Sustainability

40 pages, 1989 KB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Dynamic Nexus Between Income and Carbon Emissions with R&D Spending for Environmental Sustainability: Insights from Indian States

by Indrani Basu, Promila Das, Vaishali Singh and Ramesh Chandra Das

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5303; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115303 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

India has been witnessing a high growth rate of aggregate income in the current era of globalization. Even though the per capita income is yet to catch up, this led to an improved global status in 2025, with India becoming the fifth largest [...] Read more.

India has been witnessing a high growth rate of aggregate income in the current era of globalization. Even though the per capita income is yet to catch up, this led to an improved global status in 2025, with India becoming the fifth largest economy in terms of aggregate GDP. However, the economic gains have been accompanied by a host of environmental problems. In particular, the increase in carbon emissions is emerging as the biggest challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. While some national policy initiatives exist, Indian states have also started implementing new public policies for a contextualized environmental management at a sub-national level to curtail the negative impact of carbon emissions on sustainable development. In this context, this study seeks to explore three aspects: first, the characteristics of the series for per capita CO₂ (PCCO₂) emissions, per capita state domestic product (PCGSDP), and per capita R&D (PCR&D) spending aimed at safeguarding the environment in Indian states; second, the prevalence of both enduring and near-term linkages among the three variables in distinct panels; and third, the constantly changing interplay involving income and carbon emissions in the midst of R&D spending for the environment in the Indian states from 2008–2025. While the series for PCGSDP and PCR&D is seen rising along with PCCO₂ in most states, there are some exceptional states like Delhi and Kerala where trends of PCCO₂ are falling. The panel cointegration and VECM results show that the three indicators, viz., income, PCCO₂ and R&D spending, have a stable long-run relationship, and that income and R&D cause CO₂ emissions in all states’ panels and the panel of developed states. Using several polynomials between the income and CO₂ emission nexus over several panels of states and using panel cointegration techniques, the study reveals that static panel fixed effects models are most appropriate in the case of all states’ panels and the panel of developed states to establish an inverted Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), and that R&D spending has worked as a significant control variable to justify the declining shape of the EKC. The study recommends a continuous increase in R&D spending by all states of any development stature to achieve sustainable development in the earliest possible time. Full article

22 pages, 399 KB

Open AccessArticle

Promoting Sustainable Community Governance: Policy Perception and Multi-Dimensional Embeddedness Among Food Delivery Riders in China

by Lige Liu, Peng Qi and Qihong Yang

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5302; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115302 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

With rapid urbanization, community-level governance has become an important aspect of urban sustainability, increasing the need to understand how non-traditional actors participate in local affairs. Although food delivery riders possess a unique spatial proximity to local neighborhoods, empirical research on their willingness to [...] Read more.

With rapid urbanization, community-level governance has become an important aspect of urban sustainability, increasing the need to understand how non-traditional actors participate in local affairs. Although food delivery riders possess a unique spatial proximity to local neighborhoods, empirical research on their willingness to participate in community governance remains limited. This study examines the relationship between policy perception (cognition, trust, and gain) and riders’ willingness to participate in community governance, analyzing the parallel mediating roles of institutional, social, and spatial embeddedness. Survey data from 441 food delivery riders in Beijing were analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions and bootstrap-based mediation analysis. The results show that policy cognition, trust, and benefit perceptions positively predict participation willingness. Furthermore, institutional, social, and spatial embeddedness significantly mediate this relationship, with social embeddedness showing the largest indirect effect. Heterogeneity and dimensional analysis indicate that policy gain is associated with basic volunteering but lacks a significant relationship with high-tier advice-giving. The findings suggest that sustaining high-tier civic participation depends on normative institutional trust and value identification within rights-protective frameworks. Full article

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20 pages, 1585 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multimodal Transport Route Choice Considering Dynamic Transit Time Under Uncertain Demand

by Junhong Hu, Chen Li, Chenchen Li, Renjie Luo and Zihe Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5301; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115301 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Multimodal transport has emerged as an effective solution for improving freight efficiency and promoting sustainable logistics, reducing environmental impacts; however, route choice remains challenging under uncertain demand and dynamic transshipment time. This study addresses this problem by developing a bi-objective route-choice model that [...] Read more.

