Search Results (47)

This study developed an Energy Quadrilemma Index (EQI) for Latin American countries, analyzing data from six countries from 2014 to 2020. Using the Principal Component Analysis method, this work reduced the dimensionality of 20 indicators grouped into four dimensions: energy security, energy equity, sustainable development, and a new social context axis. The results reveal significant disparities among the countries in the study. For example, Uruguay shows robust indicators, Paraguay exhibits low utilization of the energy it produces, and Chile displays the poorest results in the sustainable development axis. Many countries’ widespread dependence on hydroelectricity makes them vulnerable to water crises. The results show that social, economic, and structural inequalities represent the main barriers to the energy transition, often marginalizing low-income populations. Ensuring a fair and inclusive transition requires implementing targeted policies and solutions adapted to each country’s specific context. Although Costa Rica leads in performance, it faces significant challenges in the field of sustainability. In contrast, Honduras has made some progress with sustainable development but still demonstrates weaknesses in other areas. These results highlight that standardized solutions can exacerbate regional inequalities, demanding approaches more tailored to local needs. This work’s novelty lies in the use of the social context dimension as a feature to assess energy poverty in selected countries. Full article

In order to fulfil SDG 13—taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impact—SDG 2—ending hunger and poverty—and the African Union CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026–2035, which’s goal is ending hunger and intensifying sustainable food production, agro-industrialisation, and trade, the resilience of commercial livestock farmers to agricultural droughts needs to be enhanced. Agricultural drought has affected the economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, and still poses a challenge to commercial livestock farming. This study identifies and determines the factors affecting commercial livestock farmers’ level of resilience to agricultural drought. Primary data from 123 commercial livestock farmers was used in a principal component analysis to estimate the agricultural drought resilience index as an outcome variable, and the probit model was used to determine the factors influencing the resilience of commercial livestock farmers in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. This study provides a valuable contribution towards resilience-building strategies that are critical for sustaining commercial livestock farming in arid regions by developing a formula for calculating the Agricultural Drought Resilience Index for commercial livestock farmers, significantly contributing to the pool of knowledge. The results showed that 67% of commercial livestock farming households were not resilient to agricultural drought, while 33% were resilient. Reliance on sustainable natural water resources, participation in social networks, education, relative support, increasing livestock numbers, and income stability influence the resilience of commercial livestock farmers. It underscores the importance of multidimensional policy interventions to enhance farmer drought resilience through education and livelihood diversification. Full article

This study adapted the Socioenvironmental Vulnerability Index (SEVI) for rural communities in Espírito Santo, Brazil, considering climatic, environmental and social factors. The analysis included using an integration of indices, such as the Environmental Vulnerability Index (EnVuIn) and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). The inclusion of variables, such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), the percentage of conflicting use of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) and the existence of water reservoirs, presented new elements that directly influence environmental vulnerability. The results indicate significant human interference in PPAs with high rates of conflicting use, especially in the communities of Boa Esperança (85.8%) and José Marcos (85.4%). The absence of water reservoirs proved to be a critical factor for the water security of the communities. Communities such as Novo Sonho presented high poverty rates, reflecting a high SVI (0.61). The EnVuIn indicated high environmental vulnerability in the communities of Boa Esperança, Santa Clara, Ita, Novo Sonho and Monte Alegre. Integrating the indicators and adapting the methodology resulted in a high SEVI for most communities, with emphasis on Novo Sonho and Boa Esperança (0.54), classified as very high. The study reinforces the need for public policies to reduce socioenvironmental risks and promote sustainability in rural communities. Full article

