Pub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101155
Naceur Khraief , Mazin Alharbi
This study examines the short- and long-term relationships between energy consumption and foreign capital inflows in Tunisia from 1971 to 2020, while also exploring the influence of economic growth, exports, and currency devaluation on energy consumption. Employing the ARDL bounds testing approach with structural breaks, the analysis reveals a stable long-term relationship among these variables. Causal analysis indicates bidirectional effects between foreign capital inflows and energy consumption, energy consumption and economic growth, and foreign capital inflows and economic growth, underscoring the strong interdependence among these factors.
This research is particularly significant for Tunisia, where persistent energy deficits, currency fluctuations, and limited domestic investment constrain economic growth. Understanding how foreign capital inflows affect energy demand provides valuable insights for designing policies that attract sustainable investment while reducing energy dependency. The findings highlight that foreign capital inflows play a pivotal role in shaping Tunisia's energy dynamics by supporting economic expansion, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable consumption patterns. By integrating foreign investment strategies with energy efficiency objectives, policymakers can foster balanced economic development and strengthen Tunisia's energy resilience.
{"title":"Foreign capital and energy consumption in Tunisia: Driving growth or enhancing sustainability?","authors":"Naceur Khraief , Mazin Alharbi","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the short- and long-term relationships between energy consumption and foreign capital inflows in Tunisia from 1971 to 2020, while also exploring the influence of economic growth, exports, and currency devaluation on energy consumption. Employing the ARDL bounds testing approach with structural breaks, the analysis reveals a stable long-term relationship among these variables. Causal analysis indicates bidirectional effects between foreign capital inflows and energy consumption, energy consumption and economic growth, and foreign capital inflows and economic growth, underscoring the strong interdependence among these factors.</div><div>This research is particularly significant for Tunisia, where persistent energy deficits, currency fluctuations, and limited domestic investment constrain economic growth. Understanding how foreign capital inflows affect energy demand provides valuable insights for designing policies that attract sustainable investment while reducing energy dependency. The findings highlight that foreign capital inflows play a pivotal role in shaping Tunisia's energy dynamics by supporting economic expansion, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable consumption patterns. By integrating foreign investment strategies with energy efficiency objectives, policymakers can foster balanced economic development and strengthen Tunisia's energy resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101155"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174144","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101153
Chao Chen , Shuo Lv , Ni Kong , Miao Li , Ziyao Jin , Xinping Yan , Aoxiang Zhu , Xiaoyan Yang , Jian Gao
Shoreline resources constitute one of the most critical terrestrial elements, as they play a pivotal role in fluvial-lacustrine monitoring and the sustainable utilization of spatial resources. As the longest and most economically significant river in China, the Yangtze River exhibits several unique geographical attributes, and as such, research on the spatiotemporal evolution and precise spatial delineation of its shoreline is important. Taking into account the complexity of the geographical environment, the study proposed a multi-stage strategy and geoscience knowledge-based method for shoreline extraction from Landsat time-series data. Longitudinal variations, spatial displacement, and interbank disparities between the northern and southern shores of the Yangtze River, China have been quantitatively assessed, supported by a shoreline change rate model was developed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System. The results demonstrated a high level of accuracy in shoreline spatial positioning, with clearly demarcated land–water boundaries. From 1990 to 2020, the total shoreline length exhibited a net increase from 12,645.02 km to 13,637.42 km. Both the northern and southern shores displayed synchronous elongation trends, peaking in 2010 before subsequent retreat. Linear regression rate and end point rate analyses revealed overall stability in these migration trends but pronounced interbank heterogeneity. The southern shore exhibited significantly greater linear regression and end point rate variability than the northern shore (P < 0.05), indicative of the stronger synergistic impacts from anthropogenic and natural drivers in that area. This study establishes a framework for high-resolution dynamic monitoring of shorelines along large river systems and elucidates the spatial differentiation mechanisms governing the fluvial evolution of shorelines. The findings provide empirical support for optimizing shoreline resource allocation, delineating environmental conservation boundaries, and implementing the “Yangtze River Conservation Strategy,” thereby advancing the capacity of regional sustainable development and spatial governance.