Multimodal transport has emerged as an effective solution for improving freight efficiency and promoting sustainable logistics, reducing environmental impacts; however, route choice remains challenging under uncertain demand and dynamic transshipment time. This study addresses this problem by developing a bi-objective route-choice model that minimises total transport cost and total transport time while explicitly capturing the correlation between freight demand and transshipment time. The model is transformed into a deterministic equivalent using chance-constrained programming, enabling rigorous optimisation under predefined confidence levels and solved by a simulated annealing-based genetic algorithm (SAGA), which combines the global exploration capability of genetic algorithms with the local search efficiency of simulated annealing to improve convergence and solution quality. By incorporating carbon emission costs into the objective functions, the model supports environmentally and economically sustainable transport strategies. A numerical case study is conducted to validate the proposed approach. The results show that when freight demand is significantly below the capacity threshold, the optimal solution tends to adopt a single-mode transport scheme with stable route structure, whereas higher demand necessitates multimodal strategies, with cost–time trade-offs clearly observed. Sensitivity analysis further reveals a clear trade-off between cost and time: a time-oriented strategy dominated by rail transport reduces total transport time by approximately 20%, whereas a cost-oriented strategy relying on waterway transport decreases total cost by about 73%. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and provide decision support for efficient and sustainable multimodal transport planning under demand uncertainty. Full article

19 pages, 533 KB

Open AccessArticle

Knowledge-Based Capabilities and Green Innovation in Sustainable Enterprises: Evidence from Ecuador

by Darwin Marcelo Varela-Lascano, Jessica Elizabeth Medina Arias and Lorena Edith Rodriguez Rojas

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5300; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115300 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

The knowledge economy and green innovation are fundamental pillars for the transition towards sustainable production models. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of intellectual capital, green knowledge management and environmental practices on green innovation in SMEs in Tena. A [...] Read more.

The knowledge economy and green innovation are fundamental pillars for the transition towards sustainable production models. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of intellectual capital, green knowledge management and environmental practices on green innovation in SMEs in Tena. A quantitative cross-sectional approach was developed, applying a structured questionnaire to a sample of 64 green enterprises. Data analysis was performed using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM), after evaluating the psychometric properties of the measurement model. The results show that the model explains 40% of the variance in green innovation. It was confirmed that Environmental and Technological Practices (ETPs) have the strongest and most significant effect on innovation, followed to a lesser extent by Intellectual Capital, whose influence was positive but marginal. Green Knowledge Management did not show a statistically significant impact. It is concluded that green innovation in Amazonian enterprises depends primarily on the adoption of technological infrastructure and tangible practices, while the systematization of knowledge remains a pending challenge. Full article

26 pages, 2866 KB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of Laboratory-Scale Sugarcane Bagasse-Derived Activated Carbon

by Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal, Junaid Saleem, Furqan Tahir and Gordon McKay

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5299; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115299 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Agricultural residues such as sugarcane bagasse have been explored as renewable precursors for activated carbon production. However, the environmental performance of activated carbon can be strongly influenced by energy-intensive thermal processing, chemical activation, and the functional unit used for interpretation. While several life [...] Read more.

Agricultural residues such as sugarcane bagasse have been explored as renewable precursors for activated carbon production. However, the environmental performance of activated carbon can be strongly influenced by energy-intensive thermal processing, chemical activation, and the functional unit used for interpretation. While several life cycle assessment studies have been reported for sugarcane bagasse-derived activated carbon, many rely on secondary data or focus primarily on production-stage impacts without incorporating adsorption performance. This study evaluates the environmental performance of laboratory-scale sugarcane bagasse-derived activated carbon produced using a process-based life cycle assessment under laboratory-scale conditions. The system boundary includes feedstock preparation, thermal conversion (pyrolysis), chemical activation, and post-treatment steps such as washing and neutralization. Under the product-based functional unit, climate change impacts were 5.11 and 4.89 kg carbon dioxide equivalent per kg activated carbon for potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide activation, respectively, while net energy demand was 115 and 110 MJ per kg activated carbon. Contribution analysis identified pyrolysis electricity as the dominant hotspot for climate change and energy demand, whereas chemical activation influenced toxicity- and resource-related categories. When adsorption performance was considered, potassium hydroxide activation showed improved results for selected indicators because of its higher methylene blue adsorption capacity; however, resource-related burdens remained higher than sodium hydroxide activation. Overall, the study demonstrates that laboratory-scale activated carbon assessments require cautious interpretation and that integrating adsorption performance with life cycle metrics provides a more decision-relevant basis for comparing biomass-derived adsorbents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Resources and Sustainable Utilization)

