Search Results (39)

Accelerating the low-carbon transition of China’s coal-fired power sector is essential for advancing national sustainability goals and fulfilling global climate commitments. This study introduces an integrated, data-driven analytical framework to facilitate the sustainable transformation of the coal power sector through coordinated unit-level retirements, new capacity planning, and targeted retrofits. By combining a comprehensive unit-level database with a multi-criteria evaluation framework, the analysis incorporates environmental, technical, and economic factors into decision-making for retirement scheduling. Scenario analyses based on the China Energy Transformation Outlook (CETO 2024) delineate both baseline and ideal carbon neutrality pathways. Optimization algorithms are employed to identify cost-effective retrofit strategies or portfolios, minimizing levelized carbon reduction costs. The findings reveal that cumulative emissions can be reduced by 10–14.9 GtCO₂ by 2060, with advanced technologies like CCUS and co-firing contributing over half of retrofit-driven mitigation. The estimated transition cost of 6.2–6.7 trillion CNY underscores the scale of sustainable investment required. Sensitivity analyses further highlight the critical role of reducing green hydrogen costs to enable deep decarbonization. Overall, this study provides a robust and replicable planning tool to support policymakers in formulating strategies that align coal power sector transformation with long-term sustainability and China’s carbon neutrality commitments. Full article

The built environment has been widely recognized as a critical determinant of physical activity among older adults. However, urban–rural disparities and the non-linear effects of environmental features remain underexplored. Using interpretable machine learning (random forest model) on nationwide representative data from 2526 older adults in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database, this study identified both common and distinct risk factors for insufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) across diverse urban and rural contexts. The results revealed a location-based gradient in physical activity insufficiency: rural areas < suburban areas < central urban areas. Rural older adults faced greater constraints from safety concerns and transportation accessibility limitations. In comparison, urban older adults would benefit from targeted improvements in built environment quality, particularly elevator accessibility and diverse public activity spaces. Furthermore, non-linear relationships were observed between built environment features and physical activity, elucidating the “density paradox”: while moderate urban compactness promoted active behaviors, excessive density (>24,000 persons/km²), perceived overcrowding, and over-proximity to specific facilities (<1 km) were linked to reduced MVPA. These findings underscore the necessity for differentiated policy interventions in urban and rural settings to address the distinct environmental needs of older adults. Meanwhile, in urban planning, it is crucial that we balance spatial compactness and functional diversity within optimal thresholds for creating sustainable and inclusive built environments. Although a compact design may enhance mobility, equal attention must be paid to preventing spatial disorder from over-densification. Full article

As pension benefits from statutory public schemes become less generous, and many countries face pension-savings crises, the willingness to participate in supplementary retirement saving instruments becomes crucial for sustainable financial well-being. The main objective of this article is to present how trust and financial literacy influence the choice of sustainable auto-enrolment pension scheme as a private and supplementary pension savings. The study highlighted factors influencing participation in auto-enrollment and private supplementary pension savings. The study focuses mainly on financial literacy and trust. We used the CAWI method with 857 interviews in Poland—the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to introduce an auto-enrolment pension system. Our study uses multivariable data-mining tools, and several regression models were applied. We used Logistic Regression (LR), Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR), and Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD) to support the LR analysis. We propose four regression models. Our findings present that: 1. The lower the consumer’s knowledge level, the more their decisions are based on trust. 2. Trust in the state, rather than trust in financial institutions, plays a crucial role for people with low financial literacy, which is a critical factor in choosing the auto-enrolment option for pension savings. 3. Men had higher odds of auto-enrolment pension saving than women. 4. Employees of economic universities and academics had higher odds of participating in capital pension plans than those of general universities and non-academics. Our findings can signal to governments and policymakers about factors influencing the choice of auto-enrolment supplementary retirement savings. These findings strengthen the role of sustainable economic education. Full article

