Search Results (2,019)

The current teacher workforce crisis has increased policy and funding interest in employment-based pathways (EBPs), particularly in hard-to-staff schools. This qualitative study of one university’s EBP examines how [program name] shaped pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) sense of academic belonging. Drawing on focus group data from 12 participants across four regional, rural, and remote (RRR) locations in Queensland, Australia, we examine how connections between university, schools, and communities influenced PSTs’ sense of belonging to their university, course, profession, and local communities. Structured collaboration, timely communication, and strong relationships, supported by links to wider services, were central to sustaining an academic sense of belonging. In turn, belonging supported participants’ wellbeing and plans to remain in teaching, and helped them persevere in challenging contexts. The findings suggest that, when intentionally supported, EBPs can help address workforce shortages in RRR settings. Full article

The transition toward sustainable energy in Arctic and subarctic regions requires innovative approaches that account for both the unique geographical conditions and the economic and policy challenges associated with isolated power systems. This study examines how net energy metering (NEM) and net billing schemes influence distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption and financial performance among utilities in Alaska’s Railbelt. The Railbelt, which supplies power to three-quarters of the state’s population, remains heavily reliant on natural gas and exhibits limited renewable penetration compared to other arctic regions. Using a stochastic risk-based modeling framework with Monte Carlo simulations and the Bass diffusion model, the analysis estimates the 15-year financial impacts of different NEM adoption scenarios on utilities. Results show that while NEM drives PV adoption through higher compensation for exported generation, it also increases potential revenue losses for utilities compared to net billing. Policy innovations like those introduced in Alaska’s House Bill 164 (HB 164), which establishes a reimbursement fund to mitigate utility revenue losses, indicate that regulatory work is being designed to balance distributed generation incentives with economic sustainability. This work provides a baseline for understanding how a policy framework influences both utility and consumer economics in terms of NEM and solar PV adoption in Arctic and subarctic systems. Full article

Municipalities aiming for climate neutrality and resilience must take a systemic approach to planning, implementing, and monitoring climate actions, to be able to mobilise the resources needed to achieve this ambitious goal. This involves complementing conventional top-down and technological measures with bottom-up and inclusive strategies that include not only citizen engagement but also the innovation of social practices. This study presents a comparative analysis of social innovation actions for climate neutrality planned by 53 cities from 21 countries participating in the Pilot Programme of the EU-funded project NetZeroCities. By identifying 445 actions across all cities’ pilot programmes and classifying them into 10 categories and 38 sub-categories, it is found that 53.71% of actions are linked with social innovation, offering timely insights into how social innovations are being designed in cities’ urban plans. The results reveal emerging patterns and geographical variations across Europe. With more than half of all social innovation interventions focused on stationary-energy and Scope-3-related emissions reduction, the analysis reveals that cities are increasingly relying on social innovation to foster the behavioural and socio-technical changes needed to shape sustainable energy use, consumption, and mobility patterns. These actions are based on co-creation, co-design, cross-sectoral partnerships, and public-sector capacity building, with regional differences. The comparative approach and analysis contribute to the transdisciplinary discourse on social innovation assessment in systemic innovation for transitions. Full article

The purpose of this study is to examine the interrelationships between public and corporate finance, gross value added (GVA), and the output of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. The value of crop production shows a strong correlation with all financial indicators of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria—public, corporate, and total—as well as with corporate finance in the national economy. The value of the final output of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria also exhibits a strong correlation with national corporate finance, the corporate finance of the agricultural sector, and this sector’s total financial resources, both public and private. The regression analysis demonstrates that public funding plays a leading role in mobilising private capital in the agricultural sector. A strong dependency is observed between state support, corporate lending, and total financial resources, confirming that public funds promote trust and stimulate investment activity. Crop production is identified as the structural driver of productivity and gross value added (GVA) of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. However, excessive public subsidies may reduce its efficiency. Private loans—particularly agricultural credits—are emerging as a key mechanism for transforming the potential of the agricultural sector into actual growth. The regression models indicate the possibility that 1 billion BGN in loans lead to the creation of more than 2 billion BGN worth of crop production output, and more than 6 billion BGN in terms of final products. These findings justify that the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria is based on a balanced interaction between public financing and active private investment. Full article

