Journal Description
Sustainability
Sustainability
is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings, published semimonthly online by MDPI. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Sustainability and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE and SSCI (Web of Science), GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, AGRIS, RePEc, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q1 (Geography, Planning and Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Sustainability.
- Companion journals for Sustainability include: World, Sustainable Chemistry, Conservation, Future Transportation, Architecture, Standards, Merits and Wind.
Impact Factor:
3.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Sectoral Plans: An Assessment Based on the Logical Framework Approach
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3705; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093705 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Although climate change adaptation (CCA) and spatial planning are relevant to promoting climate resilience, Italy shows a certain lack of studies focused on the coherence between national CCA objectives and sectoral plans. We aim to investigate such a research gap and propose and
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Although climate change adaptation (CCA) and spatial planning are relevant to promoting climate resilience, Italy shows a certain lack of studies focused on the coherence between national CCA objectives and sectoral plans. We aim to investigate such a research gap and propose and apply a logical framework approach (LFA)-based method to assess the coherence of sectoral plans adopted in Sardinia (Italy) with the missions of the Italian National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NCCAP). We apply LFA to analytically scrutinize sectoral plans by reconstructing their strategic framework—including objectives and actions—and comparing them to the CCA objectives established by the NCCAP. The purpose is to provide the regional administrations with a methodological approach and tangible findings, suggesting the need for updating plans lacking CCA contents and contributing to the drafting or updating of the regional strategy for CCA. The method adopted in this study allowed us to identify plan objectives and actions that fully or partially integrate NCCAP objectives. Then, plans partially (or not at all) consistent with the NCCAP can be integrated with CCA contents. This is relevant to promoting climate resilience issues in plans that have clear effects in terms of spatial, landscape, and urban planning, according to different governance levels.
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Open AccessArticle
The Implications of the Spillover Effect Related to Green Co-Creation in a Supply Chain
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Weijia Kong, Yunfei Shao, Simeng Wang, Wei Yan and Yawen Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3704; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093704 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Driven by environmental concerns, firms close to end-users are increasingly co-creating with customers for green product development within their supply chains. However, a challenge called “spillover” can hinder the incentive for green co-creation by these firms. This paper examines the spillover issue in
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Driven by environmental concerns, firms close to end-users are increasingly co-creating with customers for green product development within their supply chains. However, a challenge called “spillover” can hinder the incentive for green co-creation by these firms. This paper examines the spillover issue in a dual-channel structure, where downstream firms implement co-creation with customers for green product development. Our findings indicate that spillover from green investments can negatively impact the investing firm’s profits. However, in low-competition scenarios, spillover benefits the supplier and customers within the supply chain. Additionally, under specific circumstances, it can improve overall supply chain performance. Crucially, to safeguard the sustainability of green co-creation in supply chains and prevent detrimental co-destruction, we propose implementing revenue-sharing contracts that can generate Pareto improvements, benefiting all green supply chain members. As a result, unlike traditional intellectual property protection, which hinders spillover, this study offers an alternative strategy that is also somewhat complementary, promoting collaboration over restrictions to leverage the positive aspects of spillover.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations Management, Shared Manufacturing and Green Logistics)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
A Review of Effective Technology-Based Writing Interventions: A Componential Analysis
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María Victoria González-Laguna, Raquel Fidalgo, Paula López and Gert Rijlaarsdam
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093703 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of ICT-based writing instructional practices, but they do not show an in-depth analysis of their instructional elements, which could be key to explaining such effectiveness. This study aims to analyze the instructional design of effective ICT-based writing
