Sustainable performance is expected to become a major factor when examining the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its life cycle performance. The study on which this paper is based developed a simulati...Sustainable performance is expected to become a major factor when examining the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its life cycle performance. The study on which this paper is based developed a simulation model, using system dy- namics methodology, to assess the sustainable performance of projects. Three major factors are used to examine project sus- tainable performance (PSP): the sustainability of economic development (E), the sustainability of social development (S), and the sustainability of environmental development (En). Sustainable development ability (SDA) was used as a prototype to evaluate the degree of sustainable performance. The simulation software ‘ithink’ was used to help with the application of the model to a real life case. This paper explains and demonstrates the procedures used to develop the model and finally offers an approach for assessing the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its sustainable performance.展开更多
Corporate sustainability reporting has become increasingly important in recent years.However,conventional approaches reach their limits when it comes to quantifying and measuring the actual sustainability performance ...Corporate sustainability reporting has become increasingly important in recent years.However,conventional approaches reach their limits when it comes to quantifying and measuring the actual sustainability performance of a company.This article presents a new approach:Sustainable Performance Accounting(SPA),which is based on an extension of bookkeeping by including ESG bookkeeping.SPA enables companies to systematically measure and manage their sustainability performance.The article provides an overview of the basics of SPA methodology and uses a comprehensive example showing how SPA can be implemented in practice.The article is aimed at interested readers from science and practice as well as decision-makers who are interested in future-oriented sustainability reporting.展开更多
The social progress index(SPI)measures social and environmental performance beyond traditional economic indicators,providing transparent and actionable insights into the true condition of societies.This study investig...The social progress index(SPI)measures social and environmental performance beyond traditional economic indicators,providing transparent and actionable insights into the true condition of societies.This study investigates the interdependencies among SPI components and their impact on country-level sustainability performance.Using a Bayesian Belief Network(BBN)approach,the analysis explores the interdependencies among 12 SPI components(including advanced education,basic education,environmental quality,freedom and choice,health,housing,inclusive society,information and communications,nutrition and medical care,rights and voice,safety,and water and sanitation)and their collective influence on sustainability performance.Data from the Sustainable Development Report and SPI datasets,covering 162 countries(including Australia,China,United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom,United States,and so on),were used to assess the relative importance of each SPI component.The key findings indicate that advanced education,inclusive society,and freedom and choice make substantial contributions to high sustainability performance,whereas deficiencies in nutrition and medical care,water and sanitation,and freedom and choice are associated with poor sustainability performance.The results reveal that sustainability performance is shaped by a network of interlinked SPI components,with education and inclusion emerging as key levers for progress.The study emphasizes that targeted improvements in specific SPI components can significantly enhance a country’s overall sustainability performance.Rather than visualizing countries’progress through composite indicator-based heat maps,this study explores the interdependencies among SPI components and their role in sustainability performance at the global level.The study underscores the importance of a multidimensional policy approach that addresses social and environmental factors to enhance sustainability.The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how SPI components interact and shape sustainable development.展开更多
Environmental cleaning is an important aspect of bacteria control.Ethyl cellulose microcapsules containing potassium monopersulfate(PMCM)were prepared by emulsified solvent diffusion method.The chemical structure and ...Environmental cleaning is an important aspect of bacteria control.Ethyl cellulose microcapsules containing potassium monopersulfate(PMCM)were prepared by emulsified solvent diffusion method.The chemical structure and microstructure of the obtained PMCM was characterized by methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and X-ACT energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.The SEM micrographs of the PMCM containing 21.6%of C,46.8%of O,10.7%of S and 19.4%of K was relatively smooth.Thermal stability,sustained release performance,and antimicrobial activity of PMCM were investigated.The results showed that the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of PMCM were 30.3%and 42.6%respectively.Potassium monopersulfate was fully released after 8 h,following a Fickian diffusion mechanism.Results showed that the microcapsules prepared with a high concentration of potassium monopersulfate solution showed a good antimicrobial effect.The microcapsule wall of the resulting PMCM increased with increasing ethyl cellulose content and had high thermal stability from the data of 69%residue rate.The excellent thermal stability and high sustained release performance of PMCM showed high application value.展开更多
Financial flexibility, due to its capability in optimizing resource allocation, enhancing operational efficiency, and responding to market changes, has become a crucial strategy for “specialized, refined, differentia...Financial flexibility, due to its capability in optimizing resource allocation, enhancing operational efficiency, and responding to market changes, has become a crucial strategy for “specialized, refined, differentiated, and innovative” (SRDI) enterprises to address financing difficulties and cash flow management pressures, thereby achieving sustainable development. This study, based on financial flexibility theory, conducts an empirical analysis using data from China’s listed SRDI enterprises from 2016 to 2023. The results show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between financial flexibility and corporate sustainable development performance. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of financial flexibility on sustainable development performance varies significantly under different ownership structures and dimensions. This study not only enriches the theory of financial flexibility but also reveals its complex impact mechanisms within SRDI enterprises, providing practical guidance and data support for enterprises to achieve sustainable development in a complex market environment.展开更多
