Abstract: Whereas there is a growing body of literature on the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, limited evidence exists on the impact of the pandemic on informal female-owned enterprises, and especially those that are located in urban informal settlements. In this study, we explore the adverse impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on women food vendors enterprises and their coping strategies across four informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. The study is based on a quantitative survey of 448 women vendors selected through stratified random sampling. Our findings show that women food vendors face numerous challenges which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased costs of business operations, spoilage of perishable products, and oscillating daily sales and profits, largely due to the unpredictable market supply and demand forces. The vendors adopted a number of strategies to cushion their business enterprises and households, including price and stock adjustments, use of mobile phones and hygiene measures at business enterprises, reliance on credit, loans, savings and social networks for survival, temporary closure of business, and relocation of household members to the rural home. These results underscore the critical need for context-specific strategies to support and foster resilience of informal economies during future global pandemics.

Abstract: The challenges of inadequacies and disparity in quantity of fresh water supply as experience in many regions of the world Altogether, can be attributed to issues such as climate change, rapid population growth, institutional failures and growing water demand., thus resulting in water accessibility issues. While efforts have been made to analyse willingness to buy water or pay for improve water services no single study has pointed to the inequalities associated with informal water market (IWM) in Nigeria. Therefore, this study is an attempt to examine the impact of IWM on access to water in Ijebu-Ode Nigeria. Adopting questionnaire for the survey of 507 and connecting household socio-economic characteristics to household access to water sources. Analytical Method includes in investigating the inequalities associated with informal water market operation. Chi-Square, t-test, ANOVA Also further, inquiry into the associated inequality followed Lorenz Curve and Atkinson Index technique. The findings showed that, Gini index for the study area is 49.45, while that of water expenditure is 49.23 the Atkinson Index remains 0.361, showing existing inequality in access to water. Therefore, recommendations comprise the establishment of regulatory body, provision of loans services for the informal water market sector.

Abstract: The localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become a central dimension of sustainable urban development, as local governments play an increasingly important role in translating global sustainability agendas into place-based action. This study aims to provide a state-of-the-art assessment of how scholarly research has examined the relationship between local governance and SDG implementation over the period 2018–2025. A mixed-method review approach was employed, combining bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer with qualitative content analysis conducted through NVivo. Based on predefined inclusion criteria, 143 peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science database were systematically analyzed. The results reveal several dominant thematic clusters, including institutional coordination, sustainable urban planning, data-driven governance, accountability mechanisms, and the growing use of policy tools such as Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). The findings indicate an increasing emphasis on performance-based monitoring, participatory governance approaches, and multilevel institutional frameworks supporting the integration of the SDGs into local policy and planning processes. At the same time, persistent challenges are identified, particularly with regard to equity considerations, data inconsistencies, and the limited inclusion of marginalized urban communities in SDG-related decision-making. Overall, this review offers a structured and comprehensive overview of current research on SDG localization in urban governance and identifies key gaps and priorities for future research and policy development aimed at more inclusive, measurable, and context-sensitive pathways to sustainable urban development.

Abstract: This paper offers a comprehensive overview of academic research on sentiment analysis in urban built environments from 1999 to 2024. Based on data from the scientific database Scopus and drawing on bibliometric tools like Bibliometrix (R) and VOSviewer for performance analysis and scientific mapping, it identifies publication trends, key influential works, leading authors and institutions, funding sources, and thematic clusters. The final dataset comprises 871 English‐language documents authored by 2,068 researchers across 307 sources in 70 countries, with a total of 5,642 citations worldwide. The academic production increased after 2009, peaking in 2024. Keyword and network analyses highlight central themes (and methodological approaches?) to the study of sentiment analysis in urban built environments. These include social media platforms like Twitter/X/X, machine learning, Natural Language Processing, smart cities, and tourism. China, the USA, and India lead in publication output. Over the last twenty-five years, key publication outlets include the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Cities, and Lecture Notes in Computer Science, while the National Natural Science Foundation of China is the most common funder. The paper discusses how sentiment analysis can support urban planning and public health by linking environmental features to well-being and explores methodological emerging trends like deep learning, multimodal approaches, and context-aware models. Overall, it maps the intellectual landscape of the field and argues for future directions for human-centred, data-driven urban decision-making.