While animal-derived ingredients continue to dominate pet food, mounting animal welfare and environmental pressures are starting to reshape the market—opening the door to plant-based and cultivated meat alternatives for dogs and cats. This study assessed the effective altruism case for more sustainable pet food options, using the scale, neglectedness, and tractability framework, and found strong alignment across all three dimensions. By 2018, at least 9% of farmed land animals were fed to companion dogs and cats globally, with more consumed by average dogs (13) than by average people (9) annually. A global transition to nutritionally sound vegan pet diets could spare seven billion farmed land animals and many billions of marine animals from slaughter and could feed 519 million additional people using food energy savings. Such a transition for dogs alone could eliminate 1.5 times the quantity of greenhouse gases produced annually by the UK and free up land larger than Mexico. Yet, sustainable pet food is a highly neglected issue in terms of funding, time, and talent. The issue appears tractable; 13–18% of dog and cat guardians would consider vegan pet diets if their concerns about them were addressed. Assuming only one dog or cat per guardian, at least 70 million dogs and 86 million cats worldwide could potentially be transitioned to vegan diets, with the true figures probably several times higher. Sustainable pet diets, therefore, represent a highly impactful yet overlooked opportunity to reduce farmed animal consumption, mitigate associated environmental impacts, and improve food security. Full article

As ecosystems decline and their valuable goods and services become scarce, there is growing interest in developing and utilizing environmental markets. Such markets have the potential to reduce environmental risks, provide incentives for sustainable management and restoration, and generate revenue for conservation efforts. The expansion in environmental markets and private finance is particularly significant for developing countries, which host a considerable proportion of global environmental benefits but lack sufficient funds to finance nature conservation. This review examines three types of environmental markets that are relevant to developing countries: markets for sustainably produced commodities; trade in natural resource credits, such as carbon, biodiversity, and water; and nature-based finance markets for natural and ecological assets. The challenges and opportunities impacting the creation and operation of these markets in developing countries are explored. If the opportunities are to be realized, there is a need for policies that support the economic viability of environmental markets and private finance in developing countries, protect the environment and maintain vital ecosystems, while promoting sustainable economic development. This paper offers a unique contribution to the existing literature by examining the emerging environmental markets, innovative funding approaches for environmental conservation and sustainable management in developing countries, and the policies needed to support them. Full article

Young caregivers, defined as individuals under 25 years of age who provide unpaid care to a family member(s) with illness, disability, or age-related needs, remain significantly underrecognized in Canada despite their valuable contributions to the healthcare system. Limited awareness, fragmented services, and adult-centred caregiving infrastructures leave them vulnerable to social isolation, disrupted education, and poor mental health. Unlike the United Kingdom and Australia, Canada lacks a coordinated national strategy to identify and support young caregivers. This qualitative study examines caregiving organizations across multiple Canadian provinces, exploring current practices, barriers, and future visions for supporting young caregivers. Group interviews were conducted with 18 service providers from caregiving organizations in Alberta, BC and Nova Scotia. Four themes emerged through analysis: (1) The Landscape of Existing Caregiving Organizations, (2) Barriers and Challenges to Supporting Young Caregivers, (3) Navigating a Pandemic, and (4) a Journey and Vision Worth Supporting. Organizations reported a strong interest in expanding support for young caregivers with a vision for cross-sector collaboration and school-based outreach. However, challenges such as inadequate funding and a lack of formal recognition limits their capacity in building youth programs. Findings from the study highlight the need for systemic reform, including early intervention models, sustainable funding, and formal recognition of young caregivers within policy frameworks. Addressing these gaps will not only uplift young caregivers, but also strengthen Canada’s broader caregiving and healthcare ecosystem. Full article