{"title":"A multi-stage strategy and geoscience knowledge-based method for shoreline extraction from Landsat time-series","authors":"Chao Chen , Shuo Lv , Ni Kong , Miao Li , Ziyao Jin , Xinping Yan , Aoxiang Zhu , Xiaoyan Yang , Jian Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shoreline resources constitute one of the most critical terrestrial elements, as they play a pivotal role in fluvial-lacustrine monitoring and the sustainable utilization of spatial resources. As the longest and most economically significant river in China, the Yangtze River exhibits several unique geographical attributes, and as such, research on the spatiotemporal evolution and precise spatial delineation of its shoreline is important. Taking into account the complexity of the geographical environment, the study proposed a multi-stage strategy and geoscience knowledge-based method for shoreline extraction from Landsat time-series data. Longitudinal variations, spatial displacement, and interbank disparities between the northern and southern shores of the Yangtze River, China have been quantitatively assessed, supported by a shoreline change rate model was developed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System. The results demonstrated a high level of accuracy in shoreline spatial positioning, with clearly demarcated land–water boundaries. From 1990 to 2020, the total shoreline length exhibited a net increase from 12,645.02 km to 13,637.42 km. Both the northern and southern shores displayed synchronous elongation trends, peaking in 2010 before subsequent retreat. Linear regression rate and end point rate analyses revealed overall stability in these migration trends but pronounced interbank heterogeneity. The southern shore exhibited significantly greater linear regression and end point rate variability than the northern shore (<em>P</em> < 0.05), indicative of the stronger synergistic impacts from anthropogenic and natural drivers in that area. This study establishes a framework for high-resolution dynamic monitoring of shorelines along large river systems and elucidates the spatial differentiation mechanisms governing the fluvial evolution of shorelines. The findings provide empirical support for optimizing shoreline resource allocation, delineating environmental conservation boundaries, and implementing the “Yangtze River Conservation Strategy,” thereby advancing the capacity of regional sustainable development and spatial governance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101153"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081042","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}
The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) remain highly climate vulnerable, where farmers experience limited access to timely, trusted, and contextualized risk information necessary for adaptation. This study examines how exposure to risk communication, along with key socio-psychological determinants, shapes behavioural responses to climate change. Using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, six constructs were conceptualized and validated—Risk Communication, Social Participation, Institutional Awareness, Risk Perception, Negative Emotions, and Behavioural Change. A multistage sampling approach was applied across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, engaging 240 farmers. PLS-SEM was used to develop indicators, evaluate construct validity, and test structural relationships. Among the significant predictors, Negative Emotions strongly impacted Behavioural Change (β = 0.961), while Institutional Awareness significantly influenced both Negative Emotions (β = 0.817) and Risk Perception (β = 0.711). Beyond model fit, the validated indicators generated through this study can support future assessment of climate risk communication effectiveness and serve as reference metrics for extension and sustainability research. Overall, the study offers a contextually grounded and empirically strengthened risk communication model that can inform more responsive and farmer-centric advisory strategies to enhance climate resilience in the IGP. It provides valuable insights for designing more effective, psychologically informed risk communication strategies to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable farming communities.
