, we evaluated the students’ CR levels. The results present implications for professors, business schools, and researchers, revealing challenging aspects and also CR enhancers in the context of the undergraduate strategy initiative. We expect that the described experience can be replicated and improved in comparative studies in different geographical and disciplinary contexts, encouraging the evaluation and promotion of CR in the teaching of strategic management in business education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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28 pages, 2528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coordinating the Dynamic Development of Energy and Industry in Composite Regions: An I-SDOP Analysis of the BTH Region

by Xu Li, Chinhao Chong, Linwei Ma, Pei Liu, Xuesi Shen, Zibo Jia, Cheng Wang, Zheng Li and Weidou Ni

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062093 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4583

Abstract

In various regions of the world, there is an urgent need to address energy challenges by accelerating the transformation of energy and industrial systems. The problem is quite complex in rapidly developing composite regions, with the necessity to coordinate the dynamic development of [...] Read more.

In various regions of the world, there is an urgent need to address energy challenges by accelerating the transformation of energy and industrial systems. The problem is quite complex in rapidly developing composite regions, with the necessity to coordinate the dynamic development of energy and industry in several heterogeneous subregions. Through a typical case study on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, this study attempts to form a referable methodology for the coordinated development of energy and industry for the sustainable development of rapidly developing composite regions. The concept of an Integrated strategy of Sustainable development objectives, Decision-making systems, Operation systems, and Physical systems (I-SDOP) is proposed to describe the multilayer dynamics of complex energy and industrial systems. A five-step I-SDOP analysis is conducted to determine an integrated strategy for the coordinated development of energy and industry in the BTH region, based on the analysis of its sustainable development objectives, decision-making systems, operation systems, and physical systems. The results indicate the importance of innovation sources and extensive communications to promote market reform and engineering projects that fulfill the strong political wills and strategic plans of China’s central government. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Policy and Policy Implications—Good Examples and Critical Reflections)

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22 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Generative Potential of Tensions within Belgian Agroecology

by Pierre Marie Stassart, Maarten Crivits, Julie Hermesse, Louis Tessier, Julie Van Damme and Joost Dessein

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2094; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062094 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5453

Abstract

Food crises and ecologization have given rise to a Belgian dynamic that does not behave according to the conventional tripod of agroecology: practitioners, social movement, and scientists. Instead of simply recounting the history of Belgian agroecology, the authors trace the history and dynamics [...] Read more.

Food crises and ecologization have given rise to a Belgian dynamic that does not behave according to the conventional tripod of agroecology: practitioners, social movement, and scientists. Instead of simply recounting the history of Belgian agroecology, the authors trace the history and dynamics in Belgium), a journey along six strands that weave themselves into a Belgian tapestry: Genetically modified crop commandos, a scientific paradigm shift, hybrid expertise opening the Northern route that intersects with a Southern political route, an original non-institutional dynamic in the French-speaking part of Belgium and an institutional initiative that led to a rift in Flanders. In the following section, we identify, emerging from those six strands, four tensions that create a space of innovations, namely, politically differentiated discourses, land access, fair price, and epistemic tensions. We discuss then the generative potential of the 4 tensions and describe the potential of reconfigurations generated by boundaries organizations, food justice and transdisciplinarity. We conclude that the concept of agroecology continues to have transformative potential in Belgium today. However, no one can predict the course of such a largely non-institutional dynamic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Agroecology in Europe. New Developments and Applications)

16 pages, 436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transformations and the Level of Tourist Function Development in Polish Voivodeship Capital Cities

by Katarzyna Przybyła and Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062095 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3904

Abstract

The article discusses transformations of the tourist function in Polish voivodeship capital cities in the period between 2005–2015. The first research stage was carried out through the background of the theory of city economic base using two indicators: index of surplus workers (ISW) [...] Read more.

The article discusses transformations of the tourist function in Polish voivodeship capital cities in the period between 2005–2015. The first research stage was carried out through the background of the theory of city economic base using two indicators: index of surplus workers (ISW) and Florence specialisation coefficient (FSC). The conducted research covered employment size, structure, and changes, with a particular emphasis on employment in tourism. In the second stage of the study, based on a group of diagnostic characteristics describing the tourist functions performed by cities, taxonomic measures were constructed to determine the level of these functions’ development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Tourism)

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13 pages, 438 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Eco-Security Assessment Based on the Multi-Dimensional Connection Cloud Model

by Qiuyan Liu, Mingwu Wang, Xiao Wang, Fengqiang Shen and Juliang Jin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062096 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3790

Abstract

The evaluation of land eco-security is challenging because it is involved with various uncertainty factors. Although the normal cloud model provides an idea for dealing with the randomness and fuzziness of indicators for the evaluation of land eco-security, it cannot simulate the distribution [...] Read more.

The evaluation of land eco-security is challenging because it is involved with various uncertainty factors. Although the normal cloud model provides an idea for dealing with the randomness and fuzziness of indicators for the evaluation of land eco-security, it cannot simulate the distribution state of the evaluation indicators in a finite interval and their calculation process is complicated for multi-factor problems. Herein, a novel multi-dimensional connection cloud model is discussed to remedy these defects. In this model, combined with the range of evaluation factors in each grade, the identity-discrepancy-contrary principle of set pair theory is adopted to determine the digital characteristics of the multi-dimensional cloud model, which can uniformly describe the certainty and uncertainty relationships between the measured indices and the evaluation criteria and also improve the fuzzy-randomness of evaluation indicators closer to the actual distribution characteristics. The case study and the comparison of the proposed model with the normal cloud model and the matter element model were performed to confirm the validity and reliability of the proposed model. Results show that this model can overcome the subjectivity in determining the digital characteristics of the normal cloud model, providing a novel method for the comprehensive evaluation of land eco-security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Soils and Water: the Role of Environmental Land Use Conflicts)

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16 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation on Intellectual Property Rights Policy System of the Renewable Energy in China

by Xing Gao and Keyu Zhai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2097; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062097 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3962

Abstract

With the intensive consumption and price rising of traditional fossil fuels, the development and utilization of renewable energy has attracted worldwide attention. Meanwhile, due to enhanced energy constraints and increasingly grim greenhouse gases, many countries all over the world have been developing renewable [...] Read more.

With the intensive consumption and price rising of traditional fossil fuels, the development and utilization of renewable energy has attracted worldwide attention. Meanwhile, due to enhanced energy constraints and increasingly grim greenhouse gases, many countries all over the world have been developing renewable energy technologies to promote sustainable growth economically. Intellectual property rights (IPR) policy linked to renewable energy provides institutional guarantee for the development of renewable energy industry and technology. This study works to test the performance of IPR policies of renewable energy industry in China. We employed Cobb-Douglas production function and built on a quantitative policy indicator measurement system over the period from 2004 to 2013 to evaluate the impact of IPR policy of renewable energy industry on innovation and market development in China, which provides an all-round study on the IPR system by clearing up all IPR policy system that is related to the renewable energy industry. The results of Multiple Regression Models indicated that the current IPR policy of renewable energy industry are disconnected from China’s reality because the innovation ability of the renewable energy industry has not been improved rapidly and that both the market transformation ability and market prospect of new energy technology patents are weak. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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28 pages, 1491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Addressing Organisational Pressures as Drivers towards Sustainability in Manufacturing Projects and Project Management Methodologies

by Fotios Misopoulos, Roula Michaelides, Mohammad Afiq Salehuddin, Vicky Manthou and Zenon Michaelides

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062098 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8716

Abstract

The concept of sustainability continues to rapidly grow in interest from disparate academic and industrial fields. This research aims to elucidate further the implications of the sustainability drivers upon project management methodological approaches specifically in the manufacturing industry. This paper studies the three [...] Read more.

