World, Volume 7, Issue 1 (January 2026) – 16 articles

This study examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) influences sustainable finance outcomes (SFO) in the Ethiopian Insurance industry through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and institutional challenges (IC). Using covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) with data collected from a primary survey, the results show that CSR has both a direct and an indirect positive effect on SFO through ESG. However, the adoption of ESG practices also tends to increase institutional challenges, which in turn negatively influences SFO. This interaction produces a competitive partial mediation effect. The serial mediation path CSR–ESG–IC–SFO is found to be negative, suggesting that enabling and constraining forces operate simultaneously. From a theoretical point of view, the study combines stakeholder, legitimacy, and institutional theories to explain this competitive mediation within a less-studied Sub-Saharan African (SSA) frontier market. On the practical side, the findings highlight the importance of establishing ESG disclosure standards, investing in capacity building, and strengthening governance systems to reduce institutional frictions and make CSR a stronger driver of sustainable finance. Full article

This study examines the relationship between perceived employee environmental, social, and governance (ESG) behavior and consumer meaningfulness by exploring the mediating role of moral elevation and perceived authenticity, as well as the moderating role of consumers’ skepticism. The study draws upon the integration of self-determination theory and social cognitive theory. Prior research has often neglected the outcomes of interaction between employee behaviors and consumer perceptions. Th study used a sequential explanatory research design to understand the observable perceived ESG behaviors of the employees and the psychological outcomes of the consumers. The study involved 390 consumers from five-star hotels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The data was gathered through a survey and analyzed using a structural equation model via the Smart-PLS tool. The interview data were collected from 16 frontline employees of five-star hotels and analyzed through thematic analysis. The quantitative results confirmed perceived employee ESG behavior is positively and significantly associated with consumers’ sense of meaningfulness, moral elevation, and perceived authenticity. Additionally, moral elevation and perceived authenticity significantly mediate the link between perceived employee ESG behavior and consumer sense of meaningfulness. Furthermore, consumer ESG skepticism negatively moderates the link between employee ESG behavior and both moral elevation and perceived authenticity. The qualitative study indicated that internal motivation of the company predicts employee behaviors, promoting voluntary actions to build consumers’ meaningfulness. The study advances theories and suggests implications for policymakers and managers regarding ESG behaviors among employees and the way consumers perceive them. Full article

This study investigates a water–energy investment in the Consorzio di Bonifica della Romagna Occidentale (Northern Italy) over the period 2015–2022, analysing how integrated irrigation and energy infrastructures can support agricultural resilience. In this area, pressurised irrigation systems are increasingly replacing traditional gravity-fed networks, enabling precise water distribution. However, their energy intensity raises operational costs and exposure to volatile electricity prices. To address these challenges, the research evaluates the coupling of pressurised irrigation with floating photovoltaic (PV) systems on irrigation reservoirs. Using plot-level economic data for vineyards and orchards, the analysis shows that, although pressurised systems entail higher costs in terms of Relative Water Cost (RWC) and Economic Water Productivity Ratio (EWPR), integrating them with PV production significantly improves economic performance. The findings show an average reduction in RWC of 1.44% for vineyards and 5.52% for orchards, and an average increase in EWPR of 38.51 units for vineyards and 24.81 units for orchards. This suggests that combining efficient irrigation systems with renewable energy could represent a viable pathway toward more sustainable water management. Policy implications may concern incentives for joint water–energy investments, adjustments to zero-injection rules, and broader reforms in agricultural, energy, and environmental policies. Full article

The Amazon Deforestation Arc remains a critical region for environmental governance, where land-use strategies must consider distinct legal and institutional frameworks across the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. This study applies the Potential Productivity Model (M3P), a theoretical radiation-based framework, to estimate the upper physiological limits of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) productivity on degraded pastures within the Arc of Deforestation. The model integrates satellite-derived solar radiation with climatic variables to quantify potential productivity under optimal biophysical conditions, providing an objective benchmark for planning-oriented bioenergy assessments. Estimated potential yields range from 153 to 178 t·ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹, consistent with global reference values reported for sugarcane in high-radiation environments and relevant for informing public policies such as Brazil’s Agroecological Zoning of Sugarcane. The results demonstrate that agroclimatic potential alone is insufficient to guide land-use decisions. While degraded pastures associated with the Cerrado biome may accommodate sugarcane cultivation as part of productive land recovery strategies, areas belonging to the Amazon biome require priority actions focused on ecological restoration through agroforestry and integrated crop–livestock–forest systems. Overall, the M3P model offers a scalable and scientifically grounded decision-support framework for strategic planning in environmentally sensitive tropical regions. Full article