15 pages, 2638 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Microplastic Pollution on the Structure and Function of Soil Fungal Communities

by Zhao Cui, Dan Hu, Aamer Ali Shah, Ting Zhu and Zhihui Bai

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5298; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115298 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

As microplastic pollution intensifies, its impact on soil microbial communities has drawn widespread attention. This study treated soil samples with five microplastics, including polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), to assess effects on soil properties. High-throughput [...] Read more.

As microplastic pollution intensifies, its impact on soil microbial communities has drawn widespread attention. This study treated soil samples with five microplastics, including polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), to assess effects on soil properties. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze soil fungal community structure and functional diversity. Results showed that microplastic treatments significantly altered pH, total carbon (TC), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), and available phosphorus (AP). Notably, all treatments reduced NO₃⁻-N levels. Fungal community composition was affected, particularly Mortierellomycota and the genera Mortierella, Plectosphaerella, Pseudogymnoascus, Penicillium, Tuber, and Stachybotrys. Functional analysis revealed decreases in certain groups, especially Endophyte–Plant Saprotroph–Undefined Saprotroph and Endophyte–Plant Pathogen–Plant Saprotroph, in PE, PS, and PVC treatments. Mantel analysis further indicated that soil pH, NH₄⁺-N, and NO₃⁻-N significantly influenced fungal communities. These results highlight that microplastic pollution alters soil properties, thereby affecting fungal communities in a microplastic-type dependent manner, providing a theoretical basis for soil health management and pollution mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Pollution, Soil Ecology and Sustainable Land Use)

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32 pages, 834 KB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Intention to Adopt Electric Vehicles for Commercial Use Among Current Freight Transport Operators in Thailand

by Pattarawadee Prasomsab, Kestsirin Theerathitichaipa, Manlika Seefong, Panuwat Wisutwattanasak, Thanapong Champahom, Nattiya Wonglakorn, Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao, Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha and Rattanaporn Kasemsri

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5296; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115296 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

The expansion of the transport sector in Thailand has resulted in a continuous increase in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Therefore, promoting the adoption of commercial electric vehicles (EVs) has become an important approach to mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing sustainability. This [...] Read more.

The expansion of the transport sector in Thailand has resulted in a continuous increase in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Therefore, promoting the adoption of commercial electric vehicles (EVs) has become an important approach to mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing sustainability. This study integrates the TAM, TPB, and 7Ps frameworks to examine factors influencing the intention to adopt EVs among freight transport operators in Thailand. A total of 876 freight operators were surveyed, and the data were analyzed using a random parameters probit model with heterogeneity in means. The results indicate that environmental motivation, perceived safety, ease of use, reductions in operational costs, social benefits, dealership credibility, and perceived quality-of-life improvement positively influence the intention to adopt EVs. In contrast, gaps between EV attitudes and purchasing readiness, along with over-reliance on promotional and online channels, negatively affect EV adoption intention. Furthermore, perceptions of price appropriateness show heterogeneous effects across respondents, reflecting hidden costs and operational uncertainties. Based on these findings, the study proposes an integrated set of policy measures to support a sustainable transition toward EV adoption in the freight transport sector. These results provide useful guidance for policymakers and freight transport operators in developing strategies and policies that encourage the long-term adoption of electric vehicles in freight transportation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

32 pages, 753 KB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Expenditures and Environmental Investments in Ten EU Member States: Comparative Analysis and Typology at the National and Sectoral Levels

by Vanya Georgieva

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5295; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115295 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

The growing emphasis on environmental sustainability within the European Union raises important questions about the internal structure of corporate environmental effort. This study examines environmental expenditures (intermediate consumption of environmental protection services) and environmental investments (gross fixed capital formation for environmental protection) in [...] Read more.

