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Sustainability
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Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development
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Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 724

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Rosa Gamarra Rodríguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Energy Systems Analysis Unit, Energy Department, Research Center on Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sustainability; energy technologies; environmental impacts; sustainable production chains; energy investments
Dr. Israel Herrera-Orozco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Energy Systems Analysis Unit, Energy Department, Research Center on Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sustainability; renewable energy; life cycle assessment; bioeconomy; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few centuries, human activities under the current development model have intensified their influence on the environment, triggering environmental, social and economic problems. Faced with the challenge of addressing this situation, a new paradigm of sustainable development has arisen in which the energy system plays a key role. In this context, the proper design of energy and environmental policies to promote the energy system transition and the sustainable use of resources is crucial. Not exempt from risks and disadvantages, these strategies must be assessed ex ante using rigorous methodologies that can support the decision-making process.

Sustainability assessment methodologies such as the Extended Multiregional Input–Output Analysis (EMRIO) and the Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) are capable of evaluating the impacts on the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. New methodological developments are also underway in order to improve existing methodologies and to incorporate specific criteria of sustainable use of resources such as circularity, criticality and the geopolitical strength of the production chain.

The aim of the Special Issue is to investigate the sustainability implications of policies, strategies or technologies for energy production that are postulated to be key to the energy transition. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research on the sustainability assessment of case studies of innovative and emerging energy technologies, energy system impact and potential scenarios of energy technology diffusion, as well as the development of methodological innovations in sustainability assessment, are relevant to the Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ana Rosa Gamarra Rodríguez
Dr. Israel Herrera-Orozco
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • renewable energy
  • environmental impacts
  • social pillar
  • economic growth
  • sustainable use of resources
  • life cycle assessment
  • extended input–output analysis
  • energy modelling
  • energy investments

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 826 KiB  
Article
Socio-Economic and Environmental Trade-Offs of Sustainable Energy Transition in Kentucky
by Sydney Oluoch, Nirmal Pandit and Cecelia Harner
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7133; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157133 - 6 Aug 2025
Abstract
A just and sustainable energy transition in historically coal-dependent regions like Kentucky requires more than the adoption of new technologies and market-based solutions. This study uses a stated preferences approach to evaluate public support for various attributes of energy transition programs, revealing broad [...] Read more.
A just and sustainable energy transition in historically coal-dependent regions like Kentucky requires more than the adoption of new technologies and market-based solutions. This study uses a stated preferences approach to evaluate public support for various attributes of energy transition programs, revealing broad backing for moving away from coal, as indicated by a negative willingness to pay (WTP) for the status quo (–USD 4.63). Key findings show strong bipartisan support for solar energy, with Democrats showing the highest WTP at USD 8.29, followed closely by Independents/Others at USD 8.22, and Republicans at USD 8.08. Wind energy also garnered support, particularly among Republicans (USD 4.04), who may view it as more industry-compatible and less ideologically polarizing. Job creation was a dominant priority across political affiliations, especially for Independents (USD 9.07), indicating a preference for tangible, near-term economic benefits. Similarly, preserving cultural values tied to coal received support among Independents/Others (USD 4.98), emphasizing the importance of place-based identity in shaping preferences. In contrast, social support programs (e.g., job retraining) and certain post-mining land uses (e.g., recreation and conservation) were less favored, possibly due to their abstract nature, delayed benefits, and political framing. Findings from Kentucky offer insights for other coal-reliant states like Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Ultimately, equitable transitions must integrate local voices, address cultural and economic realities, and ensure community-driven planning and investment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development)
17 pages, 1216 KiB  
Article
Do Businesses Protect the Environment Through Appropriate Decisions in the Context of Choosing Information and Communication Technologies?
by Agata Mesjasz-Lech, Ádám Béla Horváth, Pál Michelberger and Agnes Kemendi
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104305 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 375
Abstract
Technological progress, digitalization and globalization of economic activity contribute to the growth of the use of information and communication technologies in enterprises. On the one hand, modern information technologies support pro-environmental activities, but on the other hand, they are a source of waste [...] Read more.
Technological progress, digitalization and globalization of economic activity contribute to the growth of the use of information and communication technologies in enterprises. On the one hand, modern information technologies support pro-environmental activities, but on the other hand, they are a source of waste themselves. For this reason, their use in enterprises should be analyzed and controlled in the context of their multi-faceted impact on the natural environment. This article focuses on: (1) analyzing the relationship between variables defining the level of actions taken in the field of ICT to protect the natural environment and the level of digitalization of the enterprise and (2) identifying a synthetic measure of development defining the level of involvement of enterprises in digitalization and environmental protection. The analysis will be performed on data describing actions taken by enterprises grouped by European Union countries in the context of the use of ICT equipment for environmental protection and environmental values for 2022. Based on the chi-square test, it was found that statistically significant relationships are observed only for medium and large enterprises. The synthetic measure of development allowed for the indication of model countries due to the actions taken aimed at pro-environmental behavior in relation to ICT services and equipment. There were also no significant linear relationships between a high level of digitalization of enterprises and thinking in environmental categories in the context of actions taken in relation to ICT services and equipment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development)
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