Search Results (520)

Today, ‘social sustainability’ is a key feature of many organisations’ environmental, social, and governance strategies, as well as underpinning sustainable development goals. The term refers to the implementation of targets such as reduced societal inequalities, the promotion of social well-being, and the practice of positive community relations. Building a meaningful, accountable, and quantifiable evidence-base from which to translate these high-level concepts into tangible and achievable goals is, however, challenging. The complexities of measuring social capital—often described as a building block of social sustainability—have been documented. The challenge lies in measuring the person, group, or collective in interaction with the context under investigation, whether that be a climate goal, an institution, or a national policy. Social identity theory is a social psychological approach that articulates the processes through which an individual internalises the values, norms, and behaviours of their contexts. Levels of social identification—a concept capturing the state of internalisation—have been shown to be predictive of outcomes as diverse as communication and cognition, trust and citizenship, leadership and compliance, and health and well-being. Applying this perspective to the articulation and measurement of social sustainability provides an opportunity to build an empirical approach with which to reliably translate this high-level concept into achievable outcomes. Full article

Social trust has been linked to the development and severity of depression, but trust is a complex, multidimensional construct. This study examines the extent to which two distinct forms of trust, general trust and specific trust, predict depressive symptoms. Drawing on longitudinal data from the Directorate of Health’s national surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, the analysis includes responses from 3211 Icelanders selected through a stratified random sample. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), while specific trust captured trust in close relationships, and general trust measured broader perceptions of trustworthiness in others. The two forms of trust together explained 7.6% of the variance in depressive symptoms, with specific trust contributing a substantially greater share. Both remained significant predictors after controlling for prior depression and physical health. These findings highlight the protective role of specific trust and suggest that general trust, an indicator of broader social capital, may also help buffer against depression. The results underscore the relevance of trust as a public health resource and support continued research into social determinants of mental health in Iceland. Full article

The transition to sustainable agriculture is a critical challenge for the U.S. food system. A sustainable food system must support the production of healthy and nutritious food while ensuring economic sustainability for farmers and ranchers. It should also reduce negative environmental impacts on soil, water, biodiversity, and climate, and promote equitable and inclusive access to land, farming resources, and food. This narrative review synthesizes U.S. social science literature to identify the key factors that support or impede the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the U.S. Our analysis reveals seven overarching factors that influence producer decision-making: awareness and knowledge, social factors, psychological factors, technologies and tools, economic factors, implementation capacity, and policies and regulations. The review highlights the critical role of social science in navigating complexity and uncertainty. Key priorities emerging from the literature include developing measurable, outcome-based programs; ensuring credible communication through trusted intermediaries; and designing tailored interventions. The findings demonstrate that initiatives will succeed when they emphasize measurable benefits, address uncertainties, and develop programs that capitalize on identified opportunities while overcoming existing barriers. Full article

China’s rapid urbanization has driven tremendous socioeconomic development while posing new forms of social–spatial inequalities that challenge environmental sustainability and spatial justice. This study investigates urban park-accessibility patterns across 10 s-tier provincial capital cities in China, examining how these patterns relate to housing-price dynamics to reveal diverse manifestations of social–spatial (in)justice. Using comprehensive spatial analysis grounded in distributive justice principles, we measure park accessibility through multiple metrics: distance to the nearest park, park size, and the number of parks within a 15 min walk from residential communities. Our findings reveal significant variation in park accessibility across these cities, with distinctive patterns emerging in the relationship between housing prices and park access that reflect different forms of social–spatial exclusion and inclusion. While most cities demonstrate an unbalanced spatial distribution of parks, they exhibit different forms of this disparity. Some cities show consistent park access across housing-price categories, while others display correlations between high housing prices and superior park accessibility. We argue that these divergent patterns reflect each city’s unique combination of economic development trajectory, politically strategic positioning within national urban hierarchies, and geographical constraints. Through this comparative analysis of second-tier cities, this study contributes to broader understandings of social–spatial (in)justice and urban environmental inequalities within China’s urbanization process, highlighting the need for place-specific approaches to achieving equitable access to urban amenities. Full article

