ABSTRACT Smart and sustainable cities are urban environments consisting of advanced data‐driven and interconnected systems to help optimize urban quality of life and public service delivery. The policy approach to transform modern urban epicenters into smart and sustainable cities rests on Industry 5.0 tools, big data, and Internet of Things to ensure that urban policy reforms resonate with an emerging urban paradigm. However, such an association must be characterized by the seamless integration of urban initiatives and technological infrastructure. Within the contemporary urbanization debate, a significant policy gap remains in understanding how the multifaceted nature of urban reforms interacts with the Sustainable Development Goals. To address this, the current study combines bibliometrics mapping with qualitative analysis to extend policy debate by reporting theoretical, topical, and contextual contributions in scientific research publications. The use of an extended review strategy allows the current study to report that the localization of urban strategies, stakeholder engagement, resolving constitutive policy tensions, identifying pyramid needs of digital citizens, and promoting sustainable urban strategies are key to future urban reforms. The current study further refines research themes to the CalmMobility paradigm and outlines corresponding methodological pathways to improve academic discussion. Our analytical review contributes to improving the collective understanding of the key limitations and influencing factors determining sustainable progress in smart and sustainable cities.

Water resources management is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Previous studies have seldom examined the relationship between water resources and sustainable development, especially in emerging economies. The objective of this study is to explore whether sustainable development affects the intention to disclose water resource information among Chinese firms. The sample comprises 412 observations collected from publicly listed firms in China from 2015 to 2019. Data is analyzed using content analysis and regression analysis. Empirical evidence suggests that sustainable development is positively and significantly related to water resource information disclosure. The sustainable development of water-sensitive industries has a positive and significant influence on water resources. This study offers evidence of the relationship between water resource information disclosure and sustainable development, a topic rarely discussed in the literature. The evidence can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between water resource information disclosure and sustainable development in emerging economies.

The growing evidence of global warming and climate change has helped create a consensus to formulate stringent energy, resource, and environmental policies to protect environmental quality. However, ecological distress continues to grow due to fossil fuel and natural resource dependency. The current study extends the environmental debate by analyzing how Fintech, natural resource abundance, environmental policy, energy transition, and fossil fuel consumption impact climate change. We use extensive econometric analysis to reveal that Fintech, environmental policy stringency, and energy transition are critical towards environmental sustainability, while natural resource rents and fossil fuel consumption are the primary contributors to climate change. In addition, we also divide our dataset into BRICST and G7 economies to provide further insights. To solve climate change, we propose that Fintech and stringent energy policies are key to improving energy and resource efficiency.

The integrated economic reforms in recent years have transformed human life, however, the subsequent rise in environmental challenges necessitates sustainable development goals to ensure net-zero transformation. Within the context of modern energy, economic, and environmental transformation, we deliberate how environmental taxes, energy transition, and sustainable environmental innovation impact climate change in 38 OECD economies. Our robust empirical investigation allows us to report that environmental taxation, sustainable environmental technology, and energy transition lower but GDP and trade openness exacerbate ecological challenges. We also divide the dataset in G7 and the rest of the OECD groups to document the varying impact of environmental policies within OECD economies. Our econometric analysis helps us report novel policy frameworks to solve climate challenges under the UN SDG agenda.

Global economic policymakers are under pressure from various environmental stakeholders to focus on sustainable development by adopting energy transition and lower fossil fuel consumption. The current study evaluates the complex relationship between energy transition, natural resource consumption, geopolitical risks and environmental degradation. For econometric investigation, we rely on empirical datasets from 1995 to 2021 and employ extensive econometric analysis. We further include economic growth and banking developments to comprehend the role of macroeconomic variables in environmental protection. Our empirical findings show that energy transition and banking developments ensure environmental sustainability. Natural resource consumption, geopolitical risk and economic growth cause environmental degradation. Furthermore, robustness checks validate long-run empirical findings. Our extensive empirical investigation allows us to propose fruitful policy suggestions to overcome environmental challenges.