Sustainable Cities:Assessing the Performance and Practice of Urban Environments Authors:Pierre Laconte,Chris Gossop Year:2016 Publisher:I.B.Tauris & Co.Ltd ISBN:9781784532321(288 pages,in English) How to build sus...Sustainable Cities:Assessing the Performance and Practice of Urban Environments Authors:Pierre Laconte,Chris Gossop Year:2016 Publisher:I.B.Tauris & Co.Ltd ISBN:9781784532321(288 pages,in English) How to build sustainable cities has always been a common concern to the world for a long period of time.Sustainable development usually includes three dimensions:economy,society。展开更多
With the goal of“carbon peaking and carbon neutralization”,it is an inevitable trend for investing smart grid to promote the large-scale grid connection of renewable energy.Smart grid investment has a significant dr...With the goal of“carbon peaking and carbon neutralization”,it is an inevitable trend for investing smart grid to promote the large-scale grid connection of renewable energy.Smart grid investment has a significant driving effect(derivative value),and evaluating this value can help to more accurately grasp the external effects of smart grid investment and support the realization of industrial linkage value with power grid investment as the core.Therefore,by analyzing the characterization of the derivative value of smart grid driven by investment,this paper constructs the evaluation index system of the derivative value of smart grid investment including 11 indicators.Then,the hybrid evaluation model of the derivative value of smart grid investment is developed based on anti-entropy weight(AEW),level based weight assessment(LBWA),and measurement alternatives and ranking according to the compromise solution(MARCOS)techniques.The results of case analysis show that for SG investment,the value of sustainable development can better reflect its derivative value,and when smart grid performs poorly in promoting renewable energy consumption,improving primary energy efficiency,and improving its own fault resistance,the driving force of its investment for future sustainable development will decline significantly,making the grid investment lack derivative value.In addition,smart grid investment needs to pay attention to the economy of investment,which is an important guarantee to ensure that the power grid has sufficient and stable sources of investment funds.Finally,compared with three comparison models,the proposed hybrid multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)model can better improve the decision-making efficiency on the premise of ensuring robustness.展开更多
CONSPECTUS:Enhancing the performance and sustainability of materials is a major challenge facing humanity.With nearly 400 million tons of plastics manufactured per year and plastic waste accumulation of 12 billion ton...CONSPECTUS:Enhancing the performance and sustainability of materials is a major challenge facing humanity.With nearly 400 million tons of plastics manufactured per year and plastic waste accumulation of 12 billion tons expected by 2050,the production and buildup of anthropogenic petroleumbased waste is a major threat to our global ecosystem.This impending environmental catastrophe demands alternative sustainable and circular routes for material production.Additionally,there is a need for new polymeric materials that possess properties not currently found in synthetic materials for various applications in biomedical engineering,soft robotics,flexible electronics,and more.Nature offers inspiration for solving both of these environmentally,economically,and socially impactful global issues.展开更多
基金Project supported by the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong,China
文摘Sustainable performance is expected to become a major factor when examining the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its life cycle performance. The study on which this paper is based developed a simulation model, using system dy- namics methodology, to assess the sustainable performance of projects. Three major factors are used to examine project sus- tainable performance (PSP): the sustainability of economic development (E), the sustainability of social development (S), and the sustainability of environmental development (En). Sustainable development ability (SDA) was used as a prototype to evaluate the degree of sustainable performance. The simulation software ‘ithink’ was used to help with the application of the model to a real life case. This paper explains and demonstrates the procedures used to develop the model and finally offers an approach for assessing the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its sustainable performance.
文摘Corporate sustainability reporting has become increasingly important in recent years.However,conventional approaches reach their limits when it comes to quantifying and measuring the actual sustainability performance of a company.This article presents a new approach:Sustainable Performance Accounting(SPA),which is based on an extension of bookkeeping by including ESG bookkeeping.SPA enables companies to systematically measure and manage their sustainability performance.The article provides an overview of the basics of SPA methodology and uses a comprehensive example showing how SPA can be implemented in practice.The article is aimed at interested readers from science and practice as well as decision-makers who are interested in future-oriented sustainability reporting.
基金the resources and support provided by the American University of Sharjah to conduct this research
文摘The social progress index(SPI)measures social and environmental performance beyond traditional economic indicators,providing transparent and actionable insights into the true condition of societies.This study investigates the interdependencies among SPI components and their impact on country-level sustainability performance.Using a Bayesian Belief Network(BBN)approach,the analysis explores the interdependencies among 12 SPI components(including advanced education,basic education,environmental quality,freedom and choice,health,housing,inclusive society,information and communications,nutrition and medical care,rights and voice,safety,and water and sanitation)and their collective influence on sustainability performance.Data from the Sustainable Development Report and SPI datasets,covering 162 countries(including Australia,China,United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom,United States,and so on),were used to assess the relative importance of each SPI component.The key findings indicate that advanced education,inclusive society,and freedom and choice make substantial contributions to high sustainability performance,whereas deficiencies in nutrition and medical care,water and sanitation,and freedom and choice are associated with poor sustainability performance.The results reveal that sustainability performance is shaped by a network of interlinked SPI components,with education and inclusion emerging as key levers for progress.The study emphasizes that targeted improvements in specific SPI components can significantly enhance a country’s overall sustainability performance.Rather than visualizing countries’progress through composite indicator-based heat maps,this study explores the interdependencies among SPI components and their role in sustainability performance at the global level.The study underscores the importance of a multidimensional policy approach that addresses social and environmental factors to enhance sustainability.The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how SPI components interact and shape sustainable development.