{"title":"Climate risk communication and farmers’ adaptive behaviour in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Insights from the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework","authors":"Nushrat Jahan , R.N. Padaria , Aiswarya S , L. Muralikrishnan , Subhashree Sahu , Md Yeasin , Ananta Vashisth , Dibyanshu Shekhar , Priti Priyadarshni , Bhaskar Ghosh , Sweety Mukherjee , Amandeep Ranjan , Kotha Shravani , Simran Pundir","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) remain highly climate vulnerable, where farmers experience limited access to timely, trusted, and contextualized risk information necessary for adaptation. This study examines how exposure to risk communication, along with key socio-psychological determinants, shapes behavioural responses to climate change. Using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, six constructs were conceptualized and validated—Risk Communication, Social Participation, Institutional Awareness, Risk Perception, Negative Emotions, and Behavioural Change. A multistage sampling approach was applied across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, engaging 240 farmers. PLS-SEM was used to develop indicators, evaluate construct validity, and test structural relationships. Among the significant predictors, Negative Emotions strongly impacted Behavioural Change (β = 0.961), while Institutional Awareness significantly influenced both Negative Emotions (β = 0.817) and Risk Perception (β = 0.711). Beyond model fit, the validated indicators generated through this study can support future assessment of climate risk communication effectiveness and serve as reference metrics for extension and sustainability research. Overall, the study offers a contextually grounded and empirically strengthened risk communication model that can inform more responsive and farmer-centric advisory strategies to enhance climate resilience in the IGP. It provides valuable insights for designing more effective, psychologically informed risk communication strategies to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable farming communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101141"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174199","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101140
Tamara Avellán , Hanna Dencker , Jonas Nordström , Nóra Hatvani , Balázs Sándor Gál , Wieslaw Fialkiewicz
Agricultural production necessitates sustainable practices to ensure long-term and sustained food security. Water is a key ingredient for food production. Ensuring sustainable water management in agriculture is thus essential for global wellbeing. But how do we make sure that our practices are sustainable? A large variety of sustainability assessments abound. Their results may even show conflicting results. In this study, we demonstrate the application of three sustainability assessment methods – Water Footprint Assessment, Cost-Benefit Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment – for the use of a water retainer product on different soil types, crops and growing seasons in a farm in Poland. In addition, we aggregate the results of these assessments through a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (PROMETHEE) to facilitate decision making. Our findings suggest that yields of all crops, on all soils in both growing seasons increased. However, yield gain was insufficient in most cases to offset the increased costs of using the water retainer product. The Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis showed that soil type and crops used had a larger effect on rank than the application of the water retainer. Overall, the conclusion from the various methods is to not recommend the use of the water retainer as an efficient water saving technology for the specific case. Our analysis showed the effects on the economic and environmental dimension of sustainability but does not include the social dimension due to the lack of data, leaving an incomplete picture of sustainability.
{"title":"Integrating sustainability assessments to facilitate decision making in sustainable water management in agriculture","authors":"Tamara Avellán , Hanna Dencker , Jonas Nordström , Nóra Hatvani , Balázs Sándor Gál , Wieslaw Fialkiewicz","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural production necessitates sustainable practices to ensure long-term and sustained food security. Water is a key ingredient for food production. Ensuring sustainable water management in agriculture is thus essential for global wellbeing. But how do we make sure that our practices are sustainable? A large variety of sustainability assessments abound. Their results may even show conflicting results. In this study, we demonstrate the application of three sustainability assessment methods – Water Footprint Assessment, Cost-Benefit Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment – for the use of a water retainer product on different soil types, crops and growing seasons in a farm in Poland. In addition, we aggregate the results of these assessments through a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (PROMETHEE) to facilitate decision making. Our findings suggest that yields of all crops, on all soils in both growing seasons increased. However, yield gain was insufficient in most cases to offset the increased costs of using the water retainer product. The Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis showed that soil type and crops used had a larger effect on rank than the application of the water retainer. Overall, the conclusion from the various methods is to not recommend the use of the water retainer as an efficient water saving technology for the specific case. Our analysis showed the effects on the economic and environmental dimension of sustainability but does not include the social dimension due to the lack of data, leaving an incomplete picture of sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101140"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080951","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101149
Mayank Parashar , Ritika Jaiswal
The three pillars of the energy trilemma (ET) framework are frequently at odds when fossil fuel subsidies (FFSs) remain intact in emerging economies. Although intended to enhance energy availability, these subsidies can lead to a paradoxical relationship with environmental sustainability, energy equity, and energy security. However, empirical evidence that examines these trade-offs remains limited. To comprehend this, the present study investigates the impact of FFSs on the ET—environmental sustainability, energy equity, and energy security indicators—across 12 emerging economies from 2011 to 2021 using robust econometric methods such as Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), and Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). The empirical results show that FFSs contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions and carbon intensity, undermining environmental sustainability. Results also reveal that FFSs enhance access to electricity at lower quantiles. However, the estimates become insignificant at higher quantiles. Additionally, FFSs negatively influence energy security by reducing the overall share of electricity from low-carbon and hydropower energy sources. This is attributed to market distortion, geographical differences, technological challenges, financial constraints, and inefficient policy frameworks, which further exacerbate the negative impacts of FFSs. Moreover, higher amounts of FFSs encourage overconsumption of conventional energy sources. On the contrary, solar and wind energy sectors exhibit resilience, emphasizing the significance of sector-specific incentives, targeted policies, and technological advancements. Thus, there is an urgent need for phased and strategic subsidy reform, combined with targeted social protection and technology-specific incentives to ensure equitable energy transition and boost sustainability.
