Sustainability

19 pages, 998 KB

Open AccessArticle

Corporate Social Responsibility, Rural Development, and Demographic Sustainability in a Transition Economy

by Sunyoung Lee, Darima Zhenskhan, Song Soo Lim, Onggarbek Alipbeki, Aida Balkibayeva, Bakdaulet Kypshakbayev, Tangat Azan, Sholpan Alpeissova, Anar Nukesheva and Tursynzada Kuangaliyeva

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8195; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168195 (registering DOI) - 11 Aug 2026

Abstract

Retaining population is a core condition for the long-term sustainability of rural communities, yet rural out-migration is often treated merely as evidence of local development failure. Agriculturally productive regions may continue to lose population even when output, corporate activity, and local services improve, [...] Read more.

Retaining population is a core condition for the long-term sustainability of rural communities, yet rural out-migration is often treated merely as evidence of local development failure. Agriculturally productive regions may continue to lose population even when output, corporate activity, and local services improve, which raises the question of what kinds of rural development are demographically sustainable. This study examines that puzzle in Akmola, Kazakhstan, a major grain-producing region surrounding Astana. It asks how corporate social responsibility (CSR), rural amenities, economic vitality, and agricultural dependence are associated with net migration across rural districts. The question is important because CSR and agricultural modernization are frequently expected to support rural communities, yet their demographic implications depend on whether they generate broad local opportunities or mainly improve services and production capacity. Using an unbalanced district-level panel of eight rural districts from 2010 to 2023, the study estimates PLS-SEM models under alternative measurement specifications and compares the results with fixed-effects panel estimates and PPML (Poisson) gross-flow models. The findings show that economic vitality is associated with population retention or attraction, while agriculture-oriented development is associated with out-migration. Amenities generally support the retention-oriented interpretation, and CSR is more consistently associated with amenity provision than with migration directly. These patterns suggest that the sustainability of rural communities depends less on agricultural output or CSR-funded services in isolation than on economic diversification and enhanced local livability. Full article

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32 pages, 1878 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Hard-Shoulder Running Control for Expressways Based on an SIR-T Model: Advancing Sustainable Traffic Management

by Xiaopeng Song, Sheng Jin, Dianhai Wang, Xiangyu Li and Duo Zhang

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8194; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168194 (registering DOI) - 11 Aug 2026

Abstract

With the continuing growth of expressway travel demand, recurrent congestion frequently occurs on selected expressway sections during peak periods. Conventional fixed-threshold strategies for hard-shoulder running have difficulty maintaining a dynamic balance between congestion mitigation, safety-related operational considerations, and lane-resource utilization. This study proposes [...] Read more.

With the continuing growth of expressway travel demand, recurrent congestion frequently occurs on selected expressway sections during peak periods. Conventional fixed-threshold strategies for hard-shoulder running have difficulty maintaining a dynamic balance between congestion mitigation, safety-related operational considerations, and lane-resource utilization. This study proposes an SIR-T (Traffic) state-evolution model for hard-shoulder opening and closing decisions. Traffic operation is represented by three normalized states, namely, free flow or congestion susceptibility (Susceptible, S), congestion formation and propagation (Infected, I), and congestion recovery (Recovered, R). The state-transition equations describe the effective congestion propagation rate, recovery transition rate, and time-dependent return rate. Literature-informed and section-specific baseline parameters are adopted, while hourly electronic toll collection (ETC) gantry traffic volumes from the Zhejiang G-YZ Expressway are used as the time-varying demand input for numerical integration. Dynamic opening and closing conditions are then derived and evaluated in SUMO by comparing the proposed control strategy with static opening and no-opening strategies. The results show that the proposed dynamic control strategy can adaptively adjust the hard-shoulder opening period in response to real-time traffic conditions, reduce unnecessary occupation of shoulder resources, and maintain traffic service performance close to that of static opening while producing fewer lane changes; compared with no opening, it also reduces average travel time and increases total arrivals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Transport and Logistics Management)

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27 pages, 8775 KB

Open AccessReview

Beyond Warming: Toward an Integrated Science of Planetary Sustainability

by Charles Fletcher

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8193; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168193 (registering DOI) - 11 Aug 2026

Abstract

In this review, I synthesize recent evidence showing how climate acceleration, biosphere disruption, food and freshwater insecurity, pollution, disease, and inequality are increasingly converging into a single, interconnected sustainability challenge. I show that the Anthropocene crisis extends far beyond climate warming and its [...] Read more.