基金support From the Open Fund Project of Key Lab.of Biomass Energy and Material,Jiangsu Province(JSBEM201907)the Ordinary University Young Innovative Talents Project of Guangdong Province(2018KQNCX119).
文摘Environmental cleaning is an important aspect of bacteria control.Ethyl cellulose microcapsules containing potassium monopersulfate(PMCM)were prepared by emulsified solvent diffusion method.The chemical structure and microstructure of the obtained PMCM was characterized by methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and X-ACT energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.The SEM micrographs of the PMCM containing 21.6%of C,46.8%of O,10.7%of S and 19.4%of K was relatively smooth.Thermal stability,sustained release performance,and antimicrobial activity of PMCM were investigated.The results showed that the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of PMCM were 30.3%and 42.6%respectively.Potassium monopersulfate was fully released after 8 h,following a Fickian diffusion mechanism.Results showed that the microcapsules prepared with a high concentration of potassium monopersulfate solution showed a good antimicrobial effect.The microcapsule wall of the resulting PMCM increased with increasing ethyl cellulose content and had high thermal stability from the data of 69%residue rate.The excellent thermal stability and high sustained release performance of PMCM showed high application value.
文摘Financial flexibility, due to its capability in optimizing resource allocation, enhancing operational efficiency, and responding to market changes, has become a crucial strategy for “specialized, refined, differentiated, and innovative” (SRDI) enterprises to address financing difficulties and cash flow management pressures, thereby achieving sustainable development. This study, based on financial flexibility theory, conducts an empirical analysis using data from China’s listed SRDI enterprises from 2016 to 2023. The results show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between financial flexibility and corporate sustainable development performance. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of financial flexibility on sustainable development performance varies significantly under different ownership structures and dimensions. This study not only enriches the theory of financial flexibility but also reveals its complex impact mechanisms within SRDI enterprises, providing practical guidance and data support for enterprises to achieve sustainable development in a complex market environment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51378278)
文摘Sustainable Cities:Assessing the Performance and Practice of Urban Environments Authors:Pierre Laconte,Chris Gossop Year:2016 Publisher:I.B.Tauris & Co.Ltd ISBN:9781784532321(288 pages,in English) How to build sustainable cities has always been a common concern to the world for a long period of time.Sustainable development usually includes three dimensions:economy,society。
文摘With the goal of“carbon peaking and carbon neutralization”,it is an inevitable trend for investing smart grid to promote the large-scale grid connection of renewable energy.Smart grid investment has a significant driving effect(derivative value),and evaluating this value can help to more accurately grasp the external effects of smart grid investment and support the realization of industrial linkage value with power grid investment as the core.Therefore,by analyzing the characterization of the derivative value of smart grid driven by investment,this paper constructs the evaluation index system of the derivative value of smart grid investment including 11 indicators.Then,the hybrid evaluation model of the derivative value of smart grid investment is developed based on anti-entropy weight(AEW),level based weight assessment(LBWA),and measurement alternatives and ranking according to the compromise solution(MARCOS)techniques.The results of case analysis show that for SG investment,the value of sustainable development can better reflect its derivative value,and when smart grid performs poorly in promoting renewable energy consumption,improving primary energy efficiency,and improving its own fault resistance,the driving force of its investment for future sustainable development will decline significantly,making the grid investment lack derivative value.In addition,smart grid investment needs to pay attention to the economy of investment,which is an important guarantee to ensure that the power grid has sufficient and stable sources of investment funds.Finally,compared with three comparison models,the proposed hybrid multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)model can better improve the decision-making efficiency on the premise of ensuring robustness.
基金support from a Canada Research Chair Award(CRC Tier 2950-231953).
文摘CONSPECTUS:Enhancing the performance and sustainability of materials is a major challenge facing humanity.With nearly 400 million tons of plastics manufactured per year and plastic waste accumulation of 12 billion tons expected by 2050,the production and buildup of anthropogenic petroleumbased waste is a major threat to our global ecosystem.This impending environmental catastrophe demands alternative sustainable and circular routes for material production.Additionally,there is a need for new polymeric materials that possess properties not currently found in synthetic materials for various applications in biomedical engineering,soft robotics,flexible electronics,and more.Nature offers inspiration for solving both of these environmentally,economically,and socially impactful global issues.