Malaria is a persistent public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where its transmission is intricately linked to climatic factors. Climate change threatens malaria elimination efforts in limited resource settings, such as in the Mberengwa district. However, the role of climate change in malaria transmission and management has not been adequately quantified to inform interventions. This protocol employs a multi-method quantitative study design in four steps, starting with a scoping review of the literature, followed by a multi-method quantitative approach using geospatial analysis, a quantitative survey, and the development of a predictive Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible-Geographic Information System model to explore the link between climate change and malaria transmission in the Mberengwa district. Geospatial overlay, Getis–Ord Gi* spatial autocorrelation, and spatial linear regression will be applied to climate (temperature, rainfall, and humidity), environmental (Land Use–Land Cover, elevations, proximity to water bodies, and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index), and socio-economic (Poverty Levels and Population Density) data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution of malaria in Mberengwa District. The predictive model will utilise historical data from two decades (2003–2023) to simulate near- and mid-century malaria transmission patterns. The findings of this study will be used to inform policies and optimise the management of malaria in the context of climate change. Full article

The Tidal River Management (TRM) approach plays a significant role in enhancing diversified services of the ecosystem in the ecosystem of rivers affected by tides and their floodplains and reducing coastal hazards in southwest Bangladesh. The main aim of this investigation was to complete the development of the Sustainability Index for Tidal River Management (SITRM) and to assess the sustainability of TRM in coastal regions. In the first stage, the key components along with indicators of the Sustainability Index of TRM were identified to address problems of the coast. In the second stage of this study, a five-point Likert scale was applied to gather responses from key informants. In addition, it includes direct field observations and consultation meetings to collect information concerning the SITRM indicators. The results showed that the framework of SITRM included several important indicators to solve coastal problems, including drainage congestion, waterlogging, rising sea levels, new land formation, compensation, alternative livelihoods, and terrestrial biodiversity as indicators. It also established standard tidal flow thresholds for the Hari–Teka River at 600 m³/s (maximum) and 250 m³/s (minimum) for high tide and 550 m³/s (maximum) and 200 m³/s (minimum) for low tide. Moreover, the results showed that the Canadian Water Sustainability Index (CWSI), West Java Water Sustainability Index (WJWSI), and Water Poverty Index (WPI) are suitable for overcoming coastal problems and climate change issues. Full article

The Pendjari Biosphere Reserve is one of the protected areas of Benin where biodiversity conservation policies intertwine with the economic development of local populations. It is located in the Atacora region in northern Benin, which has a high prevalence of poverty and food insecurity among households. Agriculture and livestock farming are the primary activities of the local communities in the villages surrounding the reserve. However, wild animals sometimes cause damage to people’s fields or livestock. To deal with the damage caused by wild animals, local populations have developed several mitigation measures that may not be effective, leading them into a vulnerable situation. Vulnerability is often associated with the impacts of natural disasters and their management, anticipation, and recovery. In the context of human–wildlife conflict, vulnerability refers to the level of risk farmers face from issues such as crop raiding, livestock depredation, and human injury caused by wildlife, as well as farmers’ ability to cope with such damage. To assess the vulnerability of households, we used the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). Data were collected from July to December 2019 through questionnaires and interviews. We surveyed 320 households to collect data on their socio-demographics, livelihoods, social networks, natural capital, food and water security, and the incidence and severity of human–wildlife conflicts. The results showed that farmers around the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve are highly sensitive to human–wildlife conflicts, with a low adaptive capacity, revealing their vulnerability. More precisely, farmers are vulnerable in terms of major components of the LVI such as water, food, social networks, and livelihoods. Conservation policies are expected to pay more attention to local populations’ vulnerability to human–wildlife conflicts in order to improve their tolerance towards wildlife and guarantee the success of conservation efforts. Full article