In this review, I synthesize recent evidence showing how climate acceleration, biosphere disruption, food and freshwater insecurity, pollution, disease, and inequality are increasingly converging into a single, interconnected sustainability challenge. I show that the Anthropocene crisis extends far beyond climate warming and its impacts alone: current national commitments remain consistent with warming of approximately 2.3–2.5 °C under full implementation, while current policies could produce up to 2.8 °C; however, the remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 °C may be exhausted within only a few years, and the oil and gas industry has committed to a 14% increase in upstream production over the period 2024–2030. At the same time, pollution remains responsible for approximately nine million deaths annually; agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals; and groundwater depletion, continental drying, marine heatwaves, weakening carbon sinks, and intensifying precipitation extremes are destabilizing the ecological and hydrological systems that sustain human health and food security. This review’s incremental contribution is the integration of these trends within a justice-centered sustainability framework that links Earth-system feedback, public health burdens, water insecurity, and institutional failure rather than treating them as separate environmental problems. I argue that because vulnerability is produced not by exposure alone but by unequal access to infrastructure, wealth, governance capacity, and political power, a viable response therefore requires more than decarbonization: it demands ecological restoration, food and water-centered governance, pollution and disease mitigation, and justice-based institutional reform capable of sustaining human dignity, equity, and resilience within planetary boundaries. I encourage resilience and sustainability programs around the world to fold in these additional challenges to their missions and goals. Full article

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

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18 pages, 1192 KB

Open AccessReview

Behavioural Nudges for Sustainable Food Choices: A Critical Narrative Review of Effectiveness, Autonomy, and Responsible Food-System Governance

by Aleš Krulec, Božidar Veljković, Mojca Jevšnik Podlesnik and Tina Vukasović

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8192; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168192 (registering DOI) - 11 Aug 2026

Abstract

Behavioural nudges modify choice architecture to steer food choices without removing alternatives or substantially changing economic incentives. This critical narrative review synthesises 62 sources from behavioural public policy, public health nutrition, food ethics, and sustainable food-system governance. It distinguishes healthy food nudges, sustainable [...] Read more.

Behavioural nudges modify choice architecture to steer food choices without removing alternatives or substantially changing economic incentives. This critical narrative review synthesises 62 sources from behavioural public policy, public health nutrition, food ethics, and sustainable food-system governance. It distinguishes healthy food nudges, sustainable food nudges, green nudges, and responsible food-system interventions, and compares availability, placement, defaults, labels, digital architecture, and mixed policy packages. The evidence shows that nudges influence immediate food selection, but effects are heterogeneous and weaker for sustained environmental outcomes. Price instruments address affordability, nudges address attention and convenience, and boosts strengthen decision competence; none can substitute for the others. Ethical acceptability requires a transparent, calibrated opt-out process, equity monitoring, disclosure of commercial motives, democratic accountability, and integration with structural policy. Public institutions and profit-driven digital platforms therefore require different governance safeguards. Nudges are most defensible as components of coordinated food-system policy rather than stand-alone solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Consumer Behaviour, Food Choice and Sustainability)

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27 pages, 1132 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Industrial Clusters on Carbon Emission Intensity—Evidence from Chinese Counties

by Wang Zhou

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8191; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168191 (registering DOI) - 11 Aug 2026

Abstract

County-level carbon emissions are essential for accomplishing China’s goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and researching the relationship between industrial cluster and county-level carbon emission intensity bears great significance for realizing sustainable development. Using a sample of 957 Chinese counties from 2002 [...] Read more.

County-level carbon emissions are essential for accomplishing China’s goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and researching the relationship between industrial cluster and county-level carbon emission intensity bears great significance for realizing sustainable development. Using a sample of 957 Chinese counties from 2002 to 2022, this paper examines the impacts of industrial cluster on county-level carbon emission intensity. Methodologically, the two-way fixed effects panel model and mediation effect model are adopted to empirically test such impacts. The main findings are as follows. First, industrial cluster exerts a negative effect on county-level carbon emission intensity. Second, heterogeneous impacts of industrial cluster on county-level carbon emission intensity exist across eastern, central and western regions; such impacts also differ between resource-based and non-resource-based regions, as well as between central and non-central regions. Third, technological innovation plays a partial mediating role between industrial cluster and county-level carbon emission intensity. Fourth, the relationship between industrial clusters and county-level carbon emission intensity exhibits significant spatial dependence, which reflects indirect spatial spillover effects across neighboring counties. The conclusions of this paper supply new empirical evidence for county-level carbon reduction in China from the industrial cluster perspective and carry implications for the formulation of industrial development policies. Full article

