Search Results (42,159)

Urban experiments are increasingly embraced for their potential to transform incumbent socio-technical systems by offering multifaceted, ‘high-quality’ learning. The early literature on sustainability transitions painted an optimistic picture of the impact of experiments, prescribing their role in managing transitions. More recently, scholars have elaborated on the different purposes and functions of experiments; however, they generally stress that, as of yet, there is scarce evidence for their effectiveness concerning transformation in practice. This paper develops a tool for more effective follow-ups after an experiment in practice, by anticipating contextual constraints on upscaling innovations. The tool has been developed through a design science research method by first doing action research on sustainable mobility innovations in four European cities and subsequently testing the prototype of the tool in five other places. Our findings suggest that this new tool improves conditions for wider implementation of the innovation being experimented with, and associated transformation. This is one key starting point for increasing the impact of experiments and accelerating urban sustainability transformation. Full article

The cement industry accounts for approximately 8–9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to clinker production. Replacing Portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is a promising strategy to reduce these environmental impacts. This study evaluates the mechanical performance and environmental profile of sugarcane ash (SCA) and energy cane ash (ECA) as SCMs in Portland cement mortars. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to integrate the mechanical performance and life cycle environmental assessment of energy cane ash as a supplementary cementitious material in Portland cement mortars. Mortars incorporating 5–20% ash were tested for compressive strength and accelerated carbonation. An attributional life cycle assessment (LCA), following ISO 14040/44 and using the ReCiPe 2016 method, was conducted with a cradle-to-gate approach. At 28 days under wet curing, 10% ECA replacement achieved slightly higher compressive strength than the reference mortar (102%), while 10% SCA replacement also achieved compressive strength similar to the reference mortar, although slightly lower than that of ECA. Both ashes significantly reduced carbonation depth, indicating improved durability. From a life cycle assessment perspective, replacing cement with 10–20% ECA reduced environmental impacts in nine of the ten impact categories evaluated, including climate change (up to 18.6%), fossil depletion, and metal depletion. SCA also improved most categories, although to a lesser extent. The superior performance of ECA is associated with its higher biomass yield and environmental credits from potassium recovery during ash washing. These results demonstrate that agro-industrial ashes, particularly energy cane ash, can enhance mortar performance while reducing environmental burdens, mitigating industrial waste accumulation, and supporting circular economy strategies and climate change mitigation, thereby offering a viable pathway toward more sustainable cement production. Full article

Sustainable agricultural development in natural heritage sites poses a challenge, requiring food security without compromising the conservation of ecosystems and their outstanding universal values (OUV). The Galapagos Islands, recognized as a Natural World Heritage, have problems of scarce water and arable land, compounded by anthropogenic pressures such as high population and tourism growth and dependence on food imports. The objective of this research is to evaluate the environmental impacts of implementing agricultural greenhouses in the Galapagos by applying a traditional environmental matrix alongside a UNESCO World Heritage approach, integrated with a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, to formulate strategies for strengthening local agriculture without compromising ecosystems. This study employed a semi-quantitative methodological approach, integrating three key aspects: (i) a baseline of agricultural information and water availability on the islands; (ii) an integrated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approach to greenhouse implementation; and (iii) sustainable agricultural development and environmental impact mitigation strategies. The results of the traditional EIA and the UNESCO approach through the OUV showed negative impacts classified as insignificant to moderately significant. For the evaluated design, these impacts can be managed through the active participation of academia, the community, and government entities. However, their scalability depends on a more in-depth analysis of the potential long-term risks associated with the availability of natural resources, microplastic pollution, and the use of agrochemicals. Among the proposed strategies, the importance of monitoring water and soil quality and of agricultural and environmental education campaigns in the community was highlighted. This study presents agricultural greenhouses as well-known alternatives for food self-sufficiency, adapted to the realities of the island territory and the objectives of ecosystem conservation. The proposed methodological approach can be applied in protected areas to promote conservation and sustainable agricultural production. Full article

