Sustainability issues are now a global concern. However, knowing the root causes of problems and the target is not the only factor that constantly motivates change for the better (Wamsle & Osberg, 2022) as such change also requires encouragement from actors, including individuals, organizations, and communities. Therefore, the human aspect is crucial for the successful achievement of sustainability (Hariram et al., 2023). In other words, questions on sustainability are not just about "what should be done?" and also on “how to get people to do it?” and “why are currently available interventions not yet fully utilized?” Such is required reflecting the findings of a body of previous research which accentuates that our main struggle in the global era we already in, is the discrepancy between awareness and action, between policy and practice, between scientific knowledge and behavior (Hariram et al., 2023; Kirchner-Krath et al., 2024). Global sustainability efforts often promoted into green technologies and environmental policies. It has shown that even well-designed interventions, the result not always in meaningful change. In several countries, some initiatives have fallen short because they overlook the psychological and socio-cultural factors that shape individual behavior and collective decision-making (de Costa et al., 2025). It also requires a deep understanding of community perspectives as expressed through local social norms and everyday practices. As a result, the presence of infrastructure or the financial support mechanism alone is not enough to drive meaningful change (Kinzig et al., 2013). Local context is another critical factor that shape adoption behavior and the extent to which proposed solutions are accepted and supported (Carmen et al., 2024; Syamsiyah et al., 2025). In this context, a more comprehensive understanding of environmental science is required. With the philosophy of environmental science, humans constitute is one of the three core dimensions, together with environmental and economic factors, and any effective approach that must balance to these elements. However, when modern environmental science, characterized by data analyses and methodologies is applied in practice, it often meets tensions with deeply rooted local and traditional knowledge systems that have shaped people’s perceptions and behaviors for generations (Ijatuyi et al., 2025). A clear example can be found in Bali, where the Subak irrigation system and the Danu Kerthi philosophy have guided water management for centuries. These practices represent living environmental systems rather than merely cultural heritage to be preserved. When traditional approaches are used into environmental science, conservation efforts are often more effective, as they are grounded in community acceptance and sustained through active local participation (Morse, 2025). This integration can serve as a recognition that centuries-old knowledge systems have legitimacy and effectiveness that must be combined with scientific monitoring and formal governance to achieve optimal conservation outcomes. Beyond the local context, the organizational context, both in the public and private sectors, can also act as a transformative agent in driving individual practices (Borrás et al., 2024; Keil et al., 2025). Green human resource management (GHRM) integrates environmental and individual lifecycle goals within an organization. This approach demonstrates how integrating understandings of desires can influence individual behaviour and drive organizational innovation that contributes to sustainability (Ahmad et al., 2025; Borrás et al., 2024; Keil et al., 2025; Shoaib et al., 2025). This 15th issue of the Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development focuses on an often overlooked yet fundamental dimension of sustainability: the ways in which human behavior, cultural and spiritual value systems, local institutional contexts, and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern science collectively shape sustainable landscapes. Unlike previous editions that highlight biophysical and techno-ecological aspects, this issue shifts attention into questions of agency, motivation, beliefs, norms, and meaningful systems that highlight environmental decisions and actions. This perspective shows the critical need for interdisciplinary approaches to explaining contemporary sustainability challenges. Environmental issues today extend beyond ecological degradation to include human behavior and the capacity of diverse knowledge systems, scientific, local, and policy-based, to interact and function cohesively. Consequently, behavioral transformation supported by the integration of multiple knowledge systems represents a fundamental pathway toward effective, adaptive, and long-term sustainability action. The articles in this issue explore diverse geographic and sectoral contexts, ranging from the application of green transportation technologies, air management in urban-industrial versus traditional-tourism contexts, climate adaptation in agricultural communities, global natural resource management (GHRM) practices in the tourism sector, to indigenous wisdom-based lake conservation and sustainable food systems.

Illegal Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (PETI) in Poboya, Palu City, exemplifies Indonesia’s nexus of socio-environmental vulnerability and institutional marginalization. Although environmental degradation, health impacts, and regulatory challenges associated with PETI have been extensively documented, limited research has systematically examined how the interplay of capital assets and internal motivation drives livelihood transformation pathways within PETI communities. To address this gap, this study uniquely integrates the Sustainable Livelihood Framework with spatial analysis to assess the combined influence of environmental, social, and economic capitals on PETI livelihood transitions. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through quantitative survey and qualitative in-depth interviews with 119 PETI workers selected through purposive and convenience sampling analyzed using Atlas.ti and spatial data analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Quantitative analysis using multiple linear regression revealed that environmental capital (β=0.288), social capital (β=0.400), economic capital (β=0.304), and motivation to change (β=0.340) had significant positive effects (p<0.001) on livelihood transformation. Qualitative narrative analysis revealed that persistent informal institutional networks, constrained access to formal financing, and perceptions of repressive policy frameworks continue to sustain PETI activities despite environmental and legal risks. Spatial analysis demonstrated that PETI activities are concentrated in high mineral potential zones with informal accessibility, underlining the combined role of ecological opportunity and socio-economic necessity. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on how capital assets and motivation interact spatially and socially to influence livelihood transformation, offering a more integrated perspective beyond prior research that predominantly focused on environmental impacts and regulatory issues. The findings underscore the need for policy interventions that combine capital strengthening, motivational mobilization, and inclusive institutional reforms to facilitate fair, legal, and sustainable livelihood transitions for PETI communities.