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Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of ICT-based writing instructional practices, but they do not show an in-depth analysis of their instructional elements, which could be key to explaining such effectiveness. This study aims to analyze the instructional design of effective ICT-based writing practices according to content and instructional dimensions. An empirical review was performed following the PRISMA statement guidelines with a sample of 22 studies. For the content dimension, learning objectives were coded in terms of target focus, subject-specific knowledge, and learning outcomes. For the instructional dimension, types of learning and instructional activities were coded, identifying their specific elements. Results showed that learning objectives were mostly focused on practice/internalization of high-level processes. Regarding learning activities, ICT was mainly used in practicing/applying, structuring, and observing/noting activities. Regarding instructional activities, application and demonstration principles appeared most frequently in the interventions, with application activities being most frequently performed by ICTs. Product-focused and corrective types of feedback, as well as static and procedural scaffolding types, were the most frequently performed using ICT. In conclusion, this study provides useful information on what writing activities can be performed using ICT and provide the basis for future studies analyzing to what extent these activities contribute to program effectiveness.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychology and Education for a Sustainable World, Current Advances and Cutting-Edge and Innovative Developments, Especially from the Use of the New Digital Framework)
Open AccessArticle
Numerical Simulation of a Thermal Management System Using Composite Flame-Retardant Resin and Its Effect on Battery Life Span
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Florin Mariasiu, Ioan Szabo and Thomas I. C. Buidin
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3702; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093702 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
One of the obstacles to the adoption of electric vehicles as a future pollution-free transport solution is that the energy sources (batteries) have not yet become sustainable through a long-life span under the specific operating conditions. The problem that arises is that high
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One of the obstacles to the adoption of electric vehicles as a future pollution-free transport solution is that the energy sources (batteries) have not yet become sustainable through a long-life span under the specific operating conditions. The problem that arises is that high temperatures inside the batteries represent a safety risk and have negative effects on the battery life span, which imposes the use of thermal management systems. The present article aims to analyze, by numerical methods, the effect of the use of a fireproof composite resin on the efficiency of the thermal management system, specifically on the degree of battery sustainability (measured by the effect on the life span). Five constructive variants are proposed and thermally analyzed. Based on the measured temperatures, the intensity of the chemical reactions that occur in a 18650-type Li-ion cell was calculated, and conclusions related to the impact on the life span were drawn. It has been found that the use of a fireproof composite resin leads to an increased heat transmission towards the outer environment and an increase in the life span by 22.2% compared to that noted for conventional air cooling. The results also recommend the use of heat exchangers associated with flame retardant resins, which leads to a 20.6% improvement in the heat transfer capacity of the battery’s thermal management system. When comparing the solutions in which the flame-retardant resin is used, the results show that adding 3 wt.% of nanomaterial leads to a significant life span increase of 11.7% when compared to the results for the resin-only case.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Charging and Grid Integration for Sustainable Electric Transportation)
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Open AccessReview
A Critical Analysis of Geological Hazard Risk Assessment including Future Perspectives
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Yuxiang Cheng, Yue Gan, Chunmei Shi, Aidi Huo, Yinghui Pei, Yu Song, Xing Wang and Adnan Ahmed
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093701 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Geological hazards are widely distributed, cause huge losses, and have always been the focus of attention for engineering and environmental geologists. Geological hazard evaluation is the basis of research and has important theoretical significance for preventing and controlling geological hazards. Therefore, geological hazard
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Geological hazards are widely distributed, cause huge losses, and have always been the focus of attention for engineering and environmental geologists. Geological hazard evaluation is the basis of research and has important theoretical significance for preventing and controlling geological hazards. Therefore, geological hazard evaluation has become the focus of engineering and environmental geology. The question of how to build a universal index system model of geological hazard evaluation is an urgent problem that needs to be solved in geological hazard evaluation. Based on a large amount of previous research data, this paper takes landslide hazard as an example and systematically expounds the main problems that need to be solved in the current geological hazard evaluation from five aspects: basic concept, evaluation scope and accuracy, evaluation index system and evaluation criteria, evaluation method, and applicability of evaluation results. A landslide hazard assessment index system model is proposed, which applies to all regions, including all of the factors that may affect the formation of landslides. It is also hoped that this will be used as an example to establish various types of disaster evaluation and assessment systems. If the parameter has no value in the assessment process, it can be processed as 0. On this basis, further research is suggested from the perspectives of the geological hazard evaluation level, geological hazard evaluation theory, and method. To provide thoughts on and suggestions for geological hazard risk assessment method research, standard revision, investigation and evaluation, and risk management and control need to be considered.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geological Environment Monitoring and Early Warning Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Research on the Driving Factors and Prediction Model of Urban Underground Space Demand in China