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22 pages, 1238 KB

Open AccessArticle

Government Auditing and Corporate Sustainability: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China

by Xuming Shangguan, Yixuan Li, Xinyu Wang and Zhou Yu

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8190; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168190 (registering DOI) - 11 Aug 2026

Abstract

National governments increasingly promote corporate sustainability through approaches ranging from rigid mandates to voluntary market-based compliance. State auditing may offer a middle-ground governance mechanism, but its role in improving Corporate Sustainability Performance (CSP) remains underexplored. China provides a distinctive setting: the China National [...] Read more.

National governments increasingly promote corporate sustainability through approaches ranging from rigid mandates to voluntary market-based compliance. State auditing may offer a middle-ground governance mechanism, but its role in improving Corporate Sustainability Performance (CSP) remains underexplored. China provides a distinctive setting: the China National Audit Office (CNAO), the country’s supreme audit institution under the State Council, audits state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Exploiting staggered CNAO interventions, we apply a staggered difference-in-differences design to 7883 firm-year observations of Chinese A-share-listed SOEs from 2009 to 2022. Government audit exposure is associated with a statistically significant but modest 0.118-point increase in CSP, measured using Huazheng (Sino-Securities) ESG ratings, equivalent to about 0.12 standard deviations. The result is robust to propensity score matching, parallel-trend and placebo tests, ESG-pillar decomposition, and external validation using green patent filings. Information disclosure quality and media attention strengthen the effects, indicating that transparency and public scrutiny amplify government oversight. Effects are more pronounced among non-heavily polluting industries, larger firms, firms with fewer financing constraints, and enterprises located in eastern China. These patterns suggest that audited SOEs respond as cost-benefit-sensitive market participants rather than passive state agents. These findings imply that structured governmental oversight can promote sustainability when complemented by transparency mechanisms and adequate firm-level capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Environmental Management and Sustainability: Innovation, Digital Technologies and Solutions)

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19 pages, 1577 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Method Framework for Assessing Visual Complexity in Historic Street Façades Through Fractal Analysis, User Perception, AHP, and TOPSIS

by Selim Kartal, Fatma Zehra Çakıcı and Ahmet Emre Dinçer

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8189; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168189 (registering DOI) - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the visual complexity of two opposing historic street façades on Sadrettin Konevi Street in Erzurum using an integrated framework that combines fractal analysis, user perception, expert evaluation, and TOPSIS-based decision-making. Fractal analysis was first performed using the box-counting method to [...] Read more.

This study investigates the visual complexity of two opposing historic street façades on Sadrettin Konevi Street in Erzurum using an integrated framework that combines fractal analysis, user perception, expert evaluation, and TOPSIS-based decision-making. Fractal analysis was first performed using the box-counting method to calculate the façade fractal dimension (FD) values. In the second stage, perceived visual complexity was evaluated through a survey involving 100 architects and architecture-related professionals. In the third stage, visual complexity criteria identified from the literature were refined using the Delphi technique, reducing them to six key street-scale criteria. These criteria were then weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on expert pairwise comparisons, and expert-based evaluation scores of the street façades were calculated accordingly. Finally, TOPSIS was used to integrate findings from fractal analysis, user perception, and expert evaluation into a unified comparative framework. The results demonstrated strong agreement among the three assessment approaches. The façade with the higher fractal dimension (FD) value (1.7574) was also perceived as more visually complex by most participants (67%) and achieved the highest expert-based weighted score. Rather than providing a universally validated model, the proposed framework is intended as a proof-of-concept that illustrates how computational, perceptual, and expert-based approaches can be integrated to assess visual complexity. Because the framework was demonstrated using only two opposing historic street façades, the findings should be interpreted as preliminary and case-specific rather than universally generalizable. Full article

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24 pages, 3697 KB

Open AccessArticle

Native Iron-Rich Quince-Derived Biochar for Sustainable Sulfamethoxazole Removal from Wastewater

by Antón Puga, Ana Rita Alves, Sónia A. Figueiredo, M. Ángeles Sanromán, Marta Pazos and Cristina Delerue-Matos

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8188; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168188 (registering DOI) - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

In this study, quince-derived biochar was employed as a sustainable and multifunctional material for the removal of organic pollutants through different treatment alternatives depending on the pH (natural or modified), including adsorption and electro-Fenton degradation processes. The biochar, obtained by pyrolysis (500 °C, [...] Read more.