This study examines the influence of a firm’s digital footprint (organic and paid traffic) on its performance, assessing a sample of 151 Russian firms between 2017 and 2020. It shows a curvilinear association between a firm’s digital footprints (organic and paid) and its performance that varies across industries, moderated by the firm’s size and age. The study finds that organic and paid traffic have a diverse impact on firm performance. The impact of paid traffic is more complex and critical to understand. To gain full benefits from a digital footprint, firms need to innovate and utilize their resources strategically. The study findings are highly useful for other emerging markets that operate under a highly regulated, fragmented, and restricted environment. Full article

Agricultural land represents a fundamental production resource and one of the key factors of ecological and economic stability in rural and peri-urban areas. In the municipality of Grocka, the impacts of urbanization, demographic decline, and changes in the agrarian production structure have led to spatial degradation and reduced economic sustainability. To assess the current state and potential of agriculture at the settlement level, a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was applied. The analysis encompassed demographic, production, environmental, and spatial indicators, normalized using the min–max scaling method and aggregated through a weighted sum. Criteria weights were defined based on a combination of literature review and expert judgment. The results reveal spatial variations in the level of sustainability and enable the identification of priority zones for agro-economic improvement, areas of moderate stability, and spaces suitable for developing sustainable agricultural models. Sensitivity testing (±20% variation in weights) confirmed the robustness of the results. The identified zones and proposed measures aim to revitalize degraded areas, preserve permanent crops, and strengthen production and institutional capacities. The applied methodological framework can serve as a tool for planning and policymaking in sustainable agricultural development, particularly in peri-urban contexts. Full article

In an era where environmental consciousness increasingly shapes consumer behaviour, the tourism industry faces the dual challenge of promoting destinations while ensuring ecological sustainability. This study explores how web analytics and big data can be leveraged to enhance the visibility and attractiveness of eco-friendly destinations. Building upon digital marketing and sustainability frameworks, the authors develop a data-driven methodology that integrates website performance metrics, search behaviour patterns, and social media engagement indicators. After data collection, statistical and content analyses were implemented, followed by a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) to visualise the interrelationships between online user behaviour, environmental awareness, and destination appeal. Full article

This study investigates thermal stress and energy-related anxiety as lived, multidimensional manifestations of energy poverty in Western Macedonia, Greece, a coal phase-out region undergoing just transition. Using a 261-household survey, we construct a thermal stress index from four Likert-type items capturing seasonal thermal adequacy, energy anxiety, and restricted use of rooms. High thermal stress is defined as the upper quartile of the index. Descriptive results indicate that high thermal stress affects 27.2% of households, exceeding a 20% threshold, while energy-related anxiety and restricted room use are widespread. We then estimate logistic regression models to examine whether vulnerability characteristics (disability-related thermal/electric needs, single parenthood, dependent children, benefit receipt, elderly presence), financial stress indicators (arrears, energy debt, frequent forced reductions in consumption), and socio-economic controls (income, employment, tenure, age, gender) predict high thermal stress. Adjusted models show that vulnerability markers do not retain statistically independent associations once controls are included. In contrast, tenure and energy-related financial stress are significantly associated with the probability of high thermal stress. The findings highlight the importance of measurement choices and suggest that experiential indicators capture energy-poverty dynamics that are not reducible to income-based targeting, with implications for just-transition policy design and energy justice. Full article

This paper conceptualizes institutional resilience as a core condition of democratic sustainability in post-transition Europe. Building on neo-institutionalist approaches and recent scholarship on democratic resilience, we argue that democracies endure when three capacities align: policy coherence, procedural legitimacy, and civic/monitory participation. Using a comparative, theory-guided design, we analyze Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia (2007–2025), triangulating V-Dem/Eurostat indicators with documentary evidence (EU Rule of Law reports, CEPEJ) and interpretive analysis. Romania illustrates “reactive resilience” anchored in judicial independence and civic vigilance; Slovakia shows “restorative resilience” after corruption scandals; Poland exhibits “societal compensatory resilience,” where civic mobilization offsets institutional regression; Hungary demonstrates “instrumental resilience without democracy,” combining administrative capacity with normative decay. We integrate these findings into a three-dimensional model—institutional, normative, and communicative—showing how feedback loops convert crisis into learning. The paper concludes that sustainable democracy depends less on constitutional design alone and more on the institutionalization of learning: redundant veto points, impartial procedures that generate trust, and a monitory public sphere that sustains continuous accountability. For EU policy, the shift from conditionality to capacity (e.g., RRF) can foster endogenous resilience when supranational norms are domestically internalized rather than externally imposed. Full article

