Environmental and Sustainability Indicators最新文献

{"title":"Global patterns and drivers of protected area system decentralization: A cross-national analysis","authors":"Liza Khmara ,&nbsp;Michael Touchton ,&nbsp;José Maria Cardoso da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the first global analysis of decentralization patterns in national protected area systems (NPAS) across 118 countries. Using a hurdle regression model, we examine how country characteristics influence both the adoption and extent of NPAS decentralization. Our findings reveal that most NPAS remain largely centralized, with significant regional variations: the Americas show the highest rate of decentralization (31 %), while Europe shows the lowest (4 %). Conservation funding and public participation positively correlate with decentralization adoption. Among countries that have adopted decentralization policies, country size significantly increases the extent of decentralization, while protected area system age significantly constrains it. These findings provide insights for policymakers and conservation practitioners, suggesting that effective NPAS decentralization requires tailored approaches considering the local context, public engagement, and historical institutional development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100685"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A combination of Planetary Boundaries-LCA and the Doughnut to assess social impacts of systems","authors":"Alexis Lalevée ,&nbsp;Claire Lalevée","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Life Cycle Assessment is the most widely used method for assessing ecological impacts. This method only considers the ecological part of the sustainability, although social issues are becoming increasingly important. “Social life cycle assessment” (S-LCA) has been developed to fill this gap, but it is rarely used in practice. In fact, it is complex and there is a lack of clear guidelines to implement S-LCA, especially for localising (adapting to a context), the indicators, which often imply the involvement of various stakeholders.</div><div>Our hypothesis is that social indicators can be linked to ecological indicators through a mathematical correlation. Thus it allows the assessment of social impacts using these correlations. This article provide a method to do so, taking as input a Planetary-Boundaries LCA (PB-LCA) and achieving localisation by a downscaling of this PB-LCA. Our proposal is illustrated by a case study. The illustration highlights how to link and interpret the social and ecological dimensions, but also some weaknesses, such as the fact that it depends on PB-LCA, a method not yet widely spread, thus causing limitations of use by practitioners under real conditions. To remedy this, we make preliminary recommendations for practitioners wishing to use this method. Furthermore, the results must be interpreted with caution by practitioners: they are only a statistical representation. Practitioners should validate this mathematical approach with a field approach (interviews, etc.).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100679"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143835272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging business and biodiversity: An analysis of biodiversity assessment tools","authors":"Andreas Barth ,&nbsp;Lea Ranacher ,&nbsp;Franziska Hesser ,&nbsp;Tobias Stern ,&nbsp;Kurt Christian Schuster","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Corporate sustainability management is an increasingly emerging topic. Consequently, it is important for businesses to evaluate the impact of their activities on biodiversity and develop strategies to reduce their negative biodiversity impacts. This paper analyses 45 biodiversity assessment tools, proposed by the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), that can be used by companies. The tools were analysed for the following characteristics: methods used in the tools, biodiversity topics covered, pressure and state biodiversity aspects, skill requirements, accessibility, user interface, integration of a map, developer group and assessment scope, and then compared using multidimensional scaling (MDS) to identify (dis-)similarities of the tools. Using qualitative analysis and MDS, we identified six main groups: software and web applications for biodiversity assessment, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools, Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) analysis tools, Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tools, index calculation methods and biodiversity related data repositories. Furthermore, the biodiversity related indicators in the tools differ greatly by scope, data and evaluation method. In view of the variety of methodological approaches, this study helps businesses to get an overview to subsequently select suitable biodiversity assessment methods. The study also presents a case study on the application of the tools for a wood-processing company and proposes a generalised biodiversity assessment approach for extractive industries. Future research should further explore the limitations of these tools, particularly regarding their practical application by different industry sectors. In the course of further tool development, concrete instructions for action to improve the state of biodiversity should also be integrated in the tools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100682"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stakeholder priorities and navigating barriers in urban river restoration: Comparative insights from Germany and Ghana","authors":"Kirk B. Enu ,&nbsp;Aude Zingraff-Hamed ,&nbsp;Gerd Lupp ,&nbsp;Susanne Raum ,&nbsp;Eddy Moors ,&nbsp;Stephan Pauleit","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban river restoration is a key nature-based solution (NbS) for flood mitigation, climate resilience and urban liveability. While developed countries are assumed to prioritise ecological enhancement and recreation and developing countries focus on risk mitigation and socio-economic development, empirical validation remains limited. This study addresses these gaps through a comparative analysis of the Isar River in Munich, Germany and the Aboabo River in Kumasi, Ghana. Using participatory workshops with SWOT analysis and Kruskal-Wallis testing, we examined how stakeholder priorities differ and how contextual factors enable or constrain the implementation and scaling of urban river restorations. Findings reveal shared challenges, including land tenure complexities, financial constraints