scholarly journals Natural Polymers-Based Materials: A Contribution to a Greener Future

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Ana C. Q. Silva ◽  
Armando J. D. Silvestre ◽  
Carla Vilela ◽  
Carmen S. R. Freire
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Biobased Materials ◽  
Renewable Feedstocks ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
The University

Natural polymers have emerged as promising candidates for the sustainable development of materials in areas ranging from food packaging and biomedicine to energy storage and electronics. In tandem, there is a growing interest in the design of advanced materials devised from naturally abundant and renewable feedstocks, in alignment with the principles of Green Chemistry and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This review aims to highlight some examples of the research efforts conducted at the Research Team BioPol4fun, Innovation in BioPolymer-based Functional Materials and Bioactive Compounds, from the Portuguese Associate Laboratory CICECO–Aveiro Institute of Materials at the University of Aveiro, regarding the exploitation of natural polymers (and derivatives thereof) for the development of distinct sustainable biobased materials. In particular, focus will be given to the use of polysaccharides (cellulose, chitosan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, fucoidan, alginate, and agar) and proteins (lysozyme and gelatin) for the assembly of composites, coatings, films, membranes, patches, nanosystems, and microneedles using environmentally friendly strategies, and to address their main domains of application.

Nachhaltigkeit und Digitalisierung

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The University

Whether smartphone, smart home or smart city—digitalisation determines almost all areas of our lives today. The topic of sustainability is also omnipresent in 2019 and numerous challenges associated with it are currently being discussed. Digitalisation and sustainability can thus be regarded as the two megatrends of the 21st century. The question of whether digitalisation is an instrument for achieving sustainable development is increasingly at the centre of the debate. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda are of particular interest for assessing digitalisation as a potential means of achieving sustainable development. With the help of empirical work by students from the University of Kaiserslautern, this edited volume provides answers to the question of how different digital technologies can help to achieve these 17 goals. With contributions by Katharina Spraul, Cynthia Friedrich, Matthias Klos, Florian Wiegner, Marius Wienand, Antonino-Enrico Bucceri, Jana Becher, Pierre Kohlmann, Teresa Körber, Viktoria Kruppenbacher

scholarly journals Defining and Quantifying National-Level Targets, Indicators and Benchmarks for Management of Natural Resources to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Dickens ◽  
Vladimir Smakhtin ◽  
Matthew McCartney ◽  
Gordon O’Brien ◽  
Lula Dahir
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
National Level ◽  
Resource Quality ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Country Level ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Global Indicators

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are high on the agenda for most countries of the world. In its publication of the SDGs, the UN has provided the goals and target descriptions that, if implemented at a country level, would lead towards a sustainable future. The IAEG (InterAgency Expert Group of the SDGs) was tasked with disseminating indicators and methods to countries that can be used to gather data describing the global progress towards sustainability. However, 2030 Agenda leaves it to countries to adopt the targets with each government setting its own national targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account national circumstances. At present, guidance on how to go about this is scant but it is clear that the responsibility is with countries to implement and that it is actions at a country level that will determine the success of the SDGs. Reporting on SDGs by country takes on two forms: i) global reporting using prescribed indicator methods and data; ii) National Voluntary Reviews where a country reports on its own progress in more detail but is also able to present data that are more appropriate for the country. For the latter, countries need to be able to adapt the global indicators to fit national priorities and context, thus the global description of an indicator could be reduced to describe only what is relevant to the country. Countries may also, for the National Voluntary Review, use indicators that are unique to the country but nevertheless contribute to measurement of progress towards the global SDG target. Importantly, for those indicators that relate to the security of natural resources security (e.g., water) indicators, there are no prescribed numerical targets/standards or benchmarks. Rather countries will need to set their own benchmarks or standards against which performance can be evaluated. This paper presents a procedure that would enable a country to describe national targets with associated benchmarks that are appropriate for the country. The procedure builds on precedent set in other countries but in particular on a procedure developed for the setting of Resource Quality Objectives in South Africa. The procedure focusses on those SDG targets that are natural resource-security focused, for example, extent of water-related ecosystems (6.6), desertification (15.3) and so forth, because the selection of indicator methods and benchmarks is based on the location of natural resources, their use and present state and how they fit into national strategies.

scholarly journals Financial Institutions’ Risk Profile and Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7738
Author(s):  
Nicolás Gambetta ◽  
Fernando Azcárate-Llanes ◽  
Laura Sierra-García ◽  
María Antonia García-Benau
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Impact

This study analyses the impact of Spanish financial institutions’ risk profile on their contribution to the 2030 Agenda. Financial institutions play a significant role in ensuring financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth and usually incorporate environmental and social considerations into their risk management systems. The results show that financial institutions with less capital risk, with lower management efficiency and with higher market risk usually make higher contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to their sustainability reports. The novel aspect of the present study is that it identifies the risk profile of financial institutions that incorporate sustainability into their business operations and measure the impact generated in the environment and in society. The study findings have important implications for shareholders, investors and analysts, according to the view that sustainability reporting is a vehicle that financial institutions use to express their commitment to the 2030 Agenda and to higher quality corporate reporting.

