Search Results (228)

Urban transport is a key driver of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, making its decarbonization essential to achieving EU climate neutrality targets. This study examines how European strategies, such as the Green Deal, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, and the Fit for 55 package, are reflected in Romania’s transport policies, with a focus on implementation challenges and urban outcomes in Bucharest. By combining policy analysis, stakeholder mapping, and comparative mobility indicators, the paper critically assesses Bucharest’s current reliance on private vehicles, underperforming public transport satisfaction, and limited progress on active mobility. The study develops a context-sensitive reform framework for the Romanian capital, grounded in transferable lessons from Western and Central European cities. It emphasizes coordinated metropolitan governance, public trust-building, phased car-restraint measures, and investment alignment as key levers. Rather than merely cataloguing policy intentions, the paper offers practical recommendations informed by systemic governance barriers and public attitudes. The findings will contribute to academic debates on urban mobility transitions in post-socialist cities and provide actionable insights for policymakers seeking to operationalize EU decarbonization goals at the metropolitan scale. Full article

This article examines the role of managed ecosystems, and particularly forests, in achieving carbon neutrality in Russia. The range of estimates of Russia’s forests’ net carbon balance in different studies varies by up to 7 times. The. A comparison of Russia’s National GHG inventory data for 2023 and 2024 (with the latter showing 37% higher forest sequestration) is presented and explained. The possible changes in the Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy of Russia (LT LEDS) carbon neutrality scenario due to new land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) data in National GHG Inventory Document (NID) 2024 are discussed. It is demonstrated that the refined net carbon balance should not impact the mitigation ambition in the Russian forestry sector. An assessment of changes in the drafts of the Operational plan of the LT LEDS is presented and it is concluded that its structure and content have significantly improved; however, a delay in operationalization nullifies efforts. The article highlights the problem of GHG emissions increases in forest fires and compares the gap between official “ground-based” and Remote Sensing approaches in calculations of such emissions. Considering the intention to increase net absorption by implementing forest carbon projects, the latest changes in the regulations of such projects are discussed. The limitations of reforestation carbon projects in Russia are provided. Proposals are presented for the development of the national forest policy towards increasing the net forest carbon absorption, including considering the projected decrease in annual net absorption by Russian forests by 2050. The role of government and private investment in improving the forest management of structural measures to adapt forestry to modern climate change and the place of forest climate projects need to be clearly defined in the LT LEDS. Full article

The development of stock markets is pivotal for economic growth, particularly through the mobilization of idle resources into productive investments. Despite recent reforms to enhance Uzbekistan’s capital market, public engagement remains limited. This study examines the behavioral determinants of stock market investment intention and participation among university students, employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The model investigates the influence of digital literacy, financial literacy, social interaction, herding behavior, overconfidence bias, risk tolerance, and financial well-being on investment intention and behavior. A survey of 369 university students was conducted to assess the proposed relationships. The results reveal that risk tolerance, overconfidence bias, and herding behavior significantly and positively affect investment intention, while digital literacy demonstrates a notable negative effect, suggesting caution in assuming technology readiness automatically translates to investment readiness. Investment intention, in turn, strongly predicts actual participation and mediates several of these effects. Conversely, financial literacy, financial well-being, and social interaction showed no significant direct or mediating influence. Additionally, differences according to gender and academic background were observed in how intention translates into behavior. The findings underscore the need for integrated financial and behavioral education to enhance market participation and contribute to policy discourse on youth financial engagement in emerging economies. Full article

In the current context, where environmental concerns are gaining increased attention, the transition toward sustainable urban mobility stands out as a necessary and responsible step. Technological advancements over the past decade have brought private autonomous vehicles, particularly those defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers Levels 4 and 5, into focus as promising solutions for mitigating road congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the extent to which Autonomous Vehicles can fulfill this potential depends largely on user acceptance, patterns of use, and their integration within broader green energy and sustainability policies. The present paper aims to develop an integrated conceptual model that links behavioral determinants to environmental outcomes, assessing how individuals’ intention to adopt private autonomous vehicles can contribute to sustainable urban mobility. The model integrates five psychosocial determinants—perceived usefulness, trust in technology, social influence, environmental concern, and perceived behavioral control—with contextual variables such as energy source, infrastructure availability, and public policy. These components interact to predict users’ intention to adopt AVs and their perceived contribution to urban sustainability. Methodologically, the study builds on a narrative synthesis of the literature and proposes a framework applicable to empirical validation through structural equation modeling (SEM). The model draws on established frameworks such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior, and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, incorporating constructs including perceived usefulness, trust in technology, social influence, environmental concern, and perceived behavioral control, constructs later to be examined in relation to key contextual variables, including the energy source powering Autonomous Vehicles—such as electricity from mixed or renewable grids, hydrogen, or hybrid systems—and the broader policy environment (regulatory frameworks, infrastructure investment, fiscal incentives, and alignment with climate and mobility strategies and others). The research provides relevant directions for public policy and behavioral interventions in support of the development of clean and smart urban transport in the age of automation. Full article