and governance hurdles. However, Munich stakeholders emphasise biodiversity and water quality, reflecting advanced ecological objectives, while Kumasi stakeholders prioritise flood risk mitigation and project feasibility, given the city's vulnerability and early-stage restoration efforts. These differences partly confirm common assumptions but also highlight the influence of NbS implementation stages. Early-phase projects, like Kumasi's, focus on risk reduction, whereas mature projects, like Munich's, shift toward ecological enhancement and recreation. Recreation was also highly valued in Kumasi and less so in Munich and suggests broader stakeholder priorities in developing contexts. Cultural heritage and climate adaptation were underrepresented in both cases and signal gaps in existing frameworks. We recommend that developed countries integrate climate resilience and cost efficiency, while developing countries align restoration with socio-economic needs, strengthen institutional capacity and embed projects into broader urban planning frameworks. A phased, coordinated approach may offer a viable pathway for long-term success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100683"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A legal and SAFA-based framework for improving the environmental integrity toward Thailand's agriculture sustainability","authors":"Narisara Kaewchutima ,&nbsp;Oramas Suttinun ,&nbsp;Udomsak Sinthipong ,&nbsp;Charongpun Musikavong","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agriculture is an important sector for Thailand and other countries. The law enforcement are one of the key success factors of sustainable agriculture. The alignment of sustainability indicators of the agricultural sector with specific legal frameworks and the recommendation for improvements has never been carried out. This research aimed to develop a framework to assess the aligned laws with the sustainability assessment of food and agriculture systems (SAFA) framework for improving the environmental integrity of agriculture. This study uses the SAFA framework to evaluate agricultural sustainability, focusing on target-based indicators in the environmental integrity dimension. The laws were classified as fully (dark green), partially (yellow), or not aligned (red) with SAFA indicators. The assessment findings reveal Thailand's legislative alignment with agricultural sustainability goals. In the dark green category, the Air Pollution Reduction Target and the Clean Water Target are remarkably well-known, meeting all the criteria of the SAFA framework. The Water Conservation Target, Land Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan, and Species Conservation Target are all included in the yellow category. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target, Renewable Energy Use Target, and Waste Reduction Target indicated major deficiencies and are classified as the red category. The specific and measurable targets, establishing clear timeframes, and adopting a proactive approach in legislation enactment to enhance the alignment legislation with the SAFA framework should be developed and promulgated toward sustainable development in the agricultural sector. The developed framework on the assessment of aligning law with SAFA framework can be applied in other countries toward sustainable agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100681"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public perceptions of climate risks, vulnerability, and adaptation strategies: Fuzzy cognitive mapping in Irish and Spanish living labs","authors":"Ananya Tiwari ,&nbsp;Luís Campos Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Sudha-Rani Nalakurthi ,&nbsp;Salem Gharbia","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As Europe faces ‘extremely high’ climate risks, being the fastest warming continent on the planet, it is crucial to invest in effective climate adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable communities. Despite this, limited studies have explored the effects of climate hazards on human lives, due to the assumption that European countries have sufficient adaptive capacity and socioeconomic resources. This has hindered policymaking, as lack of data fosters uncertainty and inefficiency. This study aims to address this research gap by exploring the public perceptions of climate change in two living lab regions in Europe, namely, in Spain and Ireland. This involves using qualitative tools like surveys and interviews to collate information on the impacts of climate change on communities, studying beliefs pertaining to climate hazards and how they shape behaviours. A key objective of the study is to determine the socioeconomic vulnerability of the populations in two diverse European regions, and similar trends were found. The study also assesses the role of policymaking in building adaptive capacity, gathering local insights and exploring the role of novel nature-based solutions (NBS) in building resilience. Finally, this research uses fuzzy cognitive mapping to illustrate these complex processes and societal dynamics as part of a comprehensive systems analysis. Contrary to popular opinion, it is found that communities in Spanish and Irish regions are increasingly climate vulnerable. This study finds a relationship between experience of climate hazards and public willingness to engage in climate action, which is however, hindered by lack of effective citizen engagement policies. The increasing popularity of NBS due to their socioeconomic co-benefits is also highlighted, as is the need to contextualise adaptation strategies in local needs. Ultimately, this study offers policymakers insights on trends found between two culturally and socioeconomically diverse European regions, based in systems analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100678"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143838544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating municipal solid waste management efficiency in Iceland: A data envelopment analysis of socioeconomic and geographic influences","authors":"Guðmundur Kristján Óskarsson ,&nbsp;Sveinn Agnarsson ,&nbsp;Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of municipal solid waste management in Iceland, focusing on the factors influencing waste generation and recycling rates. Utilizing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and regression techniques, the research seeks to provide insights into the challenges that municipalities face in managing waste effectively, particularly regarding their unique socioeconomic and geographic characteristics.