The thermally efficient and lightweight TRC/CLCi composite panels for functional and smart building envelopes, funded by the iclimabuilt project (Grant Agreement no. 952886), offer innovative solutions to sustainably address common failure risks in facade systems. This work specifically emphasizes strategies for mitigating structural, thermal, and fire-related failures through targeted material selection, advanced design methodologies, and rigorous validation protocols. To effectively mitigate structural failures, high-pressure concrete (HPC) reinforced with carbon fibers is utilized, significantly enhancing tensile strength, reducing susceptibility to cracking, and improving overall durability. To counteract thermal bridging—a critical failure mode compromising energy efficiency and structural integrity—the panels employ specially designed glass-fiber reinforced pins connecting HPC outer layers through the cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) insulation core that has a density of around 70 kg/m³ and a thermal conductivity in the range 35 mW/m∙K comparable to those of expanded polystyrene and Rockwool. These connectors ensure effective load transfer and maintain optimal thermal performance. A central focus of the failure mitigation strategy is robust fire behavior. The developed panels undergo rigorous standardized fire tests, achieving an exceptional reaction to fire classification of A2. This outcome confirms that HPC layers maintain structural stability and integrity even under prolonged fire exposure, effectively preventing catastrophic failures and ensuring occupant safety. In conclusion, this work highlights explicit failure mitigation strategies—reinforced concrete materials for structural stability, specialized glass-fiber connectors to prevent thermal bridging, rigorous fire behavior protocols, and comprehensive thermal performance validation—to produce a facade system that is robust, energy-efficient, fire-safe, and sustainable for modern buildings. Full article

The shift toward a circular economy (CE) holds a central position in solving, globally, the long-standing environmental degradation and resource scarcity. Innovative sustainable processes and products lie at the core of such a shift, but they often face challenges associated with technological, organizational, financial, and regulatory paradigms. To date, two leading facilitators have been identified: sophisticated digital technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Big Data, together with the collaborative creation of value among diverse stakeholders. Although the implications of each of these enablers on sustainability are known to some extent, little is understood about how their interrelatedness can counteract implementation barriers and drive innovation. The systematic thematic literature review examines how organizations utilize digital technologies and stakeholder engagement to facilitate green innovation in Circular Economy (CE) systems. Based on Stakeholder Theory, the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, and the Resource-Based View (RBV), this review examines how organizations leverage digital technologies and stakeholder engagement to foster green innovation within circular economy systems. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a structured search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science, covering peer-reviewed journal articles published in English between 2013 and 2024. Using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 84 studies were retained for analysis from an initial pool of 850 records. The review integrates findings from five thematic areas: collaborative innovation among stakeholders, the use of digital technology to advance sustainability, challenges associated with adopting circular-economy values, linkages between technology and stakeholders, and the consequences of innovation. The findings suggest that collaboration between diverse stakeholders, combined with integration with digital technologies, provides a synergistic approach to maximizing innovation outcomes, overcoming implementation challenges, and diffusing circular practice. Skillfully crafted initiatives augment organizational capacities, foster collaborative actions, and advance sustainability initiatives. Despite providing a comprehensive synthesis of existing research, this review is limited by its reliance on secondary data. A qualitative quality appraisal was conducted to support the interpretation of findings. This review was not registered and received no external funding. Future research should conduct empirical analyses of these relationships and develop inclusive frameworks to guide initiatives emerging from collaborative and digital platforms across a wide range of sectors within the circular economy. Full article

From adaptation to building effective resilience to climate change is critical for transforming West and Central Africa (WCA) agricultural system. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach initiated by leading international organizations to ensure food security, increased adaptation to climate change and mitigation. Its application spans from innovative policies, practices, technologies, innovations and financing. However, CSA initiatives lack scientific-based assessment prior to implementation to ensure their effectiveness. To fill this gap, future interventions should not only be assessed using rigorous methodology but should also be built on lessons learned from previous initiatives. Although there are a lot of climate related agricultural initiatives in WCA, most of them have not been analyzed through a CSA lens and criteria to capitalize on their experiences to improve future interventions. In this study we mapped previous climate-related initiatives in WCA, highlighted their gaps and lessons learned to accelerate the implementation of CSA in the region. The study covered 20 countries in WCA: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. CSA initiatives were reviewed using a three-steps methodology: (i) national data collection, (ii) regional validation of the national database, (iii) data analysis including spatial mapping. Data was collected from the websites of international, regional and national organizations working in the field of agricultural development in the region. Each initiative was analyzed using a multicriteria analysis based on CSA principles. A total of 1629 CSA related initiatives were identified in WCA. Over 75% of them were in the form of projects/programs with more of a focus on the first CSA pillar (productivity and food security), followed by adaptation. The mitigation pillar is less covered by the initiatives. Animal production, fisheries, access to markets, and energy are poorly included. More than half of these initiatives have already been completed, calling for more new initiatives in the region. Women benefit very little from the implementation of the identified CSA initiatives, despite the substantial role they play in agriculture. CSA initiatives mainly received funding from technical and financial partners and development partners (45%), banks (22%), and international climate financing mechanisms (20%). Most of them were implemented by government institutions (48%) and development partners (23%). In total, more than 600 billion EUR have been disbursed to implement 83 of the 1629 initiatives identified. These initiatives contributed to reclaiming and/or rehabilitating almost 2 million ha of agricultural land in all countries between 2015 and 2025. Future initiatives should ensure the consideration of the three CSA pillars right from their formulation to the implementation. These initiatives should consider investing in mixed production systems like crop-animal-fisheries. Activities should be built around CSA innovation platforms to encourage networking among actors for more sustainability. Full article