This study investigates the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure on value creation in a balanced panel of 100 non-financial Sharia-compliant firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange over the period 2014–2023. The analysis employs a combination of econometric techniques, including fixed effects models with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors, Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS) with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and industry and year dummies, and two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation to address potential endogeneity and omitted variable bias. Value creation is measured using Tobin’s Q (TBQ), Return on Assets (ROA), and Return on Equity (ROE). The models also control for firm-specific variables such as firm size, leverage, asset tangibility, firm age, growth opportunities, and market capitalization. The findings reveal that ESG disclosure has a positive and statistically significant effect on firm value across all three performance measures. Furthermore, firm size significantly moderates this relationship, with larger Sharia-compliant firms experiencing greater value gains from ESG practices. These results align with agency, stakeholder, and signaling theories, emphasizing the role of ESG in enhancing transparency, reducing information asymmetry, and strengthening stakeholder trust. The study provides empirical evidence relevant to policymakers, investors, and firms striving to achieve Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals. Full article

As global climate change intensifies and the transition to clean energy accelerates, lithium-ion batteries—critical components of electric vehicles—are becoming increasingly vital in international trade networks. This study investigates the structural evolution and determinants of the electric vehicle lithium-ion battery trade network among European Union (EU) member states from 2012 to 2023, employing social network analysis and the multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure method. The findings demonstrate the transformation of the network from a centralized and loosely connected structure, with Germany as the dominant hub, to a more interconnected and decentralized system in which Poland and Hungary emerge as the leading players. Key network metrics, such as the density, clustering coefficients, and average path lengths, reveal increased regional trade connectivity and enhanced supply chain efficiency. The analysis identifies geographic and economic proximity, logistics performance, labor cost differentials, energy resource availability, and venture capital investment as significant drivers of trade flows, highlighting the interaction among spatial, economic, and infrastructural factors in shaping the network. Based on these findings, this study underscores the need for targeted policy measures to support Central and Eastern European countries, including investment in logistics infrastructure, technological innovation, and regional cooperation initiatives, to strengthen their integration into the supply chain and bolster their export capacity. Furthermore, fostering balanced inter-regional collaborations is essential in building a resilient trade network. Continued investment in transportation infrastructure and innovation is recommended to sustain the EU’s competitive advantage in the global electric vehicle lithium-ion battery supply chain. Full article

Background: The increasing complexity of patient care demands coordinated and integrated approaches involving multiple health and social care professionals. Social capital among professionals plays a critical role in facilitating effective collaboration and continuity of care for complex patients. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to develop and test an instrument based on the position generator method to measure perceived, potential, and activated social capital for patients within professional networks involved in complex patient care in Croatia. Methods: The instrument enabled differentiation between the existence of professional connections and their actual mobilization for patient benefit. This multidimensional approach, including activation levels for patient needs, marks a key improvement over earlier measures. Results: Results indicated that while professionals possess broad networks, the activation of these networks for patient care remains limited. Accumulated work experience is positively associated with greater activation of social capital, whereas formal changes in the work environment showed no significant impact. Conclusions: Despite sample limitations restricting generalizability, the instrument demonstrated sensitivity and applicability for mapping professional networks in healthcare settings. This study lays the groundwork for further research with larger samples to validate the instrument and support the development of coordinated care systems leveraging social capital for improved outcomes in complex patient care. Full article

Against the backdrop of global climate change, enhancing farmers’ adaptive capacity to reduce crop production risks has emerged as a critical concern for governments and researchers worldwide. Drawing on social capital theory, this study develops a four-dimensional measurement framework comprising social networks, social trust, social norms, and social participation, utilizing survey data from 1772 households in the Yellow River Basin. We employ factor analysis to construct comprehensive social capital scores and apply ordered Probit models to examine how social capital influences farmers’ climate adaptation behaviors, with particular attention to the moderating roles of agricultural extension interaction and digital literacy. Key findings include: (1) Adoption patterns: Climate adaptation behavior adoption remains low (60%), with technical adaptation measures showing particularly poor uptake (13%); (2) Direct effects: Social capital significantly promotes adaptation behaviors, with social trust (p < 0.01), networks (p < 0.01), and participation (p < 0.05) demonstrating positive effects, while social norms show no significant impact; (3) Heterogeneous effects: Impact mechanisms differ by crop type, with grain producers relying more heavily on social networks (+, p < 0.01) and cash crop producers depending more on social trust (+, p < 0.01); (4) Moderating mechanisms: Agricultural extension interaction exhibits scale-dependent effects, negatively moderating the relationship for large-scale farmers (p < 0.05) while showing no significant effects for smaller operations; digital literacy consistently demonstrates negative moderation, whereby higher literacy levels weaken social capital’s promotional effects (p < 0.01). Policy recommendations: Effective climate adaptation strategies should integrate strengthened rural social organization development, differentiated agricultural extension systems tailored to farm characteristics, and enhanced rural digital infrastructure investment. Full article

