International Journal of Sustainable Development (7 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Construction and practice of BOPPPS + hybrid teaching mode supported by 5G smart classroom  
  by Su Song, Yiuchi Lai 
  Abstract: Education is a key tool to help college students develop a correct world outlook, as well as an outlook on life and values, and the fundamental responsibility of teachers is to help them realise this and put it into practice. However, the politics and ideology of the traditional classroom have been unable to keep up with the requirements of the times, so a new teaching method is needed. In the information age, the educational environment and teaching materials are undergoing major changes, the next standard of teaching will be an intelligent learning environment with individualised courses, and BOPPPS + blended provides creative suggestions for intelligent education. This paper used the framework of the BOPPPS+ blended teaching model three-level, six-ring and four-point. The use of the BOPPPS + blended teaching mode for ideological and political learning was conducive to improving students learning efficiency.
  Keywords: BOPPPS + hybrid; 5G smart classroom; teaching mode; intelligent learning.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10066275
   
  
• Reducing CO2 emissions in Africa: does governance matter?  
  by Fanougbo Avoce Viagannou, Dramane Abdoulaye 
  Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the effects of governance on CO2 emissions in Africa. For this purpose, 43 African countries were considered over the period 20002020. After performing principal component analysis and unit root and panel cointegration tests, the estimates of the long-term relationships between CO2 emissions and the governance variables and then those of the control variables are made via the FMOLS and DOLS methods. The results show that in the long term, general governance, from unconditional and conditional effects through trade, induces net negative effects on CO2 emissions. The analysis by groups of countries reveals that the net negative effect due to general governance is more pronounced in middle-income countries (4.99) than in low-income countries (0.07). Therefore, it appears necessary to reduce emissions to strengthen all governance indicators or general governance.
  Keywords: CO2 emissions; governance; Africa.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10069976
   
  
• Tourist travel decision-making in response to climate events: the case of the French West Indies  
  by Eric Kamwa 
  Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between environmental, situational factors and the decision-making processes of tourists in the French West Indies. Using field survey data and a multinomial logistic regression we assess the impact of climatic events on tourists' choice of travel dates and destinations. Our results highlight the importance of visit frequency, accommodation type, age, and income in shaping travel decision-making. First-time visitors, younger individuals, and those staying in hotels are more likely to change their destination, while older individuals, those staying with family or friends, and higher-income earners are more likely to stick to their plans or adjust their travel dates. These findings provide valuable insights for travel planners and policymakers aiming to understand and cater to the diverse preferences and constraints of travelers. Our findings highlight the need to develop tailored strategies to meet the needs of tourists in order to promote a resilient and sustainable tourism sector.
  Keywords: tourist decision-making; climate events; French West Indies; tourism management; resilience.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10071202
   
  
• The impact of fiscal sustainability and government spending efficiency on environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: a GMM panel-VAR approach  
  by Felicia Naatu, Simon Abendin, Stanley Dary 
  Abstract: There are few empirical studies on the impact of public finance sustainability on environmental sustainability, particularly in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. To address the gap in prior studies, this study examines the impact of fiscal sustainability and government spending efficiency on environmental sustainability in 47 SSA countries via data from 2000--2021. The study utilized the GMM-style panel VAR as the baseline method, with dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) methods used as robustness checks to the GMM-style panel VAR method. We show that (1) fiscal sustainability enhances environmental sustainability in SSA economies; (2) government spending efficiency positively influences environmental sustainability in SSA economies; (3) trade openness, foreign direct investment, international tourism, human capital development, and monetary policy promote environmental sustainability, whereas financial development hinders environmental sustainability in SSA economies; and (4) fiscal sustainability and government spending efficiency have predictive power for environmental sustainability in SSA countries. The findings of this study suggest that policymakers should equally prioritize fiscal sustainability and government expenditure efficiency when formulating environmentally sustainable policies.
  Keywords: fiscal sustainability; government spending; environmental sustainability; GMM; Sub-Saharan Africa; SSA.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2026.10077672
   
  
• Sustainable Development Goals: a data-driven multi-criteria decision-making approach approach  
  by Nimet Elmacioğlu, Oguz Ocal 
  Abstract: Sustainable development is essential for protecting environmental, social, and economic systems against current and future risks. However, much of the SDG literature evaluates goals separately, overlooking their integrated and multidimensional structure. To address this gap, this study proposes a transparent and data-driven multi-criteria decision-making framework to assess SDG performance across OECD countries using 58 indicators. Objective indicator weights are determined through the method based on the removal effects of criteria (MEREC), and country rankings are obtained using the multi-attributive ideal-real comparative analysis (MAIRCA) method. The sum weighted information (SWI) method is also employed to validate the robustness and consistency of the results. Findings reveal strong agreement across methods, with Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland consistently ranking highest, while Costa Rica, T
  Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals; SDGs; multi-criteria decision-making; MCDM; OECD; MEREC; MAIRCA; sum weighted information; SWI.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2026.10078887
   
  
• Vulnerability of sustainable development index assessment and a new approach for its possible transformation  
  by Hayk Sargsyan, Ruben Gevorgyan, Sona Sargsyan, Armen Martirosyan, Narine Kochinyan 
  Abstract: This study examines methodological vulnerabilities of the existing sustainable development goals (SDG) index assessment framework, proposing a model incorporating constitutional, security, and sociocultural components (SC) into this framework. Using a multifaceted analytical approach including factor analysis, cluster analysis, and cross-country comparison based on Hofstedes cultural dimensions it identifies the current frameworks key limitations, particularly regarding regional and cultural diversity. Based on data from 164 countries and in-depth analysis of six South Caucasus and adjacent states, the study demonstrates that including new aggregate indicators constitutional compliance (CC), national security (NS), and sociocultural factors can assess SDG progress more comprehensively and context-sensitively. The results show that regional sustainable development trends differ significantly from global ones, and cultural characteristics, especially regarding personal autonomy, power structure, and long-term planning can significantly affect SDG achievement. By rethinking the index structure and including neglected institutional and cultural dimensions, the proposed approach helps develop a more balanced, inclusive, and effective global sustainable development strategy.
  Keywords: SDG assessment; transformation; security; constitutionalism; sociocultural factors; factor analysis; cluster analysis; cross-country comparison; regional sustainable development; cultural dimensions.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2026.10079539
   
  
• Mandatory corporate sustainability reporting according to European Union legislation: a comprehensive review  
  by Maria Rosaria Sessa, Antonio Cesarano, Roberto De Luca, Ornella Malandrino 
  Abstract: In recent years, sustainability reporting and disclosure have become mandatory for several types of companies in the European Union. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive review of sustainability reporting and disclosure considering developments in European legislation. In addition, the study offers a critical perspective on the debate between mandatory and voluntary sustainability disclosure. A bibliometric and a co-occurrence analysis were conducted on a panel of 198 articles from the Scopus database, using the PRISMA model and the VOSviewer tool, to identify trends, territorial influences, and emerging themes in the field of non-financial disclosure. The findings suggest that the sustainability disclosure by companies is in growth, the most influential countries are Italy and Spain, and a significant percentage of articles published in this field come from high-quality journals. Moreover, the co-occurrence analysis divides the studies into four clusters. The study underscores the need to ensure greater transparency and strengthen external assurance mechanisms to prevent information manipulation, reduce information asymmetry between companies and stakeholders, foster greater corporate accountability, and support the transition toward more sustainable business models. However, the research suggests that mandatory disclosure alone is insufficient to drive substantial improvements in corporate sustainability performance.
  Keywords: mandatory disclosure; CSRD; bibliometric analysis; PRISMA model; VOSviewer; European Union.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2026.10081110