Sustainable Futures最新文献

Agriculture faces environmental threats caused by climate change, exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). As a result, climate change is a pressing issue for agriculture, necessitating strategies like carbon credits to mitigate emissions and enhance productivity. Carbon credits are recognized as a prominent avenue for reducing emissions, as highlighted in the 2023 Climate Change Conference (COP28). However, research on carbon credit targeting non-CO₂ emissions from agriculture is limited. Thus, this study employed stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to examine panel data from 1991 to 2020, focusing on the effectiveness of climate-smart agriculture in reducing South African agricultural GHG emissions. The data included non-mechanical agricultural emissions sources, paying attention to emissions from crops and livestock. The findings supported the hypothesis, suggesting that increasing incentives, specifically carbon credits, can raise agricultural productivity while reducing emissions. The study also found that inefficiencies in agriculture significantly impact farm output and emissions. The results indicate that offering GHG carbon credits for agriculture promotes sustainable practices, as methane and nitrous oxide emissions are short-lived and can help reduce climate change impact through carbon sequestration. Prioritizing on-farm emissions, soil fertility improvement, reduced fertilizer use, and better livestock management can lead to positive change through climate-smart farming practices. Therefore, promoting customized GHG credits for agriculture mechanisms can lead to positive change through climate-smart farming practices. Thus, it is necessary to enhance mitigation strategies, policies, and farm practices. Finally, the study emphasizes the significance of evidence-based GHG credits for agriculture mechanisms policies and the need for future research into ways to persuade farmers to participate in the carbon credit market.

Employing the Taobao village certification (TVC) as an exogenous policy shock and leveraging balanced panel data at the county level from 2007 to 2021, our multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis reveals that the TVC reduces agricultural fertilizers and pesticides usage by 5 % to 10 %. This environmental benefit primarily stems from facilitating labor transfer and advocating for environmentally sustainable agriculture. Moreover, a more pronounced pollution reduction effect is observed in counties with higher marketisation level and major grain-producing areas. Our paper holds significant practical implications for rural environmental governance and potentially for other agricultural powerhouses where e-commerce is flourishing.

Since the national carbon market in China started trading in 2021, only over 2000 enterprises in the power generation industry have participated in the trading, with a small cumulative trading volume. There is an urgent demand for market expansion. Currently, the Chinese economy is still in the recovery stage, facing significant employment pressure. In order to avoid a large negative impact of the expansion of the Chinese carbon market on the economy, key industries should be systematically included in the national carbon market. We developed a social accounting matrix (SAM) multiplier analysis based on industry grouping and consider two scenarios: first, each key industry reduces CO₂ emissions by 1 ton, and second, each key industry reduces CO₂ emissions by 1 %. For the first scenario, we calculate the marginal value added and employment impacts of carbon reduction. For the second scenario, the impact of carbon reduction on the elasticity of value added and the elasticity of employment are calculated. Industries with the higher added value and employment losses per unit of carbon reduction should be included later in China's national carbon market. The sorting results of the two scenarios can mutually corroborate each other. Our order of inclusion is different from the market's expectations, and the results are also different from previous relevant studies. On the one hand, we not only calculates the direct economic impact of key industries included in the national carbon market but also calculates the indirect and induced economic impacts. On the other hand, we used a “from the outside to the inside” planning method rather than “from the inside to the outside.” We recommend sequentially including the remaining seven key industries in the national carbon market according to the order in this article.

With global economic growth, the burden on the natural environment is severe, and more and more attention is paid to sustainable development that enhances the economic growth and sustainability of the natural environment. This study aims to show the concern of global citizens regarding the natural environment and household income. It used worldwide individual interview data from 149 countries between 2007 and 2021, with 2,450,043 observations (Gallup World Poll surveys) and an original large-scale internet- and face-to-face-survey from 37 nations with 100,956 observations. Using a binary logit regression model, this study also analyzes public sentiment regarding who should bear the financial burden for environmental conservation. We found that 60 % of citizens showed that their current income provides a comfortable life; on the other hand, 49 % of the respondents were dissatisfied with conservation of the natural environment. The satisfaction with household income was much greater than satisfaction with natural environmental conservation, leaving space for improvement in environmental stringency. For citizens’ preferences regarding financial responsibility, the government and companies are expected to afford conservation costs.

In the last two decades, the surge in carbon emissions has escalated environmental damage and is a major concern globally. Recognized as a significant threat to humanity, unchecked environmental degradation can potentially hinder the achievement of sustainable development. As a result, accurate monitoring of carbon emissions becomes imperative for formulating effective climate policies. Taking into consideration, this study has taken the newly developed consumption-based carbon emissions measure to study the pollution haven hypothesis and examine the link between Greenfield Investment (GFI) inflows to host nations and their environmental impact for 85 developing countries from 1990 to 2020. The results show a positive correlation between Greenfield investment and Consumption-based Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CCO₂) in sampled nations. Similarly, energy usage and export damage the environment because developing countries rely on conventional and old methods of energy usage. The results were further analyzed for low, lower middle, and upper middle income countries as well. The subsample outcome shows that Greenfield investment has a more damaged environment in low income countries as compared to lower middle and upper middle income countries. These insights underscore the urgency for developing countries to adopt environmentally conscious policies to attract international investors. It also emphasizes the need for stringent regulations aimed at curbing environmental pollution and complying with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Similarly, low and lower middle income countries to attract Greenfield investment, may also focus more on strict environmental pollution policies. Industries must be shifted from conventional energy methods to renewable energy sources. Sustainable Development Goals; 7, 12, and 13 can be achieved by host countries, alluring investors to invest in terms of Greenfield in renewable energy resources, which would be used in automobile transportation, to shift industries from conventional energy resources to renewable energy resources. The same Greenfield investment would also be used in bringing efficient machinery for more production in industries with minimal environmental pollution.