As participants in sustainable development, corporations face the important and controversial issue of whether they can promote corporate sustainability through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. To address this issue, we examine the relationship between ESG performance and corporate sustainability, measured by green total factor productivity (GTFP). Using a panel dataset of 17,559 firm-year observations from non-financial firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China between 2011 and 2019, we employ fixed-effects regression models and two-stage least squares (2SLS) with instrumental variables to empirically test the impact of ESG ratings on GTFP, identify the underlying mechanisms, and examine potential heterogeneity across firms. The results show that higher ESG ratings are significantly associated with increased GTFP. Mediation analysis further reveals that this positive relationship operates through reduced financing constraints and enhanced green innovation. Notably, the mediating role of financing constraints is more pronounced for firms with greater reliance on external capital. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that ESG ratings exert stronger effects in eastern regions, pollution-intensive sectors, and state-owned enterprises. These findings provide empirical support for the role of ESG performance as an effective mechanism to advance corporate sustainability through ethics-driven financial access and innovation capability. Full article

Achieving organizational efficiency requires the selection of an appropriate operating model. To date, no objective indicators, methods of measuring, or criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of forest management organizations have been developed. In the heterogeneous forest management of the European Union (EU), multiple objectives and functions—from production to social and ecological services—coexist at regional and national levels. This study provides an overview of the organizational and legal forms of EU forestry, taking into account environmental conditions, ownership structures, and the role of the forestry sector in national economies. The legal information of EU countries on forest management was verified. We examine the impact of the entity’s organizational and legal form on the implementation of sustainable forest management and the objectives of the New EU Forest Strategy 2030, particularly in terms of absorbing external capital for forest protection and climate-related activities. Joint stock companies, public institutions, and enterprises are the most relevant. The private sector is dominated by individual farms, associations, chambers of commerce, and federations. A clear trend toward transforming state-owned enterprises into joint-stock companies and expanding their operational scope has been confirmed. Multifunctional forest management is practiced in both state and private forests. Economic efficiency, legal and property liability, and organizational goals depend on the chosen organizational and legal form. Full article

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Japan, and globally, face disparities in mental health and well-being, driven by stigma, exclusion, and minority stress. While social capital is known to enhance well-being, no previous research has examined the distinct roles of gay versus heterosexual social capital in relation to subjective happiness. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1564 MSM in Greater Tokyo, using geosocial networking applications. Social capital was measured using an adapted Resource Generator to assess access to resources from MSM and heterosexual network members. Subjective happiness was assessed using the Japanese version of the Subjective Happiness Scale. Multivariable linear regression identified correlates of happiness. Results: Gay social capital was the strongest predictor of subjective happiness, exceeding the effects of self-rated health, education, employment, and age. High levels of heterosexual social capital were also associated with greater happiness but to a lesser extent. Unemployment, poor health, and attendance at gay cruising venues were negatively associated with happiness. Conclusions: These findings provide the first global evidence of the differential associations between gay and heterosexual social capital on subjective happiness. Community-based interventions that affirm identity and build peer connection may substantially improve well-being among MSM in Japan. Full article

