Sustainability and Human Rights Practices and Training

GI multisociety strategic plan on environmental sustainability.

Environmental degradation has emerged as a critical global issue, significantly impacting ecosystems and human health, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria. The need for comprehensive and sustainable environmental management practices is paramount to address these challenges effectively. This study aims to assess the current state of environmental degradation in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives undertaken during World Environment Day (WED) 2024 to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. The study employed a mixed-method approach, including field observations, community surveys, and analysis of environmental data. Activities during WED 2024, such as tree planting, educational lectures, and site visits, were evaluated to determine their impact on raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable practices. The activities conducted during WED 2024 significantly increased community awareness about environmental issues and the importance of sustainable practices. The planting of 500 native saplings contributed to combating deforestation and soil erosion, while educational lectures and site visits provided residents with practical knowledge and insights into environmental conservation. The initiatives undertaken during WED 2024 in Bayelsa State have laid a strong foundation for fostering a culture of environmental stewardship. By engaging the community and promoting sustainable practices, these efforts have set a positive precedent for future conservation activities, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable environment. To build on the success of these initiatives, it is recommended that the Bayelsa State Government enact stricter environmental laws and regulations. Increased environmental advocacy by the Nigerian Environmental Society and other stakeholders is crucial, along with adopting sustainable agricultural practices and improving waste management systems. This study highlights the critical role of community engagement and education in promoting environmental conservation. The findings demonstrate that targeted initiatives, such as those undertaken during WED 2024, can significantly enhance environmental awareness and drive sustainable practices, contributing to the overall resilience and sustainability of ecosystems in Bayelsa State and beyond.

Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia in 1975. However, as a developing nation, PNG has continued to depend on external assistance for its development programs. Extensive foreign aid has been expended primarily to enhance the quality of education. To explore the issue of foreign aid and its impact on PNG as a postcolonial society, the dependency and postcolonial theories were adopted to guide the discussion. The theorist Beeby argues that in order to improve the quality of education, the level of general education and training of teachers in developing countries must be raised. This has occurred in PNG but it has not significantly enhanced the quality of education. Consequently, the issue explored concerns the type of educational change occurring in PNG primary teachers' colleges (PTCs) and its leadership. Globalization processes were adopted to guide the exploration of the education reform and its impact on the quality of education in primary teacher education in PNG. T he following questions focused the content of the study:1. What is the quality of education being experienced in the Catholic Primary Teachers' Colleges? 2. What are the lecturers', students', and recent graduates' perceptions of the recent Primary and Secondary Teacher Education Project innovations occurring in the teachers' colleges? 3. How is the curriculum in the teachers' colleges perceived by the lecturers, students and recent graduates? 4. How is leadership demonstrated in the three Catholic Primary Teachers' Colleges? The epistemological framework of the research was constructionism adopting an interpretivist approach. The specific interpretivist perspective employed was symbolic interactionism because symbolic interactionism places emphasis on the importance of understanding, interpretation and meaning. A case study approach was adopted as the methodology for this research because of the nature of the research purpose.;This study involved a total of 166 participants consisting of staff and students from the three Catholic primary teachers' colleges, representatives from the Catholic Church, National Department of Education (NDOE), Primary and Secondary Teacher Education Project (PASTEP) and other education officers. The data was gathered through a variety of methods including in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus groups, and documentary analysis. The major conclusions that emerged from this study revealed that educational change in primary teacher education has been implemented. However, the study concluded that the quality of leadership demonstrated to lead the educational change was disappointing. Inadequate leadership at the administration and curriculum levels had a negative influence on the quality of education. Achieving quality education was also hampered by inadequate funding, scarcity of resources and inappropriate infrastructure in all the institutions. The two-year trimester program has improved access and quantity but at the expense of quality. To assist primary teacher education implement the reform agenda, foreign aid was required. PASTEP was introduced and the contribution made by PASTEP was substantial. However, the study concluded that some of the strategies adopted by PASTEP to conduct its programs were questionable because there was evidence of hegemonic and colonial practices found among some of its workforce. In accepting foreign aid projects, PNG needs to establish strategies to ensure equitable partnerships with all stakeholders for sustainable development in education. In this respect, the findings of this study may serve as a guide for future decisions about educational leadership, curriculum innovation, donor funding agencies and policy generation.