In this study, quince-derived biochar was employed as a sustainable and multifunctional material for the removal of organic pollutants through different treatment alternatives depending on the pH (natural or modified), including adsorption and electro-Fenton degradation processes. The biochar, obtained by pyrolysis (500 °C, 14 h) of quince (Cydonia oblonga) biomass, exhibited a high intrinsic iron content (1296 mg/kg), which contributed to its electroactive properties and catalytic potential. Batch experiments demonstrated highly efficient adsorption of the target pollutant, the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, achieving a maximum retention capacity of 35.51 mg/g. Regarding the degradation pathway, the electrochemical treatment achieved significant degradation rates under mild operating conditions, reaching total removal in less than 90 min. Both treatment options, under their respective optimal conditions, were subsequently evaluated using tertiary wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant, achieving good removal efficiencies exceeding 60% within 120 min. Finally, the treated effluent under optimal conditions was subjected to an ecotoxicity assay using the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment and the absence of harmful effects on this key microorganism in the aquatic food chain. These findings highlight the potential of iron-rich quince biochar as a low-cost and environmentally friendly material for various water treatment applications. Moreover, the results provide a promising approach for valorizing agricultural waste with inherent metallic content in heterogeneous electro-Fenton. Full article

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34 pages, 2580 KB

Open AccessReview

Trans Fatty Acid Isomers: Health, Technological, and Regulatory Perspectives for Sustainable Fat Reformulation

by Małgorzata Katarzyna Kowalska, José Luis Guil-Guerrero, Łukasz Bednarczyk, Piotr Jan Lubojański, Sara Małgorzata Orłowska, Joanna Elżbieta Lubojańska and Weronika Hudecka

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8187; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168187 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

For decades, industrial trans fatty acids (iTFAs) have remained a critical focus of the scientific community, the food industry, and regulatory authorities because of their well-established role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and chronic systemic inflammation. Rather than providing a [...] Read more.

For decades, industrial trans fatty acids (iTFAs) have remained a critical focus of the scientific community, the food industry, and regulatory authorities because of their well-established role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and chronic systemic inflammation. Rather than providing a descriptive overview, this review critically synthesizes current evidence on the elimination of industrial TFAs by integrating health, technological, regulatory, and sustainability perspectives into a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis. The review outlines the biochemical characteristics and dietary sources of trans fatty acid isomers, highlighting the continuing scientific debate regarding the differential health effects of industrially produced and naturally occurring ruminant-derived TFAs. It also examines the evolution of scientific evidence that led to major regulatory actions by international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission, resulting in legally binding restrictions that have substantially reduced industrial TFA intake and improved public health. Particular emphasis is placed on the critical assessment of current fat reformulation strategies, considering not only their technological functionality but also their nutritional quality, long-term metabolic implications, and contribution to sustainable food systems. Full hydrogenation, fractionation, chemical and enzymatic interesterification, and oleogelation are comparatively evaluated with respect to their advantages, limitations, and potential technological, nutritional, and environmental trade-offs. In addition, lipid microencapsulation is discussed as an emerging strategy for protecting oxidation-sensitive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), thereby facilitating their incorporation into functional foods while maintaining nutritional quality. Unlike previous reviews that primarily focus on health outcomes or individual processing technologies, this review systematically integrates the sustainability dimensions of alternative fat modification approaches, including resource efficiency, energy consumption, clean label product development, and circular economy principles. Furthermore, it identifies current knowledge gaps related to the long-term metabolic safety, industrial scalability, and environmental performance of emerging lipid technologies. By combining these complementary perspectives, the review provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary synthesis that supports evidence-based fat reformulation and offers practical guidance for researchers, food manufacturers, and policy makers seeking to develop safer, nutritionally improved, technologically functional, and environmentally sustainable lipid systems. Full article

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24 pages, 2376 KB

Open AccessArticle

Interprovincial Carbon Emission Efficiency Association Network of Wastewater Treatment Facilities in China: Structural Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms

by Ying Guo, Yong Zha and Xinglin Gao

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8186; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168186 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Improving the low-carbon operational performance of wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) is important for coordinated pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in China. The interprovincial carbon emission efficiency (CEE) of WWTFs reflects both the low-carbon performance of regional wastewater governance systems and cross-regional linkages shaped [...] Read more.

