Abstract: The localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become a crucial dimension of urban sustainability, with local governments increasingly recognized as key agents in shaping socially inclusive and context-sensitive implementation strategies. This review explores how academic literature from 2018 to 2025 has conceptualized and evaluated the intersection of local governance, social evolution, and SDG localization. Drawing on 143 peer-reviewed studies indexed in Web of Science, the research applies a hybrid methodology combining bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) with qualitative content analysis (NVivo) structured around the UN SDG framework. Four thematic clusters are identified: (i) institutional governance and multi-level coordination; (ii) urban sustainability planning; (iii) performance measurement and accountability; and (iv) social participation and digital innovation. The analysis reveals a growing emphasis on participatory governance, social equity, and performance-based monitoring-especially through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). However, significant gaps remain, including the limited inclusion of marginalized urban communities and inconsistent attention to SDGs related to gender, equity, and justice. This study contributes a structured, multidimensional synthesis of how local governments engage with SDGs in both theory and practice. It emphasizes the need for soci-ally responsive planning, inclusive indicators, and more critical engagement with the political and ethical implications of data-driven governance. The findings are particularly relevant to scholars and practitioners interested in the social dynamics of urban transformation and the co-production of sustainable futures.

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 < 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.

Abstract: Amidst a persistent property crisis in Portugal, particularly acute in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, thousands of residential units remain vacant. This article explores the reasons why owners choose not to place these homes on the rental market, despite high demand and rising prices. Based on empirical data from successive editions of the ALP (Lisbon Landlords Association) Barometer and framed by the literature on housing financialisation, institutional trust and property ownership cultures, the study reveals that vacancy is not merely the result of speculation or neglect. Instead, it emerges as a rational response to a complex combination of regulatory instability, legal mistrust and deeply rooted socio-cultural norms. Owners demonstrate that they act not only as economic agents, but also as guardians of family heritage, navigating uncertainty in a legal and symbolic environment that they increasingly consider hostile. The article argues that unlocking Lisbon's empty housing stock will require more than tax incentives or coercive measures. It will require rebuilding trust, legal predictability and recognition of the cultural meanings that shape real estate decisions, which is an extremely demanding task. Policy recommendations include adjustments and stabilisation of rental legislation and the design of culturally sensitive engagement strategies with small landlords.

Abstract: To address social challenges arising from extensive exploitation of rural tourism resources—including degradation of natural ecosystems and erosion of ethnic cultural heritage—this study establishes a synergistic assessment framework constrained by habitat quality, resource endowment, and facility accessibility. By integrating the InVEST model, kernel density function, and cumulative cost distance algorithm, we developed a spatial overlay analysis tool to evaluate these three dimensions in the dry-hot valley of Lujiang Dam (LJD) within China's Nujiang River Basin. This approach identified natural spatial suitability for tourism development (NSSTD). Key findings reveal that LJD exhibits high overall habitat quality (844.88 km², 64.55% of total area), yet demonstrates pronounced spatial heterogeneity—prime habitats concentrate in western and southeastern sectors, contrasting with a central low-quality habitat belt. Natural/cultural resources display a barbell-shaped spatial configuration, clustering at southern and northern extremities. Tourism accessibility manifests concentric spatial patterns, with 88.08% of resources accessible within 90-minute travel thresholds. NSSTD zones (54.74 km²) predominantly located in southern LJD encompass 17 land-use types and 70.73% of villages. These results provide critical spatial decision-making support for: Sustainable tourism resource management in dry-hot valleys, precise village planning, territorial spatial optimization strategies. The methodology demonstrates operational value in balancing ecological conservation and rural development priorities.