{"title":"The paradox of fossil fuel subsidies in emerging economies: Assessing their impact on environmental sustainability, energy equity, and energy security with a structural break","authors":"Mayank Parashar , Ritika Jaiswal","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The three pillars of the energy trilemma (ET) framework are frequently at odds when fossil fuel subsidies (FFSs) remain intact in emerging economies. Although intended to enhance energy availability, these subsidies can lead to a paradoxical relationship with environmental sustainability, energy equity, and energy security. However, empirical evidence that examines these trade-offs remains limited. To comprehend this, the present study investigates the impact of FFSs on the ET—environmental sustainability, energy equity, and energy security indicators—across 12 emerging economies from 2011 to 2021 using robust econometric methods such as Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), and Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). The empirical results show that FFSs contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions and carbon intensity, undermining environmental sustainability. Results also reveal that FFSs enhance access to electricity at lower quantiles. However, the estimates become insignificant at higher quantiles. Additionally, FFSs negatively influence energy security by reducing the overall share of electricity from low-carbon and hydropower energy sources. This is attributed to market distortion, geographical differences, technological challenges, financial constraints, and inefficient policy frameworks, which further exacerbate the negative impacts of FFSs. Moreover, higher amounts of FFSs encourage overconsumption of conventional energy sources. On the contrary, solar and wind energy sectors exhibit resilience, emphasizing the significance of sector-specific incentives, targeted policies, and technological advancements. Thus, there is an urgent need for phased and strategic subsidy reform, combined with targeted social protection and technology-specific incentives to ensure equitable energy transition and boost sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101149"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174198","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101147
Wenjie Chen , Yisong Yang , Zhu Xiao , Siqi Li
The integration of carbon mitigation objectives with urban resilience building, to develop synergistic pathways that combine climate change Adaptability and mitigation, has emerged as a critical focus in global sustainable development discourse. Employing the entropy weight method, this study measures the Urban Low-carbon Resilience (LCR) of 203 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2023. It then systematically examines the spatial-temporal evolution and influencing factors of LCR and three subsystems both nationally and across seven geographical regions, utilizing kernel density estimation, exploratory spatial data analysis, and spatial Durbin models. The main findings are as follows: (1) The regional evolution of LCR in China shows a trend of differentiation; East China and North China are in the lead, while Northeast China and South China are lagging. For Defensive Resistance, the eastern coastal areas are dominant, and the spatial structure is "scattered". For Recovery Adaptability, the polarization of central cities in each region is prominent. For Transformative Regeneration, a diffusion effect from west to east is formed. (2) The agglomeration of LCR in China also shows a trend of differentiation. The gap in the level of LCR between the western region and the eastern and central regions is getting bigger and bigger. (3) Labor quality and Capital structure are the main factors affecting the LCR and Defensive Resistance in China's seven major geographical regions. Grounded in these findings, the study concludes by proposing region-specific policy strategies for enhancing LCR, offering targeted insights to supplement and refine current urban climate governance frameworks.
