Search Results (183)

This scoping review examines the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 4, which concerns quality education—into national curricula at various levels of education between 2020 and 2025. This qualitative study uses the scoping review method to synthesise international research, identifying thematic trends, methodological approaches, and implications for curriculum development. The analysis reveals a strong focus on higher education, with articles from Asia and Europe dominating the discourse, while perspectives from early childhood education and the Global South are under-represented. Most articles favour qualitative designs, engaging with the SDGs as curricular content, institutional transformation frameworks, or community-based education tools. Despite these promising approaches, significant gaps remain in addressing behavioural change and equity across educational systems. Therefore, the study calls for more inclusive, context-sensitive, and interdisciplinary strategies to support the transformative ambitions of the 2030 Agenda. Full article

Amid growing environmental concerns and an increasing push for sustainable development, countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have taken proactive steps toward green growth, energy transition, and technological innovation. As a result, this study examines the effects of green growth, energy transition, technological innovation, financial inclusion, and urbanization on environmental sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Moreover, this study breaks new ground by exposing the hidden environmental costs of financial inclusion, urbanization, and technological innovation in the MENA region’s development trajectory, thereby providing compelling evidence for rethinking sustainability through an integrated approach that aligns economic ambition with ecological responsibility. Data for the studied variables were sourced from the World Bank database covering the period 1990 to 2021. The results show that green growth and energy transition significantly reduce CO₂ emissions, supporting the idea that economic expansion aligned with environmental priorities can contribute to ecological improvement. However, the impact of technological innovation is statistically insignificant, indicating that innovation in the region has not yet translated into meaningful environmental gains, possibly due to the dominance of non-green or industrial-focused innovation. Financial inclusion is found to increase CO₂ emissions, likely by facilitating greater access to credit and financial services that fuel energy-intensive consumption and production activities. Similarly, urbanization also contributes to rising emissions, reflecting the unsustainable nature of urban growth in many MENA region. Based on this study, we advocate for a coordinated regional approach to climate and energy policy, underpinned by shared governance and collective action. Full article

India’s revised nationally determined contribution at COP26 set a net-zero target for 2070, but the role of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in achieving this goal remains unclear. This study quantifies the contribution of land-based CDR—bioenergy carbon capture and storage, biochar, and afforestation—in achieving India’s net-zero goal. Additionally, a stylised scenario explores an accelerated net-zero target by 2050 in India`s climate target. The global emission target is modelled to follow India’s climate ambition in both stylised scenarios. The results show that the ambitious 2050 net-zero pathway requires 56 GtCO₂ of cumulative novel CDR across the century, compared to 47 GtCO₂ under the 2070 scenario, with both requiring around 1 GtCO₂/year at net-zero. A higher ambitious pathway leads to increased economic costs, with a mid-century carbon price of USD 938, compared to USD 174 in the 2070 scenario. Without novel CDR methods, the cost of achieving net zero by 2050 quadruple. The accelerated 2050 net-zero pathway also intensifies land and water trade-offs, reducing land for crop production while increasing water demand for electricity and biomass. Despite these challenges, it limits end-of-century warming to 1.46 °C, compared to 1.79 °C under the 2070 scenario. These findings highlight the importance of clearly defined climate targets, scalable CDR strategies, and integrated resource management to balance climate ambition with sustainable development. Full article

This paper presents a conceptual framework for strategic approaches to embedding sustainability in the curriculum at a large research-intensive university. Due to the evolving nature of universities and technology, this journey is never complete, and this paper presents a case study of our approach to driving the work forward. This ambition is part of the institution’s Environmental Policy to ‘monitor and increase the integration with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across our operations, research, and education programmes.’ Our conceptual framework to support embedding in the curriculum guides operationalisation across five key domains: 1. strategy, policy, and principles; 2. institution-wide curriculum change; 3. active and authentic education activities; 4. staff development; and 5. community building. For example, an institution-wide curriculum initiative to redesign the Queen Mary graduate attributes framework was developed to include the attribute ‘Promote socially responsible behaviour for a global sustainable future.’ To gain this attribute means that our graduates are exposed to discussions and knowledge concerning sustainability. Across these five areas, we argue that a strategic approach is necessary for successful and impactful embedding of sustainability in the curriculum. Work across each domain needs to be closely linked and interconnected, and to build links with existing policy, strategy, and frameworks. This approach needs to combine high-level leadership together with support for grass-roots initiatives. Full article