The contemporary food environment is experiencing substantial transformations, and sustainability and the pursuit of novel ingredients have become pivotal factors in consumer decision-making and business strategy formulation. The emergence of alternative proteins has significant implications for sustainability, climate change mitigation and animal welfare, and can potentially promote the achievement of different United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The spread of these novel foods requires significant attention, particularly concerning younger demographics, which are often considered to be more environmentally and ethically aware when making dietary choices. This study investigates the psychological and attitudinal factors that shape young consumers’ intention to consume plant-based, insect-based, and cultured meat alternative proteins, and verifies the existence of heterogeneous segments of consumers. To this purpose principal component analysis and k-means cluster analysis are employed using data from an online survey conducted in Italy, with a sample of 350 young consumers. The findings reveal that the intention to consume alternative protein sources is not particularly pronounced among the young consumers and differs according to the type of alternative protein. Three different profiles of young consumers were found: traditionalist (39% of the sample); enthusiastic (17%) and open-minded (44%). These segments differ significantly with respect to consumption intention, socio-demographic, lifestyle and psychological variables. The results provide useful insights for policymakers to design targeted interventions to encourage young consumers’ sustainable food choices. The findings could also be useful for marketers interested in investing in such innovations as they can benefit from an in-depth knowledge of this market segment. Full article

This study investigates the attributes influencing the adoption of fintech services for sustainable investment within the blue economy. Specifically, it integrates the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine how the perceived relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability of fintech services influence their perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, and it explores their impact on the intention to adopt fintech services. Finally, the study assesses how the intention to adopt fintech services affects sustainable investment decisions in the blue economy. Data were collected from 224 stakeholders in the blue economy sectors in India during the summer of 2024 and analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least squares (SEM-PLS). The results reveal which attributes significantly influence perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Additionally, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness significantly influence the intention to adopt fintech services. The intention to adopt fintech services positively impacts sustainable investment decisions in the blue economy. This study provides a comprehensive framework for advancing fintech services that support sustainable investment decisions, thereby contributing to the growth of the blue economy. Full article

This study explores the factors influencing Arab tourists’ intention to revisit Turkish destinations, contributing to the theoretical discourse on tourist behavior, destination loyalty, and sustainable tourism development. Over the past decade, Türkiye (Turkey) has experienced a steady increase in tourists, with Arab visitors forming a significant segment. This growing market segment presents unique opportunities and challenges that remain understudied in academic literature. Despite their prominence, limited research exists on Arab tourists’ behavior, needs, and experiences in Türkiye. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining surveys and interviews conducted between July and December 2024. Data from 713 surveys and 14 interviews were analyzed, revealing that 72% of Arab tourists were satisfied with their current visit, 49% with previous visits, 57% indicated a strong intention to revisit, and 81% recommended Turkish destinations to others. The study identifies seven key dimensions of revisit intention through Exploratory Factor Analysis that collectively explain 79.841% of the variance in revisit intention. The regression analysis demonstrates how different factors contribute to revisit decisions, with overall satisfaction (β = 0.622), loyalty (β = 0.521), financial status (β = 0.507), behavior of staff and locals (β = 0.484), cultural and social appeal (β = 0.478), overall experiences (β = 0.329), educational level (β = 0.333), accessibility and convenience (β = 0.288), service quality (β = 0.216), and length of stay (β = 0.128) emerging as significant predictors. These findings underscore the complexity of the decision-making process, suggesting that no single theory can fully explain tourists’ behavior and the sustainability of their visits. The study recommends further exploration of the proposed model and investments in tourism staff training, particularly in foreign languages, to enhance service quality and encourage repeat visits. Addressing issues such as unprofessional behavior and language barriers can improve overall satisfaction and loyalty, increasing the likelihood of Arab tourists revisiting Türkiye. This research highlights the importance of sustainable tourism practices in fostering long-term economic and social benefits for Turkish destinations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The workplace represents an ideal context for applying policies to foster a healthy lifestyle, guaranteeing advantages both to the individual and the company. Nevertheless, motivation to change one’s lifestyle remains an issue. This study aimed to determine subjects’ most valued intentions toward lifestyle changes and the target actions to improve lifestyles that they would be willing to invest in economically, information which might help design effective intervention programs. Methods: Classification trees were applied to 2762 employees/ex-employees (55.09 ± 13.80 years; 1107 females and 1655 males) of several Italian companies who voluntarily filled out an anonymous questionnaire on lifestyles (inquiring about, e.g., exercise, nutrition, smoking, and stress) to unveil specific subject typologies that are more likely associated with, e.g., manifesting a specific intention toward lifestyle changes and choosing the two most popular target actions resulting from the survey. Results: The main lifestyle aspect that respondents desired to improve was to become more physically active, and the most preferred tools chosen to improve their lifestyle were the possibility of having a medical specialist consultant to prescribe a tailored lifestyle program and buying a gym/swimming pool membership. Conclusions: This observational study might help tailor worksite health promotion and insurance services offered to employees, initiatives that may play an important role in fostering health/well-being and preventing chronic diseases in the more general population, especially in healthy or young subjects who are more prone to change their behavior if immediate benefits are seen instead of only advantages in the future. Full article