The growing emphasis on environmental sustainability within the European Union raises important questions about the internal structure of corporate environmental effort. This study examines environmental expenditures (intermediate consumption of environmental protection services) and environmental investments (gross fixed capital formation for environmental protection) in ten EU member states over 2015–2022, using Eurostat Environmental Protection Expenditure Accounts data at both the national and sectoral levels (NACE Rev.2 sectors A, B, C, D). Two hypotheses are tested empirically. First, sectoral differences in the investment-to-expenditure ratio are statistically significant (Kruskal–Wallis H = 27.72, p < 0.0001): electricity, mining, and manufacturing each display a higher ratio than agriculture, with the most pronounced contrast for electricity. Second, Eastern European member states exhibit a systematically higher investment-to-expenditure ratio than the remaining countries in the sample (level difference: β = +1.01, p < 0.001), although the two groups follow parallel trajectories without convergence or divergence over the period examined. Building on the relative intensity of the two indicators, the study proposes a four-quadrant typology—active transformation, investment focus, maintenance model, and low-intensity profile—whose stability is confirmed by bootstrap resampling, sub-sample analysis, and an alternative deflator specification. The findings suggest that the internal composition of environmental effort is as informative as its overall level and that sectoral disaggregation is essential for characterising patterns of environmental effort in the EU. Full article

25 pages, 810 KB

Open AccessArticle

Commitment Matters in Sustainable Digital Health Interventions: Understanding Continued Use of Mobile Fitness Apps for Physical Activity Promotion

by Xusheng Yao and Yuqin Chen

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5294; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115294 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

The lack of continuance use of fitness apps causes persistent concern. This paper endeavors to examine the impact of initial use on the continuance use of fitness apps by incorporating theories on commitment and investment. A fitness app-based online running event and a [...] Read more.

The lack of continuance use of fitness apps causes persistent concern. This paper endeavors to examine the impact of initial use on the continuance use of fitness apps by incorporating theories on commitment and investment. A fitness app-based online running event and a two-stage field survey were conducted. A total of 162 participants’ app usage data and survey responses were collected and tested using structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that initial use increases users’ affective commitment and continuance commitment to fitness apps, which promotes continuance use in the subsequent period. The continuance use of fitness apps then enhances users’ physical exercise performance. Additionally, this study confirmed the strengthening moderation effect of users’ social network size, indicating that a larger social network amplifies the positive influence of continuance commitment on continuance use. These findings contribute to sustainable health promotion by explaining how sustained engagement with digital exercise tools can support active lifestyles and well-being. Full article

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30 pages, 1299 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Modern Light-Frame Enclosures in Energy-Efficient Modular Construction

by Julia Brenk, Maria Walczewska and Bożena Orlik-Kożdoń

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5293; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115293 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

This article presents a multi-criteria comparative analysis of modern wall partitions in light-frame technology, with a focus on highly energy-efficient modular construction. The motivation for this research stems from the critical need to optimize building thermal insulation materials to minimize heat loss, while [...] Read more.

This article presents a multi-criteria comparative analysis of modern wall partitions in light-frame technology, with a focus on highly energy-efficient modular construction. The motivation for this research stems from the critical need to optimize building thermal insulation materials to minimize heat loss, while simultaneously ensuring low structural weight, rapid assembly, and hygrothermal safety in prefabricated systems. The aim of this study is to identify the most advantageous insulating materials and structural configurations by evaluating their thermal transmittance, moisture behavior, thermal dynamics, and fire resistance. The analysis encompassed four structural variants paired with seven types of advanced and conventional insulation materials. This comprehensive matrix allowed for the development of 28 computational models. Simulations were carried out for severe winter climatic conditions in Poland, utilizing the Ubakus software and conforming to the PN-EN ISO 13788, PN-EN ISO 6946, PN-EN 12524, and DIN 4108-3 standards. The simulations assumed strict steady-state boundary conditions for a 90-day condensation period, with an external profile of −14 °C/80% RH and an internal climate of 20 °C/50% RH. The evaluation focused on key physical and energy parameters, including the heat transfer coefficient (U-value), condensation risk, diffusion resistance, thermal phase shift, and partition weight. Quantitative findings reveal that the ventilated system with resol foam insulation (variant 4d) yielded the best overall performance, achieving a U-value of 0.089 W/(m²·K) W/(m²·K). The results confirm that the strategic selection of high-performance thermal insulation materials, coupled with structural thermal bridge mitigation, significantly enhances the energy efficiency, thermal stability, and moisture resistance of lightweight enclosures, establishing a comprehensive comparative framework for optimizing modular building envelopes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry)