The concept of sustainability continues to rapidly grow in interest from disparate academic and industrial fields. This research aims to elucidate further the implications of the sustainability drivers upon project management methodological approaches specifically in the manufacturing industry. This paper studies the three prevalent dialogues in the field of sustainability, relevant to the environmental and social aspects of the Triple Bottom Line, and utilises Institutional Theory to propose organisational pressures as affecting sustainability efforts in industrial manufacturing project management. Furthermore, the literature bodies of Lean and Life Cycle Analysis in manufacturing project management guided our reflection that the various drivers of sustainability put forward that do not consider the distinctive organisational pressures fail to address institutional and systemic project management issues holistically. The authors further conduct and draw on a systematic literature review on the constructs of sustainability in the manufacturing industry and their adopted methodologies, evaluating academic articles published from the year 2001 to 2017. The findings indicate that normative pressures prevail over coercive and mimetic pressures and are seen as the main drivers of sustainability in the manufacturing industry. In an incremental reductionist approach, project management knowledge areas are analysed, and the study posits that Stakeholder and Communications Management are two of the knowledge areas that need to integrate the above pressures to achieve cohesive sustainable industrial results. The principle contribution is to offer a new conceptual perspective on integrating project management knowledge areas with Institutional Theory pressures for more sustainable project management methodologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Project Management and Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Infrastructure through Citizen Stormwater Management: Policy Instruments, Participation and Engagement

by Eva Lieberherr and Olivia Odom Green

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2099; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062099 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7169

Abstract

As in other industrialized countries, many urban water social-ecological systems in the United States are characterized by frequent discharges of contaminated runoff, catastrophic flooding, and near-complete severance of the hydrologic cycle. Recent advancements in stormwater best management practices aim to push urban water [...] Read more.

As in other industrialized countries, many urban water social-ecological systems in the United States are characterized by frequent discharges of contaminated runoff, catastrophic flooding, and near-complete severance of the hydrologic cycle. Recent advancements in stormwater best management practices aim to push urban water social-ecological systems into a more sustainable regime that reconnects the hydrologic cycle and utilizes ecosystem services, such as infiltration and evapotranspiration, to improve the quality of urban and suburban water bodies. Collectively, these approaches are termed green infrastructure. As a decentralized approach, green infrastructure requires implementation on, as well as access to, property throughout a watershed, which poses particular governance challenges for watersheds where most land is held privately. We argue that green infrastructure on private property has a strong potential for creating a more sustainable regime through Citizen Stormwater Management, a participatory form of governance with strong citizen influence and engagement. We develop a classification scheme to assess policy instruments’ degree of government intervention, citizen participation, and engagement. The paper explores how various policy instruments encourage Citizen Stormwater Management across the United States on both public and private property. We then conduct a textual analysis of ten years of publicly available data from Onondaga County, New York (USA) to assess the implementation of applicable policy instruments. Findings indicate that incentive-based (carrots) along with outreach (sermon) policies can play an important role when regulatory instruments (sticks) are lacking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Water Management)

20 pages, 12532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drought Assessment with the Community Land Model for 1951–2010 in East Asia

by Myoung-Jin Um, Mun Mo Kim, Yeonjoo Kim and Daeryong Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2100; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062100 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5166

Abstract

Severe droughts have occurred in East Asia; however, observational hydroclimate data that covers the entire region is lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate drought assessment in East Asia. This study estimated three drought indices by generating hydroclimate variables using the [...] Read more.

Severe droughts have occurred in East Asia; however, observational hydroclimate data that covers the entire region is lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate drought assessment in East Asia. This study estimated three drought indices by generating hydroclimate variables using the Community Land Model (CLM). The results of the CLM were verified by comparison with Climatic Research Unit (CRU) data for precipitation and air temperature and the Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) data for runoff. Spatial and temporal variations in three drought severity indices, including the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), the standardized runoff index (SRI), and the Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI), in East Asia were estimated using the CLM output and compared with the SPEI in the CRU. This study classified drought frequency into four classes depending on the drought severity with 5-deg gapped longitude and latitude for 1951–2010 in East Asia and found that moderately dry (D2) and severely dry (D3) drought frequency classes matched well between the CLM and CRU data. The SPEI in the CLM and CRU data showed very similar frequency magnitudes and an increasing temporal trend. The SRI and SSMI frequencies for CLM also showed an increasing temporal trend compared to the SPEI frequency trend. The results of this study show that CLM outputs are reliable for drought analysis in East Asia. Furthermore, this study suggests the possibility of CLM application to other regions to generate hydroclimate data that is otherwise insufficient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Impact Events and Climate Change)

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20 pages, 1353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Practices on Cotton Production and Livelihood of Farmers in Punjab, Pakistan

by Muhammad Ali Imran, Asghar Ali, Muhammad Ashfaq, Sarfraz Hassan, Richard Culas and Chunbo Ma

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062101 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 90 | Viewed by 15084

Abstract

Cotton is the second largest crop of Pakistan in terms of area after wheat and is being suffered by multiple shocks over the time due to conventional agricultural management practices, climate change, and market failures. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was introduced by the [...] Read more.

Cotton is the second largest crop of Pakistan in terms of area after wheat and is being suffered by multiple shocks over the time due to conventional agricultural management practices, climate change, and market failures. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was introduced by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in 2010, as an innovative cleaner production alternative to conventional farming that aimed at increasing the efficiency of natural resources, resilience, and productivity of agricultural production system, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The adverse effects of climate change on cotton production at the farm and regional level can be minimized by using CSA practices and technologies. The present study investigated the financial performance and explored the impact of CSA through sustainable water use management on cotton production in Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) irrigation system of Punjab, Pakistan by using Cobb-Douglas production function. The adopters of CSA in cotton cultivation were identified by conducting six focus group discussions. Data were collected through well-structured questionnaire from 133 adopters of CSA and 65 conventional cotton growers for the cropping season 2016–2017. It was found that water-smart (raising crops on bed, laser land levelling, conjunctive use of water and drainage management), energy-smart (minimum tillage), carbon-smart (less use of chemicals) and knowledge-smart (crop rotation and improved varieties i.e., tolerant to drought, flood and heat/cold stresses) practices and technologies of CSA were adopted by the cotton farmers in the study area. Most of the farmers were of the view that they are adopting CSA practices and technologies due to the limited supply of canal water, climate change, drought-prone, massive groundwater extraction, rapidly declining groundwater table and increasing soil salinity over the time. Results revealed that uniform germination, higher yield and financial returns, the concentration of inputs and increase in resource use efficiency are the main advantages of CSA. The econometric analysis showed that implementation of CSA practices and technologies as judicious use of water and fertilizer, groundwater quality, access to extension services, and appropriate method and time of picking have a significant impact on the gross value of cotton product (GVP). The findings of the study would be helpful for policy makers to formulate policies that can minimize farmer’s financial burden to adopt CSA technologies and implement for scaling out in Punjab and beyond. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Governance for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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14 pages, 647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Patient Participation through Physician’s Resources on Experience and Wellbeing

by Jiyoung Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062102 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3863

Abstract

Few studies have reported on how customer value is co-created in healthcare service delivery, and its effect on patients’ perceptions of wellbeing. It is important to examine physician-patient interaction in the context of a healthcare sector characterized by complex, specialized services and to [...] Read more.

Few studies have reported on how customer value is co-created in healthcare service delivery, and its effect on patients’ perceptions of wellbeing. It is important to examine physician-patient interaction in the context of a healthcare sector characterized by complex, specialized services and to determine how value is thereby co-created. This study’s purpose is to investigate the potential impact of patient participation through physicians’ resource offering on patient experiential value and wellbeing. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey of actual patients in South Korea, whose responses were analyzed via structural equation using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. IBM Corp.: Armonk, NY, USA. The results indicate that physicians provide significant affective and cognitive resources to patients; in turn, patients are actively involved in the medical encounter process. These co-creation activities lead to increases in patients’ experiential value and perceived wellbeing. Patients’ play a major role in problem-solving, and service providers contribute resources such as professional expertise and affective care. Healthcare service providers can refer to the service process model proposed herein and aim to maximize patients’ roles and use of their resources for patients’ wellbeing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competitive–Cooperative Strategy Based on Altruistic Behavior for Dual-Channel Supply Chains

by Fei Xu and Honglei Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062103 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3911

Abstract

As market competition becomes increasingly fierce, it becomes more and more important for members of the supply chain to maximize market sales and improve the economic benefits of all parties through altruistic cooperation. Considering the complex relationship between online and offline retail channels, [...] Read more.