Although succession planning benefits workforce development, rural economic stability, and the sustainability of a farm, few farmers in Canada have a written succession plan. As the farming population ages and fewer people enter the profession, understanding what promotes farmers to prepare succession plans is essential. Our study aimed to understand (a) the priorities farm operators have for developing a succession plan, (b) the factors that delay or motivate succession planning, and (c) the resources that would be helpful for creating a succession plan. Using dyadic multiple case study methodology, we interviewed 35 participants from 16 farms in Alberta, Canada. The thematic analysis revealed seven themes influencing decisions to develop a succession plan: legacy and identity, physical health, government policies, farm growth, professional guidance and expertise, family dynamics, and farm culture norms. From the themes, two overarching variables—risk perception and self-efficacy—shaped farmers’ readiness for succession planning and informed the development of the Farm Succession Readiness Framework. This framework categorizes farmers into four types: Active Planners, Succession Avoiders, Back Burners, and End-of-the-Line Farmers. Farm succession planning is complex and multifaceted, and our findings may assist advisors, policymakers, and researchers in understanding farmers and tailoring interventions to meet their needs. Full article

This study discusses financial sustainability in retirement via a comprehensive bibliometric and content analysis on financial literacy and retirement preparedness for 1970–October 2024. Data for this study are extracted from the Scopus database. In line with the PRISMA guideline, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and the final corpus of articles used in the analysis is 518 articles. These articles are analyzed using the bibliometric methods: Bibliometrix R-package (Biblioshiny) version 4.0 and VOSviewer 1.6.20. The descriptive analysis identified the publication trends, prominent authors, articles, sources, country collaboration, and quadrant analysis. Based on the bibliographic coupling, the following themes were identified: (1) financial literacy and retirement planning, (2) behavioral finance and psychological determinants of retirement planning and preparedness, (3) financial risk, decision making, and retirement preparedness, and (4) gender, socioeconomic factors, and financial literacy disparities. This study has consolidated and enriched the understanding of how financial literacy, education, psychology and behaviors, and financial risk play a pivotal and central role in shaping long-term financial sustainability, as well as retirement planning and preparedness. From a practical perspective, an all-inclusive understanding of the above is essential for guiding regulators and policymakers in designing policies, targeted interventions, and programs that empower individuals towards retirement preparedness, considering regional, socioeconomic, and gender-related factors. Full article

The rapidly increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) globally underscores the urgent need for effective management strategies for end-of-life (EOL) EV batteries. Efficient EOL management is crucial in reducing the ecological footprint of EVs and promoting a circular economy where battery materials are sustainably reused, thereby extending the life cycle of the resources and enhancing overall environmental sustainability. In response to this pressing issue, this review presents a comprehensive analysis of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving the disassembly processes for EV batteries, which is integral to the practical echelon utilization and recycling process. This paper reviews the application of AI techniques in various stages of retired battery disassembly. A significant focus is placed on estimating batteries’ state of health (SOH), which is crucial for determining the availability of retired EV batteries. AI-driven methods for planning battery disassembly sequences are examined, revealing potential efficiency gains and cost reductions. AI-driven disassembly operations are discussed, highlighting how AI can streamline processes, improve safety, and reduce environmental hazards. The review concludes with insights into the future integration of electric vehicle battery (EVB) recycling and disassembly, emphasizing the possibility of battery swapping, design for disassembly, and the optimization of charging to prolong battery life and enhance recycling efficiency. This comprehensive analysis underscores the transformative potential of AI in revolutionizing the management of retired EVBs. Full article

The Republic of Serbia is traditionally a country of emigration, especially since the 1960s. As a result of this emigration, return migration has become an increasingly intensive migratory process in the 21st century. This study aims to examine the factors behind return migration, as well as to explore the characteristics of the reintegration process in Serbia, including the sustainability of return. This paper is based on a survey (N = 172) and interviews (N = 20) conducted with return migrants in Serbia. The research findings point to the diversity of the return migration factors, among which a longing for the country of origin is singled out as the most important. Regarding the reintegration process, this study highlights several differences that are apparent between retired returnees on the one hand and other returnees (students, employed, unemployed) on the other. The results show that the satisfaction with quality of life upon return is higher among older returnees and that the satisfaction with quality of life decreases as the respondents’ level of education increases. It is also found that the sustainability of return is connected to the life satisfaction and that respondents who plan to migrate again are the least satisfied with the quality of life compared to those who plan to stay and those who have not decided yet. This paper provides insights into some of the critical elements of the return migration and reintegration process in Serbia. Since return migrants can contribute to sustainable socio-economic development due to their human, social and financial capital, this study may be of relevance to the development of strategies and the implementation of policies in the domain of migration governance. Full article