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Yansheng Deng, Jun Chen, Baoping Zou, Qizhi Chen, Jingyuan Ma and Chenjie Shen
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3700; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093700 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
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The development and utilization of urban underground space (UUS) have emerged as critical strategies to address the challenges posed by urban population growth and land resource depletion. Accurate prediction of UUS demand serves as the cornerstone for scientifically planning underground space and promoting
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The development and utilization of urban underground space (UUS) have emerged as critical strategies to address the challenges posed by urban population growth and land resource depletion. Accurate prediction of UUS demand serves as the cornerstone for scientifically planning underground space and promoting sustainable urban development. In this study, statistical analysis methods were used to investigate the relationship between potential driving factors and UUS demand based on collected data from 16 cities in China. The identification of primary driving factors involves correlation, path, and determination coefficient analyses. Subsequently, univariate regression, multiple linear regression, and LASSO regression methods are employed to construct prediction models for UUS demand. Additionally, the link between historical data and UUS demand in each city was studied separately. The findings reveal that GDP per km2 and GDP per capita comprehensively capture the influence of urban population, economy, and transportation on UUS demand. Notably, GDP per km2 makes the most significant contribution to the proposed regression models, followed by GDP per capita. The application of LASSO regression proves effective in selecting potential factors while maximizing data utilization, presenting itself as a valuable auxiliary tool for UUS planning.
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Open AccessArticle
Study on Real-Time Water Demand Prediction of Winter Wheat–Summer Corn Based on Convolutional Neural Network–Informer Combined Modeling
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Jianqin Ma, Yijian Chen, Xiuping Hao, Bifeng Cui and Jiangshan Yang
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3699; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093699 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The accurate prediction of crops’ water requirements is an important reference for real-time irrigation decisions on farmland. In order to achieve precise control of irrigation and improve irrigation water utilization, a real-time crop water requirement prediction model combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and
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The accurate prediction of crops’ water requirements is an important reference for real-time irrigation decisions on farmland. In order to achieve precise control of irrigation and improve irrigation water utilization, a real-time crop water requirement prediction model combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and the Informer model is presented in this paper, taking the real-time water demand of winter wheat–summer maize from 2017 to 2021 as the research object. The CNN model was used to extract the depth features of the day-by-day meteorological data of the crops, and the extracted feature values were inputted into the Informer model according to the time series for training and prediction to obtain the predicted water demand of winter wheat and summer maize. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of the constructed CNN–Informer combination model was higher compared to CNN, BP, and LSTM models, with an improvement of 1.2%, 25.1%, and 21.9% for winter wheat and 0.4%, 37.4%, and 20.3% for summer maize; based on the good performance of the model in capturing the long-term dependency relationship, the irrigation analysis using the model prediction data showed a significant water-saving effect compared with the traditional irrigation mode, with an average annual water saving of about 1004.3 m3/hm2, or 18.4%, which verified the validity of the model, and it can provide a basis for the prediction of crops’ water demand and sustainable agricultural development.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Hydrology and Water Resources in Agriculture and Ecology—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Ghosts in the Machine: How Big Data Analytics Can Be Used to Strengthen Online Public Procurement Accountability
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Mihai-Răzvan Sanda, Marian-Ilie Siminică, Costin-Daniel Avram and Luminița Popescu
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3698; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093698 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The core of sustainable public procurement lies in its ability to stem uneconomical public expenditures that waste taxpayer money and stifle social trust and development. The external audit of public procurement proves problematic since current research fails to provide sufficient empirical studies aimed