The ever-increasing energy resource demand and subsequent environmental challenges mean that policymakers have shifted their focus to nuclear energy to address energy and environmental issues due to its unlimited potential. The current study investigates the role of nuclear energy consumption to unveil contextual information and report novel evidence concerning the significance of energy and environmental policies. This research is a novel attempt to outline methodological and topical contributions, thematic analysis, co-citation analysis, and country-collaboration analysis. As energy and environmental solutions have been prioritized within sustainable development goals, our research approach would allow policymakers and researchers to understand the extent to which nuclear energy can provide solutions towards environmental sustainability and identify research limitations to overcome by future studies. Moreover, our extensive analysis allows us to argue that nuclear energy impacts energy demand and is the most critical factor in fulfilling environmental commitments under regional and international environmental agreements.

The urgency to overcome climate change under COP 26 and 27 has allowed closer attention towards envi-ronmental sustainability. As a result, businesses are under pressure from stakeholders to provide more information about greenhouse gas emissions and ecological footprints. The current study performs a sys-tematic review of firm-level carbon disclosure under carbon disclosure project (CDP) publications to articulate key research themes based on bibliographic coupling, citation mapping and content analysis. VOSViewer was used to analyze carbon disclosure literature to provide a comprehensive overview of research themes, most-contributing authors, research journals, and keywords. Our findings reveal that climate change strategies, carbon footprint and market response to climate change (cluster 1), carbon information, stock market & financial performance and impact of environmental penalties over the cost of capital (cluster 2), GHG disclosure, stakeholder relevance and BOD effectiveness in environmental strategies (cluster 3) and determinants for dissemination of environmental information, carbon mitiga-tion, and carbon management systems (cluster 4) are the most significant research themes within the existing research. Based on our research analysis, we provide several key policy recommendations to use carbon disclosure practices as a benchmark in evaluating firms' commitment to environmental sustainability.(c) 2023 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Objective] This study focused on the green management of water resources in the semiconductor manufacturing industry based on digital technology. It analyzed the establishment of a comprehensive framework for green management of water resources from the perspective of technological empowerment, providing theoretical paradigm and practical guidance for the application of digital technology and the green development in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. [Methods] By systematically reviewing relevant literature on the domestic and international levels and incorporating multidisciplinary solutions, an innovative circular economy model was constructed. The article established a water resource green intelligent management system for semiconductor manufacturing enterprises, and used a case study method to select a typical semiconductor manufacturing enterprise, then deeply analyzed the application process of the technological framework. [Results] (1) Based on the “reduction, reuse, recycle” 3R principle of the circular economy model, and utilized the systematic analysis method, a theoretical model for the digital technology-empowered green management of water resources framework was built. (2) The theoretical model explained the connotation, characteristics, and functions of digital technology empowerment from the source to the end of each production process. It analyzed the specific measures of each enterprise under the 3R principle, and revealed the action path of data technology in empowering green management of water resources. (3) Through a case study of a semiconductor company in East China, the practical exploration of intelligent water resources green management technology solutions was achieved. The trend of data change over the past three years indicated a basic positive correlation between digital technology innovation and the benefits of green management of water resources, with higher benefits corresponding to higher innovation levels. [Conclusion] Digital technology can provide innovative green water resources management solutions for semiconductor manufacturing companies, enhancing their competitiveness. For the new development stage of the Chinese semiconductor manufacturing industry, it has significant implications for strengthening the dominant position of digital technology innovation and improving intelligent green management of water resources.

The global consensus on overcoming climate change and environmental sustainability has increased the urgency towards formulating stringent environmental and fiscal policy instruments in achieve environmental sustainability. The current study extends policy deliberations by studying how energy transition and fiscal policy measures impact the ecological footprint of BRICST economies from 1995 to 2021. Our findings from Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, FMOLS, DOLS, and method of moments quantile regression identify that energy transition, renewable energy, taxation revenues and green innovation improve environmental sustainability, while non-renewable energy consumption and governmental expenditures exacerbate environmental challenges. Our econometric analysis allows us to propose that policymakers must use fiscal policy measures to introduce structural changes and foster the adoption of environmental technologies in the industrial sector. Furthermore, developing economies must broaden tax base to increase environmental spending on upgrading renewable en-ergy infrastructure and lower ecological burden.