Improving the low-carbon operational performance of wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) is important for coordinated pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in China. The interprovincial carbon emission efficiency (CEE) of WWTFs reflects both the low-carbon performance of regional wastewater governance systems and cross-regional linkages shaped by technology diffusion, governance experience, and spatial adjacency. Using operational data from WWTFs in 30 provincial-level regions of China from 2010 to 2023, this study first measures provincial CEE with a super-efficiency slack-based measure (SBM) model incorporating undesirable outputs. It then integrates a modified gravity model, social network analysis, and the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) to examine the evolution, structure, and formation mechanisms of the association network. The results show that the CEE of provincial WWTFs remained below the efficiency frontier overall, with periodic fluctuations and persistent structural differences. The model-inferred association network first contracted and then expanded, showing dense connections in eastern and central China and sparse connections in the northwest. Its node structure evolved from a dispersed multicore pattern to hub-centered concentration and then back toward a multicore configuration, while inter-block linkages showed a hierarchical transmission structure involving core spillovers, absorptive transmission, and peripheral reception. The QAP results indicate that interprovincial adjacency is the most stable correlate of network formation, whereas differences in technological innovation and capacity utilization show only stage-specific associations. These findings suggest that the CEE of WWTFs is not only a local performance outcome, but also a relational outcome shaped by regional linkages and structural positions. Therefore, low-carbon governance of WWTFs should move beyond single-region efficiency improvement and place greater emphasis on cross-regional collaboration, role-specific policy design, and leadership by core regions. Full article

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34 pages, 1593 KB

Open AccessArticle

Virtual Agglomeration and Urban Innovation in China: Evidence from Digital Networks

by Mingque Ye, Haoran Yan, Junyu Yang and Jiayi Han

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8185; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168185 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Digital technologies are reshaping the spatial organization of economic activities, expanding cities’ access to external innovation resources across geographical boundaries, and creating new pathways for sustainable urban development. Using panel data for 279 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2022, this study [...] Read more.

Digital technologies are reshaping the spatial organization of economic activities, expanding cities’ access to external innovation resources across geographical boundaries, and creating new pathways for sustainable urban development. Using panel data for 279 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2022, this study constructs an urban digital network based on the cross-city organizational linkages of listed digital firms and their subsidiaries and measures virtual agglomeration by combining network linkages with urban digital foundations. The results show that virtual agglomeration significantly promotes urban innovation, and this finding remains robust to instrumental-variable estimation, alternative measures, and lagged specifications. Virtual agglomeration also strengthens the ability of latecomer cities to translate innovation gaps into subsequent growth. Both local digital foundations and external digital linkages contribute to this effect, while knowledge-related variety serves as an important transmission channel. The positive relationship is more pronounced in resource-based, third-tier, non-urban-agglomeration, and western cities. Further analysis shows that virtual agglomeration significantly promotes urban green innovation, indicating that its innovation effect extends to environmentally oriented technological development. Overall, virtual agglomeration improves access to innovation resources, supports innovation catch-up in less-developed cities, and, by promoting green technological innovation, offers a digital-network-based pathway toward more coordinated and sustainable urban development. Full article

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

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42 pages, 49537 KB

Open AccessArticle

Burnt and Unburnt Ceramic Waste Powder with Magnetized Water for Durable and Sustainable Concrete

by Seleem S. E. Ahmad, Mahmoud Soliman, Yasmine Elmenshawy and Mohamed A. R. Elmahdy

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8184; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168184 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

The combined use of ceramic waste powder (CWP) as a supplementary cementitious material and magnetized water (MW) as mixing water represents a promising strategy for producing sustainable concrete with reduced cement consumption while maintaining mechanical performance and durability. However, the synergistic effects of [...] Read more.