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The core of sustainable public procurement lies in its ability to stem uneconomical public expenditures that waste taxpayer money and stifle social trust and development. The external audit of public procurement proves problematic since current research fails to provide sufficient empirical studies aimed at identifying procurement fraud. The development of online portals with embedded e-procurement solutions, along with the big data revolution, open new horizons and allow us to reveal trends otherwise impossible to spot, such as transactions achieved in an exclusive commercial relationship, in which a vendor engages only with a single public entity. By using innovative data acquisition techniques, our research encompasses 2.25 million online direct public procurement procedures conducted in 2023 using the Romanian portal for public procurement, totaling EUR 3.22 billion. By aggregating databases obtained from various public sources, our analysis achieved remarkable granularity, using over 112 million data elements—50 pertaining to each transaction. Research results indicate a unique sub-population of public procurement procedures—those conducted with “in-house” vendors totaling 14.28% of all direct public acquisitions and which is significantly differentiated along the entire list of analyzed criteria—financial, geographical, statistical, or risk-wise—illustrating a troubling phenomenon: possible gerrymandering of the online public procurement landscape, which, at least in theory, resembles a perfect market, by cultivating preferential commercial relations, thus affecting the legality, regularity, and economical aspects of public procurement.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Public Procurement: Practices and Policies)
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Open AccessArticle
A Supply Chain Coordination Optimization Model with Revenue Sharing and Carbon Awareness
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Nistha Kumari, Yogendra Kumar Rajoria, Anand Chauhan, Satya Jeet Singh, Anubhav Pratap Singh and Vineet Kumar Sharma
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3697; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093697 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The present study explores the impact of carbon emissions on supply chain coordination, where the supply chain entities are a retailer and a distributor. The study also involves two types of systems, namely centralized and decentralized. A centralized system computes the profit of
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The present study explores the impact of carbon emissions on supply chain coordination, where the supply chain entities are a retailer and a distributor. The study also involves two types of systems, namely centralized and decentralized. A centralized system computes the profit of the entire supply chain, including the profit of a retailer and a distributor, using the traditional optimization technique. In contrast, a decentralized system computes the profit of both a retailer and a distributor independently and uses the Stackelberg sequence for profit optimization. According to the Stackelberg sequence, one entity is considered a leader and the other a follower. When the profit in both systems is compared, it is found to be higher in the centralized system. So, to coordinate the system, a revenue-sharing contract is applied to coordinate the supply chain under a stock–time–price-sensitive demand rate. Finally, a carbon emission cost is implemented to the profits of both systems to make the model more sustainable. The main objective of the research is to optimize the profit of the supply chain by considering the concept of revenue-sharing contracts and making the system more sustainable through the implementation of carbon emission cost. The overall study concludes that the revenue-sharing fraction helps in coordinating the system and 0.4 is the value of the revenue-sharing fraction that perfectly coordinates the system. Due to this coordination, both the parties will gain profit, i.e., retailer and distributor, and this whole phenomenon increases the profit of the supply chain. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to check the stability of the model, and the model is found to be quite stable. A numerical example is illustrated, providing the result of the model.
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Open AccessArticle
DSADNet: A Dual-Source Attention Dynamic Neural Network for Precipitation Nowcasting
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Jinliang Yao, Junwei Ji, Rongbo Wang, Xiaoxi Huang, Zhiming Kang and Xiaoran Zhuang
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3696; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093696 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
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Accurate precipitation nowcasting is of great significance for flood prevention, agricultural production, and public safety. In recent years, spatiotemporal sequence models based on deep learning have been widely used for precipitation nowcasting and have achieved better prediction results than traditional methods. These models
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Accurate precipitation nowcasting is of great significance for flood prevention, agricultural production, and public safety. In recent years, spatiotemporal sequence models based on deep learning have been widely used for precipitation nowcasting and have achieved better prediction results than traditional methods. These models commonly use radar echo extrapolation and utilize the Z-R relationship between radar and rainfall to predict rainfall. However, radar echo data can be affected by various noises, and the Z-R correlation linking radar and rainfall encompasses several variables influenced by factors like terrain, climate, and seasonal variations. To solve this problem, we propose a dual-source attention dynamic neural network (DSADNet) for precipitation nowcasting, which is a network model that utilizes a fusion module to extract valid information from radar maps and rainfall maps, together with dynamic convolution and the attention mechanism, to directly predict future rainfall through encoding and decoding structure. We conducted experiments on a real dataset in Jiangsu, China, and the experimental results show that our model had better performance than the other examined models.