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30 pages, 594 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bridging Knowledge and Action: An Integrated TPB-OST Framework for Understanding Farmers’ Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Poyang Lake, China

by Xiangru Li and Songyu Jiang

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5292; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115292 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Promoting farmers’ adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is essential for advancing agricultural green transformation and ecological conservation in the Poyang Lake Basin. Current research frequently relies on a single theoretical perspective and insufficiently reveals the synergistic mechanism linking knowledge conversion, psychological cognition, and [...] Read more.

Promoting farmers’ adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is essential for advancing agricultural green transformation and ecological conservation in the Poyang Lake Basin. Current research frequently relies on a single theoretical perspective and insufficiently reveals the synergistic mechanism linking knowledge conversion, psychological cognition, and institutional support. This study integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Organizational Support Theory (OST) to construct a holistic “knowledge–psychology–behavior–institution” analytical framework. Based on a questionnaire survey of 485 farmers from 12 districts and counties surrounding Poyang Lake, we use structural equation modeling and the Process macro to examine direct effects, mediating effects, and the moderating role of government support. The results show that sustainable knowledge sharing and application significantly improve farmers’ behavioral intention through attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, thereby positively promoting actual sustainable practices. Government support plays a significant positive moderating role in the translation of knowledge and psychological factors into behavioral intention. This study enriches the theoretical interpretation of farmers’ pro-environmental behavior from the synergistic perspective of individual cognition and external institutional constraints. The findings provide empirical support for local governments to optimize agricultural extension services, improve policy support systems, and promote coordinated development between ecological protection and high-quality agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Water and Environmental Challenges)

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29 pages, 4223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fostering Sustainable Innovation Competencies Through Design Thinking in Systems Engineering Education: A Creative Intelligence and Technology Transfer Perspective

by Jose David Esquicha-Tejada, Alejandra Muñoz-Manrique, Diego Fabian Medina Yauri, Carla Cuya-Zevallos, Elizabeth Susan Mamani-Machaca and Brayan Adolfo Mujica-Guzman

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115291 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Enhancing engineering education remains a critical priority in universities, particularly in foundational science courses, where the development of cognitive competencies, flexibility, and creative thinking is essential. This study evaluates the outcomes associated with the implementation of the Design Thinking (DT) methodology on the [...] Read more.

Enhancing engineering education remains a critical priority in universities, particularly in foundational science courses, where the development of cognitive competencies, flexibility, and creative thinking is essential. This study evaluates the outcomes associated with the implementation of the Design Thinking (DT) methodology on the creativity of 154 students from a private university in Peru, serving as a foundational stage for its future integration with interactive technologies. A quantitative approach was adopted using a pre-experimental design with pre-test and post-test. The CREA instrument (Creative Intelligence) was employed to measure the evolution of its dimensions across 10 practical sessions involving development boards. The findings indicated that the intervention was associated with statistically significant improvements across all creative dimensions. Notably, students generated 49 unique technological projects, resulting in 22 scientific articles accepted in international conferences and 27 patent applications submitted in Peru (INDECOPI). It is concluded that fostering creativity through Design Thinking serves as a relevant pedagogical framework, as it is associated with students’ cognitive openness and supports the development of sustainable solutions within their professional training as future engineers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions in Higher Education for Sustainability: Advancing the Craft of Exploration)

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25 pages, 1477 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dose Environmental Taxation Promote Green Investment by Enterprises? Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms

by Guifu Chen, Huiting Li and Huawen Cui

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5290; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115290 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

In the context of global climate change and industrial low-carbon transition, whether environmental taxes can simultaneously promote environmental and economic benefits by stimulating corporate green investment remains a central issue in academic research. Existing studies have reached mixed conclusions regarding the effects of [...] Read more.

