Exploring the Factors Associated with Climate-Related Issues in a Special Economic Development Zone: Application of a DPSIR Framework

The rapid global increase in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) raises concerns regarding potential impacts on the environment, especially water use intensity, an increased risk of natural disasters, and an elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, studies examining these impacts are limited. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the influence of SEZ development factors on flooding, water scarcity, and GHG emissions using Tak SEZ in Thailand as a case study. A Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, together with structural equation modeling (SEM) through the partial least squares (PLS) approach, has been used to examine the interrelationships between these factors. The results revealed that economic, industrial, and urban development are key drivers associated with flooding, water scarcity, and GHG emissions in the zone. The increased population density, water consumption, waste generation, and vehicular traffic are all significantly put pressure on climate change impacts. The integration of DPSIR framework together with PLS-SEM technique to explore the relationship among multiple sustainability indicators contributes to the existing sustainability assessment methodology. Future research can utilize the presented indicators to identify potential factors for the evaluation of other types of development zones that have a variety of socio-economic activities.

Application of Watershed Carrying Capacity and Sustainability Index (Case Study: Cimahi Sub-Watershed)

Activities carried out in Cimahi City are quite diverse so that can affect the decline in environmental quality, one of which is the sub-watershed. This condition explains that a study on the application of watershed carrying capacity and sustainabiliy index needs to be carried out to provide a comprehensive picture of the environmental conditions. The index is developed based on the study of carrying capacity and sustainability. The two studies are combined to complement the indicators that do not exist in each study. In general, the two studies consist of three main components, namely land, water resources, and social, economic, and institutional. The results of the study are then analyzed using the DPSIR framework. The analysis show that the sub-watershed is classified as poor performance. The final value obtained from the watershed sustainability study is 11,11. There are 13 out of 26 indicators that have poor performance. All indicators with these performances are priority actions. This research can be used by the government to create a management strategy for the Cimahi sub-watershed.

Development Indicators and Soybean Production in Brazil

Due to its agricultural potential, land extensions, and favorable climate, Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of various agricultural products. A significant part of this production is placed in Mato Grosso, the primary national producer of several agricultural commodities. The soybean complex alone produced more than 33 million tons of soybean for the 2019/2020 harvest, representing 27% of national production. The economic potential that the soybean commodity represents is linked to the increase in demand for inputs, planted area, production, and productivity. Given these factors, the present study aims to analyze how the largest municipalities of soybean production behave, and the degree of interaction and positive associations between the economic potential promoted by soybean production and the economic/social development and environmental impacts in the Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The methodology was to categorize the thirty largest soybean producing municipalities, using the factor analysis method for selected indicators. The interpretation is made through the adoption of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. The results indicated that the groups formed are not homogeneous in terms of socio-economic and environmental development. The three factors that formed, were interpreted using the DPSIR are characterized by the significant influence of the population, reflect on its development, how economic activities are other and not just agriculture. The second also belongs to the driver in the DPSRI framework group. It is associated with the soybean production indicator, implying larger planting areas, generating jobs focused on agricultural activities. The interpretation is made through the adoption of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. The results indicated that the groups formed are not homogeneous in terms of socio-economic and environmental development. The significant influence of the population characterizes the three found factors. The first reflects on the region’s development and how other economic activities (not just agriculture) are carried on. The second also belongs to the driver in the DPSRI framework group, and it is associated with the soybean production indicator, generating jobs focused on agricultural activities. The third group, formed by municipalities in the Amazon region, with environmental factors associated with large geographical areas, extensive native forests, and more significant carbon sequestration, considers the DPSRI framework’s impacts. Showing that there are behavior patterns and taking this into account is the optimal way to use the predictors appropriately. Municipalities are expected to be more reactive to some changes than to others to achieve a good level of development.