Abstract: The rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has reshaped how communities access and utilize essential services. Rural communities, however, continue to face significant access barriers due to geographic isolation, ICT infrastructure gaps, and social inequalities. Smart divide, an emerging concept representing the disparities in smart infrastructure penetration, the variation in smart service adoption, and entrenched digital inequalities across communities, is expected to widen in the coming decades. This study aims to examine the causes of this divide quantitatively from the lens of a socio-technical system, emphasizing the interwoven roles of social and technological factors in contributing to the divide. A Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) model is developed to examine the interplay of ICT infrastructures, social infrastructures, and socio-economic factors contributing to smart divide. The model tests three relationships: both insufficient ICT infrastructures and disadvantaged socio-economic factors proportionately correlate to smart divide occurrence, and social infrastructure acts as a mediator reducing the impact of both ICT infrastructures’ deficiencies and socio-economic disadvantages. Mail survey data on households’ digital connectivity, socio-economic indicators, and smart divide metrics (smart education and health) was collected from 262 residents of two remote small towns with racially diverse and underserved communities in Southern Illinois. The model explained 41.3% of variance in the smart divide. Human factors showed the strongest relationship with smart divide (β = 0.407, p = 0.098), while digital connectivity had no significant direct effect (β = 0.161, p > 0.05). Social infrastructure significantly moderated the relationship between digital connectivity and smart divide (β = -0.167, p < 0.01) but not the relationship between human factors and smart divide relationship (p > 0.05). Results indicate that social support can compensate for connectivity gaps but cannot address persistent inequalities rooted in individual characteristics.

Abstract:

Despite the significant potential of representative natural, agricultural, cultural and historical resources, Northern Kazakhstan, as well as the whole country, demonstrates the absolute underdevelopment and unpopularity of agritourism and rural tourism. Characterized by highly developed agriculture, the region is at the same time characterized by a monopolized rural labor market, lack of a service sector, low incomes, and progressive depopulation of the population. During the implementation of the research project, desk research methods (content analysis, historical and genetic analysis, statistical and factual data analysis and observation methods) and semi-structured individual interviews were used. According to the study, the key factors determining the paradoxical underdevelopment of rural tourism and agritourism in a key agricultural region include the state policy of supporting agriculture, the conservatism of farmers and the indifference of the rural community, which are influenced by the Soviet past. In addition, the lack of attractiveness of rural tourist and recreational resources in the eyes of travelers plays a significant role. To activate the tangible and intangible assets of rural areas in order to develop the tourism and hospitality industry, both administrative and utilitarian measures are proposed that can diversify the rural economy.

Abstract: Medium-sized cities are increasingly affected by processes of urban fragmentation and residential segregation, despite having traditionally been perceived as more socially cohesive and territorially balanced than large metropolitan areas. These cities often act as functional connectors between metropolitan hubs and rural regions, yet they are particularly vulnerable to unplanned suburban growth, housing market polarization and uneven access to urban opportunities. This study develops and applies a multidimensional Urban Territorial Index (UTI) to assess socio-spatial inequality in Ciudad Real, a medium-sized city in central Spain, and its functional urban area. The UTI integrates six indicators across three analytical dimensions—socioeconomic, sociodemographic and housing—using a weighted composite approach informed by principal component analysis and implemented through GIS-based spatial analysis. The index is calculated at census-section and neighborhood scales and externally validated against a local Human Development Index, showing a strong correlation (r = 0.87; p &lt; 0.001). The results reveal a pronounced core–periphery polarization. Central and southern neighborhoods associated with strategic infrastructures—such as the university, high-speed rail station and hospital—concentrate higher income levels, educational attainment and land values, while peripheral municipalities and disadvantaged neighborhoods exhibit higher unemployment, lower rents and greater concentrations of migrant populations. The analysis also identifies suburban municipalities with intense housing construction but demographic stagnation, leading to population–housing mismatches, underutilized developments and service provision deficits. Methodologically, the UTI proves to be a robust and replicable tool for capturing multidimensional urban vulnerability in medium-sized cities, where metropolitan-scale indices often fail to detect fine-grained socio-spatial disparities. Substantively, the findings demonstrate that infrastructure-led development and suburban expansion can reinforce fragmentation and segregation in non-metropolitan contexts when not accompanied by integrative planning strategies. The study contributes to ongoing debates on spatial justice, urban governance and sustainable development, offering policy-relevant insights for medium-sized cities across Southern Europe and comparable urban regions.