The combined use of ceramic waste powder (CWP) as a supplementary cementitious material and magnetized water (MW) as mixing water represents a promising strategy for producing sustainable concrete with reduced cement consumption while maintaining mechanical performance and durability. However, the synergistic effects of burnt ceramic waste powder (BCWP) and unburnt ceramic waste powder (UBCWP) combined with MW, particularly under aggressive environmental conditions, remain insufficiently investigated. This study evaluates the influence of BCWP and UBCWP, used as partial replacements for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at replacement levels of 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight, together with conventional tap water (TW) and MW produced using a dual-field magnetic device (0.9 T and 1.5 T). A total of fourteen concrete mixtures were investigated through compressive strength tests at 7, 28, and 120 days; indirect tensile and flexural strength tests at 28 and 120 days; sulfate resistance after 120 days of MgSO₄ immersion; residual strength after thermal exposure at 200 °C; and microstructural characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that increasing the CWP replacement level progressively reduced the mechanical properties of concrete; however, MW consistently mitigated these reductions by promoting cement hydration and producing a denser cementitious matrix. The mixture containing 20% BCWP with MW achieved a 120-day compressive strength comparable to that of the TW control, demonstrating that cement consumption can be reduced without compromising structural performance. Furthermore, MW mixtures exhibited significantly improved durability, with compressive strength losses of only 16–28% after sulfate attack compared with up to 42% for TW mixtures, and 1–13% after thermal exposure compared with up to 53% for TW mixtures. SEM and XRD analyses confirmed the development of denser microstructures with enhanced C–S–H gel formation in MW–CWP concretes. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the synergistic combination of ceramic waste powder and magnetized water provides an effective strategy for producing sustainable concrete with enhanced long-term mechanical performance, improved durability under aggressive environmental conditions, and reduced environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering: Intelligent Construction, Structural Health Monitoring and Sustainable Materials)

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34 pages, 3684 KB

Open AccessArticle

GenAI-Based Carbon Footprint Feedback as a Decision Context: A Two-Layer Extended TPB Model for Renewable Energy Product Adoption

by Tuğba Yeğin

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8183; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168183 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Carbon footprint information can be a powerful environmental label for encouraging sustainable consumption. However, static environmental labels can be difficult for consumers to interpret during online purchasing decisions. This study examines whether generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-based carbon footprint feedback (AI-CFB), which transforms static [...] Read more.

Carbon footprint information can be a powerful environmental label for encouraging sustainable consumption. However, static environmental labels can be difficult for consumers to interpret during online purchasing decisions. This study examines whether generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-based carbon footprint feedback (AI-CFB), which transforms static carbon footprint information into decision-relevant feedback, can support consumers’ evaluations and purchase intentions regarding renewable energy-powered products (REPPs). In this context, data from 841 participants in Türkiye were analyzed using PLS-SEM within a two-layer extended TPB model. Results from the first layer confirm AI-CFB as an antecedent of TPB dimensions, which, in turn, are associated with purchase intention toward renewable energy-powered products, with environmental concern and technological self-efficacy serving as motivating factors. The second layer reveals that AI-CFB functions as a decision-support mechanism, while consumer trust strengthens the relationship between AI-CFB and REPP purchase intention. This study contributes a validated AI-TPB model that explains how GenAI-based carbon footprint information is associated with consumer evaluations and moderates the relationships with purchase intention, extending the sustainable consumption literature by integrating GenAI-based systems in e-commerce. The findings offer practical recommendations for policymakers, e-commerce platforms, and carbon footprint experts to encourage low-carbon consumption and reduce CO₂ emissions in Türkiye, while providing a foundation for future research at the intersection of sustainable consumption and AI-assisted decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fostering Sustainability: Business Innovation and Consumer Choices)

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27 pages, 27255 KB

Open AccessArticle

Recurrent Overlap Between Tourism Suitability and Ecological Sensitivity in the Yellow River Basin

by Bingling Luo, Junyuan Zhao, Wanzhen Fu and Jingzi Guo

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8182; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168182 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Large river basins require spatial evidence showing where tourism-support conditions and ecological constraints coincide. Using the Yellow River Basin, we built a reproducible workflow that combines Google Earth Engine preprocessing with local spatial analysis to map tourism development suitability (TDSI), ecological sensitivity (ESI), [...] Read more.