Urban tree canopy is increasingly recognized as a health-protective form of green infrastructure, yet its distribution remains uneven across socioeconomically stratified neighborhoods. This study quantifies fine-scale tree-canopy inequity across Census Block Groups (CBGs) in Baltimore and examines associations with socioeconomic deprivation and modeled pollution-related cancer risk. We integrated (i) 2023 US Forest Service canopy estimates aggregated to CBGs, (ii) Area Deprivation Index (ADI) national and state ranks, (iii) American Community Survey 5-year population counts, and (iv) EPA NATA/HAPs cancer-risk estimates aggregated to CBGs using population-weighted means. Associations were assessed using Spearman correlations and visualized with LOESS smoothers. Canopy was negatively associated with ADI national and state ranks (ρ = −0.509 and −0.503), explaining 29–31% of canopy variation. Population-weighted canopy declined from 47–51% in the least deprived decile to 13–15% in the most deprived (3.4–4.1× disparity). Beyond socioeconomic gradients, overall distributional inequity was quantified using a population-weighted Tree Canopy Inequality Index (TCI; weighted Gini), yielding TCI = 0.312, indicating substantial inequality. The population-weighted Atkinson index rose sharply under increasing inequality aversion (A_0.5 = 0.084; A₂ = 0.402), revealing extreme canopy deficits concentrated among the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Canopy was also negatively associated with modeled cancer risk (ρ = −0.363). We constructed a Triple Burden Index integrating canopy deficit, deprivation, and cancer risk, identifying spatially clustered high-burden neighborhoods that collectively house over 86,000 residents. These findings demonstrate that canopy inequity in Baltimore is structurally concentrated and support equity-targeted greening and sustained maintenance strategies guided by distributional justice metrics. Full article

This study analyzes the relationship between family control and the internationalization of family firms in Mexico. Grounded in the resource-based view and socioemotional wealth theory, it addresses the theoretical problem of how familiness and governance mechanisms influence strategic decisions in emerging markets. Based on 326 observations of family businesses (51) listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) from 2009 to 2016, and using a probit regression model, five hypotheses are tested regarding the effects of family directors, board independence, CEO duality, tenure, and ownership concentration on internationalization. The results show that board independence and chair tenure foster internationalization, while ownership concentration and family directors discourage it. The findings contribute to understanding the need for governance reforms that promote more independence and leadership stability to foment internationalization strategies among family businesses in emerging markets. Full article

This study investigates how next-generation digital infrastructures—terahertz (THz) communication and AI-driven network orchestration—shape perceived service quality, luxury perception, and loyalty within the context of luxury hospitality. An empirical survey was conducted among 693 guests at Torre Melina Gran Meliá (Barcelona) between June 2024 and June 2025. Using a refined 38-item Likert-scale instrument, a three-factor structure was validated: (F1) Network Performance (speed, stability, coverage, seamless roaming, and multi-device reliability), (F2) Luxury Perception (modernity, innovation, and brand image), and (F3) Service Loyalty (satisfaction, return intentions, recommendations, and willingness to pay a premium). The results reveal that superior network performance functions both practically and symbolically. Functionally, it enables uninterrupted video calls, smooth streaming, low-latency gaming, and reliable multi-device usage—now considered essential utilities for contemporary travelers. Symbolically, high-performing and intelligently managed connectivity conveys technological leadership and exclusivity, thereby enhancing the hotel’s luxury image. Collectively, these effects create a “virtuous cycle” in which technical excellence reinforces perceptions of luxury, which in turn amplifies satisfaction and loyalty behaviors. From a managerial perspective, advanced connectivity should be viewed as a strategic investment and brand differentiator rather than a cost center. THz-ready, AI-orchestrated networks support personalization, dynamic bandwidth allocation (i.e., real-time adjustment of network capacity in response to fluctuating user demand), and monetizable premium service tiers, directly strengthening guest retention and brand equity. Ultimately, next-generation connectivity emerges not as an ancillary amenity but as a defining pillar of luxury hospitality in the emerging 6G era. Full article