The increasing demand for clean-label meat products has accelerated interest in natural bioactive compounds, including essential oils, plant polyphenols, and bacteriocins, as alternatives to synthetic preservatives. These compounds have the potential to enhance product safety and shelf life while meeting consumer expectations. Many natural bioactives exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, enabling them to reduce lipid oxidation and inhibit the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in meat systems. Despite these benefits, their practical application remains limited by instability, volatility, poor solubility, and undesirable sensory effects. Encapsulation technologies have emerged as effective approaches to overcome these limitations by enhancing stability, controlling release behavior, and improving compatibility with complex meat matrices. This review synthesizes evidence from 154 studies published between 2010 and 2026 on the application of encapsulation technologies, including microencapsulation, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and cyclodextrin-based systems, for natural bioactives in meat systems. Encapsulated bioactive delivery systems are evaluated by integrating spoilage mechanisms, delivery system design, and application strategies. Encapsulation approaches are discussed in terms of structure–function relationships, release behavior, and interactions with meat components. Application strategies, including direct incorporation, edible coatings, and active packaging, are comparatively analyzed based on their functional performance in meat systems. Overall, nanoscale delivery systems are particularly effective in improving the dispersion, stability, and functional performance of hydrophobic bioactives, while controlled-release systems offer prolonged protection but often exhibit reduced predictability when translated from model systems to real meat matrices. Current challenges related to scalability, cost, regulatory constraints, sensory impact, industrial implementation, and the safe design of sustained-release antimicrobial systems are also addressed, thereby providing a framework for the rational development and implementation of effective clean-label preservation strategies in meat systems. Full article

Agritourism farm-stay guesthouses represent a burgeoning sector of rural tourism, wherein locally produced food serves as the primary experiential attraction. This study examines tourist perceptions regarding food quality, sensory characteristics, sustainability awareness, loyalty indicators, and comparative evaluations at three farm-stay guesthouses in Caraș-Severin County, Romania, located at distinct altitudes: lowland (Sacu, 154 m a.s.l.), hill (Văliug, 550 m a.s.l.), and mountain (Cozia, 1130 m a.s.l.). Altitude in this study marks three distinct settings—lowland, hill, mountain—rather than functioning as a tested independent variable. The results show that tourists evaluated all three guesthouses similarly, with no statistically significant differences across zones. The comparative design was a way of asking whether own-farm food quality perceptions hold across different agritourism contexts, not a test of what altitude does to those perceptions. A structured questionnaire (n = 650) was distributed to guests following an informed consent protocol. Four latent constructs were operationalised: food quality (FQ; Cronbach’s α = 0.593), sensory characteristics (SCs; α = 0.596), sustainability perception (SP; α = 0.393), and comparison with non-farm establishments (CF; α = 0.621). Overall gastronomic satisfaction was particularly high (mean = 4.71 ± 0.62 on a 1–5 Likert scale), and the average overall score was 9.44 ± 1.01 out of 10. Multiple regression accounted for 7.5% of the satisfaction variance (R² = 0.075; F(4,643) = 13.09, p < 0.001), with sensory characteristics (β = 0.232, p < 0.001) and sustainability perception (β = 0.088, p = 0.020) serving as significant predictors. Food origin transparency substantially impacted satisfaction (ANOVA: F(3,646) = 4.964, p = 0.002): visitors who received thorough provenance explanations were more satisfied (mean = 4.77) than those who received no information (mean = 4.57). Among the 569 respondents with prior non-farm experience, 85.2% rated farm-stay cuisine as superior to non-farm alternatives overall. Food quality perceptions in these three Caraș-Severin guesthouses are uniformly high regardless of altitude. What separates more satisfied guests from less satisfied ones is not the measurable quality of the product but whether the host explained where it came from. Full article

This systematic review analyzes the effectiveness of technological tools in Higher Education across Ibero-American universities. The study aims to identify evidence-based guidelines for the effective integration of technology within Ibero-American Higher Education institutions, and to evaluate how these tools contribute to the professional training of future graduates. A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus database between 14 July and 16 July 2025, covering publications from 2016 to 2025. Applying the PRISMA 2020 methodology and predefined eligibility criteria, a final sample of 19 studies was selected for synthesis. A structured risk of bias assessment was performed, classifying the included studies into low, moderate and high-risk levels. The analysis shows that 84% of the analyzed studies report a positive impact on academic development, supporting the need for pedagogically driven technological integration and sustained institutional support to maximize educational outcomes. Full article

