The global energy crisis presents a significant challenge that impacts not only human populations but also ecosystems and biodiversity. In India, the demand for energy has escalated rapidly, driven by industrialisation, urbanisation, and population growth, resulting in increased pressure on both conventional energy sources and environmental systems. This study aims to evaluate the Energy Efficiency (EE) and renewable energy policies in India, examining the balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and government action. The “E-score” methodology is employed to assess the EE performance across selected Indian states, highlighting critical gaps in policy implementation and providing insights into opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, the feasibility of implementing District Cooling Systems (DCS) in Pune is explored, with the city selected as a representative case study due to its growing urban landscape and climate challenges. The adoption of DCS, a highly efficient cooling technology, is considered a promising solution to address urban heat islands and reduce the energy consumption associated with conventional cooling methods. Through a comprehensive analysis, this research underscores the necessity of an integrated approach that incorporates economic, environmental, and social dimensions in the formulation of sustainable energy strategies. The study further advocates for proactive measures at local, state, and national levels to facilitate a seamless transition to renewable energy sources and achieve long-term energy sustainability. The findings emphasise the importance of developing adaptive policies that are aligned with the broader objectives of climate change mitigation, highlighting the potential of DCS as a key component in India's energy transition. By contributing to the understanding of effective energy management and policy frameworks, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and energy practitioners in the pursuit of a sustainable and resilient energy future for India's cities.
This study assesses the long-term impacts of anthropogenic activities on Morocco's Ecological Footprint (EF), employing a dataset from 1980 to 2022 within the framework of the STIRPAT model and utilizing a model (VAR/VECM) approach. Results indicate that Demographic Growth (DG) and Economic Growth (EG) have contributed to an increase of EF by 13.76% and 119.13% per unit output, respectively. Conversely, Higher Educational (HE) attainment scores is shown to alleviate EF, reducing its output by 50.59%. This analysis underscores the urgent need for policy pathways in Morocco that prioritize ecosystem preservation, foster green growth, and promote Human Capital (HC). Recommendations include enhancing the valorization and expansion of the natural ecosystem, aligning economic and demographic trajectories with the region's Bio-Capacity (BC) regeneration limits, and optimizing EF management through sustainable consumption and production practices.
This study investigates the relationship between rapid urbanization and poverty levels in Somalia, employing annual data spanning from 1990 to 2022. The analysis focused on critical variables, including urbanization rates, CO2 emissions as a measure of climate change, and unemployment rates, with poverty quantified by real GDP per capita. A Johansen cointegration approach is utilized to ascertain long-term equilibrium relationships, while a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) captures short-term dynamics. Results indicate that urbanization exerts a significant positive influence on poverty in the long term; specifically, a 1% increase in urbanization correlates with a 1.73% rise in poverty levels. Additionally, unemployment demonstrates a substantial and statistically significant positive effect, whereby a 1% increase in unemployment results in a 9.64% increase in poverty. In contrast, CO2 emissions were found to be statistically insignificant. The long-run equilibrium adjustment rate is approximately 12.66% per period, suggesting a moderate pace of return to equilibrium. In the short run, the unemployment rate negatively influences poverty, with a coefficient of -2.369508. Furthermore, CO2 emissions exhibit a delayed yet significant positive effect on poverty, indicated by a coefficient of 0.681835. Granger causality tests reveal strong causal relationships between past unemployment rates and future poverty levels, as well as between past urbanization trends and subsequent poverty levels. The findings underscore the necessity for integrated policies that address urbanization, enhance climate resilience, and promote employment, aiming to alleviate poverty in Somalia.
This study investigates the long-term relationship between human development and environmental sustainability in Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions as a key indicator of environmental impact. Using data spanning from 1997 to 2022, sourced primarily from World Bank and United Nations databases, the analysis applies the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine how human development—measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), which integrates Gross National Income (GNI), life expectancy, and educational attainment—affects CO₂ emissions. Developing economies, such as Azerbaijan, often face the challenge of balancing economic growth and industrialization with environmental sustainability, as the former can exacerbate environmental pressures, particularly the increase in CO₂ emissions. A long-run equilibrium relationship between HDI and CO₂ emissions is identified, with a one-unit increase in HDI associated with a 2.793-unit reduction in CO₂ emissions. This negative relationship suggests that improvements in human development, reflected in better educational outcomes, higher income levels, and improved healthcare, can foster more sustainable environmental practices. Enhanced energy efficiency, greater adoption of green technologies, and increased environmental awareness are among the mechanisms through which human development may contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. The findings underscore the need for a synergistic approach to human development and environmental sustainability, advocating for policies that integrate socio-economic growth with environmental stewardship. By aligning human development strategies with sustainability goals, countries like Azerbaijan can mitigate ecological degradation while fostering long-term economic and social well-being. These insights provide important implications for policymakers seeking to achieve sustainable development in Azerbaijan and beyond, contributing to global efforts to reconcile growth with environmental preservation.