scholarly journals Assessing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in academic libraries

2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062110055
Author(s):  
Clare Thorpe ◽  
Lyndelle Gunton
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Societal Implications ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Stretch Targets ◽  
The University ◽  
Mapping Exercise

The United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development identifies 17 goals as a shared blueprint for peace, prosperity, people and the planet. Australian academic libraries have started documenting and planning how academic libraries contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the identification of assessment frameworks and key performance indicators. In 2019, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Library stepped through an exercise of understanding how our day-to-day work and annual planning targets mapped to the SDGs. The article is a case study. The authors outline how an academic library’s services, projects and action plans were mapped to the SDGs and how the mapping exercise was communicated to the community. The article will situate this activity among the broader approaches being taken by the Australian library community, including the 2030 stretch targets for Australian libraries. USQ Library staff found that existing services, collections and projects correlated to eight of the 17 SDGs. Activities were mapped to these eight goals and reported to senior executive of the University. The mapping exercise increased the awareness of library staff about the broader cultural and societal implications of their roles. The communication strategy led to conversations that increased university leaders’ awareness of the SDGs and the value and impact of USQ Library in improving access to information as well as the library’s role in transforming the lives of USQ students and community. By undertaking an exercise to map collections, services and projects to the SDGs, USQ Library has been able to demonstrate how their knowledge and information infrastructures which enable student achievement and research excellence. The SDGs can be used by university libraries as a benchmarking tool and as a challenge to set stretch targets aligned with the United Nation’s 2030 agenda.

Project-Oriented Learning as an Optimal Methodology for the Incorporation of the SDGs in University Teaching: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Miñán-Espigares ◽  
Claudia-Amanda Juárez-Romero
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Teaching Innovation ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The University ◽  
Quality Learning

The use of active methodologies in the university is a priority to achieve higher quality learning. One of these methodologies with the greatest potential for training in competencies is Project-Oriented Learning (PLA), using it in an innovative way. Associating the use of this methodology with the objectives of sustainable development, which have become even more important since the Pandemic by COVID-19, can be a good idea to achieve a more sustained and situated learning. The aim of this study is to find out to what extent research on teaching innovation with Project-Oriented Learning is associated with the Sustainable Development Goals. A systematic review was carried out as indicated by PRISMA through the following databases: WOS and Scopus. WOS found 15 articles on AoP and 6 on Project-Oriented Learning and sustainability. In Scopus 2 were found in 2019. The main results show that in the University, especially in the branches of engineering, AoP is widely used, however, it is rarely related to SDGs. Among the conclusions, we highlight the need for research on project-oriented learning and sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals Relationship between tourism and Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Circular Economy as a future bet

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Miguel Rodríguez-Antón
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Peace And Justice ◽  
Development Goals

No one has the slightest doubt about the enormous potential that the African continent has as a tourist destination. The diversity of cultures, the great biodiversity that it possesses, the multiple artistic manifestations that it offers and the beauty of the seas that surround it are key pieces in continuing to promote its capacity as a tourist attraction, which is approximately 60 million tourists per year who generate seven percent of exports and employment. However, in order for Africa to take off, it is necessary that a number of conditions related to security, health, education, eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities, peace and justice and quality of its waters, among others, are intimately related to the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda. In this context, we maintain that the implementation of the Circular Economy in Africa will be a key tool in this process of improving the sustainability of this continent in its three aspects, economic, social and environmental, and raising its level of tourism competitiveness.

scholarly journals Sustainable development of education: a home bank of management decisions of the university in ensuring the minimum requirements of legislation

2020 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 09007
Author(s):  
Natalya Mikhaylova ◽  
Sergey Verkhoturov
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
University Management ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Balanced Model ◽  
Automated Tools ◽  
The University

The article discusses the issues of building a university management model focused on meeting the minimum accreditation requirements and legislative requirements in the field of higher education, ensuring the sustainable development of education. In the context of global informatization of the society, the information technologies are being introduced into the various fields of activity. The university management system did not stand aside. The authors propose the use of gamification technology through the automated tools that provide processing and analysis of big data, diagnostics of the quality of downloaded information. Gamification allows the target users to complete the assigned tasks subject to the certain rules and restrictions, which makes the process of performing them similar to a game. It simultaneously contributes to the development of the personnel, the creation of a process of rivalry, motivation and social interaction. Gamification allows the head of an educational organization to build a balanced model of organizational behavior, taking into account the model of behavior of the performers, to ensure the division of administrative and academic spheres of management. These aspects are important elements in the system of the sustainable development of education.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document