{"title":"Spatial-temporal patterns and influencing factors of Urban Low-carbon Resilience from a Comprehensive Green Transformation Perspective in different regions of China","authors":"Wenjie Chen , Yisong Yang , Zhu Xiao , Siqi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of carbon mitigation objectives with urban resilience building, to develop synergistic pathways that combine climate change Adaptability and mitigation, has emerged as a critical focus in global sustainable development discourse. Employing the entropy weight method, this study measures the Urban Low-carbon Resilience (LCR) of 203 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2023. It then systematically examines the spatial-temporal evolution and influencing factors of LCR and three subsystems both nationally and across seven geographical regions, utilizing kernel density estimation, exploratory spatial data analysis, and spatial Durbin models. The main findings are as follows: (1) The regional evolution of LCR in China shows a trend of differentiation; East China and North China are in the lead, while Northeast China and South China are lagging. For Defensive Resistance, the eastern coastal areas are dominant, and the spatial structure is \"scattered\". For Recovery Adaptability, the polarization of central cities in each region is prominent. For Transformative Regeneration, a diffusion effect from west to east is formed. (2) The agglomeration of LCR in China also shows a trend of differentiation. The gap in the level of LCR between the western region and the eastern and central regions is getting bigger and bigger. (3) Labor quality and Capital structure are the main factors affecting the LCR and Defensive Resistance in China's seven major geographical regions. Grounded in these findings, the study concludes by proposing region-specific policy strategies for enhancing LCR, offering targeted insights to supplement and refine current urban climate governance frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101147"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080955","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101146
Jiale Li , Zinuo Huo , Xinling Jiang , Toba Stephen Olasehinde , Yubing Fan , Hua Qin
Due to climate change and human activities, the grasslands of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau have experienced varying degrees of degradation, which has significantly reduced livelihoods of the herder households. Herders are indigenous to these vast grasslands. Over centuries, they have developed a strong sense of community belonging, which helps protect natural grasslands and prevent further degradation. This study explores how community belonging affects herders' willingness to restore degraded grasslands and examines the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. We frame our analysis within a common-pool resource framework to clarify the collective action dilemma associated with grassland restoration. The results indicate that community belonging shows a statistically significant and positive effect on herders’ willingness to restore degraded grasslands, suggesting a 36.7 % increase in willingness. Being a village cadre negatively moderates the impact of community belonging, indicating a 70.1 % decrease in the positive effect. Additionally, herders with smaller livestock scales, those who have access to loans, and those residing in the Haixi region exhibit stronger behavioral willingness responses to community belonging. Therefore, grassland restoration policies should focus on enhancing community belonging and leveraging social capital as a key component of grassland protection and restoration strategies, with targeted economic incentives and improved institutional trust through better policy implementation.
{"title":"Community belonging and grassland restoration willingness: Evidence from a micro-survey of herders in Qinghai Province, China","authors":"Jiale Li , Zinuo Huo , Xinling Jiang , Toba Stephen Olasehinde , Yubing Fan , Hua Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to climate change and human activities, the grasslands of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau have experienced varying degrees of degradation, which has significantly reduced livelihoods of the herder households. Herders are indigenous to these vast grasslands. Over centuries, they have developed a strong sense of community belonging, which helps protect natural grasslands and prevent further degradation. This study explores how community belonging affects herders' willingness to restore degraded grasslands and examines the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. We frame our analysis within a common-pool resource framework to clarify the collective action dilemma associated with grassland restoration. The results indicate that community belonging shows a statistically significant and positive effect on herders’ willingness to restore degraded grasslands, suggesting a 36.7 % increase in willingness. Being a village cadre negatively moderates the impact of community belonging, indicating a 70.1 % decrease in the positive effect. Additionally, herders with smaller livestock scales, those who have access to loans, and those residing in the Haixi region exhibit stronger behavioral willingness responses to community belonging. Therefore, grassland restoration policies should focus on enhancing community belonging and leveraging social capital as a key component of grassland protection and restoration strategies, with targeted economic incentives and improved institutional trust through better policy implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101146"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174150","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101148
Zhao Jinyu , Sa Na , Kou Xuyang , Cao Yuexuan , Lu Zhaohua , Sang Weiguo
Enhancing subjective well-being (SWB) is central to sustainable development, yet the psychological mechanisms linking ecological worldviews to SWB in conservation contexts remain underexplored. This study investigates how the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP)—a measure of biocentric worldview—shapes residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) and influences SWB in Dailing Town, a community adjacent to Liangshui National Nature Reserve in China. Using a mixed-methods approach combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) with survey data from 169 residents, we find that: (1) SWB is highest in the health dimension but lowest in social relations, with specific deficits in transportation, water quality, and employment conditions; (2) NEP is the strongest predictor of SWB, exerting both direct effects and indirect effects mediated by enhanced ES perceptions; (3) ES preferences are segmented by socioeconomic and demographic factors: older, land-dependent residents prioritize cultural services (e.g., recreation, aesthetics), whereas younger, non-land-based residents value tangible provisioning and regulating services. These findings underscore the critical role of ecological worldviews in shaping well-being and highlight the need for targeted policies that integrate ecological education, social infrastructure, and differentiated livelihood strategies to foster synergistic human-nature outcomes in protected area communities.