Despite growing international consensus on the urgency of climate action, global CO₂ emissions have continued to rise, exposing a critical implementation gap between environmental ambition and reality. This study explores the readiness and structural capacity of the world’s most CO₂-intensive countries to transition toward a green and hydrogen-based economy. We introduce and apply the Green Economy Index, a composite measure integrating 31 indicators across four core dimensions—political and regulatory efficiency, socio-economic status, infrastructure, and sustainable targets. Using data from 29 countries emitting over 200 Mt of CO₂ in 2022, the analysis combines principal component analysis, Random Forest modeling, and network-based correlation analysis to classify nations into frontrunners, transitional performers, and structural laggers. The results reveal significant disparities in green economy readiness, with high-income countries showing institutional maturity and infrastructural robustness, while middle-income nations remain constrained by fossil fuel dependencies and governance challenges. Importantly, we highlight the growing utility of machine learning and multivariate statistics in capturing complex sustainability interdependencies. The Green Economy Index framework offers a relevant tool to benchmark progress, diagnose barriers, and guide targeted interventions in global decarbonization efforts. Full article

Amid escalating environmental crises—ranging from biodiversity loss to climate instability—the circular economy has emerged as a promising pathway to align economic growth with ecological limits. The objective of this study is to examine the asymmetric impact of a novel composite circular economy index (CEI)—constructed via entropy weighting—on the load capacity factor (LCF), a holistic sustainability metric, across 27 EU member states over 2010–2023. Employing the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) and controlling for GDP, foreign direct investment, trade openness, employment, and population growth, the main findings indicate pronounced heterogeneity: positive CEI shocks yield a 1.219 percent increase in LCF at the 90th quantile versus just 0.229 percent at the 10th, revealing a “sustainability premium” for high-performing economies, while negative shocks inflict a −5.253 percent decline at the 90th quantile, exposing their greater vulnerability. Low-LCF countries, by contrast, display relative resilience to downturns, likely due to less entrenched circular systems. Panel Granger causality tests further reveal bidirectional feedback loops between LCF and economic growth, investment, and labor markets, alongside a unidirectional effect from trade openness to enhanced sustainability. These insights carry clear policy implications: high-LCF nations require safeguards against circularity backsliding, whereas low-LCF members need capacity-building to convert latent resilience into sustained gains—together forming a nuanced blueprint for achieving the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality ambitions. Full article

The European Union’s latest common agricultural policy (CAP) aims to minimise the negative consequences of agriculture on the environment and climate. This ambition has been translated into the introduction of eco-schemes, which stimulates farmers to transition to sustainable agriculture. This paper answers three questions regarding the operation of the eco-scheme for livestock farming in The Netherlands. First, who are the recipients of the eco-scheme grants? Second, how have EU grants developed over time for these recipients? Third, do eco-scheme recipients farm more sustainably? To answer these questions, we conducted an empirical analysis based on administrative and microeconomic data, which included indicators to measure sustainable farming practices. Our results show that most recipients of the Dutch eco-scheme are dairy farmers and that larger farms receive relatively more grant funding per hectare. The introduction of the eco-scheme marked a shift toward less grant funding for income support and more to encourage sustainable farming practices. This has triggered a significant downturn in the financial situation of many Dutch dairy farmers. Dairy farmers who score higher on sustainability indicators on average benefit more from the eco-scheme, although there is also a substantial share of dairy farmers who have benefited financially but score relatively low on sustainability. These insights contribute to the further improvement of the EU’s agricultural policies toward a successful transition to more sustainable agriculture. Full article

Nowadays, recycling in pavement engineering is not a novelty. Utilization of recycled aggregates and other waste materials for the asphalt layers appeared as a well-established approach during the last decades, at least at a research level, in favor of preservation of natural resources, economical balance in road construction and reconstruction, and overall pavement sustainability. The focus on the asphalt layers does make sense based on the fact that these layers are to be more frequently replaced in the framework of periodical pavement maintenance or rehabilitation. Taking as a fact that mainly laboratory-scale studies and limited field trials have already proven the performance-based viability of using alternative materials in the asphalt layers, including waste plastic, waste glass, steel slag, waste tires in the form of rubber, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), etc., this study tries to identify additional critical aspects and reasons why recycled materials are not consistently selected and uniformly applied during construction and reconstruction activities in real practice. A comprehensive discussion for interdisciplinary issues is provided with respect to (i) the challenge of comparing the performance of asphalt mixtures containing recycling materials with a reference condition status, related to mechanical testing, (ii) the aspect of recycled material availability versus peculiar conditions applied to some countries, related to socioeconomical issues, (iii) the unawareness of the actual lifecycle assessment of pavement structures with recycled mixtures, related to environmental assessment, and (iv) some legislative and health issues that could make pavement engineers reluctant to extensively use non-conventional materials. After a multi-parametric discussion, some useful remarks for fostering further research are given together with the ambition to bridge the gap between research and practice toward a greener future in pavement engineering. Full article