In the context of global climate change and industrial low-carbon transition, whether environmental taxes can simultaneously promote environmental and economic benefits by stimulating corporate green investment remains a central issue in academic research. Existing studies have reached mixed conclusions regarding the effects of environmental taxes, emphasizing either the “innovation compensation” effect or the “crowding-out” effect. However, this binary perspective overlooks the internal boundary conditions under which environmental taxes operate, particularly the roles of market competition and firm-level resource endowments. In particular, limited attention has been paid to how competitive market environments shape firms’ responses to environmental regulation. To address this gap, this study develops an integrated analytical framework that combines external market competition with internal firm endowments. Using China’s 2018 Environmental Protection Tax Law as a quasi-natural experiment and a panel dataset of Chinese listed firms from 2009 to 2024, this study employs a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach to examine the impact of environmental taxation on corporate green investment. The results show that: (1) the environmental protection tax significantly promotes corporate green investment, with substantial heterogeneity across firm size, ownership structure, and regional institutional environments; (2) market competition serves as an important external moderating mechanism, as intensified competition strengthens firms’ incentives to pursue technological differentiation through green investment, thereby generating an “escape-competition effect”; and (3) from an internal perspective, the effectiveness of environmental taxation is also shaped by firm endowments. High investment activity provides the necessary resource buffer to support strategic pivots, whereas rapid revenue growth and high financial slack (excessive cash ratio) generate strategic inertia, thereby attenuating firms’ responsiveness to the tax shock. This study not only provides empirical evidence from China on the mechanisms through which environmental taxes influence corporate green transformation, but also offers important policy implications for improving environmental tax systems in other countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Resource Management and Sustainable Energy Research)

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31 pages, 11211 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Dual-Branch TCN–TE Model for Multi-Horizon Runoff Forecasting Using Multi-Station Hydrological Observations

by Zhenzhu Meng, Dongwei Ji, Yiqi Lu, Jiajun Xu, Yuyue Zhou, Sen Zheng and Yinghui Zhao

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5289; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115289 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Accurate runoff forecasting plays a critical role in sustainable flood risk management and climate-resilient water resources planning, particularly in plain river-network basins, where runoff processes are influenced by strong temporal variability and intensive human regulation. To address the limitations of existing data-driven models [...] Read more.

Accurate runoff forecasting plays a critical role in sustainable flood risk management and climate-resilient water resources planning, particularly in plain river-network basins, where runoff processes are influenced by strong temporal variability and intensive human regulation. To address the limitations of existing data-driven models in representing short-term temporal variability and long-range dependencies, this study develops a dual-branch temporal convolutional network–transformer encoder (TCN–TE) forecasting framework for multi-station runoff prediction. The proposed model integrates a temporal convolutional network (TCN) with channel attention (CA) to extract local temporal patterns and adaptively reweight multivariate hydrological features, and a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-enhanced transformer encoder (TE) to improve long-range temporal dependency modeling. In addition, an autocorrelation-based analysis is conducted to quantitatively determine the effective memory length of the runoff system, providing a statistically grounded basis for input window selection. The model is evaluated using daily runoff and rainfall data from the Dongtiao River basin in eastern China, including seven runoff stations and two rainfall stations over the period 2012–2024. Forecasting results under multiple horizons (1, 3, 7, and 14 days) demonstrate that the proposed TCN-TE model consistently outperforms representative deep learning baselines in terms of

R^{2}

, RMSE, and MAE, with particularly significant improvements for medium- and long-term forecasts. The results suggest that the proposed model provides a useful data-driven multivariate forecasting framework for runoff prediction using multi-station hydrological observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Resources Management and Hydrological Modeling in Changing Climate)

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33 pages, 3197 KB

Open AccessArticle

Does Institutional Quality Moderate Fintech’s Impact on Financial Development? Cross-Country Empirical Analysis

by Taghreed Hassouba, Omar Sherif, Jawaher Binsuwadan and Radwa Ahmed Abdelghaffar

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5288; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115288 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

The rapid adoption of financial technology (fintech) is transforming the financial ecosystem. Understanding how these technologies influence financial development is crucial given that the institutional conditions shaping the fintech–financial development relationship remain insufficiently examined. To address this, a panel data regression model for [...] Read more.