Poverty remains a significant global challenge, particularly in severely impoverished areas where balancing eco-civilization and economic growth is crucial. This study aims to analyze livelihood assets, determine appropriate strategies, and establish an eco-compensation model based on ecological vulnerability in Longnan City. We developed a livelihood evaluation index system using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and entropy weight method to assess the vulnerable portfolio of livelihood assets. We examined poverty causes and proposed targeted alleviation measures. Additionally, we created an “Eco-Compensation Model of Longnan City” incorporating the Sloping Land Conversion Program, key industries exit compensation, and cross-provincial water compensation based on incentive and punitive mechanisms. Our findings reveal that severely impoverished areas in Longnan City are primarily in the central, southern, and northwestern regions. Poverty is driven by unfavorable natural conditions, frequent natural disasters, regional economic marginalization, inadequate infrastructure, and a limited agricultural structure. The evaluation shows that natural capital in the five areas is lower than the national average level. We propose targeted measures for different vulnerable livelihood portfolios. The eco-compensation model provides a scientifically calculated compensation standard, offering a crucial funding source for implementing targeted poverty alleviation strategies. Full article

This paper summarises the evolution of the Water Poverty Index (WPI) application at different scales since its emergence. The review captures the main milestones and remarkable developments around the world. It sets the foundation for identifying the most appropriate version of the WPI, building on learning from previous versions. In addition, the paper sheds light on the linkages between the WPI and sustainable development goals and applications to fragile contexts. Therefore, it provides a synthesis of knowledge researchers and practitioners’ need in sustainable water resources management that helps boost human development in unstable/fragile arid and semi-arid contexts. The methodology included (i) WPI literature shortlisting and reviewing, (ii) review literature links WPI with sustainable human development and fragility, and (iii) data analysis, identification of gaps and future trends. Intensive research was found to address the limitations of the WPI. However, further research is needed to shortlist the multiple versions of the WPI and match them to their respective scale, purpose and context (including fragile contexts). In addition, a time-based WPI was rarely touched to forecast the impact of decisions on community welfare. Full article

Nowadays, food systems are undergoing major transformations to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are a lack of comprehensive reviews on this topic in developing countries. This work highlights food systems’ transition towards sustainability, focusing on Morocco. It was carried out through searching, selecting, evaluating, and synthesizing existing relevant scholarly and gray literature. In Morocco, a meaningful transition towards sustainability is being guided and carried out on several levels, despite numerous challenges, e.g., inability to cope with the detrimental effects of climate change and escalating water scarcity constitute fundamental problems. However, there are conflicting views on the outcomes of food system transformation. Some studies showed that Morocco has increased its agri-food export and reduced poverty to less than 5% of the population over the past decade; the proportion of wasted and malnourished children has declined from 25 to 15% and 4 to 3%, respectively, and the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI) showed a score of 9.0. Other studies showed that North Africa has entered a food security crisis; specifically, food inflation has reached unprecedented levels in Morocco. This paper provides valuable insights for policymakers and planners to design evidence-based policies and strategies to boost sustainable development in Morocco. Full article

Unconventional water includes reclaimed water, harvested rainwater, desalinated seawater, and mine water. Unconventional water use is considered more of a “mandatory responsibility” in China. The initial allocation of unconventional water emphasizes quantity-centered responsibility allocation while the minimum utilization reflects this responsibility. The unconventional water use responsibility (UWUR) should be tailored to the characteristics of each area, moving away from a ‘more is better’ mindset. However, there is a large research gap in this field. This paper first presented six fundamental principles for unconventional water allocation. Ensuring fairness in allocation involves aligning the allocated amount with urban water usage characteristics. Hence, based on four key features, this paper integrated various socioeconomic and environmental factors to build an initial allocation model. To enhance efficiency, an optimal allocation model was constructed using the zero-sum gains–data envelopment analysis (ZSG-DEA) method. The models were then applied to Jiangsu Province, China, to verify their applicability. The results showed that the projected minimum UWUR allocation (unit: 100 million m³) for each city in 2025 is 1.482 (Nanjing), 1.501 (Wuxi), 0.919 (Xuzhou), 1.029 (Changzhou), 2.977 (Suzhou), 1.497 (Nantong), 0.818 (Lianyungang), 0.766 (Huai’an), 0.875 (Yancheng), 0.920 (Yangzhou), 0.790 (Zhenjiang), 0.858 (Taizhou), and 0.766 (Suqian). The rational and feasible results indicated that the allocation framework proposed in this paper has a certain practicability. Lastly, this paper considered the differences in unconventional water utilization conditions across 13 cities and proposed corresponding measures to improve the utilization. This paper represents a tentative exploration of unconventional water allocation in China and offers theoretical and practical insights for policy-makers to improve territorial spatial planning and sustainable water management. Full article

