International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development (12 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Circular water management solutions for optimising irrigated agricultural production in Ghana: the relevance of nanotechnology  
  by Emmanuel K. Boon, Thorolf Konrad Franz Gross, Richard Oppong-Boateng, Oleksandra Karintseva 
  Abstract: The agricultural sector is the main source of employment, food and income in rural areas in most African countries like Ghana. However, due to several factors, including water scarcity, over reliance on rain-fed agriculture, increasing climate change impacts and pollution of freshwater sources, agricultural productivity is lagging behind the high population growth rate and demand for food. Food and nutrition insecurity, poverty, inadequate employment opportunities and poor quality of life are the dire consequences, especially in the rural communities. This paper argues that deploying the circular water management (CWM) approach in conjunction with nanotechnology applications will help to improve irrigation water provision to smallholder farmers to mitigate these intertwined socio-economic challenges. A mixed research design method guided the research and preparation of the paper. The findings of a comprehensive desk research informed the design of a semi-structured interview guide for collecting data from 11 purposively sampled agricultural scientists and experts of sustainable development, water resources management and nanotechnology in Upper West Region (UWR) in Northern Ghana. In addition, 20 postgraduate students debated on key water resource management issues during a focus group discussion (FGD) and recommended appropriate mitigation measures.
  Keywords: agriculture; circular economy; food security; irrigation; nanotechnology; water.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10063505
   
  
• Life cycle assessment and software tools comparison  
  by Michal Sečkár, Marián Schwarz, Juraj Golej, Darina Veverková 
  Abstract: The purpose of this study was to provide the necessary information about life cycle assessment (LCA), from the definition of the goal and scope through the inventory analysis, the life cycle impact assessment, the interpretation of the results, and the use of LCA study. Moreover, information about SimaPro, GaBi, openLCA, and Umberto software were described and SimaPro and Gabi software were compared. The requirements of what the software should enable and what is necessary for its operation and use by experts were discussed. The two most frequently used software were studied in terms of several criteria. The advantages and disadvantages of each software were analysed. The results show that both software are special and different in some way. It is important to be aware of the differences among the used software and databases, especially when interpreting results and in comparative studies.
  Keywords: life cycle assessment; LCA; SimaPro; GaBi; software.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10064669
   
  
• Growth, education and sustainability: an overview  
  by Gaetano Lisi 
  Abstract: This paper aims to give a contribution to the body of literature on growth, education and sustainability. To date, this particular body is not firmly established but it is, nevertheless, growing. Indeed, the close link between sustainable development and human capital has only recently been analysed in depth, and mainly with empirical analyses. The contribution of this paper is threefold, viz.: 1) it reviews the related literature; 2) it develops a basic theoretical model for the empirical analysis; 3) it performs a panel-type empirical analysis that covers 81 countries and 11 time periods (2012-2022). The main result of this work is that generic human capital (education) is not solely the engine of economic growth because it is also, potentially, the architect of sustainable development, since human capital (education) is also necessary to increase awareness of environmental issues. Hence, the study result suggests that investment in education is the only policy that can achieve both growth and sustainability.
  Keywords: education; growth; sustainability; environmental quality.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10064679
   
  
• The impacts of municipal solid waste collection and transport technologies in smart cities: trends and challenges  
  by Hendrigo Venes, Rodrigo De Alvarenga Rosa, Renato Ribeiro Siman 
  Abstract: The concept of Smart City (SC) is an extensive approach to the functioning of urban centres and among the most important issues associated with SC’s applications is urban waste management, which negatively impacts society’s environment and health if not properly managed. This article proposes to identify the worldwide trends in solid waste collection and transportation in SC and the main challenges in future research. Hence, a review was performed using Methodi InOrdinatio and bibliometrix R-tool, applied to two merged databases, to review a selected portfolio and contribute to direct future research. Results show that environmental and economic dimensions appeared more frequently in the articles (94.3%) and that social analysis is scarce when dealing with waste management, since only 10% of articles addressed social aspects. The social contexts of sustainable development are important factors to be considered due to the many informal and associated waste pickers working with waste collection and separation in low and middle-income countries.
  Keywords: municipal solid waste management; MSWM; smart cities; SC; waste collection; waste transportation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10065201
   