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Open AccessArticle
Comparative Evaluation of Gypsum-Based Plasters with Pistachio Shells for Eco-Sustainable Building
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Federica Fernandez, Maria Grazia Insinga, Roberta Basile, Federica Zagarella, Roberta Montagno and Maria Luisa Germanà
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3695; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093695 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Agri-food waste represents a serious problem that can be overcome by converting it into added-value material for the production of plasters for green building; in fact, it can be used as a reinforcement additive in the building material industry. In this study, the
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Agri-food waste represents a serious problem that can be overcome by converting it into added-value material for the production of plasters for green building; in fact, it can be used as a reinforcement additive in the building material industry. In this study, the performance of gypsum-based plasters with pistachio shell additives was evaluated. Before being used as additives for gypsum-based plasters, pistachio shells were ground at three different grain sizes in order to verify how grain size influences the performance of the material. Tests were then carried out on all the produced mortars to evaluate their chemical and physical characteristics, and interesting results regarding the mechanical resistance of some of the produced materials were obtained. The results showed that the addition of pistachio shells improved mechanical performance in all cases and that the best mechanical performance and water absorption by capillarity were achieved with the 0.5–2 mm pistachio grain size, while the best thermal conductivity was achieved with the 2–4 mm grain size. Summarizing, the best results were obtained with a pistachio shell granulometry of 0.5–2 mm, sand, and a water/gypsum ratio of 0.86–0.74.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Integration of Building Information Modeling and Stormwater Runoff Modeling: Enhancing Design Tools for Nature-Based Solutions in Sustainable Landscapes
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Peter Petschek, Aye P. P. Aung, Asan Suwanarit and Kim N. Irvine
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3694; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093694 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Building information modeling (BIM) has been used by the architectural and engineering disciplines to streamline the building design, construction, and management process, but there has been much more limited experience in extending the application to landscape design and implementation. This study integrated BIM
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Building information modeling (BIM) has been used by the architectural and engineering disciplines to streamline the building design, construction, and management process, but there has been much more limited experience in extending the application to landscape design and implementation. This study integrated BIM software (Autodesk InfraWorks 2024.1) with a dynamic, process-oriented, conceptual hydrologic/hydraulic model (PCSWMM 2023, version 7.6.3665) to enhance the analytical tools for sustainable landscape design. We illustrate the model integration through a case study that links an existing nature-based solution (NbS) development, the PTT Metro Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand, with theoretical new-build NbS for an adjacent property. A BIM school building was virtually situated on an empty lot beside the Metro Forest Park and seven NbS scenarios were run with design storms having 2-year, 5-year, and 100-year return intervals. The combination of a rain garden, permeable pavement, a retention pond, and a green roof was effective in sustainably managing runoff from the theoretical new-build site discharging to the Metro Forest. NbS design characteristics such as rain garden substrate depth and green roof area were optimized using the hydrologic/hydraulic model. Model results showed that even with the 100-year rainfall event, the existing Metro Forest pond storage capacity was sufficient so that flooding on the property would not occur. The consideration of connectivity between NbS features is facilitated by the modeling approach, which is important for NbS planning and assessment at a regional scale.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Sustainability and Resiliency through Nature-Based Solutions)
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Open AccessArticle
Back in the Driver’s Seat: How New EU Greenhouse-Gas Reporting Schemes Challenge Corporate Accounting
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Julian Baehr, Florian Zenglein, Guido Sonnemann, Markus Lederer and Liselotte Schebek
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3693; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093693 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
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Greenhouse-gas (GHG) reporting schemes for companies are increasingly part of climate-mitigation policies worldwide. Notably, the European Green Deal (2019) boosts new public regulations that oblige companies to compile GHG emission inventories, i.e., account for their emissions in a given system boundary. Along with
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Greenhouse-gas (GHG) reporting schemes for companies are increasingly part of climate-mitigation policies worldwide. Notably, the European Green Deal (2019) boosts new public regulations that oblige companies to compile GHG emission inventories, i.e., account for their emissions in a given system boundary. Along with this boost, the workload for companies increases; at the same time, the quality of reporting is questioned. Given the overarching goal to improve companies’ climate-mitigation performance, the quality of reporting is inseparably connected to the quality of the respective accounting. However, the literature discusses carbon accounting as a universal umbrella term focusing on managerial issues, thus disregarding the crucial role of accounting methodologies in the sense of calculation approaches. In this publication, we apply an analytical approach introducing a clear differentiation between the task of quantitatively accounting for GHG inventories and the task of reporting results from calculated inventories in response to stakeholder or policy expectations. We use this approach to investigate European GHG reporting schemes and related GHG accounting methodologies in detail. Our findings indicate that the current phase of the European Green Deal depicts a quantitative growth in reporting schemes and a significant qualitative change by shifting from formerly voluntary to mandatory reporting schemes, along with the application of accounting methodologies originally not intended for politically compulsory purposes. We analyze the consequences of this shift, which poses new challenges for companies and policymakers, i.e., data-management concepts and refined methodological frameworks.