Water affordability as a dimension of water poverty is becoming an increasing source of concern in cities of the Global North. Studies on water affordability are either based on water wants and not needs or tend to use spatial scales too large for effective analyses of local inequities that can truly guide policy actions. In this contribution, we calculate and map a Water Affordability Index (WAI) based on the minimum water requirement of 100 litres/person/day at the scale of the census tract for the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. We also apply global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses to investigate spatial relationships between the WAI and poverty-related sociodemographic variables. Results show that, even though average WAI values are moderate, the distribution pattern of higher and lower values tends to be clustered in some districts and neighbourhoods of the study area. Bivariate correlations indicate that water affordability is not only related to poverty variables but also to the diversity of water prices. Findings exemplify how the constructed index can complement existing affordability indicators, revealing and mapping important risk groups struggling to meet the costs of essential water needs. Water affordability could be mitigated by supportive water pricing policies for vulnerable households in water poverty hotspots. Full article

Mexico faces severe water scarcity due to population growth, industrial activities, and climate change. The arid and semidesert conditions prevalent in northern Mexico, particularly in Nuevo Leon, significantly accentuate the challenges associated with water scarcity. This region is vulnerable to water scarcity due to minimal rainfall, recurrent droughts, and the increasing pressure of water demand from the densely populated Monterrey. We examined the disparities that contribute to water poverty by comparing water scarcity between rural and urban populations in Nuevo Leon. The results revealed significant contrasts in water scarcity between the two populations, indicating that different factors contribute to water poverty based on regional, territorial, and cultural characteristics. We selected the water poverty index (WPI) as an evaluation metric due to its inherent compatibility with available data sources, which facilitates its application to stakeholders and ensures comparability with other regions. This study contributes to studies on water scarcity assessment by addressing a critical limitation of the WPI. We compared three weighting methods—equal weight, principal component analysis (PCA), and analytic hierarchy process (AHP)—and identified that PCA and AHP demonstrated a superior performance compared to the standard methodology. These findings underscore the importance of considering region-specific conditions, as well as socioeconomic disparities between rural and urban populations and their role in vulnerability to water scarcity in calculating water poverty. These insights provide valuable information for customized solutions to regional challenges, representing leading actions toward sustainable development. Full article

This article explores the escalating impact of natural disasters, particularly droughts, in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with a specific focus on Eswatini. Over the last century, approximately 63 million people in SADC countries have been affected by droughts, leading to challenges in agriculture, livestock losses, and severe food and water shortages. Despite being the smallest SADC nation, the Kingdom of Eswatini faces disproportionate consequences due to its susceptibility to climate variability, particularly drought. The inadequacy and unreliability of rainfall have resulted in a drastic reduction in food production, with maize, a staple crop, experiencing a 70% decline. This adverse trend, spanning three decades, has heightened the vulnerability of farmers to climatic shocks, hindering sustainable agricultural development and impeding poverty alleviation efforts. To address the growing threat of drought in the kingdom, a comprehensive approach is imperative, involving coordinated plans and the development of swift humanitarian relief strategies. This study utilized remote sensing technologies to monitor drought and assess its repercussions, evaluating the impact on agricultural production. Additionally, geospatial tools, including Open Route Service (ORS) and Near Neighbor Analysis algorithms, were employed to optimize humanitarian supply chain logistics. Results from the analysis, including Vegetation Health Index (VHI) fluctuations and drought severity mapping, reveal that 1990 was the year the kingdom was most severely hit by drought. This study also found that smallholder farmers practicing rainfed agriculture in vulnerable regions, such as the lower Middleveld and western Lowveld, suffered the severe socioeconomic consequences of agricultural drought, including income loss, food insecurity, and migration patterns. Through this integrated approach, decision makers can engage in targeted interventions, focusing on farming areas needing irrigation infrastructures or populated areas requiring a coordinated humanitarian response amidst climate variability. Full article