Climate change is widening the mismatch between water supply and water demand in urban areas, affecting both. Additionally, water demand is increasing due to population growth and economic development. Water allocation is a key component of sustainable urban water management and, unlike traditional approaches, must rely on a fit-for-purpose principle, where water is valued by its quality adequacy based on the use rather than by its source, with water reuse playing a central role in urban water resilience. This paper presents a novel framework, together with the step-by-step process for its application—the smart water allocation process (SWAP) for urban non-potable uses—and the developed software toolset to facilitate the decision-making process by urban managers, water utilities, and other stakeholders. It was developed within the context of a living lab to accelerate the innovation uptake. The demand–supply matchmaking and the plan module are comprehensively described and the SWAP results and their contribution to water resilience in Lisbon are discussed. Three water allocation alternatives were defined to implement different strategies, conservation, redundancy and reuse, in two green area clusters. Synergy with climate action funding was identified. The application of the SWAP enabled decision-making based on factual evidence and fostered intuitive understanding of the urban water resilience challenges. Full article

Background: Digital transformation in healthcare has advanced rapidly in hospitals and primary care, while long-term care facilities have often lagged behind. In nursing homes, nurses play a central role in coordinating care and accessing medical expertise, yet digital tools to support these tasks remain inconsistently implemented. The CareConnect study, funded under the German Model Program for Telecare (§ 125a SGB XI), aimed to develop and implement a multiprofessional telecare system tailored to nursing home care. Objective: This implementation study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and early adoption of a multiprofessional telecare system in nursing homes, focusing on implementation processes, contextual influences, and facilitators and barriers to integration into routine nursing workflows. Methods: A participatory implementation design was employed over 15 months (June 2024–August 2025), involving a university hospital, two nursing homes (NHs), and four medical practices in an urban region in Germany. The telecare intervention consisted of scheduled video-based teleconsultations and interdisciplinary case discussions supported by diagnostic devices (e.g., otoscopes, dermatoscopes, ECGs). The implementation strategy followed the Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies (StaRI) and was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data sources included telecare documentation, nurse surveys, researcher observations, and structured feedback discussions. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and triangulated to assess implementation outcomes and mechanisms. Results: A total of 152 documented telecare contacts were conducted with 69 participating residents. Most interactions occurred with general practitioners (48.7%) and dermatologists (23%). Across all contacts, in 79% of cases, there was no need for an in-person visit or transportation. Physicians rated most cases as suitable for digital management, as indicated by a mean of 4.09 (SD = 1.00) on a 5-point Likert scale. Nurses reported improved communication, time savings, and enhanced technical and diagnostic skills. Key challenges included delayed technical integration, interoperability issues, and varying interpretations of data protection requirements across facilities. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that telecare can be feasibly introduced and accepted in nursing home settings when implemented through context-sensitive, participatory strategies. Implementation science approaches are essential for understanding how telecare can be sustainably embedded into routine nursing home practice. Full article