As market competition becomes increasingly fierce, it becomes more and more important for members of the supply chain to maximize market sales and improve the economic benefits of all parties through altruistic cooperation. Considering the complex relationship between online and offline retail channels, this paper proposes a competitive–cooperative strategy based on altruistic behavior for the dual-channel supply chain, by applying the theory of the co-competition game. First, we introduce the problem with respect to the relationship between online and offline retail channels, and establish the competitive–cooperative strategy model based on altruistic behavior. Then, we prove the equilibrium strategy for existence and stability of the proposed model through mathematical deduction. Next, a multi-object optimal model is excluded by applying the Pareto principle, and the NSGA-II-based algorithm is obtained to acquire the Nash equilibrium point. Finally, we present the case testing results, which indicate that the proposed model is robust and can improve the channel efficiency of the supply chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain System Design and Optimization)

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21 pages, 727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Decisive Risks of Green Development Projects by Adopting Social Network Analysis under Stakeholder Theory

by Li Ma, Lin Wang, Kuo-Jui Wu, Ming-Lang Tseng and Anthony S. F. Chiu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2104; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062104 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4834

Abstract

The Belt and Road initiatives related to green development projects are being increasingly considered globally. However, such projects face several risks resulting from stakeholder diversity. Although previous studies attempted to identify the risks caused by stakeholders, they found it difficult to provide a [...] Read more.

The Belt and Road initiatives related to green development projects are being increasingly considered globally. However, such projects face several risks resulting from stakeholder diversity. Although previous studies attempted to identify the risks caused by stakeholders, they found it difficult to provide a precise boundary to separate the risks attributable to a single stakeholder. This study adopts social network analysis to explore the decisive risks attributed to each stakeholder by considering a project’s stage. The results reveal that contractors take on the most risk and, thus, require real-time monitoring. Furthermore, all stakeholders need to collaborate with one another during the implementation stage of a project to mitigate the occurrence of risk. This study makes three contributions: it (1) provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the understanding of stakeholder theory; (2) offers specific guidelines for monitoring risks; and (3) enables stakeholders to understand their duties in controlling risks. Detailed discussions are provided in the remainder of the manuscript. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agribusiness Decision making model in Belt and Road Green Development)

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15 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Ecuador

by Paúl Sarango-Lalangui, José Álvarez-García and María De la Cruz Del Río-Rama

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2105; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062105 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 9726

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger enterprises, generate economic, social, and environmental impacts on their environment. However, in the case of these types of enterprises, the accumulation of these impacts is very significant in the immediate surroundings where they offer [...] Read more.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger enterprises, generate economic, social, and environmental impacts on their environment. However, in the case of these types of enterprises, the accumulation of these impacts is very significant in the immediate surroundings where they offer their products and services. This discussion is particularly relevant in Ecuador, where 99% of all enterprises are SMEs. The objective of this research is to find out if small and medium-sized enterprises in this country are involved in the adoption of sustainable practices as well as see if there are significant differences in adoption based on size, sector, and age. The methodology used is the performance of a descriptive analysis and regression of the data obtained through a structured questionnaire (indicators of the Ethos Institute of Brazil). Previously, the reliability of the questionnaire was validated through an exploratory factor analysis. The target population consists of 9843 enterprises, obtaining a sample size of 188 valid surveys, which implies a response rate of 2%, representing a sampling error of ±7.08%. The results obtained enabled us to perform a sustainability diagnosis of SMEs in Ecuador, identifying the strengths and weaknesses. The managers have a positive and favourable attitude towards sustainability. The practices considered show a medium-high implementation level of 79.71% in economic sustainability, 82.28% in social sustainability, and 78.14% in environmental sustainability in the enterprises considered in the sample. Although these percentages are significant, there is plenty of scope for improvement. Full article

13 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The motric, Educational, Recreational and Satisfaction Impact of Adventure Education Activities in the Urban Tourism Environment

by Dana Badau and Adela Badau

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2106; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062106 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6112

Abstract

(1) Background: The study aims to highlight the impact of educational, recreational, motric and satisfaction of adventure education activities in the urban tourism environment; (2) Methods: The study included 48 students with specialization in physical education. The adventure education program included two specific [...] Read more.

(1) Background: The study aims to highlight the impact of educational, recreational, motric and satisfaction of adventure education activities in the urban tourism environment; (2) Methods: The study included 48 students with specialization in physical education. The adventure education program included two specific activities and the evaluation focused on: the students’ choice in choosing and crossing the routes from the Adventure Park in Brasov according to their difficulty; the distance covered within the Photo Trip Brasov Adventure. At the end of program a questionnaire contained 20 items divided into two parts of 10 items for each of the two activities: Adventure Park Brasov Challenge and Photo Trip Brasov Adventure, was used to assess the educational, recreational and satisfaction impact of the urban adventure tourism activities. The results were processed using SPPS 20; (3) Results: At the Adventure Park Brasov Challenge the girls have accumulated 118 points (29.7%), and the boys 280 points (70.3%). For Photo Trip Brasov Adventure, the average distance covered by the 12 teams was 5.516 ± 0.240. The results are statistically significant for p < 0.05. The Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the whole questionnaire was α = 0.933; for the Adventure Park Brasov Challenge was α = 0.811; for Photo Trip Brasov Adventure was α = 0.924, suggesting that the items had a very high internal consistency; (4) Conclusions: Participation in the Education program through adventure in urban tourism environment highlighted the expansion and improvement of the physical, technical, educational, recreational potential and participation of the students. The analysis of the results of the questionnaire revealed that the students mostly appreciate the satisfaction and recreational parameters and in the lower the educational and motoric parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity as a Means of Culture, Leisure and Free Time)

18 pages, 2854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of the UK Green Deal in Shaping Pro-Environmental Behaviours: Insights from Two Case Studies

by Candice Howarth and Ben M. Roberts

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2107; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062107 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6165

Abstract

Domestic energy use accounts for more than a quarter of total energy use in the United Kingdom (UK), with space and water heating accounting for almost 80% of this consumption. Energy efficiency is often the simplest and most cost-effective way of reducing energy [...] Read more.

Domestic energy use accounts for more than a quarter of total energy use in the United Kingdom (UK), with space and water heating accounting for almost 80% of this consumption. Energy efficiency is often the simplest and most cost-effective way of reducing energy use, and improving domestic energy efficiency can contribute significantly to reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A significant proportion of the UK’s energy stock remains inefficient, and over 80% of current housing stock will still be standing in 2050. Therefore, retrofitting existing buildings is fundamental to achieving energy efficiency improvements in the domestic sector. In order to reduce carbon emissions and improve domestic energy efficiency, the UK government launched the Green Deal in 2013 to improve the energy efficiency in buildings in the UK, reduce emissions from homes by 29%, and help meet carbon reduction targets. It aimed to overcome existing perceived barriers to the adoption of energy efficiency measures in the home and enable households and businesses to make energy-saving improvements to their properties, delivering a range of important benefits to the owner/occupier as a result. This paper critically assesses the impact of the Green Deal in shaping pro-environmental behaviours by drawing on two case studies. Lessons learnt from the UK’s Green Deal energy policy are presented, and implications for the UK government’s role in shaping energy policy and pro-environmental behaviours are considered. Full article

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15 pages, 2223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Diffusion of Inter-Organizational Technology in Supply Chains: An Approach to Heterogeneous Levels of Risk Aversion

by Daeheon Choi, Chune Young Chung and Kaun Y. Lee

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062108 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3105

Abstract

This paper develops a model to analyze inter-organizational technology adoption in a supply chain. While the basic model is general, this study is motivated by several cases of inter-organizational technology adoption in supply chains. The proposed model in this study considers firms on [...] Read more.