The adoption of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) such as Moodle in higher education is influenced by a complex interplay of technical, cognitive, and motivational factors. This study extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by integrating technical system quality (TSQ), educational system quality (ESQ), satisfaction (SAT), anxiety (ANX), and autonomous motivation (AUTO) to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Moodle adoption. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze 487 responses from university students with varying levels of Moodle experience. The findings confirm that perceived usefulness (PU), educational system quality (ESQ), and satisfaction (SAT) significantly influence behavioral intention (BI) to use Moodle, whereas Perceived ease of use (PE) was not a significant predictor. Mediation analysis revealed that SAT plays a dominant role in mediating the effects of system and cognitive factors on BI, while ANX exhibited selective and partial mediation effects. Additionally, autonomous motivation (AUTO) moderated the impact of SAT on BI, with results indicating that satisfaction is more critical for low-motivation users. Multi-group analysis further highlighted demographic and usage-based differences, with younger and novice users being more sensitive to technical and cognitive barriers. These findings present both theoretical contributions and inform educational and policy imperatives by extending the TAM in the context of affective and system-level determinants. Institutions should invest in efforts to improve content quality, reduce technology-related anxiety, and establish personalized onboarding and motivation-driven learning strategies. Full article

In the digital age, investing in e-gold is increasing in popularity. This study’s objective is to assess the moderating role of dispositional innovativeness between fintech adoption and the intention to invest in e-gold, as well as to understand investors’ behavioral intentions. This study uses the theory of planned behavior model to analyze the data. We prepared a structured questionnaire to collect data from Maharashtra, a state in India, and used PLS-SEM for analytical purposes. We also used focus group interviews to validate the findings from PLS-SEM. Our evidence shows that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly impact fintech adoption and the intention to invest in e-gold. This study also confirmed that dispositional innovativeness moderates the relationship between fintech adoption and the intention to invest in e-gold. This study implies that policymakers can redesign the regulation of digital assets to promote transparency, security, and faith in the fintech platform by recognizing the interest rate in e-gold. Full article

In an era of increasing global uncertainty, tourism destinations face significant challenges due to political instability and social unrest, which shape travelers’ perceptions and decision making. This study examines the relationship between perceived risk, resilience, and destination choice, focusing on the extent to which political and social conditions influence travel intentions. Using the social amplification of risk framework (SARF) and a quantitative survey, this research identifies key determinants of tourism resilience and risk perception management. Our findings indicate that political instability, safety concerns, and negative media coverage deter travelers, while effective crisis communication, strong governance, and high-quality public services can enhance a destination’s appeal. Based on these findings, the study recommends that destination marketers and tourism policymakers invest in targeted safety communication, service quality improvements, and strategies that address the specific concerns of more risk-sensitive demographics, such as women. The study offers strategic insights for destination marketers, tourism policymakers, and hospitality stakeholders on how to mitigate perceived risks and foster resilience in tourism-dependent economies. Future research could explore cross-cultural traveler behavior and incorporate perspectives from tourism professionals to further inform resilience strategies. By addressing these challenges, destinations can develop sustainable strategies to navigate crises and maintain competitiveness in an unpredictable global landscape. Full article