Population growth and urbanization are straining the limited space in the built environment. The business districts take up a great portion of this built space. These districts face climate change hazards and spatial emptiness due to their profit-driven foundation. Sustainable ambitions and strategic locations offer the potential to rethink business districts and integrate them into the living environment. Understanding business districts as potential workscapes, more socio-ecological inclusive business districts, is a new perspective. This research formulates a method to define the spatial quality of business districts through literature review and spatial analysis. A spatial analysis of forty cases in the Netherlands presents a higher spatial quality on more diverse landscapes. This indicates that diversification of the business districts’ landscape from monotone to multitone is needed to enable workscape development. Landscape-driven urbanism is needed to generate this desired level of quality. The research highlights the strategic location of edge-city business districts, situated between urban and rural areas, showing the potential to strengthen the urban-rural relationship. Further research on and by design is needed to enable workscape development. Full article

With its profound impact, climate change has emerged as the most significant challenge for economic development. The primary cause of this global crisis is “fossil” capitalism, which denotes the pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions. As the main contributors, cars significantly add to this pollution, making traffic one of the largest polluters responsible for the ecological and economic crisis. At the European Union (EU) level, countries have formulated environmental policies within the framework of the Green Deal. The Green Deal recognises sustainable mobility as a promising solution for reducing greenhouse gases and managing the consequences of climate change. The research background highlights the promising effects of the sustainable mobility strategy in the Austrian city of Graz. The research methodology is based on a case study analysis of the “eco-transformation” of Graz, focusing on developing a local sustainable mobility strategy and implementing the “soft mobility” concept. Soft mobility refers to non-motorised forms of transportation, such as walking, cycling, and public transit, which are environmentally friendly and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The research examines three key components—space, culture, and ambition—as fundamental elements of sustainable mobility. All available online data were collected through desk analysis and a literature review to assess the effectiveness of sustainable policies in Graz. In addition, a quantitative analysis using daily cyclist counts and weather data from 2022–2024 was conducted, confirming the impact of environmental and temporal variables on cycling behaviour. The findings underscore Graz’s replicable value as a sustainable mobility model and highlight the broader implications for EU climate goals. Full article

The circular economy has emerged as a pivotal strategy for cities to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability. However, its implementation in resource-dependent Gulf Cooperation Council contexts remains underexplored. This study is among the first to empirically assess circular economy readiness in a Gulf Cooperation Council industrial hub through a mixed-method approach, bridging the gap between expert perceptions and localized policy implementation. Focusing on the Dammam Metropolitan Area, Saudi Arabia, a critical industrial anchor for Saudi Vision 2030, this study combines a cross-sectional survey of 230 policymakers, industry leaders, and academics with descriptive/inferential statistics (SPSS) and qualitative thematic coding (NVivo). The findings identify renewable energy (mean = 4.10) and municipal waste management (mean = 3.78) as top sectoral priorities, aligning with national sustainability goals. Yet systemic challenges, including fragmented governance, limited public awareness (mean = 3.65), and funding gaps (mean = 3.52), underscore disparities between Vision 2030’s ambitions and localized capacities. Statistical analyses reveal strong associations between institutional fragmentation and financial inefficiencies (χ² = 23.45, * p = 0.010), while mid-career workforce dominance (54.8%) and underrepresentation of policymakers (6.5%) highlight governance gaps. The current study advocates hybrid strategies: stricter waste regulations (40.0% stakeholder priority), circular economy training programs, and public–private partnerships to scale waste-to-energy infrastructure and industrial symbiosis. Despite pragmatic optimism (48.7% foresee 21–40% recycling by 2030), limitations such as reliance on expert perspectives and exclusion of citizen voices necessitate future interdisciplinary and longitudinal research. By aligning regulatory rigor with inclusive governance, the Dammam Metropolitan Area can model a Gulf-centric circular economy transition, advancing regional sustainability while contributing actionable insights for resource-dependent economies globally. Full article

The ambition of ports to become green and smart ports is one of the important ways to reduce environmental impacts and optimize energy consumption in passenger service and cargo handling operations in ports. One of the ways to transform a green port is to use renewable energy sources, more environmentally friendly fuels and reduce emissions in passenger service and cargo handling operations. The article analyses the main factors of green port transformation and factors assessment, including port strategy, port management, passenger service and cargo handling operations (port activity level), additional port services, and the activities of companies providing services to the port. Optimization of the indicated factors is important from the point of view of environmental sustainability. The article presents a methodology for direct and relative assessment of the current state of the green transformation and emissions generated in the port and options for reducing the environmental impact. This approach enables each port to evaluate its stage in the green transformation process and identify the primary emissions it produces. By understanding the actual state of green transformation, ports can identify the factors and measures necessary to improve their environmental performance and reduce their ecological footprint. The article presents a methodology for assessing green transformation and calculating both absolute and relative emissions, which can be adapted and applied to any port. Full article