This paper develops a model to analyze inter-organizational technology adoption in a supply chain. While the basic model is general, this study is motivated by several cases of inter-organizational technology adoption in supply chains. The proposed model in this study considers firms on both levels of the supply chain, namely, supplier firms and buyer firms. These individual firms’ thresholds for adoption should be considered by other firms’ decisions within a network, together with their own organizational attributes. The heterogeneity across the population should be allowed. That is, individual firms make a decision for adopting the technology at different times due to their different network sizes, prior beliefs, and amounts of information observed. The main finding is that this uncertainty decreases as other suppliers adopt the technology, and information about their experiences becomes available. In addition, at any given time, an estimate of the benefit to a supplier depends on the number of supplier firms and on the number of buyer firms that have already adopted the technology. Thus, we seek to capture this dependence and analyze its effect on the adoption of a new inter-organizational technology. The next step is to embed the firm-level adoption model into a population model. The model includes various types of heterogeneity in the population model to capture the factors affecting the speed of diffusion. This allows us to derive an adoption curve that is specified by the accumulated fraction of firms that have adopted the technology in or before any given period. The population model allows us to consider the effect of several strategies observed in practice and numerical experiments yielding many managerial implications in this area. Full article

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20 pages, 318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of SMEs’ Green Business Models in the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: Differences in Their Design and Degree of Adoption Stemming from Business Size

by María A. Quintás, Ana I. Martínez-Senra and Antonio Sartal

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2109; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062109 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 10261

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how SMEs define the components of their business models (value proposition, creation and capture) from the point of view of decarbonization. We analyze SMEs as a group, and study whether their size affects this process [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how SMEs define the components of their business models (value proposition, creation and capture) from the point of view of decarbonization. We analyze SMEs as a group, and study whether their size affects this process and, in both cases, we examine evolution over time. We use a database comprising 1161 observations of SMEs, 466 in 2014, and 695 in 2016. The results show that SMEs’ value propositions give an intermediate valuation to both legally required and voluntary reduction of environmental impact, irrespective of SME size and the year analyzed. Regarding value creation, SMEs adopt practically no environmental practices, and there are significant differences according to size, with more difficulties than advantages stemming from small size. The study also shows that such environmental practices are not effective in reducing carbon. This diagnosis indicates that SMEs need help from the administration if they are to play a key role in the process of transformation toward a low-carbon economy. Legislative actions involving harsher environmental protection measures might help shape value propositions that place greater importance on reducing environmental impact, whereas training actions on available environmental techniques, promotion of research on how to adapt such techniques to SMEs and the development of specific practices for SMEs might enhance environmental value creation and capture in their BMs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Sustainable Competitive Strategies)

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

23 pages, 5722 KiB

Open AccessReview

Feasibility Assessment of the Use of Recycled Aggregates for Asphalt Mixtures

by F. C. G. Martinho, L. G. Picado-Santos and S. D. Capitão

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1737; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061737 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 6681

Abstract

The use of recycled aggregates, manufactured from several by-products, to replace virgin aggregates in the production of pavement asphalt mixtures needs to be encouraged. Nevertheless, there are some concerns and uncertainties about the actual environmental, economic and mechanical performance resulting from the incorporation [...] Read more.

The use of recycled aggregates, manufactured from several by-products, to replace virgin aggregates in the production of pavement asphalt mixtures needs to be encouraged. Nevertheless, there are some concerns and uncertainties about the actual environmental, economic and mechanical performance resulting from the incorporation of recycled aggregates in asphalt mixtures. Therefore, this paper has the goal of discussing important features to help decision makers to select recycled aggregates as raw materials for asphalt mixtures. Based on the literature review carried out and the own previous experience of the authors, the article’s main findings reveal that incorporating some of the most common recycled aggregates into asphalt mixtures is feasible, even in a life-cycle analysis perspective. Although some specific technical operations are sometimes necessary when using recycled aggregates in asphalt mixtures, some benefits in terms of environmental impacts, energy use and costs are likely to be achieved, as well as in what concerns the mechanical performance of the asphalt mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Built Environment)

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11 pages, 1016 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Status of the Local Community in Mining Sustainable Development beyond the Triple Bottom Line

by Sisi Que, Liang Wang, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Yao Chen and Wei Yang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061749 - 25 May 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7778

Abstract

Mineral products provide essential fuels and raw materials for industrialization and our daily life, but their influences on other aspects of life need to be taken into consideration. While the whole world benefits from mining’s contributions, most of the resulting detrimental impacts on [...] Read more.

Mineral products provide essential fuels and raw materials for industrialization and our daily life, but their influences on other aspects of life need to be taken into consideration. While the whole world benefits from mining’s contributions, most of the resulting detrimental impacts on the environment and society fall on the local communities. The participation of the local community is one solution to decrease the risks from community-related problems. Subsequently, the requirements of mining sustainable development can be met. A literature review was conducted on mining sustainability and stakeholder participation, and the shortcomings of existing research and difficulties of further study were discussed in detail. This study covers a broad understanding of mining sustainability from a mining community’s perspective. In addition, it offers a new mining sustainability scope based on the literature review. Besides the balance of economic, environmental, and social aspects, the mine owner and local community have to be engaged in the new mining sustainability scope. This literature review could improve community engagement and help mining companies to better understand local mining communities. Full article

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17 pages, 1322 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Sustainability of Agricultural Development in China: The Agriculture–Environment Nexus

by Jialing Yu and Jian Wu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1776; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061776 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 181 | Viewed by 28515

Abstract

The article aims to provide an overview of China’s agricultural development and its
sustainability by focusing on the agriculture–environmental nexus. We first review literature
regarding trends in agricultural development and driving forces. China has made impressive
progress at providing food for 22% of [...] Read more.

The article aims to provide an overview of China’s agricultural development and its
sustainability by focusing on the agriculture–environmental nexus. We first review literature
regarding trends in agricultural development and driving forces. China has made impressive
progress at providing food for 22% of the world’s population. At the same time, severe environmental
impacts have been incurred which not only affect future food security but also have impacts on other
socio-economic aspects. The agricultural policies that have been put into practice have direct or
indirect impacts on such environmental outcomes. We review the impacts of agricultural policies
as well as conservation policies, their effectiveness, some unintended consequences and conflicts.
The article concludes that technology and institutional innovation in China should emphasize more
integrated sustainable development considering the agriculture–environment nexus, instead of
setting incoherent and sometimes incompatible policy goals for each separate side. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: The State of the Great Debates)

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22 pages, 7467 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Development and Use of Sustainability Criteria in SuRF-UK’s Sustainable Remediation Framework

by R. Paul Bardos, Hayley F. Thomas, Jonathan W. N. Smith, Nicola D. Harries, Frank Evans, Richard Boyle, Trevor Howard, Richard Lewis, Alan O. Thomas and Angela Haslam

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1781; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061781 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 7719

Abstract

Sustainability considerations have become widely recognised in contaminated land management and are now accepted as an important component of remediation planning and implementation around the world. The Sustainable Remediation Forum for the UK (SuRF-UK) published guidance on sustainability criteria for consideration in drawing [...] Read more.