China officially entered the aging society in 2000, witnessing a rapid surge in demand for senior care services. In response, the real estate industry introduced the concept of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The relationship between this model and complex risks in urban security resilience encompasses various factors, including filial care, demand for senior care, and urban sustainable development. The strategic layout and planning of CCRC enhance the security resilience of urban operational systems in the face of intricate senior care risks. However, the development and operation of CCRCs have encountered the challenge of sluggish project progress, primarily due to a lack of robust purchase intention. This study investigates the factors influencing the purchase intention of CCRCs in mainland China, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the foundational theoretical model. Additionally, three contextual constructs (economic cost, product performance, and external stimuli) were introduced to form the initial model. Based on the initial model, six factors were identified and nine hypotheses were proposed. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate that consumers’ purchase intention of CCRCs is primarily influenced by product performance and subjective norms, followed by economic cost. At the same time, external stimuli have a significant indirect effect on it. Full article

The human resources economic implications of nursing burnout amongst nurses working in retirement homes have become a critical concern within the healthcare industry. As the backbone of care provision in these settings, it is crucial to understand the consequences of burnout on the workforce’s well-being and organisational sustainability. This study aims to investigate burnout among nurses working in retirement homes in Slovenia. The reasons for burnout vary across countries and regions, so gathering data specific to this population is essential. Through surveys conducted among 253 nurses and medical technicians, factor analysis revealed three factors for burnout: emotional exhaustion, reduced personal fulfilment, and impersonality. This research aims to pave the way for reducing workplace stress by creating new opportunities for better working conditions. To achieve these goals, executive management in retirement homes should gain proficiency in the four elements of the quality management cycle: planning, execution, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Furthermore, a comparative analysis was conducted to collate the empirical findings with those from Croatia. Full article

During the last 50 years, the vast majority of European countries have relied on coal and imported carbon-containing fuels to meet their growing electricity demand. Coal is the only fossil fuel in significant reserves across Europe. However, the pressing threat of radical climate change and the looming depletion of fossil fuels necessitate a structural transformation from a conventional centralized fossil fuel-based electricity generation system to an innovative decentralized system based on zero carbon (green) energy resources. In this context, one important issue for communities operating coal-based Thermal Power Stations (TPS) nearing retirement is whether the European Union (EU) policy can ensure a socially just development of the coal mining areas during the coal phase-out. The objective is to avoid a decline in living standards and mass immigration. In response to the EU’s decarbonization policy, the Greek state has recently decided to retire the lignite-based West Macedonia TPS, which has been in operation since the 1970s. Since its establishment in August 1950, the (initially State-controlled) Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC) has undertaken the responsibility to operate the quarries and the six local TPS, offering approximately 25,000 direct and indirect jobs. Over the last 50 years, the extraction of lignite and the operation of the 4500 MW_e TPS of West Macedonia has been the primary economic activity, accounting for nearly 45% of the entire Region’s GDP. While both the Greek state and the EU have prepared and presented plans to financially support local communities and encourage new private and public investments, local citizens remain anxious about their future. The present study investigates the attitude of young scientists towards the forthcoming radical changes linked to the green transition in seriously affected EU Regions, with a focus on West Macedonia. The proposed analysis in West Macedonia reveals the skepticism of young people regarding the speed of the green transition and concerns about significant migration and potential brain drain. On the other hand, the implementation of EU initiatives, including the involvement of young scientists in the planned new green energy-related activities, offers a promising alternative solution. This engagement can lead to the successful integration of local communities into the sustainable and green future envisioned by the EU. Full article

With a global urgency to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, there has been an increasing demand for electric vehicles on the roads to replace vehicles that use internal combustion. Subsequently, the demand and consumption of raw materials have increased, and thus, there has been an increasing number of retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that contain valuable elements. This literature review paper looks at the following: lifecycle assessments (LCA) of EV batteries, the recycling of LIBs while analyzing what studies have been conducted to improve recycling processes, what recycling facilities have been established or are being planned, studies on the circular economy, the environmental benefits of recycling end-of-life (EOL) batteries, and how LIB recycling is aligned with the Sustainable Devel opment Goals, focusing in particular on Goal 13: Climate Action. Full article