Given global environmental challenges, developing sustainable behavior among pre-service teachers is crucial, as they will be responsible to educate future generations who must contribute to solving environmental problems. Offline pro-environmental identity refers as the individual's environmental commitment in real-life setting. Previous studies have primarily focused on online identity and behavioral intentions, while real-life behavioral context have not been fully examined. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of the online pro-environmental identity, the perceived behavioral control, and the moral identity on the behavioral intention and the offline pro-environmental behavior. The study employed a quantitative research design and adopted Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) to analyze the data. The population was all Economics Education students of Universitas Negeri Semarang. A proportionate simple random sampling method was employed to choose 277 respondents. Questionnaire-based data were obtained and analyzed using CB-SEM. The findings reveal that intention was a strong and positive predictor of offline pro-environmental behavior (H1). Moral identity significantly influences intention (H2) and affects offline behavior both directly (H3) and indirectly through intention (H8). Online pro-environmental identity also has a significant influence on both intention (H4) and offline behavior (H5), with both effects mediated by intention (H9). However, perceived behavioral control has no impact on either intention (H6) or discharge behavior offline (H7), even indirectly through intention (H10). R value for intention is a moderate 0.539 whereas offline pro-environmental behaviour shows a strong R value at 0.963. These results emphasize the importance of intention for transforming values and identity to actual ecological behaviour. Enhancing moral and online pro-environmental identity can be beneficial to the development of sustainable behavior in offline context which calls for joint efforts in environmental education and behavioral interventions.

Jakarta, a city that has continued to develop, is marked by the growth of population in Jakarta. This growth has been accompanied by an increasing demand for land, resulting in spatial segregation. Some areas have large expanses of land, while others are densely populated and cramped. The purpose of this study is to analyze spatial segregation in the Penjaringan and Pluit Subdistricts of North Jakarta. The research employs a qualitative descriptive analysis method, spatial analysis using Moran's and Getis-Ord Gi*, and a literature review enriched with interviews. The research findings indicate clear spatial segregation between Pluit and Penjaringan, divided into positive and negative hotspot clusters representing larger vs. very narrow land parcels. It is also shown by the clustering pattern with the 0.03 Moran index value. The contrast in segregation depicts demographic and socioeconomic characteristics between the two areas. This pattern is also similar to the land value zones, where Penjaringan has lower land values than Pluit. These findings underscore the pressing need for inclusive urban planning strategies to address spatial disparities. Policies that promote shared public spaces, equitable infrastructure distribution, and mixed-use development could help bridge the socioeconomic divide. By integrating spatial equity into planning practices, urban development can foster greater social cohesion and ensure that the benefits of growth are more evenly distributed across all areas. This approach is vital for creating sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

The relocation of Indonesia's capital city is anticipated to promote inclusive economic growth while embracing cultural diversity. However, this transition may affect ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure patterns. The study investigated variations in UV exposure in the IKN region, focusing on urban development factors such as land use and population density that affect public health, sun protection, and skin cancer prevention. The research hypothesized that UV radiation is significantly correlated with these factors. UV Index data from 2010-2023, a hierarchical clustering method, identifies complex data patterns without determining the number of clusters. XGBoost, a machine learning model, was used for handling high-dimensional data and strong non-linear interactions, outperforming Random Forest in predicting Ultraviolet A variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant inter-group differences, which were validated by Tukey HSD post-hoc tests. Results showed that Cluster 4 was the region with the highest UV exposure. In contrast, Cluster 5 recorded the lowest, with exposure levels ranging from 6.61 to 15.82, a considerable difference of 9.21. The findings underscore the role of geographic and environmental factors in shaping UV exposure patterns, with implications for public health. Areas with high UV exposure face higher risks, including skin cancer and premature ageing. The predictive accuracy of the XGBoost model highlights its usefulness in addressing UV-related health risks. The study advocates for improved UV protection strategies and informed health policies to mitigate climate change impacts and promote sustainable urban development. The findings suggest that the development of data-driven early warning systems for UV radiation exposure could be implemented to improve public health policy and safety.