Methane ($C{H}_4$) is the second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas, accounting for approximately 30% of current global warming. Since 2007, atmospheric methane concentrations have been increasing at an accelerating rate, reaching a record 1945.85 ppb in November 2025. The emergence of high-resolution satellite constellations has transformed our ability to detect, quantify, and attribute methane emissions from space. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of high-resolution global methane mapping, examining: (1) the evolution of satellite missions from coarse-resolution sounders like TROPOMI (5.5 × 7 km) to very high-resolution imagers including WorldView-3 (3.7 m), GHGSat (50 m), and the recently launched Tanager-1 (30 m); (2) advances in retrieval algorithms, including the transition from physics-based matched filter methods to deep learning approaches such as U-Net architectures achieving F1-scores of 78.4% on Sentinel-2 imagery; (3) integration of satellite observations with atmospheric inverse models for flux estimation; (4) the impact of satellite-derived data on policy frameworks including the Global Methane Pledge and EPA’s Super-Emitter Program; and (5) remaining challenges including cloud contamination, detection limit trade-offs, and the need for sustained validation networks. We synthesize findings from over 200 peer-reviewed studies and analyze 42 years of NOAA global methane observations to demonstrate how the convergence of improved spatial resolution, machine learning, and international coordination is enabling unprecedented transparency in global methane monitoring. The review concludes with recommendations for future satellite missions and data assimilation strategies needed to meet the Global Methane Pledge target of 30% emission reductions by 2030. Full article

This study presents an environmental and circularity assessment of an integrated insulation-production system that valorises plastic waste and wood packaging waste as secondary material and energy resources. The analysis evaluates the recovery of incoming waste streams and their reintegration into a new production cycle, while the downstream end-of-life of the resulting insulation product remains outside the assessed system boundary. The process chain includes mechanical pre-treatment of wood (grinding, metal separation, and pelletising); thermochemical conversion via wood gasification and gas combustion; and post-combustion CO₂ capture. The captured CO₂ is used in the subsequent polymer processing stages, which comprise mixing, extrusion, thermal treatment, and cooling. Environmental impacts are evaluated through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), while circularity indicators are assessed within the framework of EN 15804+A2. The results demonstrate the environmental and circularity potential of valorising wood packaging and plastic waste in the context of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and sustainable material development. Full article

This research explores the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) investment on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions relating to worldwide industrialization and environmental concerns. CO₂ emissions have risen due to fossil fuel usage, leading to global warming, environmental degradation, and climate change. While most previous studies have concentrated on components such as economic progress, energy consumption, and technological improvement, little attention has been given to the impact of artificial intelligence on the levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Artificial intelligence technology enables systems to perform complicated duties including reasoning and decision making. This article intends to fill this research gap by examining the impact of AI on carbon emissions in the eight highest AI-investing countries (the USA, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, India, Canada, and Korea) from 2012 to 2022. OECD data on average trade, AI investment, and consumption-based CO₂ emissions were analyzed in this study. The Augmented Mean Group (AMG) approach was employed to analyze the study findings, with the results showing that GDP had a beneficial influence on CO₂ emissions in the Top AI-Investing Economies. The results also showed that AI investment and trade had adverse impacts on CO₂ emissions. The findings supported the idea that investment on AI has a positive impact on decreasing CO₂ emissions, thus leading to a more sustainable environment. Full article