In recent years, the integration of sustainable principles into the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) for efficient waste management has gained significant attention. This paper provides an overview of advancements in multi-objective mathematical programming (MP) models and the optimization techniques for sustainable waste management practices within the VRP framework. Sustainable waste management practices in the context of the VRP involve optimizing routes and schedules aim to reduce the environmental impact of waste collection. It investigates the integration of multi-objectives with sustainability criteria, including social, economic, and environmental considerations. Furthermore, it surveys various optimization methodologies applied in waste management to enhance efficiency and sustainability practices. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was employed as a formal systematic review guideline for data gathering. Data was obtained from studies conducted between 2017 and 2023. The analysis included a total of 18 papers from online sources and databases. Based on the literature review, it has been observed that the majority of the research focused on employing Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) models to tackle the optimization problem for waste management. The literature survey demonstrated significant contributions in computational performance, cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, and utilization of real-world data by improving the solution approaches, aiming to prioritize economic, social, and environmentally friendly solutions. The paper aims to serve as a convenient reference for researchers and practitioners seeking information on using the MP model and solution approaches to optimize VRP for waste management.

This study aims to examine the impact of sustainable business practices on competitive advantage within the hospitality industry in Rwanda, with a focus on Radisson Blu Hotel. Specifically, it evaluates the effects of Triple Bottom Line (TBL), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Green/Environmental practices on competitive positioning. Methods: The research utilized a descriptive and correlational design, guided by Porter’s Five Forces Model, Resource-Based View theory, and Dynamic Capability theory. A sample of 220 respondents was selected from a population of 487 employees using Yamane’s formula and purposive sampling. Data were gathered through field surveys and published reports, then analyzed with SPSS using correlational and regression techniques. Results: The findings reveal that Radisson Blu Hotel’s application of TBL practices, CSR, and environmental initiatives all contribute significantly to its competitive advantage. Specifically, TBL practices (mean = 4.6916) and CSR activities (mean = 4.7032) show strong evidence of maximizing profits, ensuring fair treatment, and contributing to environmental sustainability. Green/Environmental practices also demonstrate a high impact (mean = 4.7047), with effective waste management and pollution reduction. The overall correlation between sustainable practices and competitive advantage was 0.851, indicating a substantial positive impact. Conclusions: The study concludes that Radisson Blu Hotel’s strategic implementation of TBL, CSR, and environmental practices effectively enhances its competitive advantage. The strong correlation suggests that continued focus on these sustainable practices will likely sustain and improve the hotel’s market position. Significance: This research underscores the critical role of sustainable business practices in gaining competitive advantage within the hospitality sector. It provides actionable insights for Radisson Blu Hotel and similar organizations, highlighting the importance of ongoing commitment to sustainability for long-term success and industry leadership. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59857/DTYV6913

Entrepreneurial activities cause a disastrous effect on us and our future generation due to its contribution to environmental degradation. Because of this, sustainable entrepreneurship practice becomes a resolution of ecological problems capable of addressing business change issues, public health, and safety concerns and crucial for sustainable development. Pollution was identified causing environmental degradation among the upstream and downstream players in Malaysian herbal industry. In response, the Malaysian government focused on ensuring that herbal‐based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) produce products through safe and environmentally friendly practices. Literature suggests that organizational culture influences sustainable entrepreneurship practice among small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises, hence provide them the opportunities to achieve sustainable business development. Nonetheless, its implementation among SMEs is still low due to numerous challenges. This paper intends to investigate the standpoints of herbal‐based SMEs on the influence of top leadership culture and strategic sustainability orientation on sustainable entrepreneurship practice towards achieving sustainable development. This study surveyed 300 herbal‐based SMEs in Malaysia, and data were analyzed using structural equation model. Structural equation model displays the interrelations among latent constructs and observable variables in a model. The results show that top leadership culture has both direct and indirect effect on sustainable practices through strategic sustainability orientation, accounting for 71.049% variance. Findings reveal that both top leadership culture and strategic sustainability orientation are significantly related to sustainable entrepreneurship practice among the respondents, thus substantiates and support previous findings on the crucial roles of top leadership culture and strategic sustainability orientation in enabling organizations to achieve sustainable development.