Large river basins require spatial evidence showing where tourism-support conditions and ecological constraints coincide. Using the Yellow River Basin, we built a reproducible workflow that combines Google Earth Engine preprocessing with local spatial analysis to map tourism development suitability (TDSI), ecological sensitivity (ESI), and conflict intensity on a 1 km equal-area grid in 2013, 2018, and 2023. Annual hotspot shares remained near one-fifth of valid cells, and 153,958 cells (19.80%) entered the hotspot set in at least two benchmark years. Spatially matched reference checks were mixed: official tourism cells showed a positive high-suitability contrast against 50 km block-matched cells (0.778 versus 0.563; empirical

p = 0.043

), whereas OSM POIs, the named-attraction subset, and GBIF cells showed no clear geography-adjusted enrichment. Aggregation from 1 km to 2 km preserved broad structure, but weighting and ecological-constraint choices changed local membership materially. The full XGBoost–SHAP model identified precipitation variability, land-surface thermal change, protected-area proximity, relief, and road-network intensity as leading internal correlates; a strict two-covariate model achieved AUC = 0.680 and F1 = 0.538, limiting external mechanism claims. The products support uncertainty-aware regional screening. Site-specific approval and long-term persistence claims require finer regulatory, field, and temporal evidence. Full article

21 pages, 1035 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Multiple Policy Mixes on Urban Green Innovation: Evidence from China

by Xiaobao Peng, Kaiji Wang, Guangyao Duan and Yutong Men

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8181; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168181 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

In the context of an increasingly tense relationship between environmental and economic goals, green innovation is of crucial importance for the global green transformation. However, its dual external effects often render a single policy tool ineffective, which makes the implementation of a policy [...] Read more.

In the context of an increasingly tense relationship between environmental and economic goals, green innovation is of crucial importance for the global green transformation. However, its dual external effects often render a single policy tool ineffective, which makes the implementation of a policy mix necessary. In this study, according to a three-dimensional policy mix framework, four pilot policies in the fields of environment, innovation, and finance were selected and combined in pairs. Panel data from 276 Chinese cities (from 2006 to 2021) were used to compare the differences in the effects of different types of policy mixes on green innovation using the difference-in-differences method and to verify the mediating effects of green finance and university–industry collaboration. The synergy test results show that the cross-domain mix with the differentiation of tool types and the compatibility of mechanisms is the best. The policy effects were more evident in cities outside the Yangtze River Economic Belt and in non-central cities. These findings provide theoretical and practical insights for designing an effective policy mix to promote green transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Management)

29 pages, 2357 KB

Open AccessReview

Concentrated Solar Power in India: Resource Potential, Economic Assessment, and a Comparative Study of Growth Pathways

by Rohit Singh and Ramadas Narayanan

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8180; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168180 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a strategic clean-energy technology for India, combining high-efficiency electricity generation with thermal storage to enable power supply beyond daylight hours. This review maps CSP potential across India by analysing solar resource distribution, the suitability of different CSP technologies [...] Read more.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a strategic clean-energy technology for India, combining high-efficiency electricity generation with thermal storage to enable power supply beyond daylight hours. This review maps CSP potential across India by analysing solar resource distribution, the suitability of different CSP technologies (e.g., parabolic troughs and solar towers), and economic feasibility under current cost and policy conditions. It evaluates recent developments in deployment, technology maturity and financing mechanisms, while identifying key barriers such as land availability, grid integration and investment risk. In addition, the study identifies research gaps related to large-scale deployment, cost-reduction strategies, and long-term performance under Indian climatic conditions, and outlines future research directions and policy pathways to accelerate CSP adoption in India. By drawing on recent data and trends, the paper offers insight into how CSP can complement the ongoing expansion of renewable electricity and contribute to India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil installed capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070. The analysis aims to support researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders in making informed decisions to scale CSP deployment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics, Energy Transition and Environmental Sustainability)

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33 pages, 11815 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Green Area Ratio: Nature-Based Solutions Regulation in Washington DC

by Melissa Keeley, Andrea Herrera Krug, Nils Berglund, Connor Wolosewicz and Ali Sorrels

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8179; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168179 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as a key strategy to address complex and intensifying urban sustainability challenges, yet empirical assessments of regulatory frameworks that operationalize these strategies remain limited. This study addresses that gap through an empirical evaluation of the Green Area Ratio [...] Read more.