With the expansion of the new energy vehicle market, electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) have entered a massive retirement wave. The strategic level of facility location and configuration decisions and the tactical level of multi-product flow and multi-technology selection decisions have been integrated into a sustainable reverse logistics network (SRLN). In this paper, we considered multiple kinds of waste electric vehicle batteries (WEVBs) with multiple recycling technology and constructed a multi-level SRLN model for WEVBs with the objectives of minimum economic costs and minimum carbon emissions. To solve this model, fuzzy set theory was applied to the equivalence transformation of constraints, non-interactive and interactive methods were used to solve the multi-objective planning (MOP), and interactive fuzzy programming with priority control was proposed to find the global optimal solution for this model. Finally, numerical experiments demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model and solution method. The experimental results show that the SRLN model considering carbon emissions can significantly reduce carbon emissions of the network through a slight increase in the initial network construction cost, thus effectively balancing both economic and environmental objectives. In the non-interactive solution, the Lp-metric method has a lower deviation index than the weighted sum method; in the interactive solution, the priority control method proposed in this paper outperforms the TH method in terms of the number of practical solutions and CPU time and shows strong performance in searching and finding optimal solutions. The proposed model and method can provide the theoretical basis and technical support for a WEVB SRLN under the limited information uncertainty environment. Full article

Financial literacy is a critical life skill that is essential for achieving financial security and individual well-being, economic growth and overall sustainable development. Based on the analysis of research on financial literacy, we aim to provide a balance sheet of current research and a starting point for future research with the focus on identifying significant predictors of financial literacy, as well as variables that are affected by financial literacy. The main methods of our research are a systematic literature review, and bibliometric and bibliographical analysis. We establish a chronological path of the financial literacy topic in the scientific research. Based on the analysis of the most cited articles, we develop a comprehensive conceptual framework for mapping financial literacy. We identified a large number of predictors of financial literacy starting with education, gender, age, knowledge, etc. Financial literacy also affects variables such as retirement planning, financial inclusion, return on wealth, risk diversification, etc. We discuss in detail the main trends and topics in financial literacy research by involving financial literacy of the youth, financial literacy from the gender perspective, financial inclusion, retirement planning, digital finance and digital financial literacy. Our research can help policymakers in their pursuit of improving the levels of individual financial literacy by enabling individuals to make better financial decisions, avoid financial stress and achieve their financial goals. It can also help governments in their efforts in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Full article

Containers are fundamental elements for the development of international trade; however, it is estimated that there are more than 17 million retired containers stacked in ports around the world. Considering the high costs involved in the process of storing, transporting, or destroying these materials, in addition to their non-degradable nature, it is urgent to develop strategies for the sustainable use of these decommissioned containers. In this context, repurposing these containers into permanent structures is becoming a predominant trend. One solution is converting steel shipping structures into habitable spaces. However, due to the urgency with which Container Houses (CHs) are demanded in case of disasters, they are usually planned to be built as quickly as possible, serving as many people as possible, and do not consider the basic principles of energy efficiency. The performance of the CHs is, then, impaired, including risks of overheating, corrosion, and rust, among others, during service, making them an even more stressful experience for their users who are already in a vulnerable situation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the performance of two thermal insulators applied to a temporary shelter container designed to promptly serve vulnerable populations. The model was developed in Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and simulated in Building Energy Simulation (BES) software, aiming to obtain subsidies for its technical and economic viability analysis. The results indicated that thermal insulators are able to generate significant savings in energy consumption, with mineral wool presenting better long-term performance. Full article

Financial planning for retirement is essential to ensure that people have enough money to live the lifestyle they desire when they retire. Self-employed business owners in developed countries widely do financial retirement planning. However, in Malaysia, the percentage of self-employed individuals concerned about financial retirement planning is lower than in other countries. This study aims to identify the relationship between the financial attitude, financial literacy and health literacy of self-employed individuals toward sustainable financial retirement planning in Malaysia and find out the moderating effect of the role of financial advisors. The study utilized structural equation modelling. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire and analyzed using SMART PLS 3.3. The total sample size was 416 self-employed individuals from the northern Malaysian region. The findings revealed that financial attitude and financial literacy significantly impact retirement planning. Moreover, the role of financial advisors moderates the relationship between financial attitude–financial retirement planning and financial literacy–financial retirement planning. The result of the study will fulfil the needs of self-employed individuals to plan their retirement by including the financial planning determinants needed for a well-planned retirement. Full article