Sustainability considerations have become widely recognised in contaminated land management and are now accepted as an important component of remediation planning and implementation around the world. The Sustainable Remediation Forum for the UK (SuRF-UK) published guidance on sustainability criteria for consideration in drawing up (or framing) assessments, organised across 15 “headline” categories, five for the environment element of sustainability, five for the social, and five for the economic. This paper describes how the SuRF-UK indicator guidance was developed, and the rationale behind its structure and approach. It describes its use in remediation option appraisal in the UK, and reviews the international papers that have applied or reviewed it. It then reviews the lessons learned from its initial use and the opinions and findings of international commentators, and concludes with recommendations on how the indicator categories might be further refined in the future. The key findings of this review are that the SuRF-UK framework and indicator guidance is well adopted into practice in the UK. It is widely recognised as the most appropriate mechanism to support sustainability-based decision making in contaminated land decision making. It has influenced the development of other national and international guidance and standards on sustainable remediation. However, there is room for some fine tuning of approach based on the lessons learned during its application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Environmental and Sustainability Policy: Assessing the Past and charting a Course for the Future)

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23 pages, 6979 KiB

Open AccessReview

Opportunities and Challenges of Solar and Wind Energy in South Korea: A Review

by Mohammed H. Alsharif, Jeong Kim and Jin Hong Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061822 - 1 Jun 2018

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 34453

Abstract

South Korea is the ninth biggest energy consumer and the seventh biggest carbon dioxide emitter in global energy consumption since 2016. Accordingly, the Korean government currently faces a two-fold significant challenge to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the [...] Read more.

South Korea is the ninth biggest energy consumer and the seventh biggest carbon dioxide emitter in global energy consumption since 2016. Accordingly, the Korean government currently faces a two-fold significant challenge to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most promising solutions to achieve the goals of sustainable development, energy security, and environmental protection is intensifying the role of renewable energy in electricity production. To this end, the Korean government plans to increase investments in the green energy field, where solar and wind energy will soon play a decisive role toward meeting energy demands and achieving a climate-friendly environment. In this context, this study discusses the future of solar and wind energy in South Korea in four key aspects: (i) opportunities and potential achievement of the vision of government; (ii) potential daily energy output across different geographical areas; (iii) current status and prospects; and (iv) challenges and potential solutions. Full article

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16 pages, 262 KiB

Open AccessReview

Who Cares? The Importance of Emotional Connections with Nature to Ensure Food Security and Wellbeing in Cities

by Kora Uhlmann, Brenda B. Lin and Helen Ross

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061844 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 11416

Abstract

To be “connected” is “to care”, because how and what we care about is influenced, and influences, what we are connected with. Emotional connection predicts environmental concern and children exposed to green environments take this appreciation of nature with them into adulthood. However, [...] Read more.

To be “connected” is “to care”, because how and what we care about is influenced, and influences, what we are connected with. Emotional connection predicts environmental concern and children exposed to green environments take this appreciation of nature with them into adulthood. However, the majority of the human population is now living within urban areas, where opportunities for people to interact and bond with nature are greatly diminished, thereby potentially threatening the liveability of cities into the future. Connection with nature has been shown repeatedly to benefit human wellbeing and predict pro-environmental behaviours. By definition “nature” includes urban agriculture, which is also an integral component of a city’s foodscape, thereby providing opportunities to improve the wellbeing of city inhabitants as well as help ensure food security. This will only be attainable if the next generation has an emotional connection to nature, and the necessary life skills to help them enter adult life as informed food citizens who make healthy and sustainable decisions for themselves as well as others. This paper reviews existing literature on foodscape (or one’s food environment) and biophilia (the love of life or living systems) to highlight the need for inter-disciplinary research that combines urban agriculture and food literacy to ensure future food security and wellbeing of urban inhabitants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology in the City: Applying Ecological Principles to Sustainable Urban Agriculture)

11 pages, 6253 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effective Biodiversity Conservation Requires Dynamic, Pluralistic, Partnership-Based Approaches

by Michael C. Gavin, Joe McCarter, Fikret Berkes, Aroha Te Pareake Mead, Eleanor J. Sterling, Ruifei Tang and Nancy J. Turner

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1846; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061846 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 127 | Viewed by 23177

Abstract

Biodiversity loss undermines the long-term maintenance of ecosystem functions and the well-being of human populations. Global-scale policy initiatives, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, have failed to curb the loss of biodiversity. This failure has led to contentious debates over alternative solutions that [...] Read more.

Biodiversity loss undermines the long-term maintenance of ecosystem functions and the well-being of human populations. Global-scale policy initiatives, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, have failed to curb the loss of biodiversity. This failure has led to contentious debates over alternative solutions that represent opposing visions of value-orientations and policy tools at the heart of conservation action. We review these debates and argue that they impede conservation progress by wasting time and resources, overlooking common goals, failing to recognize the need for diverse solutions, and ignoring the central question of who should be involved in the conservation process. Breaking with the polarizing debates, we argue that biocultural approaches to conservation can guide progress toward just and sustainable conservation solutions. We provide examples of the central principles of biocultural conservation, which emphasize the need for pluralistic, partnership-based, and dynamic approaches to conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocultural Diversity and Sustainability)

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35 pages, 4533 KiB

Open AccessReview

Drivers, Barriers, and Success Factors for Improving Energy Management in the Pulp and Paper Industry

by Akvile Lawrence, Patrik Thollander and Magnus Karlsson

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1851; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061851 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6676

Abstract

Successful energy management is a way to achieve energy efficiency in the pulp and paper industry (PPI), which is important for assuring energy supply security, for increasing economic competitiveness, and for mitigating greenhouse gases. However, research shows that although energy use within PPI [...] Read more.

Successful energy management is a way to achieve energy efficiency in the pulp and paper industry (PPI), which is important for assuring energy supply security, for increasing economic competitiveness, and for mitigating greenhouse gases. However, research shows that although energy use within PPI can be reduced by 5.5–19.4% per year, some of this by energy management practices, energy management is not always implemented. Why is this so? What are the barriers to, and drivers of implementation? How can the barriers be overcome? A systematic review of barriers and drivers in energy management in the PPI within peer-reviewed scientific articles suggests that the world-wide events that affect energy supply, volatility, and use seemingly also affect the number and frequency of research articles on energy management in the PPI. The perception of energy management in the PPI seems to be dominated by the understanding that it can mostly be achieved through technological improvements aiming to improve energy efficiency. The main driver of energy management was shown to be economic conditions: high and unstable energy prices, followed by drivers such as the need to remain internationally competitive, collaboration and energy management systems. Meanwhile, examples of the most important barriers are technical risks, lack of access to capital, lack of time and other priorities, and slim organization. The success factors for enhancing drivers and overcoming barriers were continuous energy accounting, energy-related collaboration, energy-efficiency programmes, and benchmarking. Altogether, success factors for energy management for improved energy efficiency could be summarized in the 4M framework—the “4M for energy efficiency”: mind, measure, monitor, and manage—that could be used as the energy management memory-tool that could lead to improved energy efficiency in other sectors as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Sustainability)

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24 pages, 2601 KiB

Open AccessReview

Integrating Functions for a Sustainable Urban System: A Review of Multifunctional Land Use and Circular Urban Metabolism

by Saskia Van Broekhoven and Anne Lorène Vernay

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1875; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061875 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6899

Abstract

Cities pose environmental challenges but also offer possibilities to close material and energy loops and connect multiple societal and ecologic services. This article reviews and brings together the literature on two important new research directions that address urban sustainability by integrating functions or [...] Read more.