Mental models—internal, dynamic, incomplete representations of the external world that people use to guide cognitive processes such as reasoning, decision making, and language comprehension—have practical implications for predicting attitudes and behaviors across various domains. This study examines how mental models of the human–nature relationship predict pro-environmental behavioral intentions directly and indirectly as mediated through anthropocentric and biocentric environmental attitudes. To address these aims, participants were asked about mental model components of the human–nature relationship (human exceptionalism, beliefs about human impact on nature, and beliefs about nature’s impact on humans), pro-environmental attitudes (biocentric and anthropocentric), and their pro-environmental behavioral intentions (protection and investment). We found that protection intentions were (1) directly predicted by human exceptionalism beliefs (negatively) and perceived human impact on nature (positively) and (2) indirectly predicted by mental model components via biocentric attitudes. Investment intentions were directly predicted by nature’s perceived impact on humans, and were similarly indirectly predicted by mental model components via biocentric attitudes. The results suggest that mental models of the human–nature relationship provide a cognitive foundation for environmental behavioral intentions both directly and through their association with environmental attitudes. These findings have implications for pro-environmental interventions that deal with conceptual and attitudinal change. Full article

Currently, zero-emission targets require future global energy concepts to be based on renewable energy sources; therefore, huge investments are being made in bulky offshore wind parks worldwide. In this context, there is ongoing and enormous development and a need for HVDC submarine cables (both static and dynamic) to connect offshore wind farms. One of the basic problems when analyzing the operating conditions of HVDC cables is assessing the effects of the load current, which generates thermal and electric fields on the insulation systems in these cables. This article considers the problem of the influence of the thermal effect and space charges—the field effect—on the electrical conductivity of polymeric insulating materials and, thus, on the distribution of the electric field intensity in the cable insulation. An analytical methodology for joint analysis of the thermal-effect- and space-charge-related influence is presented. The critical value of the electric field intensity at which the electrical conductivity is significantly modified under coupled thermal–electric exposure is determined. Special focus is placed on the analysis of the coefficient representing the dependence of the electrical conductivity on the temperature in a much broader range than typically assumed. Hence, the intention of this paper is to highlight the limit values of the electric field strength under the simultaneous action of the space charge and temperature gradient. Recognizing the changes in the electric field intensity value in the insulation is of fundamental importance from the point of view of HVDC cable technology and construction. Full article

The study examines the nexus between AI-driven technology, i.e., robo-advisors, and the behavioural intention of investors towards sustainable investment decisions considering government regulations and sustainable investment awareness as the moderating variables. A total of 372 responses were collected from across India through a structured questionnaire along identified variables from the TAM and UTAUT theories under the select constructs, i.e., trust, perceived risk, user-friendliness, perceived usefulness, and emotional arousal. This is with reference to the use of robo-advisors to unearth the extent to which they influence the behavioural intention and finally the sustainable investment decisions taking into account government regulations and sustainable investment awareness as the moderating variables. The results derived by using PLS-SEM reveal that all the five factors are having a significant impact on the behavioural intention for sustainable investment decisions of the investors. Further, both sustainable investment awareness and government regulations have been found to have a moderating impact on shaping the behavioural intention of the investors with respect to most of the variables. The results of the study come up with significant suggestions for the government, financial institutions, and the investors as well as the academicians, and therefore, have policy implications, managerial implications, and theoretical implications. The constructs and moderating variables considered here can further be used for studying the behavioural intentions. The robo-advisory service providers may emphasize developing the algo ensuring trust, usability, and friendly interface in a manner that tends to minimize the perceived risk and emotional arousal leading to the use of robo-advisors pushing the intention of the investors towards sustainable investment. Full article

Infectious diarrhea caused by Shigella remains a significant global health concern, and several vaccine candidates are approaching phase III clinical studies in the target population of young children in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published preferred product characteristics (PPCs) for Shigella vaccines to provide strategic guidance that aids in advancing product development and highlights policy considerations for use in LMIC settings where the vaccine is most needed. However, the selection of appropriate clinical endpoints was not clearly defined within the PPCs and remains an important issue for phase III study design. Previously, an expert panel identified areas of alignment and consensus on many clinical study design components while also recognizing that further discussions and data were required to solidify recommendations on key study design aspects. Therefore, WHO convened a diverse range of stakeholders, including manufacturers, regulators, and policymakers across national, regional, and global levels, with the aim of achieving consensus and soliciting inputs from the regulatory community surrounding vaccine phase III study design considerations. The intent of this report is to outline the key points from those discussions to inform the phase III design strategies and investment decisions of product developers and donors and to share recommendations for next steps. Full article