Abstract: This study explores the concept of the woman climate as both an archetype and an analytical category, highlighting women's leadership in climate change adaptation and integrating vulnerability and transformative agency. Using a mixed methodology, it combines a systematic literature review with the development of the Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity Index (VACI), which was applied to a case study in Puerto Ayacucho. Puerto Ayacucho, for which secondary data from CEPALSTAT revealed a high level of vulnerability (VACI = 0.73) due to poverty (60%) and dependence on natural resources (70%). A literature review was conducted to identify the historical and contemporary roles of women, while the data analysis employed min-max normalisation and Pearson correlations (e.g., r = -0.56 between vulnerability and adaptive capacity), as well as triangulation of sources, to validate the findings. The results emphasise the need for inclusive policies that strengthen women's resilience by connecting theory and practice through the VACI.

Abstract: The blue economy aims to bring prosperity to coastal communities whilst also pro-tecting natural ocean resources for future generations. But how can this vision be put into practice, especially in communities in which dependancy on natural resources is high and food and livelihood security are key concerns? This paper examines two cases of community-led nature based enterprise in Kenya in a search for solutions to this challenge. I use a ‘diverse economies’ perspective to delve into the heterogeneous relations at work and in search of insights that can be applied in multiple contexts. The analysis reveals a complex assemblage of institutions, knowledges, technologies and practices within which enterprises operate. Whilst the enterprises featured are still relatively new and developing, they suggest a direction of travel for a community-led sustainable blue economy which both supports and benefits from nature recovery. The insights gained from this diverse economies analysis lead us to appreciate a sustainable blue economy as a rediscovered and reinvigorated relationship of reci-procity between society and nature. One that nurtures place-based nature-based livelihoods and nature recovery, together, and which embodies a set of values and ethics shared by government, communities, and business.

Abstract: This paper investigates how Toronto’s Portuguese-Azorean community has shaped the city’s multicultural and psychological landscape, focusing particularly on intergenerational experiences of trauma among immigrant youth. Framed within North America’s broader migration dynamics, the study explores the creation and transformation of the ethnic enclave “Little Portugal” as both a space of cultural resilience and chronic urban stress. It introduces the concept of chronic urban trauma to describe the persistent psychosocial impact of displacement, assimilation pressures, and gentrification on young Portuguese-Azorean Canadians. While first-generation immigrants constructed cohesive ethnic infrastructures grounded in work, faith, and language, younger generations face cultural dissonance, linguistic loss, and identity fragmentation that manifest as emotional distress and social alienation. These experiences illustrate how structural urban change can perpetuate transgenerational trauma within immigrant families. By integrating perspectives from urban geography, trauma studies, and migration theory, this theoretical work underscores the need for trauma-informed educational and social policies that promote inclusion, belonging, and mental well-being among immigrant youth. Ultimately, the study positions “Little Portugal” as a microcosm of how multicultural cities negotiate the intersections of ethnicity, urban transformation, and psychological resilience.

Abstract: Previous studies have shown that a lack of air quality monitors in the US makes it difficult to understand air pollution at local scales. Access to local air pollution information can inform actions to reduce pollution and exposure that is detrimental to human health. Recognizing where exposure is concentrated helps determine where conditions need to be improved. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards on air quality required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) to protect human health. Regulatory monitoring requires nonattainment areas (places where air quality exceeds the set threshold by the EPA) to take action, but only in places where there are monitors. This systematic review assesses if existing studies on the current placement of EPA regulatory air quality monitors provides equitable monitoring of air quality in the US. Existing studies find that monitoring is not distributed equitably across social groups and is concentrated in Whiter, wealthier, and urban neighborhoods. The articles reviewed in this study also found that unmonitored communities are more racially diverse. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether these disparities persist over time, representing a critical limitation of existing research reviewed in this systematic review.

Abstract: This article develops a comprehensive theoretical and empirical exploration of post-extractive development as a new paradigm for twenty-first-century societies, particularly in the Global South. Contemporary economic models remain anchored in extractive logics, linear industrial thinking, and indicators such as GDP that inadequately reflect ecological, relational, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of wellbeing. Drawing from recent scholarship in ecological economics, political anthropology, resilience studies, and post-growth transitions (Hickel, 2020–2023; Latour, 2022; Scoones et al., 2022), the article proposes an integrative value framework called Ecologies of Flourishing. This approach conceptualizes prosperity as the dynamic interaction of ecological regeneration, sociotechnical resilience, cultural meaning-making, political inclusion, and spiritual vitality.Through an interdisciplinary synthesis, the article demonstrates how emerging empirical evidence—from community forests in Central Africa to Indigenous environmental governance in Latin America and circular innovation systems in Asia (UNDP, 2023; UNEP, 2024)—reveals a shift toward relational and regenerative forms of development. The paper introduces two analytical levels: systemic level analysis, which examines how institutions, infrastructures, and ecological boundaries shape macro patterns of prosperity, and lifeworld level analysis, which focuses on subjective and intersubjective experiences of wellbeing, belonging, and purpose. The article argues that post-extractive development offers a scientifically grounded alternative to conventional economic models by integrating ecological boundaries, social capabilities, and cultural-spiritual foundations of value. The framework proposed provides insights for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners seeking to design value systems that support civilizational resilience in an era of global instability.