Given the dire state of climate change, investigating key elements that impact the energy transition process and help monitor progress in greenhouse gas emissions to achieve environmental sustainability is of critical importance. The current study explores the association between energy transition, compliance with environmental agreements, fossil fuels costs, environmental technologies, economic growth, and environmental degradation in G20 economies from 1995 to 2019. Our findings from extensive econometric analysis reveal that economic growth, environmental innovation, renewable energy, and environmental compliance facilitate while fossil fuels and environmental degradation hinder the energy transition process. Our findings conclude that developed countries must focus on alternate energy resources to overcome environmental challenges and subsidize renewable energy and environmental technologies to replace fossil fuels with green energy resources methodologically. Further, policy measures have been discussed in detail in the study.

An accurate assessment of carbon footprint is one of the key elements to evaluate progress towards sustainable development. Although, recent studies have extensively analyzed carbon footprint, the scientific contribution related to universities and higher education institutes requires further consideration. The current study provides a detailed integrative review of universities' carbon footprint to provide contextual information and novel findings. Our novel review strategy allows us to report thematic analysis, cocitation analysis, research collaboration analysis, and methodological and topical contribution. As policymakers prioritize sustainable development, we allow them to understand different dynamics of academic institutions' carbon footprint and report policy suggestions to improve it. As any change at higher research institutions has a wider impact on society in general, it is our opinion that developing sustainable university campuses also has implications for future research, management practices and compliance with sustainable development goals. (c) 2023 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

公司要取得廉价的权益资金成本日益艰难.文章选取2008—2018年沪深A股上市公司作为研究样本,试图探索盈余管理、股东积极行为与权益资金成本之间的关系,以及公司如何获取廉价的权益资金成本.研究结果发现:公司的盈余管理程度越大,权益资金成本越高;公司取得的权益资金成本越高,对竞争优势越不利;股东积极行为能调节盈余管理与权益资金成本,这说明我国资本市场存在一定程度的市场有效性,股东积极行为获得投资者青睐,进而降低了权益资金成本.

电力企业的节能减排对提高全社会的能源使用效率和保护环境具有重要的意义.清洁生产审核是对企业工业生产实行污染防治的分析和评估,是推动污染防治从末端治理向全过程控制转变,落实绿色发展方式的重要途径.通过以清洁生产审核为中心,在综合考虑环境效益、财务效益和社会效益的基础上,构建了火电企业清洁生产审核绩效评价指标体系,并以案例分析清洁生产审核对电厂节能减排效率的影响,为推进电力企业清洁生产审核、促进节能减排效率提供参考.

This paper explores drivers of corporate water disclosure (CWD) from an aspect of accountability. Based on legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory, we propose six potential drivers of CWD. First, this paper uses an independent sample t-test to analyze differences in CWD among US firms. Later, potential drivers on CWD were identified using ordinal logit regression. These hypotheses posit that debt ratio, blockholders' ownership ratio, inclusion in a capital market index (i.e., S&P500), and the status of belonging to a water-sensitive industry (WSensi) all have a positive effect on CWD. However, the relations of firm size and profitability on CWD are insignificant. This suggests that the supervision of blockholders and creditors can effectively improve the transparency of CWD.

This paper adopts the legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory perspectives to explore the drivers of voluntary carbon disclosure among Chinese firms under the 11th and 12th Five-Year Plans. We use the coding technique of content analysis to capture quantitative data of carbon reduction and classify sample firms by disclosure content into three groups and then apply ordinal logit regression to test the proposed hypotheses. Firm size (Size) and profitability (Profit) are positively related to carbon disclosure; SOE blockholder (State-bloc) and high carbon emission industries (HCEI) are significantly more dedicated to carbon disclosure. However, POE blockholder (Private-bloc) and creditors (Lev) are negatively related to carbon disclosure. We also find that the effects of HCEI and Ownership differ most widely between firms in coastal areas and firms in non-coastal areas; State-bloc is more significantly related to carbon disclosure in the 12th-five period than in the 11th-five period. Chinese firms should understand that taking substantive actions of carbon disclosure, fulfilling social responsibilities, and aligning their operations to the planned economy can contribute to their sustainable development. This paper offers evidence of variations in drivers of carbon disclosure, and such variations are attributable to the differences between the two plan periods and between geographical regions. The evidence is helpful for understanding what have motivated Chinese firms to disclose carbon emission information in the two different plan periods and in different geographical areas.