Supported by a variety of diversity and landscapes, the development of tourism in the Petungkriyono area is growing rapidly. Optimizing ecotourism services in the Petungkriyono forest without disrupting the ecosystem and damaging the environment can be done by limiting the number of visitors at tourism sites. This study aims to find out information about the tourism capacity of some tourist attractions in the local forest. This study uses the Cifuentes model to predict the maximum number of visitor capacities that can be accommodated in a tourist attraction called Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC), Real Carrying Capacity (RCC), and Effective Carrying Capacity (ECC) with management capacity as a consideration. The results of the study show that from PCC calculations, which means a maximum number of visitors physically provided by the space, Curug Bajing has the highest number of visitors (1,365 people) in a day from four other tourist objects. Rogojembangan Coffee Shop has the fewest visitors (347 respondents). The highest number of RCC calculations is Curug Bajing tourist attraction (1,365 respondents), and the lowest is Rogojembangan Coffee Shop (346 respondents). In addition, ECC calculations show that the highest number of visitors is at Curug Bajing (1,364 respondents), and the lowest is at the Rogojembangan Coffee Shop (345 respondents). For the management of tourism, the results can provide insight into which tourist attractions require further development. Regarding the result, it shows that Curug Lawe tourist attraction has an exceeded carrying capacity, so our results provide a basis for local tourism management and stakeholders to develop more effective strategies in tourism in the local forest, such as controlling and managing the tourism area by limiting visitors, managing the facilities, waste management, and avoid the habitat of endemic fauna so that we can maintain forest sustainability while utilizing natural tourism in the Petungkriyono forest.

The healthcare sector faces critical challenges, including climate change, rising healthcare demands, and resource inefficiencies, making sustainability a priority. This study investigates the integration of sustainable practices and green marketing within the healthcare sector using a bibliometric analysis of 194 journal articles published from 2015 to 2024. Key research questions explore evolving trends, thematic areas, and gaps in the literature to address sustainability issues. The study employs a rigorous five-phase bibliometric methodology, utilizing Scopus database data and tools like Bibliometrix and VOSViewer to identify key themes and relationships. The research demonstrates an annual growth rate of 56.24%, reflecting the rising global attention to sustainability in healthcare. Key journals, such as Sustainability and Journal of Cleaner Production, are identified as prominent platforms, while China and India lead in research contributions. Descriptive statistics reveal an average of 26.18 citations per article, with 43.3% involving international collaborations. The co-occurrence analysis identifies six clusters focusing on environmental sustainability, CSR, green supply chains, economic performance, green HR, and green product innovation in healthcare. The thematic analysis highlights the convergence of sustainability principles, operational efficiency, and green marketing strategies in addressing healthcare challenges. Central themes include Green Human Resource Management (GHRM), Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM), and frugal innovation. Notably, GSCM practices, such as eco-design and waste management, are pivotal in mitigating the healthcare sector's environmental footprint. The study also emphasizes the role of emerging technologies like AI and IoT in optimizing sustainable operations. While significant progress has been made, gaps remain in integrating green practices with marketing strategies and assessing long-term impacts. Future direction should focus on adopting innovative technologies, developing targeted green marketing campaigns, and addressing challenges in resource-limited healthcare systems. This research contributes to improving operational efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing patient satisfaction through sustainable practices and green marketing strategies.

Small-scale fisherfolks contributed to the livelihood and economic aspects of the fishery sector in the region. However, they are vulnerable regarding potential risks and threats caused by various conditions. This study explored the vulnerability of fifty-two small-scale fisherfolks selected from six barangays near Laguna's Northern West Bay, Philippines. The case study design guided the data collection from multiple sources, including survey questionnaires, unstructured interviews, and document analysis for triangulation and analysis of fisherfolks' exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Results show that there are indicators that contribute to the vulnerability of fisherfolk in terms of exposure, which involves hydrometeorological hazards, water quality, and biological indicators; Sensitivity, which involves the type of fish, fish consumption, family size, number of times fishing, age of fisherfolks, catch rate, gear dependence; and adaptive capacity which involves the health benefits, domestic credits/loans, fishery cooperative, seminar and training, income, educational attainment, alternative livelihoods, boat types, house types, presence of fry fishery, size of fish, mode of communication, presence of infrastructures and fishing experience. There is a need for appropriate interventions and doable programs by the government authorities in addressing the areas that contribute to the high level of vulnerability of fisherfolks for them in return to be able to sustain their means of livelihood and ability to contribute to the industry of fisheries in connection with the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. This research highlights the necessity of a systemic approach in assessing the needs of small-scale fisherfolks to help them reduce vulnerability while supporting their industry. Additionally, it recommends a practical framework and scale for assessing the vulnerability of small-scale fisherfolks, along with supporting policies for a long-term strategy to boost this sector.

The plastic packaging industry has become a significant commodity that penetrates almost every aspect of our lives, requiring greater responsibility from the industry for the life cycle management of their products. Several study methodologies are available to measure the industry's environmental impact, with life cycle analysis (LCA) gaining traction in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aims to measure the environmental impact of the plastic packaging industry analyzed using LCA with a focus on the main potential impact categories of global warming, acidification of the earth, toxicity to humans, formation of photochemical oxidants, and fossil depletion, within the scope of cradle to gate which was analyzed using SimaPro software. This research compares with previous research conducted in several countries (such as Poland, Qatar, and France) that conducted LCA on the plastic packaging industry. The results from Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, showed that the increase in the amount of plastic packaging produced contributes to environmental impact. Comparative studies reveal that the environmental impact is influenced by factors such as the quantity of recycled materials, the number of circularity cycles, and waste management strategies. Future LCA studies should also aim to refine inventory data, delving into greater detail for each unit of the process. This will yield more precise insights into the overall environmental impact of the process.

We are delighted to present the 11th edition of JESSD, published in December 2023. We have selected twelve of the best articles for this edition that related with topic of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development.