This paper discusses the development of baseline and mitigation scenarios to guide the creation of a long-term plan supporting low-carbon transport in Ethiopia. Developing this method involved comprehensively reviewing policy documents, collecting historical activity data, and modelling the baseline and mitigation scenarios. The paper emphasises the importance of stakeholder engagement, which is instrumental in validating the model inputs, policy targets, and results at each stage, ensuring the credibility and robustness of our findings. The scenario development and analysis are based on the IPCC guidelines, informed by the policies of the Government of Ethiopia, and implemented with the Low-Energy Analysis Platform (LEAP). Three net-zero scenarios are assessed for the time horizon between 2020 to 2050. The so-called maximum ambition, NDC-aligned, and late action scenarios reflect the energy requirements and emissions contribution for varying levels of government ambition towards low-carbon interventions in the transport sector. In the baseline scenario, the total amount of carbon emissions is estimated at 4.81 million tonnes of CO₂e in 2020, which is projected to increase to over 15 million tonnes by 2050. Under the mitigation scenarios, significant reductions are projected, with specific interventions like electrification in road freight reducing emissions by 9.68 MtCO₂e and expanding rail transport reducing 9.95 MtCO₂e by 2050 compared to the baseline. Other strategies identified for mitigating transport sector emissions, like improving energy efficiency, encouraging mass transit and non-motorised transport, show good potential for achieving a greener future. With the transport sector in Ethiopia identified as a major contributor to GHG emissions and climate change, this paper underscores the government’s efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of its transport sector. Full article

The question of what motivates entrepreneurs to maintain and grow their ventures beyond the startup phase remains an underexplored aspect of entrepreneurship research. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, GEM (2023), this study examines four key entrepreneurial motivations among 103 established Croatian entrepreneurs who are making a difference in the world, building great wealth or a very high income, continuing a family tradition, and earning a living. Employing a multivariate multiple regression approach, we analyze how sociodemographic factors, opportunity perception, fear of failure, media influences, and sustainability-oriented mindsets (e.g., UN SDG awareness) influence these diverse motivations. Findings reveal distinct motivational patterns: socially responsible mindsets and awareness of the SDGs primarily drive the aspiration to “make a difference”, while age, perceived opportunities, and fear of failure reinforce the pursuit of wealth. Media narratives uniquely influence the intent to “continue a family tradition”, while necessity-driven motives—linked to fear of failure and lower growth ambitions—predominate among those aiming simply to “earn a living”. By applying a systems thinking approach, this research illustrates how interdependent factors create distinct motivational clusters, and it highlights the importance of tailored policies and support programs for established entrepreneurs seeking sustainable growth. It contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse on entrepreneurship, offering insights for policymakers, educators, and advisors working to foster resilient and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems. Full article

The transformation of energy markets is at a crossroads in the search for how they must evolve to become ecologically friendly systems and meet the growing energy demand. Currently, methodologies based on bibliographic data analysis are supported by information and communication technologies and have become necessary. More sophisticated processes are being used in energy systems, including new digitalization models, particularly driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In the present bibliographic review, 342 documents indexed in Scopus have been identified that promote synergies between AI and the energy transition (ET), considering a time range from 1990 to 2024. The analysis methodology includes an evaluation of keywords related to the areas of AI and ET. The analyses extend to a review by authorship, co-authorship, and areas of AI’s influence in energy system subareas. The integration of energy resources, including supply and demand, in which renewable energy sources play a leading role at the end-customer level, now conceived as both producer and consumer, is intensively studied. The results identified that AI has experienced notable growth in the last five years and will undoubtedly play a leading role in the future in achieving decarbonization goals. Among the applications that it will enable will be the design of new energy markets up to the execution and start-up of new power plants with energy control and optimization. This study aims to present a baseline that allows researchers, legislators, and government decision-makers to compare their benefits, ambitions, strategies, and novel applications for formulating AI policies in the energy field. The developments and scope of AI in the energy sector were explored in relation to the AI domain in parts of the energy supply chain. While these processes involve complex data analysis, AI techniques provide powerful solutions for designing and managing energy markets with high renewable energy penetration. This integration of AI with energy systems represents a fundamental shift in market design, enabling more efficient and sustainable energy transitions. Future lines of research could focus on energy demand forecasting, dynamic adjustments in energy distribution between different generation sources, energy storage, and usage optimization. Full article