</div><div>The analysis covers 48 of Iceland's 69 municipalities from 2019 to 2021, employing input- and output-oriented DEA models. It explores the relationship between waste management costs, solid waste per capita, recycling rates, and socioeconomic factors such as age, population size, disposable income, and rural-urban ratios.</div><div>The results reveal significant disparities in efficiency among municipalities. Larger population sizes and smaller geographical areas positively correlate with waste management efficiency, while older populations and higher waste management costs negatively impact performance. The relationship between rural populations and efficiency is complex, highlighting the influence of both population density and socioeconomic characteristics on waste management outcomes.</div><div>This research provides valuable insights into waste management efficiency in rural and Arctic regions. It emphasises the necessity for tailored strategies that consider each municipality's unique characteristics and resource limitations, advocating for targeted policies and government support to improve waste management practices and promote sustainability in Arctic and rural communities. Additionally, the findings enhance the current literature by addressing a gap in understanding waste management efficiency in remote and lesser-studied regions, thus informing both academic discussions and practical applications in policy formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100676"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143814961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nexus of FDI, GDP, renewable energy, trade openness, and environmental pollution in Japan: New evidence from ARDL method","authors":"Vu Ngoc Xuan","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The manuscript investigates the dynamic relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Renewable Energy (RE), Trade Openness (TO), and environmental pollution in Japan, employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The analysis uses time-series data to uncover both these variables' short- and long-term effects on Japan's environmental and economic outcomes. The manuscript finds that while FDI and TO significantly contribute to GDP growth, their effects on CO₂ emissions are nuanced, with trade liberalization potentially leading to higher emissions in the short run. In contrast, adopting RE shows a robust negative relationship with CO₂ emissions, suggesting its role in decarbonizing the economy. The long-run results emphasize the importance of transitioning to green technologies, with RE being a key driver for sustainable economic growth and environmental protection. Policy recommendations include fostering green FDI, enhancing RE investments, and promoting trade policies that align with environmental goals. The findings provide important insights for policymakers aiming to balance economic growth with climate change mitigation efforts in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100677"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143820709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of digital technologies on eco-efficiency: Evidence from ICT patents","authors":"Yan Li,&nbsp;Xiyue Xu,&nbsp;Zhaoxuan Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In light of the swift advancement of the digital economy, exploring how digital technology influences eco-efficiency allows for an assessment of the effects of digital economic growth on sustainable development. This article empirically analyses the effect of digital technology development on eco-efficiency from the perspective of digital technology, based on the data of China's information and communication technology (ICT) patents, and tests the mechanism of capital productivity. It is found that digital technology development can significantly promote eco-efficiency, and the conclusion passes the robustness test. The results of the heterogeneity analysis indicate significant variation in how digital technology development promotes digital entrepreneurship. Additionally, the impact of digital technology development on eco-efficiency is more pronounced in coastal cities, particularly after the new economic norm, the opening of high-speed railways, and in mega-cities. The findings from the mechanism analysis suggest that advancements in digital technology enhance eco-efficiency by increasing capital productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100675"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143790823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gis and parametric based coffee site suitability zonation in North Shewa zone of Oromia region, central Ethiopia","authors":"Ayehu Fekadu,&nbsp;Belay Andarege","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several studies are now being undertaken to examine land suitability using GIS and soil data. This study mapped and assessed the sustainability of coffee farming in Ethiopia's central highlands using GIS and parametric decision-making criteria. The method combined geographic, meteorological, and soil quality data. We obtained spectral and DEM data from the USGS and climate data from EMSA. To evaluate soil suitability for coffee, we established 120 soil plots using a stratified random sampling method based on grids and transects. Samples were obtained from depths ranging from 0 to 30 cm and evaluated in the laboratory. The suitability metrics were generated using GIS and multi-criteria decision-making analysis, with the Storie and square root methods used to assess topographic, climatic, and soil suitability. Our findings revealed that Arabica coffee may be grown in the central highlands, with approximately 27 % (303,421.5 ha) of land classified as highly to marginally suitable (S1-S3) based on minimal coffee production standards. Conversely, 73 % of the region's land (821213 ha) was rated unsuitable due to lower temperatures or major production constraints. Our methodology also effectively assessed the suitability of present coffee-growing areas at higher elevations, where it was previously thought that coffee could not be grown. We conclude that our findings have the potential to influence coffee producers, policymakers, and specialists, serving as a resource for coffee production in highland areas by identifying viable land suitability classes that could benefit from improvement efforts for sustainable and productive coffee farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100674"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}