Abstract: Solar energy continues to grow rapidly worldwide. Yet in the context of a ‘just transition’, recent research has found stark disparities in adoption across communities and socio-demographic groups. In Canada, where all levels of government have shown support for solar adoption, there is a clear lack of equity-centered research. For example, we can find no research that assesses the kinds of people that have invested in or developed solar PV. To begin and address this gap, we present results from a pilot study set in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), Nova Scotia – a municipality that has developed a novel financing support program called Solar City. This exploratory work focuses on analyzing levels of participation, equity, and barriers experienced among homeowners who have adopted residential rooftop solar – via both Solar City and other non-local programs. After utilizing aerial imagery to locate a sample of solar installations in the HRM (n=1,315), we shared surveys that asked residents for their sociodemographic information as well as barriers faced in the adoption of solar. We then compared the sociodemographic infor-mation to municipal-level characteristics provided by Statistics Canada. We center our analyses around variables such as age, education, gender, and income. Our paper closes with a discussion and conclusion which we hope will inform future research and practice around equitable pathways towards a just solar energy transition – in Halifax and beyond.

Abstract: The article analyses the perception and reception of the GEMAPI tax (Management of Aquatic Environments and Flood Prevention) within the Urban Community of Dunkirk, using a mixed methodology combining qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey of a 130-strong sample of residents. The results show this tax is largely unknown and that the minority of residents who are aware of it are often unaware of its role and how it works. It is accepted by some residents, while others make their acceptance conditional on a clear justification for the levy and its implementation through concrete achievements. Residents express a strong need for transparency regarding the allocation of resources and insist on the effective application of the polluter pays principle, particularly with regard to industrial and agricultural actors, who are perceived as primarily responsible for damage to aquatic environments. Social acceptability therefore depends on local communication, transparent governance, and territorial equity, which are essential levers for integrating GEMAPI into a collective water resilience strategy.

Abstract: In this article, the effects of the public service delegation reform for water in Senegal are analysed, especially in rural areas. Far from providing a definitive solution to governance challenges, this reform has shifted and, at times, intensified inevitable structural tensions, revealing persistent fragmentation among institutional actors and a mismatch between resources and services. The study highlights the gaps between centralised decisions, local implementation, and the users' daily practices on the Gorom Lampsar route. Based on a mixed-methods approach and empirical data from doctoral research, the analysis reveals that addressing socio-spatial inequalities in access to drinking water is hindered by the central state's limitations, the weaknesses of regional agencies, and the standardisation of proposed solutions, which often fail to align with local needs. The implementation of the 2014 reform, embodied by the Office of Rural Boreholes (OFOR), is struggling against community resistance, particularly from the ASUREP (User Associations for Drinking Water Networks), which are still active in certain areas. In this context, residents develop various adaptation strategies, such as resorting to free water sources (wells, rivers). These essential alternatives are not without health risks due to agricultural and domestic pollution. The instability of service provision is increased by this situation, which also illustrates a transition process characterised by fragmentation, institutional indecision, and a lack of coordination among stakeholders.

Abstract: In recent decades, governments have invested in strategic territories focused on knowledge production and application, which are strategic for socioeconomic development, particularly in urban areas. However, conceptual and terminological diversity hinders aspects such as the systematization of the literature, the advance of theoretical conceptualizations, and the formulation of coherent policies, especially in the context of socio-environmental challenges. In this study, with the aim of consolidating this literature, we have conducted a systematic review with bibliometric and content analysis, examining publications on eight denominations associated with these territories. The literature reveals the existence of an established field, nonetheless themes and denominations are still dispersed in the corpus. Among 400 authors, 339 published a single article, and only 13 authors have three or more studies in the sample. We identified a core of 11 journals that concentrate 73 of the 214 analyzed texts. We propose the term “knowledge territories” as an umbrella concept. A total of 114 case studies were identified. Governance is the most recurrent dimension (53% of the texts). Topics such as climate change and food production are rarely explored, as do the cases analyzed in the context of semi-peripheral and peripheral countries, indicating gaps and opportunities for future research.