Sustainability targets for livestock require decision support that is both scientifically credible and operationally usable on farms. This integrative narrative review synthesizes the broader peer-reviewed literature on digital farming, artificial intelligence and machine learning, simulation modeling, optimization, and digital-twin concepts as applied to sustainable dairy systems, and uses selected peer-reviewed dairy studies from one integrated research program as illustrative worked examples that show how these elements can be connected end-to-end. We organize the synthesis around a data-to-decision pipeline that links data foundations and interoperability, governance and trust, analytics, decision engines, and deployment, comparing model classes by data needs, temporal resolution, interpretability, and deployment maturity. Recurring barriers to impact—weak ground truth, data drift, fragmented identifiers, and misaligned incentives—are highlighted alongside the design principles that address them. The contribution of the review is the transferable pipeline framework, demonstrated through worked examples drawn from one integrated research program; the program’s studies appear repeatedly because they together trace decisions across all pipeline layers, not because they constitute the field. We conclude with a practical roadmap and implementation checklist for designing and scaling decision-intelligence systems with transparent tradeoffs and measurable sustainability outcomes. Full article

Network development level and inequality level within urban agglomerations profoundly shape regional sustainability and global competitiveness. Existing studies predominantly focus on economic scale, geographic proximity, and static cross-sectional data analysis, often lacking systematic consideration of people’s wellbeing, network connectivity, and dynamic evolutionary processes. Furthermore, insufficient attention has been paid to the intrinsic connection between network development and inequality levels. Addressing this gap, this study systematically investigates the network development level, inequality level, and the correlation mechanisms between them, focusing on six national-level urban agglomerations located in China’s Yangtze River and Yellow River basins. Key findings include the following: (1) The overall connectivity efficiency of development networks within urban agglomerations continues to improve, yet the disparity in network status among node cities has gradually widened. The network centrality of core cities initially strengthens and then weakens. (2) Urban agglomerations with relatively lagging economic development often exhibit greater internal disparities in development momentum. Wealth distribution inequality within agglomerations has gradually eased, while the urban–rural development gap shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Conversely, social welfare distribution inequality has intensified overall. (3) Network indicators centering on centrality significantly contribute to the imbalance in regional wealth distribution. As social welfare distribution inequality increases, the influence of network centrality characteristics on it strengthens. (4) The impact of regional network development level on inequality level is hierarchical and directional. Increasing network density, average distance, and degree of association helps mitigate wealth distribution imbalance, whereas increasing network density and centrality may exacerbate regional development inequality. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence and theoretical support for policy-making of sustainable development in urban agglomerations, and enriches the theoretical connotation of regional balanced development. Full article

Flood risk is a wicked problem, characterized by non-linear dynamics, cross-scale interdependencies, and contested responsibilities. Disentangling who or what has the capacity to drive change in flood risk management (FRM) systems is a critical step for designing inclusive and sustainable risk-reducing interventions. Given the diverse range of actors often involved in FRM decision-making, it is necessary to consider different interpretations of what system features are important. Using participatory visualization methods this study applied a systems-thinking lens to examine how experts visualize the FRM system and its drivers of change in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Workshop one participants undertook group timeline mapping to visualize their understanding of the events and processes that have driven BC FRM system development. Workshop two participants completed open-ended concept maps, producing personal mental models of the features and relationships that make up the present-day FRM system. Data from both workshops were synthesized into a ‘master’ timeline and concept map, and the experts’ perceived drivers of system change were identified. Our results revealed decentralizing governance shifts and past flood events as drivers of historic system development in the minds of our experts. Our results also indicated leverage points that experts had included as drivers of system improvement in their concept maps, with frequently named and connected features, such as the most interconnected feature: ‘flood mapping’, offering potential opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and cascading risk-reduction action. Possible gaps in the FRM system were also revealed by system features that were acknowledged as important by participants but were represented as disconnected, including themes of ‘climate change impact’ and ‘reconciliation’. Participatory visualization methods, especially when used in combination, offer a practical approach for representing experts’ mental models of FRM systems, revealing expert-identified leverage points for practical FRM improvement that can contribute to sustainable flood risk reduction goals. Full article