The sustainability index (SI) is a relatively new concept for measuring the performance of water resource systems over long time periods. The purpose of its definition is to provide an indication of the integral behavior of the system with regard to possible undesired consequences if a misbalance in available and required waters occurs. Therefore, the tidal river management (TRM) approach has been implemented for the past three decades (from 1990 to 2020) within the polder system in Southwest Bangladesh to achieve water sustainability. TRM plan and watershed management plan (WMP) have commonalities as both are aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of watershed resources with the management of land, water, and the wider ecosystem of the watershed in an integrated way. The TRM plan focuses mostly on coastal regions, whereas the WMP focuses on both coastal and non-coastal regions. According to this, the aim of this study was to explore the application of the sustainability index of tidal river management (SITRM) in measuring the sustainability of tidal river management in the coastal area of the Lower Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) delta. In order to quantify the sustainability of tidal river management, this research first provided the components and indicators of SITRM for the coastal region. The study follows a 5-point Likert scale for opinion survey of key informants and comprises households’ survey of farmers. In addition, it includes Landsat satellite images from Earth Explorer of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and direct field observation to collect information regarding the indicators of SITRM. The study measures the index value of SITRM for identifying the water sustainability of Beel East Khukshia-TRM. The index value was 71.8 out of 100, showing good tidal river management for the Hari–Teka–Bhadra catchment. To achieve water sustainability and aid stakeholders and water managers in decision making, it may be possible to include the SITRM framework in tidal river management projects. In addition, the SITRM is more capable of facing drainage congestion, waterlogging, and climate change issues than watershed sustainability index (WSI), Canadian water sustainability index (CWSI), West Java water sustainability index (WJWSI), and water poverty index (WPI). Therefore, water professionals and policymakers can apply SITRM to assess the resilience of specific TRM schemes for greater sustainability in different coastal regions of the world. Full article

Considering the notion that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, the effective exploitation of the economic value of forest resources is an important research topic, especially in forest-rich areas. The development of the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) industry has promoted both ecological and economic benefits and has effectively improved farmers’ incomes while protecting forest resources. In order to evaluate the effects of the NTFPs industry on sustaining farmers’ livelihoods and protecting ecological environments, we constructed a performance evaluation index system to determine the poverty alleviation performance of the NTFPs industry in Yunnan Province using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which covered three aspects: the achievement of poverty alleviation, the sustainability of poverty alleviation and satisfaction with poverty alleviation. Then, we selected Sanhe Village in Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, as an example to verify and rationalize the evaluation index system and comprehensively evaluate the poverty alleviation performance of the NTFPs industry. Based on data from questionnaires and field interviews, we found the following: (1) the overall poverty alleviation performance of the NTFPs industry in Sanhe Village was 79.33, which indicated that the effect was good; (2) the scores for the achievement of poverty alleviation, the sustainability of poverty alleviation and satisfaction with poverty alleviation were 50.56, 18.57 and 10.2, respectively; (3) there were some problems with the poverty alleviation performance of the NTFPs industry, such as limited capital investments, the weak roles of cooperatives and enterprises, the low enthusiasm of lower-income households and incomplete poverty alleviation projects. Finally, we devised some suggestions that could improve the poverty alleviation performance of the NTFPs industry. This paper presents the performance evaluation index system for the poverty alleviation performance of the NTFPs industry, which could provide a reference for evaluating the developmental effects of the NTFPs industry in other lower-income forest areas. Through our empirical analysis of the development effects of the NTFPs industry on farmers’ livelihoods and ecological environments in Sanhe Village, we found that the development of the NTFPs industry significantly improved the farmers’ livelihoods and ecological environments. Full article