Cities pose environmental challenges but also offer possibilities to close material and energy loops and connect multiple societal and ecologic services. This article reviews and brings together the literature on two important new research directions that address urban sustainability by integrating functions or material flows: Circular Urban Metabolism (CUM) and Multifunctional Land Use (MLU). We focus on challenges to MLU and CUM and strategies to facilitate their realization. The review shows that although MLU and CUM differ in what they integrate, they face partly similar integration challenges. In both fields, the collaboration between actors related to particular functions (water safety, recreation), high investment costs and uncertainties about costs and benefits, and legislation that hampers integration are identified as challenges. In both fields, strategies are proposed to facilitate the collaboration between actors. However, other challenges and strategies are specific. Whilst MLU scholars mostly highlight socio-economic aspects of realizing integration, CUM scholars focus more on technical aspects. We find limited cross-fertilization between both fields so far. To stimulate discussion and knowledge exchange, we introduce ‘integration of urban functions’ as a shared idea for a sustainable urban system. To find further solutions for integration challenges, we propose conceptualizing MLU or CUM initiatives as processes of change, which requires connecting across previously separate ‘worlds’ and changing previously established monofunctional ways of working. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Innovation Strategies)

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13 pages, 1009 KiB

Open AccessReview

Workplace Spirituality: Sustainable Work Experience from a Human Factors Perspective

by Ricardo Luiz Fernandes Bella, Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas, Fernando Toledo Ferraz and Marlene Jesus Soares Bezerra

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1887; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061887 - 5 Jun 2018

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 9183

Abstract

It is important to note that spiritual matter here is not about a religious, but a human centered view based on self-awareness, life purpose and community engagement. These three aspects of spirituality are the predominant perspective in the literature of organizational changes. These [...] Read more.

It is important to note that spiritual matter here is not about a religious, but a human centered view based on self-awareness, life purpose and community engagement. These three aspects of spirituality are the predominant perspective in the literature of organizational changes. These organizational changes are defining new paradigms for work relationships and impacting work environments. Some of these new paradigms are related to work motivation and job satisfaction, which are highly connected to organizational sustainability. Therefore, we choose to investigate workplace spirituality in order to move towards sustainability. In fact, there are already some reviews about workplace spirituality, and the most cited one organizes the topic in three dimensions: first, the inner life dimension that remains in self-centered matters such as identity and values; second, the sense of purpose dimension that refers to work significance perception; and lastly, the sense of community dimension that remains in connection and engagement. Okay, if we already have reviews about that, what is the point? In this review, we choose the predominant perspective on workplace spirituality to turn theoretical discussions into manageable human factors that are expressed by relationship needs at three levels: intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional. With this new organization of the theme, we expect to support managers to perform actions focused on the type of relationship that is desired to be strengthened. From the review, we identify a total of twelve human factors organized by these three relationship levels, each one with four human factors. The main contribution of this study is a systematic review of workplace spirituality based on a human factor perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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24 pages, 5993 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Original Approach Combining CFD, Linearized Models, and Deformation of Trees for Urban Wind Power Assessment

by Jan Konopka, António Lopes and Andreas Matzarakis

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061915 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4414

Abstract

Wind energy is relevant to self-sufficiency in urban areas, but the accuracy of wind assessment is a barrier to allowing wind energy development. The aim of this work is to test the performance of the Griggs-Putnam Index of Deformity of trees (G-PID) over [...] Read more.

Wind energy is relevant to self-sufficiency in urban areas, but the accuracy of wind assessment is a barrier to allowing wind energy development. The aim of this work is to test the performance of the Griggs-Putnam Index of Deformity of trees (G-PID) over urban areas as an alternative method for assessing wind conditions. G-PID has been widely used in open terrains, but this work is the first attempt to apply it in urban areas. The results were compared with CFD simulations (ENVI-met), and finally, with the linear model WAsP to inspect if deformed trees can offer acceptable wind power assessments. WAsP (meso-) and ENVI-met (micrometeorological model) showed similar results in a test area inside the University of Lisbon Campus. All trees showed a deformation with the wind direction (S and SE). The mean G-PID wind speed for all trees was 5.9 m/s. Comparing this to the ENVI-met simulations results (mean speed for all trees was 4.25 m/s) made it necessary to adapt the index to urban terrains by reducing each Index Deformation class by about ~2 m/s. Nevertheless, more investigation is needed, since this study is just a first approach to this integrated methodology. Also, tree species and characteristics were not taken into account. These questions should be addressed in future studies, because the deformation of trees depends also on the tree species and phytosanitary conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Development under Climate Change)

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18 pages, 1591 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainability Intervention Mechanisms for Managing Road Freight Transport Externalities: A Systematic Literature Review

by Abiye Tob-Ogu, Niraj Kumar, John Cullen and Erica E. F. Ballantyne

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061923 - 8 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7439

Abstract

With road freight transport continuing to dominate global freight transport operations, there is increasing pressure on the freight transport industry and its stakeholders to address concerns over its sustainability. This paper adopts a systematic review to examine the academic literature on road freight [...] Read more.

With road freight transport continuing to dominate global freight transport operations, there is increasing pressure on the freight transport industry and its stakeholders to address concerns over its sustainability. This paper adopts a systematic review to examine the academic literature on road freight transport sustainability between 2001 and 2018. Using content and thematic analysis, the paper identifies and categorises sustainability intervention mechanisms providing useful insights on key research applications areas and continental distribution of sustainable road freight transport (SRFT) research. In addition to the six-overarching sustainability intervention mechanism themes identified: decoupling, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), modality, operations, policy, and other, future research can explore the effectiveness of different interventions mechanisms identified in this study to improve sustainable practices across different continents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Freight Transport)

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32 pages, 2874 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Urban Agriculture as a Nature-Based Solution: A Review for Developing a Systemic Assessment Framework

by Martina Artmann and Katharina Sartison

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1937; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061937 - 9 Jun 2018

Cited by 211 | Viewed by 24209

Abstract

Urbanization and achieving sustainable agriculture are both major societal challenges. By reducing food miles and connecting people with nature, food cultivation in cities has several major advantages. However, due to further urban development (peri-) urban agriculture (UPA) is under threat. To strengthen UPA, [...] Read more.

Urbanization and achieving sustainable agriculture are both major societal challenges. By reducing food miles and connecting people with nature, food cultivation in cities has several major advantages. However, due to further urban development (peri-) urban agriculture (UPA) is under threat. To strengthen UPA, we argue for considering UPA as a nature-based solution (NbS) supporting systemic approaches for societal challenges. However, academic knowledge on UPA’s contribution to various societal challenges of urbanization is still fragmented. This study addresses the gap by conducting a systemic literature review, incorporating 166 academic articles focusing on the global north. The results of the review show that UPA contributes to ten key societal challenges of urbanization: climate change, food security, biodiversity and ecosystem services, agricultural intensification, resource efficiency, urban renewal and regeneration, land management, public health, social cohesion, and economic growth. The value of UPA is its multifunctionality in providing social, economic and environmental co-benefits and ecosystem services. When implementing UPA, social, institutional, economic, technical, geographical, and ecological drivers and constraints need to be considered. To upscale UPA successfully, the study develops an integrative assessment framework for evaluating the implementation and impact efficiency of UPA. This framework should be tested based on the example of edible cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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13 pages, 426 KiB

Open AccessReview

Works in Favor of Extraction: Labor in Land-Use Competition

by Anke Schaffartzik

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1961; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061961 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4730

Abstract

Despite their negative social and environmental consequences, claims to land for resource extraction are dominantly asserted under conditions of land-use competition. The ‘success’ of the extractive expansion relies on very specific labor arrangements. Through dispossession and unfulfilled promises of long-term employment, an overabundance [...] Read more.

Despite their negative social and environmental consequences, claims to land for resource extraction are dominantly asserted under conditions of land-use competition. The ‘success’ of the extractive expansion relies on very specific labor arrangements. Through dispossession and unfulfilled promises of long-term employment, an overabundance of labor (or employment gap) is generated at extractive sites. Poverty is exploited in order to sustain business as usual: environmental degradation, low average wages and high wage inequality, and abysmal working conditions. In resolving global land-use competition for sustainability transformations, it is necessary to address labor arrangements as a mechanism through which the claim to land for resource extraction is asserted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Use Competition)

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21 pages, 1732 KiB

Open AccessReview

Factors Preventing the Use of Alternative Transport Modes to the Car in Later Life

by Carlo Luiu, Miles Tight and Michael Burrow

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061982 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 8655

Abstract

Recent research related to transport gerontology argues that the autonomy, flexibility and independence provided by the car are fundamental in fulfilling travel needs in later life. Statistics show that in the western world the car is the most used mode of travel among [...] Read more.