Abstract: Conventional infrastructure evaluation in Africa emphasizes economic performance while overlooking environmental conditions that govern long-term sustainability. This study develops a spatial–ecological framework to quantify how environmental quality modifies the developmental returns of infrastructure investments along Tanzania's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) corridors. A spatial econometric approach integrating remote sensing and socioeconomic indicators captures infrastructure–environment interactions. Using a Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the analysis identifies environmental thresholds and estimates complementarity effects on economic activity, measured through Night-Time Lights (NTL). Results reveal a critical threshold at NDVI = –0.8σ, delineating zones where investments generate high returns from areas where environmental degradation limits effectiveness. A significant NTL–NDVI interaction coefficient (6.44, p &lt; 0.001) indicates that higher environmental quality substantially enhances infrastructure-driven growth. Spatial classification shows 63% of the corridor as high-priority zones with optimal returns and positive spillovers, while 15% requires ecological restoration prior to investment. The model demonstrates high explanatory power (pseudo R² = 0.882). The findings provide a replicable decision-support tool for optimizing investment allocation, aligning infrastructure strategies with SDGs 9, 11, and 13.

Abstract: This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of China’s regular higher education institutions (HEIs) from 1952 to 2023 using ArcGIS spatial analysis to determine spatial patterns and evolutionary trends. By integrating the Geographical Detector and Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) models, we analyze the driving factors of—and their spatial heterogeneity in shaping—HEI distribution. Findings reveal that (1) the spatial distribution of China’s HEIs has become increasingly clustered, transitioning from a “point-like” to a “network-like” and finally to a “surface-like” pattern, with its center shifting southwestward. (2) HEIs’ spatial differentiation results from multiple interacting factors, with significant variations in their explanatory power. Key drivers include the number of full-time faculty, regional GDP, national universities’ presence during the Republic of China era, and fiscal expenditure on education. Regional population size also exerts a notable influence. (3) The impact of these factors exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, with pronounced local imbalances. In short, multi-scale processes operating at different geographical levels have shaped HEIs’ spatial pattern. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing higher education resource allocation, promoting balanced regional development, and advancing the construction of a high-quality education system in China.

Abstract: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), the prevailing global governance paradigm for sustaina-ble ocean development, confronts the critical challenge of integrating climatic uncertainty into its core processes. Reliance on the stationarity assumption compromises risk assess-ments for long-lifecycle assets within the Blue Economy, thereby impeding progress to-ward principal sustainability objectives. This article introduces and validates FARO (Framework for Adaptive Operational Risk Analysis), a methodological framework de-signed to operationalize the transition toward climate-smart MSP. The framework's core innovation lies in furnishing a scalable quantitative structure that directly links high-resolution climatological projections with operational decision-making and capital planning, thereby converting climatic uncertainty into actionable operational risk indica-tors. Its applicability is demonstrated via a case study of Brazil's emergent offshore wind industry (Southeastern Marine Region), analyzing impacts under the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The findings quantify the critical role of technological resilience as a key adap-tation variable, revealing a potential reduction in operational downtime from approxi-mately 60% to 10% by enhancing operational capacity from Standard (SWH 2.0m) to Flexible (SWH 2.5m). In conclusion, FARO proves to be a robust decision-support instru-ment, effectively bridging state-of-the-art regional climate science with participatory plan-ning to foster genuinely sustainable and resilient maritime development.

Abstract: Tourism, although a key driving force for the flourishing of local/regional and national economies, is also a source of distinct negative repercussions, e.g. intense use of scarce resources and environmental deterioration, social marginalization, degradation of the quality of life of host communities, to name but a few. These repercussions seem to be further deteriorating under overtourism conditions, noticed in a number of highly-rated tourist destinations around the globe. Identification of host community’s perceptions as to the tourism footprint/burden is essential in contemporary policy research, seeking to: realize local perspectives, values and expectations as to the acceptable type/level of tourism development of their land; and highlight potential policy directions for future action that ensure sustainability and resilience objectives. Grounded in overtourism im-pacts’ assessment in a highly-rated insular destination, i.e., Santorini Island, Greece, this work aims at gathering community’s perceptions as to the drawbacks of the current tourism trajectory by use of a questionnaire survey. Results demonstrate that although respondents realize the crucial role of tourism in the island’s economic profile, they also recognize the rapidly escalating enlargement of the sector as a non-sustainable one in the long run, with severe repercussions in both environmental terms and quality of commu-nity’s everyday life.