Waste management has become a critical issue in urban communities, necessitating innovative approaches for effective implementation. In Citra Sentosa Mandiri Housing, a waste bank initiative led by community leaders Mr. Agus Irwanto and Mr. Yanto exemplifies a successful model for fostering community engagement in waste management. Despite the growing interest in community-based waste management, there is limited understanding of the role of group communication in facilitating the diffusion of innovation within such contexts. This study aims to analyze communication strategies employed by waste bank activists to disseminate information and assess community adoption and participation in the waste bank program. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative research method and Miles and Huberman's interactive model for data analysis, findings reveal that effective group communication significantly enhances community participation and supports the adoption of waste management innovations. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting the crucial role of communication in transforming community perceptions of waste. The study underscores the importance of structured communication strategies in promoting sustainable waste management practices, providing insights for policymakers and community leaders seeking to implement similar initiatives in other urban settings. Highlights: Effective communication strategies enhance community engagement in waste management. Community leaders play a crucial role in driving waste bank initiatives. Structured communication transforms perceptions of waste within the community. Keywords: Waste Management, Group Communication, Innovation Diffusion, Community Participation, Sustainable Practices

Sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important in the hospitality sector during crisis times such as COVID‐19 and post‐pandemic. In order to synthesize the literature on sustainable practices in hospitality, we developed a systematic literature to illustrate the dominant sustainable practices in hospitality. We present a comprehensive review of the 48 articles on sustainable practices in hospitality through the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases; spanning over 2 years (2020–2021) pre‐and amid the COVID‐19 pandemic and extending the scope in distinctive ways. Our review has demonstrated that sustainable practices in hospitality have made progress in the years 2020 and 2021. However, there are conceptual and empirical overlaps among sustainable practices in hospitality. Additionally, hospitality sustainable practices research is restricted in research contexts. There is a lack of research on antecedents, outcomes, and integrating theories in studies. By following the guidance presented in this review, we expect to advance and maintain sustainable practices research to provide substantive insights over the coming years post‐COVID‐19. The current research is one of the first studies to systematically review sustainable practices in hospitality pre‐and amid the COVID‐19 pandemic. The research ends with a comprehensive research agenda and a framework to apprise future theoretical and empirical advances in the area.

Conceptual Building of Sustainable Financial Management & Sustainable Financial Growth

Sustainability at airports: Technologies and best practices from ASEAN countries

“Sustainable Development” has come a long way since the World Commission on Environment and Development first popularized the term in 1987. Virtually everyone is now familiar with the term Sustainable Development, from states to multinational corporations, and from affluent communities in the Global North to impoverished communities in the Global South. It received a new lease of life in 2015 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is recognized that sustainable development requires an inter-disciplinary, multi-level, and bottom-up approach, and that this ideal is easy to state but difficult to operationalize. Pursuant to deliberations at an international workshop at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which aimed at fostering the exchange of ideas among diverse experts and developing solutions for effective inclusion of women and youth in climate change response strategies, we propose an innovative, practical three-dimensional model that enhances sustainability theory and practice with cross-cutting integration of human rights, gender equity, and Indigenous and local knowledge. We evaluate the utility of the model in two ways: First, we analyze how the model informs current approaches to environmental sustainability and human wellbeing including the SDGs, agroecology, de-growth principles, and planetary health metrics. Then, we explore the feasibility and added value of the approach through seven case studies from Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Malawi, Peru, Côte D’Ivoire, and Aotearoa—New Zealand. We conclude that the proposed model is congruent with current theory and practice. It builds on existing principles by identifying and addressing gaps. It enables practical action in a variety of settings and fosters a more integrated approach to sustainable wellbeing for humanity and our earth. We recommend continued development of this theoretical framework and related guidelines for program design, implementation and evaluation.