The rapid adoption of financial technology (fintech) is transforming the financial ecosystem. Understanding how these technologies influence financial development is crucial given that the institutional conditions shaping the fintech–financial development relationship remain insufficiently examined. To address this, a panel data regression model for 30 emerging and developing countries is utilized during 2011–2024 to examine the direct effect of fintech adoption on financial development and to test whether institutional quality moderates this relationship through an interaction-based FE/RE model, supplemented by country-specific marginal effect analysis. Composite indices are constructed to more accurately represent the levels of financial development, fintech adoption, and institutional quality. The results show that fintech adoption has a positive association with financial development at the average level of institutional quality and, as a more significant insight, this association becomes stronger as the level of institutional quality improves above a specific threshold level. The empirical strategy combines panel-wide econometric analysis with descriptive cross-country case studies to illustrate how the same conceptual mechanism manifests under different macro-financial and institutional contexts. Overall, a mechanism-focused interpretation of the fintech–financial development association is provided that emphasizes institutions as a central determinant of the pace and effectiveness of fintech adoption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Finance, Technologies, and Regulatory Frameworks: Advancing Sustainability in a Digital Era)

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20 pages, 1981 KB

Open AccessArticle

Methods of Optimizing the Supply Based on the Distribution Network with Implications for Sustainable Transport

by Jarosław Ziółkowski, Kajetan Płachta, Mateusz Oszczypała and Elżbieta Modrzecka

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5287; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115287 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

This work explores the organization of a supply system within a military transportation network. The nodes of the studied network, comprising suppliers and recipients of supplies (representing delivery and collection points), were geographically identified, as well as the volume of cargo transported in [...] Read more.

This work explores the organization of a supply system within a military transportation network. The nodes of the studied network, comprising suppliers and recipients of supplies (representing delivery and collection points), were geographically identified, as well as the volume of cargo transported in each connection. The idea was to improve the efficiency of supply within the network, understood as minimizing total transportation costs. Calculations were performed using three methods: North–West Corner Method (N-WCM), least cost in the matrix method (LCMM), and Vogel’s Approximation Method (VAM). As a result of the calculations, basic feasible solutions (BFS) were obtained for each method, satisfying the constraint conditions. Each BFS was degenerate, because each contained m + n − 1 basic (non-zero) elements. In accordance with the calculation methodology, optimization was performed for each BFS using the potential method. For N-WCM and LCMM, up to five iterations were required, while for VAM, only one iteration was sufficient, confirming the best performance for this method. In addition to the total transport costs, additional criteria such as total distance, fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions were considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contribution of Intelligent Transport Systems to Sustainable Development Goals)

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19 pages, 6636 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Homologous Preprocessing–Robust Fusion Framework for Stable Retrieval of Soil Total Nitrogen and Organic Matter from Hyperspectral Spectra

by Hong Li, Meiyan Zhang, Jiaze Tang and Jinwei Sun

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5286; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115286 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Accurate estimation of soil total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic matter (SOM) is important for sustainable soil fertility assessment and precision nutrient management. Visible–near-infrared hyperspectral sensing provides a rapid and non-destructive solution, but its inversion accuracy is strongly affected by spectral preprocessing, especially [...] Read more.

Accurate estimation of soil total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic matter (SOM) is important for sustainable soil fertility assessment and precision nutrient management. Visible–near-infrared hyperspectral sensing provides a rapid and non-destructive solution, but its inversion accuracy is strongly affected by spectral preprocessing, especially under small-sample conditions. To reduce dependence on a manually selected preprocessing operator, this study proposes a homologous preprocessing representation fusion framework based on greedy concatenation (HPRF–GC). The framework constructs multiple homologous spectral views from the same raw spectrum, selects informative views through cross-validation-guided greedy forward selection, and concatenates the selected views before random forest or support vector regression. A self-built in situ hyperspectral dataset was collected from two representative black calcareous Mollisol farms in Heilongjiang Province, China, including 200 composite samples measured with a GaiaField Pro V10 imager at 5 m height under midday illumination using white reference calibration. On this dataset, HPRF–GC reduced RMSE by 3.61% for TN–RF, 9.94% for TN–SVR, 0.87% for SOM–RF, and 7.15% for SOM–SVR compared with the strongest single-preprocessing baseline, while introducing only a modest training-time overhead. On the public LUCAS 2015 dataset, HPRF–GC achieved competitive TN prediction performance, with an