Recent research related to transport gerontology argues that the autonomy, flexibility and independence provided by the car are fundamental in fulfilling travel needs in later life. Statistics show that in the western world the car is the most used mode of travel among the older population. Despite the importance of promoting transport policies to incentivize people to switch to more sustainable forms of transportation, alternatives to the car are still underused by older people. The aim of this scoping review is to analyze the transport barriers affecting the use of alternative modes to the car in later life. The paper investigates how issues related to personal security, health impairments, service provision, affordability, comfort, attitude, built environment, information and awareness of all transport modes influence modal choice. The analysis of the literature shows that despite the benefits provided by public transport, flexible transport services, taxis, walking and cycling, there are still several factors that negatively affect the use of these modes. The paper concludes by reflecting on potential solutions that might help to create a transport system less reliant on the car and which is able to meet the mobility needs of the older population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Travel Behaviour and Sustainable Transport of the Future)

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20 pages, 833 KiB

Open AccessReview

Institutional Perspectives of Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review

by Edmond Totin, Alcade C. Segnon, Marc Schut, Hippolyte Affognon, Robert B. Zougmoré, Todd Rosenstock and Philip K. Thornton

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1990; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061990 - 13 Jun 2018

Cited by 108 | Viewed by 15213

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is increasingly seen as a promising approach to feed the growing world population under climate change. The review explored how institutional perspectives are reflected in the CSA literature. In total, 137 publications were analyzed using institutional analysis framework, of which [...] Read more.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is increasingly seen as a promising approach to feed the growing world population under climate change. The review explored how institutional perspectives are reflected in the CSA literature. In total, 137 publications were analyzed using institutional analysis framework, of which 55.5% make specific reference to institutional dimensions. While the CSA concept encompasses three pillars (productivity, adaptation, and mitigation), the literature has hardly addressed them in an integrated way. The development status of study sites also seems to influence which pillars are promoted. Mitigation was predominantly addressed in high-income countries, while productivity and adaptation were priorities for middle and low-income countries. Interest in institutional aspects has been gradual in the CSA literature. It has largely focused on knowledge infrastructure, market structure, and hard institutional aspects. There has been less attention to understand whether investments in physical infrastructure and actors’ interaction, or how historical, political, and social context may influence the uptake of CSA options. Rethinking the approach to promoting CSA technologies by integrating technology packages and institutional enabling factors can provide potential opportunities for effective scaling of CSA options. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Governance for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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17 pages, 442 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Roadmap to Rebound: How to Address Rebound Effects from Resource Efficiency Policy

by David Font Vivanco, Serenella Sala and Will McDowall

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2009; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062009 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 8703

Abstract

Increasing demand for resources has been met with a new wave of resource efficiency policies worldwide. Such policies are, however, vulnerable to rebound effects when increased resource efficiency leads to additional resource use via behavioural and systemic responses. Yet, the implications of policy-induced [...] Read more.

Increasing demand for resources has been met with a new wave of resource efficiency policies worldwide. Such policies are, however, vulnerable to rebound effects when increased resource efficiency leads to additional resource use via behavioural and systemic responses. Yet, the implications of policy-induced rebounds are mostly unknown since most studies have focused on costless and exogenous efficiency improvements that are not linked to any specific policy intervention. After reviewing the literature, we provide guidance for the analysis of policy-induced rebounds. With regards to scope and method design, we highlight the untapped potential of life cycle assessment (to capture trade-offs between life cycle stages and environmental pressures) and macro-economic modelling (to reveal economic consequences beyond supply chain effects). We also find striking asymmetries in research efforts, leaving knowledge gaps for key resource efficiency strategies targeting, among others, materials, water, land, biodiversity, and waste. Lastly, rebound effects generally focus on a single resource, usually energy, and much is ignored about their implications in the context of resource interlinkages. A better understanding of such cross-resource rebounds is key to design and to assess the effectiveness of emerging policy paradigms such as the resource nexus and the sustainable development goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Environmental and Sustainability Policy: Assessing the Past and charting a Course for the Future)

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30 pages, 1838 KiB

Open AccessReview

Assessing the Climate Change Impacts of Biogenic Carbon in Buildings: A Critical Review of Two Main Dynamic Approaches

by Charles Breton, Pierre Blanchet, Ben Amor, Robert Beauregard and Wen-Shao Chang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2020; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062020 - 14 Jun 2018

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 13277

Abstract

Wood is increasingly perceived as a renewable, sustainable building material. The carbon it contains, biogenic carbon, comes from biological processes; it is characterized by a rapid turnover in the global carbon cycle. Increasing the use of harvested wood products (HWP) from sustainable forest [...] Read more.

Wood is increasingly perceived as a renewable, sustainable building material. The carbon it contains, biogenic carbon, comes from biological processes; it is characterized by a rapid turnover in the global carbon cycle. Increasing the use of harvested wood products (HWP) from sustainable forest management could provide highly needed mitigation efforts and carbon removals. However, the combined climate change benefits of sequestering biogenic carbon, storing it in harvested wood products and substituting more emission-intensive materials are hard to quantify. Although different methodological choices and assumptions can lead to opposite conclusions, there is no consensus on the assessment of biogenic carbon in life cycle assessment (LCA). Since LCA is increasingly relied upon for decision and policy making, incorrect biogenic carbon assessment could lead to inefficient or counterproductive strategies, as well as missed opportunities. This article presents a critical review of biogenic carbon impact assessment methods, it compares two main approaches to include time considerations in LCA, and suggests one that seems better suited to assess the impacts of biogenic carbon in buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Built Environment)

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25 pages, 1436 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Sustainable Agricultural Future Relies on the Transition to Organic Agroecological Pest Management

by Lauren Brzozowski and Michael Mazourek

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2023; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062023 - 15 Jun 2018

Cited by 75 | Viewed by 18349

Abstract

The need to improve agricultural sustainability to secure yields, minimize environmental impacts and buffer environmental change is widely recognized. Investment in conventional agriculture has supported its present yield advantage. However, organic agriculture with agroecological management has nascent capacity for sustainable production and for [...] Read more.

The need to improve agricultural sustainability to secure yields, minimize environmental impacts and buffer environmental change is widely recognized. Investment in conventional agriculture has supported its present yield advantage. However, organic agriculture with agroecological management has nascent capacity for sustainable production and for increasing yields in the future. Conventional systems have leveraged reductionist approaches to address pests, primarily through pesticides that seek to eliminate biological factors that reduce yield, but come at a cost to human and ecosystem health, and leave production systems vulnerable to the development of pest resistance to these chemicals or traits. Alternatives are needed, and are found in organic production approaches. Although both organic and agroecology approaches encompass more than pest management, this aspect is a pivotal element of our agricultural future. Through increased investment and application of emerging analytical approaches to improve plant breeding for and management of these systems, yields and resilience will surpass approaches that address components alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: The State of the Great Debates)

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15 pages, 11748 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Enhancing Dialogue between Flood Risk Management and Road Engineering Sectors for Flood Risk Reduction

by Guangwei Huang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061773 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3558

Abstract

Disaster reduction is one of the most important keys towards sustainable development. Using a number of case studies, the present work was intended to elucidate the need for improved communication between the urban flood management community and the road planning sector for better [...] Read more.