Metro systems are high-capacity urban rail networks designed to provide fast, reliable, and efficient transportation. This article presents a comparative benchmarking study of six leading metro systems in Brazil and six prominent international cases, aiming to identify best practices and recurring challenges based on key operational, planning, design, governance, and performance indicators. The Brazilian systems analyzed are located in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Recife, and Salvador, while the international cases include London, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, New York, and Madrid. The methodology combined documentary research with technical analysis of public data sources, institutional reports, and performance indicators. The results reveal significant contrasts in network scale, operational efficiency, governance models, funding mechanisms, and integration with urban planning. São Paulo’s system stands out for its network robustness, automation, and consolidated monitoring framework, while other Brazilian cities face limitations in service coverage and financial sustainability. The international cases offer valuable insights into fare integration, the use of emerging technologies, and the application of performance metrics to foster more sustainable and efficient high-capacity urban transit systems. The findings provide relevant evidence to support policymakers, transport authorities, and urban planners in improving the planning, management, and sustainability of high-capacity urban transit systems. Full article

Urban Heat Island effects and the general rise in outdoor temperatures are increasing the cooling demand in buildings. As a consequence, electrical cooling systems are becoming more common, increasing energy consumption and thus resulting in negative environmental impacts. Optimizing passive solutions that require no energy input can provide substantial benefits for building energy efficiency and urban sustainability. This study presents a research activity, financed by the EU-funded project LIFE SUPERHERO, that enhances existing roofing technologies based on passive cooling; defines an experimental method to assess their benefits in terms of energy savings; and finally evaluates their effectiveness in future climate scenarios based on greenhouse gas Representative Concentration Pathways across a set of mid-temperate/hot climate locations, also in comparison with traditional unventilated roofs. A new Climate Adaptation Efficiency Index (CAEI) was introduced to evaluate the energy efficiency potential of buildings equipped with highly ventilated and permeable clay tile roofs compared to a baseline scenario without the intervention. The results confirm the potential of ventilated and air-permeable roofs to reduce incoming heat flux and support cooling energy-efficiency planning. Indeed, CAEI values were above 20%, reaching 45–50% in hot Mediterranean and arid climates and 28–33% in cooler/temperate contexts. Under future climate scenarios, benefits further increase in the hottest Mediterranean locations, reaching up to 66%, while rising to about 44% in temperate climates, with an average increase of 10–15 percentage points, highlighting the strong potential of highly ventilated and air-permeable clay tile roofs as an effective, affordable, sustainable, and easy-to-install climate adaptation strategy. Full article

People living with and beyond cancer often face ongoing challenges related to nutrition, wellbeing, and long-term health. Many individuals express a need for evidence-based, tailored dietary support, yet practical approaches to sustaining healthy eating behaviours remain limited. Culinary nutrition interventions, which integrate nutrition education with hands-on culinary skills, may help address these needs; however, their effects have not been systematically synthesised. This systematic review evaluates the impact of culinary nutrition interventions, delivered alone or in combination with physical activity or mental health components, on dietary intake, psychosocial and health-related outcomes, anthropometric measures, clinical and metabolic markers, and feasibility among individuals living with or beyond cancer. Following PRISMA guidelines, 18 studies were identified across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science (last searched in April 2025) and narratively synthesised. A total of 1173 participants were included, with sample sizes ranging from 4 to 190 participants per intervention. Interventions were well received and rated as highly acceptable, with strong engagement and minimal adverse effects. Across studies, statistically significant improvements were reported in dietary intake (7/13 studies), quality of life (4/5), mental health (5/6), self-efficacy (2/3), symptom management (3/4), self-reported cognitive health (1/1), food-related behaviours (2/2), selected anthropometric measures (4/8), and selected metabolic biomarkers (4/6). The evidence suggests that culinary nutrition interventions hold promise as supportive, behaviour-focused strategies aligned with oncology nutrition guidelines and responsive to patient needs. However, due to heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes, and variability in methodological quality as assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, quantification of effects was not possible, limiting interpretation of the evidence. Further high-quality studies using comparable outcome measures and longer-term follow-up are needed to quantify the magnitude of effects, assess their durability over time, and inform the integration of culinary nutrition programmes into cancer care. This systematic review is registered under the PROSPERO ID CRD42024567041 and was funded by the RCSI Research Summer School Fund. Full article