  
• Evaluation of the urban development index based on Silicon Valley index  
  by Guilin Wang 
  Abstract: Based on the Silicon Valley Index, urban development index of the Yangtze River Delta is designed and assessed by entropy index model. The results show that: 1) the urban development index have significant differences in levels, the same city has significant differences in different dimensions, and the same latitude has significant differences in different cities; 2) there are significant differences in the contribution rates and driving effects of each subsystem to the urban development index, resulting in unbalanced urban development levels between cities; 3) obvious differences in the driving effect of various indicators on urban development index are found. The ratio of housing price to income and urbanisation rate have the most stirring influence on the urban development index, with the index weights of 0.1355 and 0.1230, respectively. In short, urban development index in the study area is low and needs to be further improved.
  Keywords: Silicon Valley index; urban development index; small and medium-sized city; Yangtze River delta.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2025.10066347
   
  
• How does legitimacy pressure drive corporate greenwashing? Evidence from China  
  by Qiong Yao, Huihao Lin, Huiying Hu, Mingli Li 
  Abstract: This paper employs institutional theory and information asymmetry theory to explore the impact of legitimacy pressures on corporate greenwashing, whilst concurrently assessing the moderating roles of environmental visibility and geographical location. Specifically, it poses two main questions: (1) What is the relationship between legitimacy pressures and corporate greenwashing? (2) How do environmental visibility and geographical location, through the lenses of institutional theory and information asymmetry theory, affect the interplay between legitimacy pressures and corporate greenwashing? This investigation analysed data from 130 publicly listed companies and formulated an empirical model to evaluate the hypotheses. The results indicate that legitimacy pressures have an inverted U-shaped effect on greenwashing. Factors such as organisational visibility, environmental regulations, and geographical distance temper this inverted U-shaped relationship between legitimacy pressures and greenwashing.
  Keywords: greenwashing; legitimacy pressure; environmental visibility; geographical location; China.
  
  
• Simultaneous effects of climate and land use change on watershed hydrological processes  
  by Ali Talebi, Zahra Nouri, Mohammad Amin Asadi, Babak Ebrahimi 
  Abstract: This research aims to investigate simultaneous effects of climate change and land use change on runoff and real and potential evapotranspiration in Mehrgerd Watershed in South Western Iran. To this end, land use maps were produced for years 1987, 2002, and 2017. Then, 2032 map was predicted. Future projections of the Canadian earth system model (CanESM2) model based on representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) emission scenario were used. The projections were downscaled by statistical downscaling model (SDSM) to simulate future climate of the watershed during 2017-2032. Model of soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was employed to simulate watershed's hydrological processes. R² and NSE for calibration were 0.73, 0.69, respectively. The values for validation were 0.71 and 0.58, respectively. The results showed the contribution of climate change to runoff and real and potential evapotranspiration was 76%, 74%, and 90%, respectively. Furthermore, the land use change contribution to the mentioned components was 24%, 26%, and 10%, respectively. Therefore, effects of climate change on runoff and real and potential evapotranspiration was more significant than that of land use change.
  Keywords: downscaling; evapotranspiration; Mehrgerd Watershed; runoff; SVM; SWAT.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2025.10067722
   
  
• GA-IPSO-BSVM based sustainable development of ecological economic logistics data forecasting model  
  by Yan Sun 
  Abstract: Considering the increasing accuracy of machine learning in detection and recognition tasks, this paper proposes a classification model, which consists of an improved genetic algorithm (GA), the improved particle swarm optimisation (IPSO) and balanced support vector machine (SVM) (namely GA-IPSO-BSVM), to increase the accuracy and to optimise the convergence of logistics data performance classification. Firstly, this paper embeds the elimination mechanism of GA to my model at the early stage of iterations to delete a lot of particles with low speed. Then, in the middle of the iteration, this paper improves the topology structure of particle relationship in PSO to avoid the algorithm trapping into local optimal solution. At the late stage of the iteration, this paper combines the excellent particles in all regions into the excellent particle population and iterates the population to obtain the global optimal solution.
  Keywords: logistics data; ecological-economic belt; GA; particle swarm optimisation; PSO; support vector machine; SVM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059215
   