The Russo–Ukrainian conflict (RUC) escalated on 24 February 2022 with Russia’s large-scale military operation in Ukraine. Our review aims to present the impact of the RUC on Ukrainian water resources and infrastructure. Its primary objective was to analyze 61 relevant papers, selected and screened according to the PRISMA methodology, concerning changes in inland and marine water quality, employing diverse scientific and analytical methods, and technical tools. Key recurring themes included “Ukraine”, “Russian-Ukrainian War”, and “Ecocide”. Beyond assessing the environmental consequences of destroyed treatment plants, supply systems, and sewerage units, as the secondary objective, the review introduces the concept of “aquacide”—the deliberate or incidental destruction and contamination of water infrastructures and resources during military operations. The most severe cases were documented in southern and eastern Ukraine, with the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam standing out as the most widely reported “aquacide”. Finally, the review highlights the critical role of satellite imagery and remote sensing as the most effective tools in monitoring water quality and infrastructures under wartime conditions, when in situ observations and measurements are often impossible. Full article

This study identifies key determinants shaping countries’ Sustainable Development Goals performance and develops classification models for predicting country group membership based on the SDG Index. The research addresses the urgent need to optimize development policies amid limited resources and the approaching 2030 Agenda deadline. Using data from 154 countries (2024), the analysis reveals that key SDG determinants are fundamentally method-dependent: discriminant analysis identified Goals 10, 6, 15, and 5 as most influential for differentiating countries by SDGI level, while Random Forest identified Goals 4, 9, and 2 as the most important predictors. This divergence reflects fundamentally different analytical perspectives—linear contributions to group separation versus complex nonlinear interactions and synergies between goals—with critical policy implications for prioritization strategies. Correlation analysis demonstrates that sustainable development dynamics operate differently across development stages: high-development countries show strongest associations with technological advancement and institutional capacity, while low-development countries exhibit compensation effects where basic infrastructure provision occurs alongside lagging human capital development. The discriminant model achieved 94.08% overall accuracy with perfect classification for extreme SDGI categories, while the Random Forest model provides complementary insights into interactive pathways. The scientific contribution lies in demonstrating that perceived variable importance depends on analytical framework rather than representing objective reality, and in providing validated classification tools for rapid assessment in data-limited contexts. These findings offer actionable guidance for evidence-based resource allocation and policy prioritization in the critical final years of SDG implementation. Full article

This study attempts to analyze the environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of secondary school teachers, as well as the factors influencing these dimensions. It also investigates the extent to which teachers prioritize Environmental Education (Ε.Ε.) within their courses. A mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative modes of inquiry. Two hundred and seventy questionnaire respondents took part in the research. The responses obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using both statistical and thematic methods. Data triangulation was applied to enhance the validity and reliability of the findings. The analysis revealed that secondary school teachers have an overall good level of environmental knowledge, although they lack some details. Teachers also exhibited positive attitudes and behaviors toward environmental issues. Significant correlations were found between environmental attitudes and behaviors, as well as between environmental knowledge and behaviors. The implementation of E.E. by secondary school teachers was characterized by a strong influence of the curriculum. Teachers reported integrating E.E. primarily through their own pro-environmental practices, particularly in relation to waste management. The main restrictions that prevent secondary school teachers from including E.E. are time constraints and the negative feedback they receive. Regarding the support offered to teachers in relation to E.E., secondary school teachers reported that existing teacher education programs are predominantly theoretical, with insufficient emphasis on practical applications. Based on these findings, this research proposes suggestions for restructuring teacher training programs to incorporate more applied components that better support the integration of E.E. into classroom practice. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate secondary students at the secondary educational stage, and their knowledge and attitudes towards the environment using different variables. Employing a descriptive survey model, data were collected from a sample of 270 secondary school teachers using the ‘Environmental Knowledge Test’ and ‘Environmental Attitude Scale’. The results indicated that teachers’ environmental knowledge and attitudes towards the environment did not significantly differ by gender. Finally, the study concludes with several recommendations derived from these results. Full article