The Paddy-Cattle Integrated Farming System (PCIFS) is one of the dominant farming systems in the dry zone, Sri Lanka which contributes to the well-being of small-scale farmers. These systems are subjected to high risk and uncertainty uttered by poor productivity and food insecurity related issues. Hence, the study aimed at investigating the impacts of adoption for sustainable agricultural practices on household food security in PCIFS in Anuradhapura district. A survey was employed to gather data from 300 randomly selected paddy-cattle integrated farmers. Descriptive and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Farming experience, age of respondents, income from milk, awareness on sustainable agricultural practices, training participation and gender were identified as the factors affecting the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Further, household income (p<0.1), age, farming experience, and adoption for sustainable agricultural practices significantly (p<0.05) affected on the Food Consumption Score while household size (p<0.1), access to credits, and adoption for sustainable agricultural practices significantly (p<0.05) influenced the Household Food Insecurity Access Score. The study concludes that the adoption for sustainable agricultural practices ensure sustainable and food secured farming systems in the Anuradhapura district. The results suggest the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices among the paddy-cattle integrated farmers.

This study investigated farmers’ use of sustainable production practices for yellow pepper crop in the Nsukka agricultural zone, Enugu State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 135 farmers and interview schedule using structured questionnaires was employed for data collection. Data generated were analysed with SPSS software using frequency and percentage, mean scores, standard deviation, factor analysis, and logistic regression. Findings revealed that the majority (91.1%) of the yellow pepper farmers had moderate knowledge on sustainable production practices and that some of the practices used were mass selection (97.0%), use of poultry manure (95.60%), use of improved varieties of yellow pepper (94.0%), crop rotation practices (91.10%), and minimum use of agrochemicals (78.50). Among the factors considered to be potential determinants of farmers’ use of sustainable production practices, only sex was statistically significant, at 5% level. Also, findings indicated that technical, institutional, and economic constraints affected farmers’ use of sustainable production practices. Furthermore, results indicated that sustainable production practices could be enhanced through the use of improved seeds (85.5%), access to credit facilities (77.8%), access to extension services (71.8%), and training of farmers (68.9%). The study therefore recommends that government and private sectors should provide services that will facilitate the development of sustainable production practices of Nsukka yellow pepper crop, as this will have a long-term effect on productivity and the production environment.

Access to healthy food and the introduction of sustainable nutrition practices are two important issues today. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to food security but it has also provided opportunities for local food production. The discussion on local food has been gaining attention in recent years, but there is still a lack of clear understanding of the term ‘local food’ in the literature. The relationship between local food and sustainability issues is still unclear and has various connotations. This discordance leads to further discussions on whether buying local food should be considered a sustainable behavior and whether consumer preference for local food can be perceived as a sustainable practice. A scoping literature review was conducted in order to fill this gap and to shed light on the main tendencies of the scientific literature regarding this topic. The outcomes of the research revealed three dimensions of ‘local food’ definitions in the literature: geographical, geopolitical, and organic; while the problem of a unified local food definition remains open. The studied literature did not show any sound evidence for sustainability attributes in the definition of local food and consumer perception of local food.

In Bangladesh, the construction industry, where concrete is the main ingredient, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Many cement manufacturing plants, aggregate production units, ready-mix concrete production facilities, and other factories related to the concrete industry are rapidly increasing. The whole industry is working relentlessly to meet this growing demand. However, little is known about the sustainability of materials, practices, and procedures that are followed in this industry. As a step toward understanding the sustainability issues related to the concrete industry of Bangladesh, this paper elaborates the perspectives held by the members and stakeholders in this sector on sustainable practices and materials through investigation consisting of survey of industry experts and other stakeholders. The investigation is aimed at evaluating the level of sustainability knowledge of different personnel associated with this industry and their concept toward making this industry more sustainable. The different groups of personnel that are interviewed for this purpose include academics, consultants, design and field level engineers, personnel involved in technical issues of cement and ready-mix concrete factories, contractors, and owners of construction-related industries. Available data from these interviews are then processed to examine different features. The data show most of the persons surveyed at least have little knowledge about sustainability of concrete except for the contractors where the majority have no knowledge about sustainability. The overwhelming majority (79%) of interviewees believe that the concrete industry of Bangladesh needs to change to make it more sustainable. Most of those who are aware of sustainability issues emphasized use of alternative ingredients for cement and aggregate production for a more sustainable concrete industry, while a few emphasized increasing durability of structures through better concrete and thereby reducing the overall environmental impact from a life cycle point of view.