Research on Taiwan's science parks has frequently concentrated on isolated aspects, often neglecting the interplay between diverse indicators and the multifaceted dynamics influencing the development of these parks. Additionally, existing applications of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks in science parks have been found to inadequately capture the complexity of their performance metrics. This study aims to establish a comprehensive ESG evaluation framework tailored to the unique characteristics of Taiwan's science parks. Through the integration of the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and cluster analysis, a classification system was developed, demonstrating operational feasibility. The proposed evaluation framework is structured around two primary dimensions-Environmental Resource Management and Socioeconomic Resilience-encompassing ten critical indicators. Findings indicate that indicators under the Environmental Resource Management dimension, including water resource utilization, air quality management, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy adoption, and waste management, exert the most significant impact on the sustainable development of science parks. In contrast, indicators under the Socioeconomic Resilience dimension, such as transportation planning, labour rights protection, public facility services, and financial sustainability, are deemed moderately influential yet essential to fostering balanced development. Indicators related to high-tech talent cultivation and gender equality in decision-making were determined to have limited relevance to the immediate operational needs of science parks. Consequently, it is suggested that these indicators be excluded from resource allocation priorities in resource-constrained settings. Emphasis is placed on prioritizing investments in the Environmental Resource Management dimension to ensure sustainability and compliance with global environmental standards. Additional resources, if available, should be allocated based on the specific contextual needs of individual science parks. The proposed framework not only provides actionable insights into resource allocation strategies but also establishes a robust, comparable basis for evaluating the ESG performance of science parks in Taiwan and beyond. By addressing the interdependencies among critical indicators, the framework enhances the capacity of science parks to contribute to sustainable industrial development.
The complex challenges of addressing climate change at the local level necessitate a nuanced understanding of the policy networks that shape climate governance. This study investigates the policy network surrounding the Climate Village Program (CVP) in Pekanbaru City, Riau, examining the roles of various stakeholders and the collective dynamics that underpin local climate resilience efforts. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative data, and utilising Social Network Analysis (SNA) with UCINET 6 software to map and analyse the relationships between key actors in the network. The results reveal that the Department of Environment and Hygiene (DLHK) of Pekanbaru City occupies the most central and influential position in the policy network, acting as the primary leader. The Pekanbaru City Government plays a pivotal intermediary role, coordinating interactions between stakeholders. Despite the use of a multistakeholder approach in policy development, the process is predominantly driven by government institutions, with limited participation from businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This study highlights the potential for expanding the role of the private sector and NGOs in local climate governance, while also advocating for the increased involvement of universities in the development and implementation of climate policy. The findings offer a model for enhancing multistakeholder collaboration in local climate policy networks, with implications for broader application in other regions. The insights gained could contribute to more inclusive, participatory, and successful climate action initiatives, potentially transferable and scalable across various contexts to improve local climate governance globally.
Sustainable development has garnered significant attention due to its multifaceted benefits across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. This study investigates the influence of international performance indicators, specifically organisational agility, data science applications, and strategic partnerships, on the advancement of sustainable development initiatives. Additionally, the role of business intelligence (BI) techniques in augmenting this relationship is examined. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating both quantitative and qualitative analyses to comprehensively address the research objectives. A systematic review of the relevant literature was conducted, supplemented by data sourced from the World Bank, which was subsequently analysed using Power BI software. This global study encompassed diverse samples from various regions, ensuring a broad representation of perspectives. The findings reveal that the integration of organisational agility, data science applications, and partnerships, when enhanced by BI techniques, significantly accelerates the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is concluded that leveraging these international performance indicators, alongside advanced data-driven methodologies, is critical for fostering a more sustainable future.
This study investigates the complex interrelationships between environmental quality, economic growth, and human capital across 34 provinces in Indonesia from 2017 to 2023, employing a vector autoregression (VAR) approach. The analysis seeks to elucidate how these three critical dimensions influence one another and to provide insights for formulating sustainable development policies that balance economic progress with environmental preservation and human capital enhancement. The findings reveal a bidirectional causality between environmental quality and economic growth, indicating that improvements in one are likely to promote advances in the other. A similar bidirectional causality is observed between environmental quality and human capital, suggesting that better environmental conditions may enhance human capital development, which in turn can contribute to environmental sustainability. However, the relationship between economic growth and human capital is found to be unidirectional, with evidence showing that human capital positively influences economic growth, but not vice versa. This unidirectional causality highlights the importance of investing in human capital to sustain economic growth without compromising environmental integrity. The study underscores the necessity of integrated policy approaches that simultaneously address environmental quality, economic growth, and human capital development. Focusing narrowly on economic growth without considering its environmental and social dimensions may lead to adverse outcomes, undermining long-term sustainability objectives. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers in Indonesia adopt a holistic perspective, integrating environmental, economic, and social policies to achieve sustainable development goals. The findings of this study provide a nuanced understanding of the interplay among these factors and offer valuable guidance for designing policies that ensure balanced and sustainable development in Indonesia.
The Philippines possesses significant solar energy potential, yet the adoption of rooftop solar power (RTSP) among households remains limited despite its benefits in reducing electricity costs and contributing to the clean energy transition. This study investigates the determinants influencing households’ willingness to adopt RTSP in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, utilizing the contingent valuation method. Survey results indicate that economic factors, particularly the potential for electricity bill reduction, along with environmental considerations, are positively associated with adoption intentions. While a substantial portion of households (82%) expressed some level of intention to adopt RTSP, the figure drops to 20% when focusing exclusively on households with definitive adoption plans. This suggests that perceived returns on RTSP investments are insufficient to spur broader adoption without further intervention. Policy measures, including increased financial incentives such as enhanced net metering rates, the accreditation of RTSP providers to mitigate perceived risks, and the provision of low-cost financing options, are deemed necessary to enhance adoption rates. Additionally, other economic advantages, such as property value appreciation and enhanced roof durability, could be emphasized in future marketing and public awareness campaigns to strengthen the case for RTSP adoption. Greater government support is critical to unlocking the potential of RTSP in the Philippines and aligning household energy practices with national sustainability goals.
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