  
• Atmospheric pollution and climate change in urban areas: a review of implemented policies  
  by Nora Annesi, Massimo Battaglia, Ilenia Ceglia 
  Abstract: Research on air pollution and climate change in urban areas, as well as policies combating this issue, remains fragmented. Most of these studies focus on specific regions, limited time frames, or analyse different pollutants. To address this fragmented research issue, we reviewed articles on air pollution in urban areas, with particular emphasis on policies aimed at combating the problem, and, when possible, validated the findings. The purpose of this study is to offer policymakers that they could use to develop strategies for addressing climate change, mitigating the environmental impact of pollutants, and protect human health. Thus, these strategies would rely on integrated policies and collaboration of all stakeholders.
  Keywords: policy; air pollution; urban areas.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10062331
   
  
• The research on green logistics management strategy in the perspective of ecological environment protection  
  by Xiufang Ou, Bingbin Chen 
  Abstract: The concept of low-carbon and green logistics has pointed out the direction for the development of China's logistics enterprises. This paper analyses the significance and management strategies of China's logistics industry to develop green logistics based on the specific problems in the ecological environment of the current logistics industry development. In addition, constructs a 'three in one' green logistics management strategy from the three dimensions of logistics enterprises, supply chain system and government, that is, from the enterprise's own carbon reduction. In combination with the low carbon requirements for each participant in the construction of the supply chain system, an electronic archive data system for carbon emissions of each logistics enterprise has been set up to form a bottom-up, inside out green logistics construction system strategy, providing reference for the specific implementation strategy of green logistics development.
  Keywords: ecological environment; green logistics; logistics management; strategies.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10062674
   
  
• How the mitigation of environmental impacts affect economic performance in UK manufacturing and construction companies  
  by Timothy Fry, Rebecca Rawson, Uchechukwu Okere 
  Abstract: Manufacturing and construction (M&C) companies cause significant environmental impacts and are under pressure to act. Despite research analysing the relationship between environmental impact mitigation (EIM) and economic performance (EP), findings remain inconclusive. Acknowledging the longevity of the M&C sector, and the uptake of ISO 14001 in UK companies, there is a lack of research analysing this relationship. Research has predominantly used dichotomous measurements for EIM, yet this fails to consider the substantiveness of the approach. This paper develops a multifaceted scoring system to measure the substantiveness of a company's approach to EIM. Using a sample of 58 UK-based publicly-listed M&C companies, the measurement analyses how a substantive approach to EIM affects EP. Correlational tests showed a medium, positive relationship. This implies companies may not need to choose between EIM and profit. The findings and the multifaceted measurement developed have implications for research, stakeholders, and high-level leadership teams.
  Keywords: environmental impact mitigation; EIM; economic performance; manufacturing; construction; sustainability; multifaceted scoring system; return on assets; female leadership; carbon disclosure project; CDP; corporate purpose and values; ISO 14001; UK.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10062679
   
  
• The role of civil society and good governance in effective air quality management in the South Durban Industrial Basin, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa  
  by Samiksha Naidoo, Llewellyn Leonard 
  Abstract: Globally, industrial developments have continued to affect people's health with limited research in this space. The South Durban Industrial Basin in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is an area where industrial activities are undertaken close to residential areas and continues to be a challenge since the democratic transition. Drawing on democratic and good governance frameworks, this paper aims to understand why addressing air pollution is still a challenge in the democratic dispensation and the role of civil society and good governance in addressing air quality. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders to identify practices employed since the advent of democracy to address air pollution and understand challenges that prevent air pollution reduction. Despite the efforts of civil society, air pollution continues to be a challenge due to poor local governance to enforce and monitor air pollution and establish democratic platforms to genuinely include and address citizen concerns.
  Keywords: South Africa; good governance; air pollution; civil society; participation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.10062678