{"title":"The power of a biocentric view: Ecological worldviews as a key driver of subjective well-being for residents near nature reserves","authors":"Zhao Jinyu , Sa Na , Kou Xuyang , Cao Yuexuan , Lu Zhaohua , Sang Weiguo","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enhancing subjective well-being (SWB) is central to sustainable development, yet the psychological mechanisms linking ecological worldviews to SWB in conservation contexts remain underexplored. This study investigates how the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP)—a measure of biocentric worldview—shapes residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) and influences SWB in Dailing Town, a community adjacent to Liangshui National Nature Reserve in China. Using a mixed-methods approach combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) with survey data from 169 residents, we find that: (1) SWB is highest in the health dimension but lowest in social relations, with specific deficits in transportation, water quality, and employment conditions; (2) NEP is the strongest predictor of SWB, exerting both direct effects and indirect effects mediated by enhanced ES perceptions; (3) ES preferences are segmented by socioeconomic and demographic factors: older, land-dependent residents prioritize cultural services (e.g., recreation, aesthetics), whereas younger, non-land-based residents value tangible provisioning and regulating services. These findings underscore the critical role of ecological worldviews in shaping well-being and highlight the need for targeted policies that integrate ecological education, social infrastructure, and differentiated livelihood strategies to foster synergistic human-nature outcomes in protected area communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101148"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080954","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101144
Guðmundur Kristján Óskarsson , Sveinn Agnarsson , Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir
This study examines the early effects of Iceland's 2023 extended producer responsibility (EPR) reform for packaging waste, one of the first nationwide implementations of a fully harmonised, producer-funded system in a small and geographically dispersed country. Using municipal-level data for 2023–2024, the analysis evaluates how socioeconomic, demographic, and infrastructural factors influence per capita collection of packaging paper and plastics. Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) is applied to identify the most influential determinants under limited data conditions, and pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is used to estimate their statistical associations while controlling for region and year.
Results
show that paper recovery increased markedly in 2024, reflecting rapid adaptation to standardised collection, whereas plastic recovery remained largely unchanged. In this early two-year sample, municipal variation appears to be shaped primarily by structural and service-design factors rather than socioeconomic characteristics. A higher ratio of seasonal housing is associated with greater apparent per capita recovery, and a higher share of home collection is linked to lower recovery for both materials. The negative relationship between per capita costs and plastic recovery suggests diminishing returns to expenditure or reflects structural remoteness constraints that raise costs without increasing capture.
The findings highlight the importance of tailoring EPR implementation to the local context. Adjusting performance metrics for seasonal occupancy, optimising the curbside/drop-off collection mix, and refining fee distributions for structurally high-cost municipalities can improve equity and efficiency. Overall, EPR provides the financial and regulatory scaffold, but geography and system design ultimately determine realised recycling outcomes.