The necessity of utilizing unconventional water resources and wastewater has emerged today as an unavoidable imperative, particularly in Iran. The limitations of water resources have directed researchers’ attention toward the rational use of unconventional waters, such as wastewater. The overall aim of the present study is the optimal utilization of wastewater in the cultivation of non-fruit-bearing trees, industry, and eco-park applications, leveraging sustainable development indicators. In the present study, to achieve the objectives and prioritize the use of wastewater (in tree cultivation, eco-park development, or industrial applications), the fuzzy Shannon entropy method was employed to determine the importance of evaluation criteria, and the Fuzzy Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) method was used for assessing and prioritizing the options. Given the presence of uncertainty in experts’ opinions, fuzzy concepts and theory were utilized to reflect this uncertainty in the process of evaluating the options. An integrated fuzzy Shannon Entropy–ARAS framework is proposed to evaluate and prioritize wastewater reuse alternatives under sustainability criteria. In order to identify the evaluation criteria, relevant literature and previous studies were reviewed, and a questionnaire was designed and distributed among experts. To identify and prioritize the influential criteria, the snowball sampling technique was employed. During the implementation of this technique, 10 out of the initial 20 criteria were excluded, and ultimately, 10 key and impactful criteria were selected. The results of implementing the fuzzy Shannon entropy and fuzzy ARAS methods revealed that the optimal use of treated wastewater in the Shahrkord plain should initially focus on non-fruit-bearing trees. The second priority for utilizing treated wastewater in the Shahrkord plain is for the construction of eco-parks, while the third priority is its use in industry. Full article

This study conducts a comprehensive investigation into prospective policy alternatives within Pakistan’s power sector using the PAK-TIMES model, targeting the critical challenges of energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Focused on the period from 2022 to 2050, the research evaluates the impact of various policies on energy consumption, supplies, carbon emissions, and expenditures in alignment with Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) directed at combatting climate change. The study explores three distinct scenarios: a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, along with five policy (5% Eff, 10% Eff, 15% REN, 30% REN, 50% REN) scenarios categorized into energy efficiency and renewable integration. The first scenario concentrates on the deployment of energy-efficient devices, while the second scenario delves into diverse levels of renewable energy integration. Key results reveal that energy demand is projected to surge substantially under the BAU scenario, increasing significantly from 3459 PJ in 2022 to 7912 PJ by 2050. In contrast, scenarios prioritizing energy efficiency can potentially curb the total energy supply by 2.3%, while renewable energy integration can expand up to 1.3% compared to business-as-usual by 2050. These alternative scenarios also exhibit the potential to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector by up to 15%. Notably, the PAK-TIMES model emerges as a valuable decision support tool for the Pakistani government to facilitate the execution of energy efficiency and renewable energy policies aimed at fulfilling its NDCs, while also contributing to the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action). The study underscores the pivotal role of policy interventions in simultaneously mitigating energy challenges and combatting climate change for sustainable development. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the accounting function, but evidence from emerging economies still leaves a central question unresolved: whether the profession’s traditional strengths are sufficient to support this technological transition. This study examines this issue in Peru, where digital reform has advanced rapidly, but professional adaptation remains uneven. Using survey data from 424 accounting professionals and academics, a Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) approach was employed to test the relationships between Sustainability, Professional Challenges, IFAC Ethics, and AI Orientation. The construct previously described as AI adaptation is now defined more cautiously as AI Orientation, because its indicators capture a broad perceptual orientation toward AI, including perceived challenge, workflow impact, curricular integration, substitution concerns, and routine use, rather than verified adoption behavior. The results confirmed the strength of the traditional professional sequence: Sustainability significantly predicted Professional Challenges (β = 0.637; p < 0.001), and Professional Challenges strongly predicted adherence to IFAC Ethics (β = 0.972; p < 0.001). However, the direct path from Sustainability to IFAC Ethics was not significant (β = 0.200; p = 0.096). Regarding technological integration, the model revealed a structural disconnect. While Sustainability showed a weak direct effect on AI Orientation (β = 0.279; p = 0.045), neither Professional Challenges (β = 0.160; p = 0.510) nor IFAC Ethics (β = 0.037; p = 0.810) significantly predicted AI Orientation. These findings indicate that while the ethical and adaptive core of the Peruvian accounting profession remains highly resilient under pressure, its connection to AI is still fragmented, with algorithmic tools often perceived as external technological systems rather than integrated accounting competencies. Full article