This study examines the interplay between timber extraction, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability in Ethiopia's under-researched Sheka Zone. We employ a multi-method approach to assess practices and perspectives of loggers, foresters, and sawmill operators. Findings reveal a complex relationship, with semi-mechanized extraction emerging as a potential balance between economic viability and environmental responsibility. The research highlights the need for interventions like transitioning loggers to sustainable techniques and fostering knowledge exchange across stakeholders. This interdisciplinary study contributes to sustainable development discourse by exploring the economic viability of various extraction methods and advocating for policies that support both livelihoods and long-term environmental conservation

The research on how environmental performance feedback (EPF) affect corporate environmental investment (EI) is in infancy. We divide EPF into positive and negative EPF and examine the effects on EI. We further study the moderating roles of environmental regulation. By using panel data of listed manufacturing companies in China, we find positive EPF negatively affects EI, whereas negative EPF positively affects EI. Mandatory environmental regulation strengthens the relationship between negative EPF and EI, while voluntary environmental regulation weakens the relationship between negative EPF and EI. Furthermore, we find the impact of EPF on EI is heterogeneous.

This interdisciplinary study addresses a critical gap in environmental behavior research by focusing on Gen Z's engagement with tree planting, a key yet underexplored activity in the context of achieving sustainable development goals. Motivated by the need to understand how cultural practices and environmental policies influence young people's participation in sustainability efforts, this research examines how integrating psychological theories with sociocultural dynamics can enhance our understanding of proactive environmental engagement. Leveraging frameworks from psychology, sociology, environmental science, and cultural studies, this research integrates the Value-Belief-Norm theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior to analyze how Gen Z's values, environmental beliefs, and perceived behavioral control influence their intentions and actions toward tree planting. The methodology involves a two-phase empirical investigation: initially developing and validating measurement items with 141 Gen Z participants, followed by a second phase with 203 participants to validate the proposed model using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings highlight that the environmental value of Gen Z significantly shapes its attitudes and behavioral intentions toward tree planting. Additionally, this study reveals the crucial role of personal norms and perceived behavioral control in steering individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors. The Vishu Thaineetham initiative, which has a global footprint and has transformed a cultural tradition into a sustainable tree-planting movement, is a case study for innovative ecological preservation. This initiative demonstrates the potential of culturally adapted practices to foster collective environmental engagement and promote cleaner production strategies. The implications for theory and practice, emphasizing insights into environmental behavior models, are also provided.

Drought undermines the financial sustainability of farmers. While farmers have adopted various strategies to mitigate some drought impacts, they remain exposed to substantial drought risk. Insurance could be useful in managing climatic risks and for encouraging farmers to take sensible risks (e.g., changing their sowing date to increase yield), but it can be costly. Here, we tested whether the integration of a change in sowing date with rainfall index-based insurance could improve farmer profitability and income stability. We used the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM)-Cotton model to simulate cotton lint yields for various sowing dates, taking into account different management strategies, across three dry-land cotton research farm sites – Dalby, Goondiwindi, and Theodore – from 1940 to 2022. We designed the index-based insurance payout when the average rainfall received during the growing season falls below a predefined level, such as the 5^th, 10^th, or 20^th percentile of rainfall. Our study, which involved 3.9 million cotton lint simulations and 3,000 rainfall index-based insurance products, showed that combining a shift in sowing date with insurance can lead to an income improvement of up to 21.5% at some study sites. Additionally, in drought years, the income improvement for farmers who combined optimal sowing dates with rainfall index-based insurance was up to 48.0%. The framework developed in this study could aid in devising financial strategies to enhance farming resilience during climate extremes.

This study employs the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model to explore the dynamics of the Moroccan Environmental, Social, and Governance stock market (MASI ESG), considering the influence of global factors, including oil price (Brent), Global Economic Policy Uncertainty (GEPU), geopolitical risk (GPR), and climate policy uncertainty (CPU).

A significant positive relationship between MASI ESG and Brent is identified, attributed to Morocco's energy import reliance. Increasing oil prices incentivize sustainable practices, thereby enhancing ESG performance. Conversely, GEPU negatively impacts MASI ESG in the long term, discouraging investors during economic uncertainties, posing a threat to ESG's sustained viability. The study unveils a nuanced relationship between GPR and ESG performance, where geopolitical risk exhibits a dual nature, presenting challenges during long-term turmoil but potentially boosting confidence amid short-term fluctuations.

While initially insignificant, CPU demonstrates a sustained positive relationship with MASI ESG over time, emphasizing the growing significance of climate-conscious strategies for long-term ESG performance. We evince the potential of the Moroccan ESG market to contribute to a sustainable future by attracting responsible investments and fostering sustainable business practices. By overcoming challenges and embracing innovation, the Moroccan ESG market can emerge as a model for other developing countries striving for sustainable economic growth.