{"title":"Early determinants of packaging waste recovery under Iceland's 2023 EPR reform: Evidence from Grey Relational and econometric analysis","authors":"Guðmundur Kristján Óskarsson , Sveinn Agnarsson , Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the early effects of Iceland's 2023 extended producer responsibility (EPR) reform for packaging waste, one of the first nationwide implementations of a fully harmonised, producer-funded system in a small and geographically dispersed country. Using municipal-level data for 2023–2024, the analysis evaluates how socioeconomic, demographic, and infrastructural factors influence per capita collection of packaging paper and plastics. Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) is applied to identify the most influential determinants under limited data conditions, and pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is used to estimate their statistical associations while controlling for region and year.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>show that paper recovery increased markedly in 2024, reflecting rapid adaptation to standardised collection, whereas plastic recovery remained largely unchanged. In this early two-year sample, municipal variation appears to be shaped primarily by structural and service-design factors rather than socioeconomic characteristics. A higher ratio of seasonal housing is associated with greater apparent per capita recovery, and a higher share of home collection is linked to lower recovery for both materials. The negative relationship between per capita costs and plastic recovery suggests diminishing returns to expenditure or reflects structural remoteness constraints that raise costs without increasing capture.</div><div>The findings highlight the importance of tailoring EPR implementation to the local context. Adjusting performance metrics for seasonal occupancy, optimising the curbside/drop-off collection mix, and refining fee distributions for structurally high-cost municipalities can improve equity and efficiency. Overall, EPR provides the financial and regulatory scaffold, but geography and system design ultimately determine realised recycling outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101144"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080950","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101145
Dinh Thi Kim Chung , Vu Ngoc Xuan , Pham Xuan Hoa
Achieving sustained economic growth while reducing carbon emissions remains a central challenge for China's sustainability transition. Despite the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity and innovation activity, carbon emissions continue to rise, suggesting that the environmental effects of technological progress and energy restructuring may be nonlinear and asymmetric. Understanding whether positive and negative changes in innovation and renewable energy exert different impacts on emissions is therefore fundamental for effective climate and development policies. This study examines the asymmetric relationships between innovation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, trade openness, and CO2 emissions in China from 1990 to 2023. The analysis employs a Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model as the base framework, allowing positive and negative shocks in innovation and renewable energy to affect emissions differently in the short and long run. Long-run cointegration is examined using the NARDL bounds testing approach, while dynamic multiplier functions trace adjustment paths following asymmetric shocks. Robustness is assessed through alternative lag specifications, a linear ARDL benchmark model, and extensive diagnostic and stability tests, including CUSUM and CUSUMSQ. The results reveal asymmetries. Positive shocks to innovation and renewable energy reduce CO2 emissions, while negative shocks increase emissions. Economic growth continues to raise emissions. Trade openness raises emissions in the short run. Policies should stabilize R&D, prioritize grid integration and storage, and strengthen links with the emissions trading system.
{"title":"Asymmetric roles of innovation and renewable energy in shaping carbon emissions in China","authors":"Dinh Thi Kim Chung , Vu Ngoc Xuan , Pham Xuan Hoa","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2026.101145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving sustained economic growth while reducing carbon emissions remains a central challenge for China's sustainability transition. Despite the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity and innovation activity, carbon emissions continue to rise, suggesting that the environmental effects of technological progress and energy restructuring may be nonlinear and asymmetric. Understanding whether positive and negative changes in innovation and renewable energy exert different impacts on emissions is therefore fundamental for effective climate and development policies. This study examines the asymmetric relationships between innovation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, trade openness, and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in China from 1990 to 2023. The analysis employs a Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model as the base framework, allowing positive and negative shocks in innovation and renewable energy to affect emissions differently in the short and long run. Long-run cointegration is examined using the NARDL bounds testing approach, while dynamic multiplier functions trace adjustment paths following asymmetric shocks. Robustness is assessed through alternative lag specifications, a linear ARDL benchmark model, and extensive diagnostic and stability tests, including CUSUM and CUSUMSQ. The results reveal asymmetries. Positive shocks to innovation and renewable energy reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, while negative shocks increase emissions. Economic growth continues to raise emissions. Trade openness raises emissions in the short run. Policies should stabilize R&D, prioritize grid integration and storage, and strengthen links with the emissions trading system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101145"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080953","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}
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