Background: Cooking skills represent an important yet often overlooked form of social and cultural capital, influencing dietary quality and health outcomes. As modern societies face growing challenges related to unhealthy eating patterns and a loss of traditional food practices, understanding the societal role of culinary competence becomes critical. This study explored the association between culinary skills, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and nutritional intake. Methods: Baseline data from 111 adults (60 women; mean age 47.6 ± 10.5 years) participating in the iMC SALT randomized controlled trial (Portugal) were analyzed. Culinary skills were assessed using the Cooking Skills Score, while the dietary intake was evaluated with a Food Frequency Questionnaire and adherence to the Mediterranean diet through the alternative Mediterranean Diet (aMED) Score. Food and beverage processing levels were categorized using the NOVA classification, and the sodium/potassium intake was measured via 24 h urinary excretion. Results: Women demonstrated better culinary skills (5.1 ± 0.9 vs. 4.0 ± 1.1, p < 0.001) and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (5.1 ± 1.9 vs. 3.8 ± 1.8, p = 0.001) than men. Better culinary skills were associated with younger age, larger households, and increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Culinary skills significantly explained 27.2% of the variance in the Mediterranean diet adherence. Better culinary skills were linked to a greater energy and protein intake; but a lower sodium and potassium intake. Conclusion: These findings highlight culinary skills as a key societal factor shaping dietary behavior and nutritional intake. Promoting culinary education may offer a powerful strategy to address dietary inequalities, support cultural food heritage, and foster healthier, more resilient societies. Full article

To promote global sustainable development, this paper focuses on the identification of relative poverty. On the one hand, based on the sustainable livelihoods framework, a multi-dimensional relative poverty identification index system is constructed, covering six dimensions—human capital, financial capital, natural capital, physical capital, social capital, and livelihood environment—with a total of 18 indexes. On the other hand, addressing the limitations of traditional relative poverty identification methods in handling dynamic three-dimensional data, the multiway Mahalanobis–Taguchi system (MMTS) is proposed to identify dynamic relative poverty. This method first unfolds dynamic three-dimensional data into two-dimensional data along the sample direction through multiway statistical analysis techniques, then constructs multiway Mahalanobis distances to measure sample differences, and finally uses a Taguchi orthogonal experimental design for dimensionality reduction and noise reduction to optimize the model. Experiments using tracking survey data from 2020 to 2024 in three poverty-stricken counties in China’s Dabie Mountain area show that MMTS performs better than the Two-Way Fixed Effects (Two-way FE) model and Dynamic LSTM. MMTS shows a higher specificity, stronger noise resistance, smaller result fluctuations, better G-means performance, and a better balance between sensitivity and specificity. This proves its scientific validity and practical applicability. Full article

Analyzing the population’s access to ecosystem services offered by urban greening constitutes a measure of environmental justice, as it directly affects the quality of life and health of the population living in cities. This article is committed to proposing a geoenvironmental model in a geographic information system (GIS), envisaged to estimate the share of urban forests and green spaces in territorial planning units (TPUs), corresponding to neighborhoods of a pilot city, using high-spatial-resolution images of the China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS-4A) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). These data were combined by means of a Boolean analysis with social vulnerability indicators assessed from census data related to income, education, housing, and sanitation. This model ultimately aims to identify priority areas for urban afforestation in the context of environmental justice and is thus targeted to improve the inhabitants’ quality of life. The municipality of Goiânia, the capital of Goiás state, located in the Brazilian Central–West Region, was chosen as the study area for this experiment. Goiânia presents 19.5% of its urban territory (82.36 km²) covered by vegetation. The analyses indicate an inequity in the distribution of urban forest patches and green areas in this town, where 7.8% of the total TPUs have low priority, 28.2% have moderate to low priority, 42.2% have moderate to high priority, and 21.8% have high priority for urban afforestation. This urban greening imbalance is particularly observed in its most urbanized central nuclei, associated with a peripheralization of social vulnerability. These findings are meant to support initiatives towards sound territorial planning processes designed to promote more sustainable and equal development to ensure environmental justice and combat climate change. Full article

This study investigates how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores and the Corporate Governance Index (CGI) jointly influence firm value in Türkiye. To address the contextual limitations of global ESG metrics, this study incorporates the CGI, a country-specific governance measure developed by Capital Markets Board of Türkiye, as a complementary indicator. Using panel data from 44 non-financial firms listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange between 2019 and 2023, the study applies a random effects regression model with robust standard errors. The findings indicate that both ESG and CGI scores are positively and significantly associated with firm value, along with profitability (ROA), while financial leverage and liquidity (CR) show negative effects. The results underscore the strategic value of aligning sustainability performance with governance quality, particularly in emerging market contexts. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence for an integrated ESG–CGI framework and offers practical insights for corporate managers, investors, and policymakers. Full article