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as a key strategy to address complex and intensifying urban sustainability challenges, yet empirical assessments of regulatory frameworks that operationalize these strategies remain limited. This study addresses that gap through an empirical evaluation of the Green Area Ratio (GAR), a hybrid performance-based zoning regulation for sustainable landscapes in Washington, DC, using more than a decade of regulatory implementation data. Regulatory plan approval records from 1329 private properties subject to GAR between 2015 and 2025 were analyzed to examine trends in landscaping Best Management Practice (BMP) selection, relationships with parcel characteristics, and interactions with stormwater management requirements. Over this period, approximately 184 ha of multifunctional NBS were approved through GAR plans primarily consisting of landscaping areas, plantings, and tree planting and preservation, often combined through BMP stacking and amplified by a native plant bonus. BMP selection varied significantly according to zoning district, lot area, and GAR Score Requirement. Importantly, GAR requirements influenced BMP selection differently than stormwater requirements. The findings suggest that simplicity, flexibility, and adaptability of the GAR make the regulation a versatile policy instrument for DC and a useful model for cities seeking to expand NBS through performance-based zoning regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Landscape and Ecosystem Services for a Sustainable Urban System)

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29 pages, 1864 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Perceived Contribution of Online Learning Environments to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Higher Education: A Field Study Using PLS-SEM

by Fawzia Omer Alubthane and Abrar Almalki

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8178; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168178 (registering DOI) - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Higher education institutions face a dual imperative: expanding access while reducing their environmental and operational footprint. Grounded in Triple Bottom Line theory and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) interlinkages framework, this study examines faculty and postgraduate students’ perceived associations between online learning—across environmental, [...] Read more.

Higher education institutions face a dual imperative: expanding access while reducing their environmental and operational footprint. Grounded in Triple Bottom Line theory and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) interlinkages framework, this study examines faculty and postgraduate students’ perceived associations between online learning—across environmental, economic, educational, and health dimensions—and five SDGs (SDG3, SDG4, SDG8, SDG12, and SDG13), and how these perceived dimensions interrelate to form a coherent structural model. Data were collected from 306 faculty members and postgraduate students via a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). All nine direct and four specific indirect path relationships were statistically significant at p < 0.001. Perceived economic rationalization exerted the strongest direct path coefficient on perceived responsible consumption (β = 0.648) and the strongest specific indirect effect on perceived climate action (β = 0.371), while perceived health and well-being served as the central pathway statistically linking perceived online learning benefits to perceived quality education and decent work outcomes (β = 0.557 and 0.608, respectively). The structural model statistically accounted for 42–54% of the variance in these perceived SDG-related outcomes. These findings suggest that online learning may be perceived by faculty and postgraduate students as an integrated structural lever—rather than a source of isolated benefits—for advancing interconnected dimensions of the 2030 Agenda in higher education; objective verification of these perceived associations (e.g., using institutional records or environmental metrics) remains an important direction for future research. Theoretical and practical implications for university leaders and policymakers are discussed. Full article

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

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35 pages, 2341 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Open Government Data as a Tool for Planning and Sustainability in U.S. Cities: Portals, Policies, and Plans

by Gulnara N. Nabiyeva and Stephen M. Wheeler

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8177; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168177 - 10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Open Government Data (OGD) has the potential to support urban planning by increasing transparency, improving evidence-based decision-making, enhancing public participation, and monitoring progress toward sustainability goals. Despite this potential, the extent to which OGD supports planning and sustainability in practice remains unclear. This [...] Read more.

Open Government Data (OGD) has the potential to support urban planning by increasing transparency, improving evidence-based decision-making, enhancing public participation, and monitoring progress toward sustainability goals. Despite this potential, the extent to which OGD supports planning and sustainability in practice remains unclear. This study evaluates the user-friendliness of OGD portals in 19 U.S. cities using four criteria identified in the literature: breadth of portal content, structure of governance, user-friendly support, and equitable user access. It also examines how cities incorporate OGD into OGD policies, general plans, and sustainability/climate action plans. This study was designed as an exploratory comparative case study of OGD practices, and the methods included portal assessment using four criteria, content analysis of OGD policies and plans, and semi-structured interviews with OGD and planning experts. The findings indicate that most OGD portals function primarily as data repositories, rather than as planning support tools, and vary considerably in portal content, governance, and user support, affecting their usefulness for planning and sustainability efforts. OGD policies are often absent or underdeveloped and typically emphasize transparency rather than planning applications or public engagement. Only nine cities identified a role for OGD in at least one planning-related document. Interviewees identified low public awareness, limited user capacity, and insufficient integration of data into decision-making as key barriers. The findings identify practical strategies that cities can adopt to better integrate OGD into urban planning and sustainability, including proactive identification of datasets and indicators that will be of interest to various stakeholders, improved stakeholder engagement, data standardization, use of graphics to highlight policy-relevant data trends, improved OGD management, and closer alignment between OGD initiatives and action-oriented planning processes. Full article

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

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