从投资者角度出发,以2010-2016年我国A股上市公司为样本,探讨环境敏感型企业与非敏感型企业的慈善捐赠行为和捐赠水平对权益资本成本的影响.结果 表明,企业的慈善捐赠行为并不能显著影响企业的权益资本成本,慈善捐赠水平显著提高了企业的权益资本成本;环境敏感型企业的慈善捐赠行为不能显著影响权益资本成本,但是慈善捐赠金额越多,企业的权益资本成本越低.这说明,对大多数企业而言,资本市场并不认同企业的慈善捐赠,但对环境敏感型企业而言,更多的捐赠金额能给企业带来合法性形象,获得投资者青睐,从而降低权益资本成本.

A new model called games on convex geometries with a coalition structure is introduced, where all players and the coalition structure form a convex geometry, respectively. An explicit form of the proportional coalition solidarity value is given, which endows each union with the solidarity value in quotient games, and then allocates this value to players in a union following the proportions of their solidarity values in original games on convex geometries (i.e., without unions). Meanwhile, an axiomatization of this value is offered. Furthermore, the proportional coalition Shapley value is introduced. Its explicit form is offered, and an axiomatic system is studied.

This study adopted the signalling theory perspective to explore the effect of information transparency on the cost of equity capital among enterprises in China. Variables of information transparency and debt ratio were used to examine their influence on the cost of equity capital of enterprises in China between 2014 and 2015. The empirical results revealed that information transparency negatively affected the cost of equity capital, regardless of examining all observations simultaneously or examining the samples from 2014 and 2015 separately. However, the effect observed in 2014 was non-significant. In addition, debt positively moderated the effect of information transparency on the cost of equity capital. The results revealed that investors of the capital market paid attention to both financial and nonfinancial information disclosed by enterprises. This finding should be of great value to enterprise managers, supervisors, and decision-makers in financial or socioeconomic systems similar to that of China. Previous relevant studies have rarely explored emergent economies in socialist systems. The empirical results of this study facilitated reinforcing the research gap regarding how enterprises in socialist countries reduce their cost of equity capital amidst the economic development therein.

火电行业作为我国能源消耗和大气环境污染物排放的重点行业,既是承担国家减排目标责任的主力军,也是体现减排成效的突破口.为进一步研究和分析国家大气污染防治的政策效果,特别是分析促进火电企业减排的主要因素,本文以2006-2015年湖南省300 MW及以上大型火电企业燃煤机组发电过程中烟气排放的SO2、NOx等连续监测大数据为基础,对主要污染物年、月、日、区域的变化及差异进行挖掘,并对各排放特征的形成原因和影响因素进行分析.研究结果总体上反映了大气污染治理政策体系的整体演进特征和规制效果,以及火电厂对中央政策的响应速度和程度.具体而言,除了政策的影响之外,月度变化特征跟区域的能源结构、气候环境紧密相关;日变化特征跟企业的社会责任意识差异及选择的环保设施运行工况有关.根据在线排放特征影响因素分析,提出了火电厂大气排放监测大数据绿色调度智能化和环境信用评价应用的建议.研究结果说明,基于监测数据的政策影响研究对以计量经济学模型为主的政策效果评估方法是一个补充.此外,对于政府提高污染治理的精细化管理水平,进一步完善大气污染治理政策也有重要意义.

Intuitionistic uncertain linguistic variables (IULVs) are useful to express the qualitative and quantitative recognitions of decision makers. However, after reviewing the previous operational laws on IULVs, we find there are some limitations. To address these issues, we define several new operations on IULVs and give a new ranking method. To improve the utilization of IULVs, this paper defines two Choquet operators: the intuitionistic uncertain linguistic symmetrical Choquet averaging (IULSCA) operator and the intuitionistic uncertain linguistic symmetrical Choquet geometric mean (IULSCGM) operator, which can address the internal correlations among elements. To globally reflect the interactive characteristics of the importance of elements, two generalized Shapley intuitionistic uncertain linguistic symmetrical Choquet operators are presented. Subsequently, a new distance measure is defined, which is then used to build models to ascertain fuzzy measures on decision maker and criteria sets to address the case where the weighting information is partly known. After that, a new procedure to intuitionistic uncertain linguistic group decision making is developed. Finally, a specific example is offered to illustrate the practicality of the new procedure, and the comparison analysis is also made.