R^{2}

of 0.890 and an RMSE of 1.191 under RF. These results indicate that HPRF–GC provides a lightweight, interpretable and reproducible strategy for reducing preprocessing selection sensitivity in small-sample soil hyperspectral inversion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic AI and Multi-Source Geospatial Observation for Global Change, Ecological Sustainability and Land System Science)

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23 pages, 5755 KB

Open AccessReview

Additive Manufacturing of Sustainable Clay Bricks: A Critical Review of Technologies, Challenges, and Opportunities

by Carlos F. Revelo Huertas, Henry A. Colorado, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Carlos M. F. Vieira

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5285; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115285 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

Conventional fired clay brick production is energy-intensive and associated with significant carbon emissions due to kiln firing and mass molding processes. In this context, extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), particularly Direct Ink Writing (DIW), has emerged as a potential alternative for shaping clay-based building [...] Read more.

Conventional fired clay brick production is energy-intensive and associated with significant carbon emissions due to kiln firing and mass molding processes. In this context, extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), particularly Direct Ink Writing (DIW), has emerged as a potential alternative for shaping clay-based building units, enabling reduced material waste, the use of locally sourced clays and recycled additives, and the fabrication of complex geometries with enhanced thermal and structural performance. However, despite these advantages, the application of AM to clay bricks remains limited, as key challenges persist in terms of material rheology, interlayer bonding, production scalability, and the continued need for high-temperature firing, which constrains its environmental benefits. This study presents a scoping review of AM technologies applied to clay brick manufacturing, focusing on their technical feasibility, material requirements, and sustainability implications in comparison with conventional processes. Furthermore, current research trends are analyzed to identify existing gaps, particularly regarding industrial scalability and life cycle assessment (LCA), and to outline future research directions required for the development of a new generation of sustainable clay bricks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Engineering for Environmental Sustainability: From Materials to Technologies)

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21 pages, 1202 KB

Open AccessArticle

New-Era Chinese Teacher Literacy Model Oriented Toward Education for Sustainable Development

by Fengxia Zhang and Xinbing Luo

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5284; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115284 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2026

Abstract

As global education steps into a new era marked by core literacy and sustainable development, teacher literacy has become a critical pillar for fulfilling United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and advancing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Guided by the Educator [...] Read more.

As global education steps into a new era marked by core literacy and sustainable development, teacher literacy has become a critical pillar for fulfilling United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and advancing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Guided by the Educator Spirit and based on the logical framework of dual professional roles and four professional relationships, this study constructs a teacher literacy model for Chinese teachers in the new era, which consists of seven dimensions: disciplinary literacy, general literacy, learning support literacy, holistic education literacy, communication and collaboration literacy, development and improvement literacy, and teacher ethics literacy. Adopting systematic literature review and international comparative research methods, this study integrates mainstream international teacher literacy frameworks issued by the European Union, OECD, UNESCO, the United States and Australia with China’s educational policies and practical experience to establish the proposed model. It further elaborates how the model directs sustainability-oriented teacher education, facilitates transformative teaching approaches, boosts interdisciplinary teaching practice, highlights social justice and global citizenship awareness, and embeds sustainable development principles into curriculum design and teaching practice. This model can effectively tackle prevailing practical dilemmas including teachers’ weakened professional identity, vague professional development paths, unitary evaluation systems, inadequate digital teaching competence, insufficient interdisciplinary integration capacity, deficient ESD literacy and inefficient collaborative education mechanisms. It can systematically support teachers in carrying out sustainability-oriented teaching, innovating curriculum design, conducting transformative teaching and promoting students’ sustainable learning while practicing social justice and educational equity and cultivating global citizenship awareness in educational scenarios. It also provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for promoting the transition of Chinese teachers toward high-quality, professional and sustainable development, and also offers localized solutions with distinctive Chinese characteristics and universal international implications for the implementation of global ESD initiatives and the achievement of SDG 4. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Teaching Education for Sustainable Development at University and School Levels)

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