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Open AccessArticle
Life Cycle CO2 Emissions Analysis of a High-Tech Greenhouse Horticulture Utilizing Wood Chips for Heating in Japan
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Jun Taguchi, Hiroki Hondo and Yue Moriizumi
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3692; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093692 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
High-tech greenhouse horticulture offers efficient crop cultivation that is unaffected by outdoor climate. However, compared to conventional cultivation systems, energy requirements, such as greenhouse heating and control, are larger, and concerns about the associated increase in CO2 emissions exist. Although several previous
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High-tech greenhouse horticulture offers efficient crop cultivation that is unaffected by outdoor climate. However, compared to conventional cultivation systems, energy requirements, such as greenhouse heating and control, are larger, and concerns about the associated increase in CO2 emissions exist. Although several previous studies have analyzed CO2 emissions from high-tech greenhouse horticulture, few have covered the entire life cycle. This study aimed to analyze CO2 emissions from high-tech greenhouse horticulture for tomatoes in Japan across the entire life cycle. A hybrid method combining process and input–output analyses was used to estimate life cycle CO2 (LC-CO2) emissions. The emission reduction potential of replacing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for greenhouse heating with wood chips was also examined. The results show that LC-CO2 emissions were estimated to be 3.67 kg-CO2 per 1 kg of tomato, 55.6% of which came from the production and combustion of LPG for greenhouse heating. The substitution of LPG with wood chips has the potential to reduce LC-CO2 emissions by up to 49.1%. However, the improved LC-CO2 emissions are still higher than those of conventional cultivation systems; thus, implementing additional measures to reduce LC-CO2 emissions is crucial.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Controlled Environment Agriculture for Sustainable Farming)
Open AccessArticle
Investigating the Impact of Combined Daylight and Electric Light on Human Perception of Indoor Spaces
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Niloofar Nikookar, Azadeh Omidfar Sawyer, Mayank Goel and Siobhan Rockcastle
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3691; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093691 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
People spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and, as such, improving indoor lighting quality can enhance their quality of life by positively influencing both physiological and psychological aspects. Numerous studies suggest that perceptions of a space vary depending on a number
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People spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and, as such, improving indoor lighting quality can enhance their quality of life by positively influencing both physiological and psychological aspects. Numerous studies suggest that perceptions of a space vary depending on a number of lighting attributes present. Significant effort has been made across various fields to identify the spatial lighting conditions and attributes that impact human perception, although we lack studies that explore the impact of these conditions in tandem. This paper investigates how interior lighting conditions influence human impressions of room ambiance. The study examines 16 different interior scenes, considering factors such as sky condition (sunny vs. overcast), shading blinds position (open vs. closed), presence or absence of electric light (on vs. off), and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) (2700 K, 4000 K, and 6500 K). The evaluation is conducted within an office environment at Carnegie Mellon University, using a combination of objective lighting metrics and subjective assessments. In total, 26 participants, consisting of 11 females, 14 males, and one undisclosed, aged between 18 and 50, evaluated the office ambiance under various lighting conditions using semantic differential scales. The analysis showed that the variation of blinds and CCT levels significantly influenced the participants’ impression of light. The study also identified statistically significant interactions between “blinds and CCT” and “blinds and sky” conditions, highlighting the combined influence of these variables on shaping indoor light impressions. This research offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of different lighting factors in shaping human perceptions, and underscores the importance of optimizing indoor lighting conditions for creating healthy and sustainable indoor environments.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Digital Strategies and Methods to Support Sustainability in the Built Environment)
Open AccessArticle
Goodbye Plastic Bags? Lessons from the Shopping Plastic Bag Ban in Chile
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Maximiliano Frey and Luis A. Cifuentes
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3690; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093690 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Bans on single-use plastic shopping bags (SUPBs) are a popular policy to tackle plastic pollution. However, their success has been evaluated solely based on reduced SUPBs consumption, ignoring the impacts of substitutes. This article addresses this gap by analyzing the Chilean plastic bag