Disaster reduction is one of the most important keys towards sustainable development. Using a number of case studies, the present work was intended to elucidate the need for improved communication between the urban flood management community and the road planning sector for better flood risk management. These cases were classified in three categories: (1) Road tragedy during evacuation, (2) Why some roads are vulnerable to flooding, (3) How to quickly evaluate the potential impact of road construction on surface drainage characteristics. These cases provided strong evidence that insufficient dialogue between water and road sectors may hinder sound flood risk management by recommending wrong flood evacuation routes that are life threatening and neglecting the impact of road construction on the alteration of surface drainage characteristics. These cases were selected purposively but not comprehensively. Based on findings from these case studies, it can be stated that evacuation safety should be improved through better communication between flood risk and road management professionals, which in turn will lead to better road planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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10 pages, 1292 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Sustainable and Resilient Design of Interdependent Water and Energy Systems: A Conceptual Modeling Framework for Tackling Complexities at the Infrastructure-Human-Resource Nexus

by Weiwei Mo, Zhongming Lu, Bistra Dilkina, Kevin H. Gardner, Ju-Chin Huang and Maria Christina Foreman

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1845; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061845 - 2 Jun 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5588

Abstract

A modeling framework was conceptualized for capturing the complexities in resilience and sustainability associated with integration of centralized and decentralized water and energy systems under future demographic, climate, and technology scenarios. This framework integrates survey instruments for characterizing individual preferences (utility functions) related [...] Read more.

A modeling framework was conceptualized for capturing the complexities in resilience and sustainability associated with integration of centralized and decentralized water and energy systems under future demographic, climate, and technology scenarios. This framework integrates survey instruments for characterizing individual preferences (utility functions) related to decentralization of water and energy infrastructure systems. It also includes a spatial agent-based model to develop spatially explicit adoption trajectories and patterns in accordance with utility functions and characteristics of the major metropolitan case study locations as well as a system dynamics model that considers interactions among infrastructure systems, characterizes measures of resilience and sustainability, and feeds these back to the agent-based model. A cross-scale spatial optimization model for understanding and characterizing the possible best case outcomes and for informing the design of policies and incentive/disincentive programs is also included. This framework is able to provide a robust capacity for considering the ways in which future development of energy and water resources can be assessed. Full article

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26 pages, 2031 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

The Determinant Factors of Travelers’ Choices for Pro-Environment Behavioral Intention-Integration Theory of Planned Behavior, Unified Theory of Acceptance, and Use of Technology 2 and Sustainability Values

by Li-Min Chuang, Pi-Ching Chen and Yen-Yu Chen

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1869; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061869 - 4 Jun 2018

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 12034

Abstract

From a previous literature review, there are rare studies that focus on integrating Sustainability Values (SVs), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) to predict potential travelers’ behavioral intentions. In light of this, the [...] Read more.

From a previous literature review, there are rare studies that focus on integrating Sustainability Values (SVs), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) to predict potential travelers’ behavioral intentions. In light of this, the research is designed to propose a comprehensive understanding of potential travelers’ choices for sustainable hospitality businesses by integrating SV, TPB, and UTAUT2 into a theoretical framework, by moderating the effect of age. Prior studies have mentioned TPB identified the role of attitude, perceived behavior control, and moral obligation in generating intention. However, the use of TPB and the extended UTAUT model to explain pro-environmental behavior is lacking. Data was collected from 34 northern, 2 central, and 6 southern Taiwanese consolidated headquarter travel agencies. Email questionnaires were distributed to 630 individuals in 42 travel agencies. The proposed model will be also examining, with an AMOS procedure of structural equation modeling (SEM), the maximum likelihood method of estimation. The results indicated that (1) SVs are positively and significantly impacted by pro-environmental behavioral intention; (2) SVs are positively and significantly impacted by attitude, social influence, perceived behavioral control, and habit respectively; (3) attitude, perceived behavioral control, and habit is positively mediated by the effect between SVs and pro-environmental behavioral intention, respectively; (4) the social demographic variable of age is positively moderated the effect between SVs and social influence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conscious Consumption)

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8 pages, 1002 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

Prevention of Catastrophic Volcanic Eruptions, Large Earthquakes underneath Big Cities, and Giant Earthquakes at Subduction Zones

by Yoshiaki Fujii, Morteza Sheshpari, Jun-ichi Kodama, Daisuke Fukuda and Anjula BN Dassanayake

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1908; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061908 - 7 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4011

Abstract

Catastrophic volcanic eruptions, large earthquakes beneath big cities, or giant earthquakes at subduction zones are apparently the biggest problems facing the sustainability of human society. However, imminent prediction methods for these events have never been established, except that volcanic eruptions can only be [...] Read more.

Catastrophic volcanic eruptions, large earthquakes beneath big cities, or giant earthquakes at subduction zones are apparently the biggest problems facing the sustainability of human society. However, imminent prediction methods for these events have never been established, except that volcanic eruptions can only be predicted by exceptional efforts by dedicated researchers. Even if a prediction method has been established, the method cannot significantly reduce infrastructure damage, although it could slightly reduce the number of fatalities. On the other hand, prevention of eruptions or earthquakes could significantly reduce, not only the number of fatalities, but also infrastructure damage. Therefore, the authors propose (1) gradual energy release by supercritical power generation to prevent catastrophic eruptions; (2) gradual seismic energy release by injecting water into seismic sources to prevent large earthquakes beneath big cities; and (3) exploding existing nuclear warheads underground to prevent giant earthquakes at subduction zones. Necessary technical developments, costs, risks, and problems will also be explained. Full article

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12 pages, 578 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Environmental Activation of Inner Space Components in Sustainable Interior Design

by Magdalena Celadyn

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061945 - 11 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 9098

Abstract

Implementation of environmental responsibility issues into the interior design methodology considers many aspects of the design process, but analyzes them separately. These include building materials’ and products’ specifications based on the assessment of their parameters impact on the users of indoor environments, or [...] Read more.

Implementation of environmental responsibility issues into the interior design methodology considers many aspects of the design process, but analyzes them separately. These include building materials’ and products’ specifications based on the assessment of their parameters impact on the users of indoor environments, or resource management within an ecological efficiency context. This concept paper concentrates on the analysis of an environmental activation of inner space components, identified by the author as the holistic and systemic design model, which is to empower the foundation of a contemporary sustainable interior design model. The proposed design scheme is supposed to assure the environmental effectiveness of interiors and their structure, as well as complementing functional components. The contributions of interiors completed in accordance with this concept can refer to the enhancement of the performance of building mechanical systems and the improvement in the indoor environment quality parameters. They can be achieved with the appropriate environmental activation-oriented structural, technical, and material solutions, applied to the selected inner space components. The theoretical scheme presented should become the basis for further investigations and studies to establish the comprehensive methodology design framework assuring the integrative role of interior design in the creation of a sustainable near environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environment and Urban Growth Management)

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16 pages, 849 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

The Era of Sustainability: Promises, Pitfalls and Prospects for Sustainable Buildings and the Built Environment

by Emilia Conte

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2092; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062092 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7811

Abstract

Following 25 years of efforts in the field, the author discusses the situation of the construction sector by reflecting on the 3Ps of the era of sustainability: the promises of sustainability; the pitfalls in the interpretation of sustainability for construction; the prospects for [...] Read more.

Following 25 years of efforts in the field, the author discusses the situation of the construction sector by reflecting on the 3Ps of the era of sustainability: the promises of sustainability; the pitfalls in the interpretation of sustainability for construction; the prospects for sustainable buildings and the built environment in the future. The paper is organized into five sections. The first section introduces the emergence of sustainable construction, its promises and challenges for architects and engineers. The second section considers how sustainability has been interpreted in practice in construction, i.e., primarily through the process of greening buildings and the built environment. The third section describes the main pitfalls that such interpretation has determined, including the role played by evaluation and assessment systems for sustainable buildings. The fourth section examines prospective paths to overcoming such pitfalls, with particular concerns for new professionalisms and the ensuing role for higher education. The fifth section concludes by supporting the idea that the era of sustainability is still necessary, if sustainability itself becomes a sort of ‘container concept’ of all that is necessary for long-lasting natural and human life on Earth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction, Development and Management in the Built Environment)

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