Abstract:

Coastality, the degree to which a place or community is functionally, spatially, or symbolically oriented toward the ocean, has received limited attention in Ocean Literacy research. This study introduces perceived coastality as a youth-centered construct and develops the Coastality-Gap Index, a spatial indicator measuring the divergence between students’ coastal–inland identity and their actual geographic proximity to the sea. A mixed-methods design was applied to data from 645 students aged 10–17 across 11 schools in five municipalities in Mallorca (Spain). The questionnaire explored emotional, cognitive, and experiential connections to the ocean, including indicators of marine knowledge and spatial self-identification. K-means clustering was used to identify perceptual profiles, which were mapped using GIS to examine their spatial distribution. Five distinct profiles emerged, ranging from students who perceive themselves as coastal and show strong experiential, emotional, and cognitive ties to the ocean, to others who live near the coast yet exhibit limited awareness or connection. The Coastality-Gap Index revealed that 14 of the 29 population centers studied were inland-oriented despite coastal proximity, highlighting educational blind spots not captured by the European Union’s fixed 20 km coastal belt. Together, the perceptual typology and spatial indicator provide a transferable framework for rethinking blue education strategies and designing context-sensitive Ocean Literacy interventions.

Abstract: Research on culture-led urban change in China has shifted from inner-city flagships to peripheral zones where formal planning meets managed informality. Yet two blind spots persist: artists are still cast as long-term tenants, and land is analysed largely at the macro scale of municipal supply and branding. This paper examines the Blue Roof Art District on Chengdu’s south-eastern fringe to show how selective studio ownership on collective land constituted the assetisation of artistic production and reorganised suburban governance. Drawing on fieldwork, interviews and policy/registration materials, we reconstruct the move from precarious rental sheds to a property-rights regime that bound producers to land value. We conceptualise assetisation as a meso-level governance technology: rights are engineered (enclosure, qualification, use, transfer, collateral) so that coordination is internalised to owners and operators, while the state shifts to rule-setting and boundary maintenance. The outcome is a trade-off between stability and enclave: production security increases as public interfaces narrow. We argue that attending to rights design bridges macro land regimes and micro practice, and clarifies how asset-based governance shapes the politics of urban peripheries.

Abstract: Hong Kong's taxi industry, a vital component of its public transport network, has long been a subject of public debate and criticism. While official complaint statistics offer a formal measure of dissatisfaction, they often fail to capture the full spectrum and intensity of public opinion. This paper presents a large-scale, longitudinal sentiment analysis based on a substantial corpus of public social media data from 2009 to 2024, processed using advanced Large Language Models (LLMs). Our findings reveal four critical insights. First, there has been a chronic and significant escalation in negative sentiment over the past fifteen years, rising from 78% in 2009 to a staggering 95% in 2024, indicating a deep-seated systemic issue rather than isolated incidents. Second, a stark disparity exists in sentiment between different communities, with tourists exhibiting near-universal negative sentiment (99%) compared to residents (89%), highlighting the industry's detrimental impact on Hong Kong's international image. Third, event-driven analysis demonstrates that both industry actions (e.g., strikes) and government policy interventions consistently trigger sharp spikes in public negativity, suggesting a profound erosion of public trust in both the industry and its regulators. Fourth, the post-COVID era has witnessed a rapid resurgence of dissatisfaction, with key events such as a viral overcharging video and the passage of new fleet licensing legislation correlating with peak levels of negative sentiment. We conclude that the data points to a crisis of legitimacy for the incumbent taxi model. Incremental reforms have proven insufficient. We recommend a paradigm shift towards a more competitive, consumer-centric, and data-driven regulatory framework that embraces technology and addresses the distinct needs of both residents and tourists to restore public confidence.

Abstract: Afghanistan, a semi-arid region with limited prior research. This study presents an integrated assessment of urban flood vulnerability by analyzing land use land cover change (LULCC), climate variability, and geophysical factors using remote sensing, GIS, and multi-criteria decision analysis. Landsat imagery indicates built-up areas increased from 124 km² in 2004 to 180 km² in 2024, while agricultural land decreased from 1,978 km² to 1,883 km². Climate data show rising temperatures and intensifying rainfall, exacerbating flood hazards. Geospatial analysis of elevation, slope, drainage density, and proximity to water bodies highlights the high vulnerability of low-lying areas. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) integrates diverse flood risk factors to produce accurate flood hazard maps. High and very-high flood susceptibility zones expanded from 5,706 km² in 2004 to 5,985 km² in 2024, whereas low-susceptibility zones declined from 131 km² to 112 km². These results underscore the need for adaptive land use planning, resilient drainage systems, and community-based flood risk reduction. The study provides actionable insights for sustainable flood management and demonstrates the value of combining GIS, remote sensing, and multi-criteria analysis in data-scarce, conflict-affected regions.