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Bans on single-use plastic shopping bags (SUPBs) are a popular policy to tackle plastic pollution. However, their success has been evaluated solely based on reduced SUPBs consumption, ignoring the impacts of substitutes. This article addresses this gap by analyzing the Chilean plastic bag ban law. Results show a reduction of ~249 kilotons of SUPBs consumed and a change in the materiality of shopping bags (mainly toward paper), but also an increase of more than 50% of bin liners after the enactment of the ban. Despite some undesired effects, an improvement in the environmental performance of the bag market is obtained in fifteen of the eighteen categories studied. The environmental impacts are on average 38% lower than in the counterfactual scenario. This suggests that the law is being effective in protecting the environment. The strictness of the ban and its rapid enforcement were positive aspects of its design, but ignoring the end-of-life of the bags could be limiting its impact. To reduce the environmental impact of substitutes, it is recommended to create design guidelines for shopping bags and bin liners.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies towards Zero Waste: Sustainable Waste Management and Recycling)
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Unveiling the Significance: Sustainability and Environmental Disclosure in Saudi Arabia through Stakeholders’ Theory
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Laila Mohamed Alshawadfy Aladwey and Raghad Abdulkarim Alsudays
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093689 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Our study investigates sustainability and environmental disclosure in Saudi Arabian accounting, focusing on stakeholder accountability. Employing content analysis and close reading, we examine disclosures in the annual reports of 18 companies from 2008 to 2018. Findings reveal limited disclosures, influenced by interpretations of
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Our study investigates sustainability and environmental disclosure in Saudi Arabian accounting, focusing on stakeholder accountability. Employing content analysis and close reading, we examine disclosures in the annual reports of 18 companies from 2008 to 2018. Findings reveal limited disclosures, influenced by interpretations of Islam and government emphasis. Despite sector-specific attention to environmental issues, disclosures lack depth. The study offers insights into managerial motivations, highlighting divergent stakeholder priorities and moral obligations. Policy implications suggest mandatory regulations could enhance accountability and encourage comprehensive disclosures. The research underscores the significance of contextual understanding in shaping accounting practices, particularly in regions like Saudi Arabia. Regulatory changes could improve corporate reporting on environmental and sustainability matters, addressing societal needs more effectively.
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Open AccessArticle
Investigating the Impact of Green Space Ratio and Layout on Bioaerosol Concentrations in Urban High-Density Areas: A Simulation Study in Beijing, China
by
Wenchen Jian, Hao He, Boya Wang and Zhicheng Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093688 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
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The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global development. Through bioaerosols emitted by human respiration, respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are transmitted. The bioaerosol concentrations can be affected by the urban climate and morphology. However, the effects of urban green spaces on bioaerosol concentrations remain
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The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global development. Through bioaerosols emitted by human respiration, respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are transmitted. The bioaerosol concentrations can be affected by the urban climate and morphology. However, the effects of urban green spaces on bioaerosol concentrations remain unclear. Focusing on the dormitory area of Beijing Forestry University, this study first investigated the influence of different green space ratios on the average bioaerosol concentrations using the ENVI-met software. Moreover, both overall and local green space layouts were analyzed for their impact on bioaerosol concentrations. The results indicated that ventilation conditions were the primary factor influencing bioaerosol concentrations. During peak congestion, a 10% increase in the green space ratio resulted in a 2% rise in the average bioaerosol concentration. Furthermore, a distributed layout resulted in a 1.3% higher average bioaerosol concentration than a concentrated layout with an equivalent green space ratio. Enacting strategies such as Roadside Green Spaces Retreat, Road Spaces Expansion, and Intersection Green Spaces Chamfering led to reductions in local bioaerosol concentrations by up to 17.7%, 18.44%, and 12.69%, respectively. This study highlights the importance of adjusting green space layouts in urban high-density areas after the pandemic, reducing the risk of population exposure to bioaerosol concentrations.
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Open AccessArticle
Advancing the Decarbonization of the Construction Sector: Lifecycle Quality and Performance Assurance of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings
by
Emanuele Piaia, Beatrice Turillazzi, Roberto Di Giulio and Rizal Sebastian
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3687; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093687 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Dealing with and maintaining high-quality standards in the design and construction phases is challenging, especially for on-site construction. Issues like improper implementation of building components and poor communication can widen the gap between design specifications and actual conditions. To prevent this, particularly for
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Dealing with and maintaining high-quality standards in the design and construction phases is challenging, especially for on-site construction. Issues like improper implementation of building components and poor communication can widen the gap between design specifications and actual conditions. To prevent this, particularly for energy-efficient buildings, it is vital to develop resilient, sustainable strategies. These should optimize resource use, minimize environmental impact, and enhance livability, contributing to carbon neutrality by 2050 and climate change mitigation. Traditional post-occupancy evaluations, which identify defects after construction, are impractical for addressing energy performance gaps. A new, real-time inspection approach is necessary throughout the construction process. This paper suggests an innovative guideline for prefabricated buildings, emphasizing digital ‘self-instruction’ and ‘self-inspection’. These procedures ensure activities impacting quality adhere to specific instructions, drawings, and 3D models, incorporating the relevant acceptance criteria to verify completion. This methodology, promoting alignment with planned energy-efficient features, is supported by BIM-based software and Augmented Reality (AR) tools, embodying Industry 4.0 principles. BIM (Building Information Modeling) and AR bridge the gap between virtual design and actual construction, improving stakeholder communication and enabling real-time monitoring and adjustments. This integration fosters accuracy and efficiency, which are key for energy-efficient and nearly zero-energy buildings, marking a shift towards a more precise, collaborative, and environmentally sensible construction industry.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Evaluation of Climate Responsive Design Solutions for Buildings and Cities: 2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Study on Transportation Green Efficiency and Spatial Correlation in the Yangtze River Economic Belt
by
Yangzhou Li, Cheng Li and Dongni Feng
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3686; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093686 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
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The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), a crucial transportation corridor spanning China’s east and west and linking coastal and inland regions, is not only pivotal in the nation’s strategic development but also drives regional economic and social progress through its transportation industry. Despite
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The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), a crucial transportation corridor spanning China’s east and west and linking coastal and inland regions, is not only pivotal in the nation’s strategic development but also drives regional economic and social progress through its transportation industry. Despite rapid growth, the industry faces challenges such as low efficiency, resource supply–demand imbalances, and environmental issues. To advance green and sustainable progress, this study establishes a regional transportation green efficiency evaluation system. Using principal component analysis (PCA) to refine input data, the undesirable super-SBM model quantitatively assesses green transportation efficiency (GTE) in YREB provinces and cities, revealing regional disparities. The study also explores spatial correlations and distribution characteristics of GTE. Results indicate that ① YREB’s GTE shows a U-shaped trend, with significant differences between upper, middle, and lower reaches, being stronger in the east and weaker in the west (lower > middle > upper reaches); ② GTE exhibits spatial correlation in YREB regions, with clear clustering; and ③ cold and hot spots of GTE in the middle reaches are relatively stable, with upstream areas generally cold or sub-cold, and hot spots mainly downstream.
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