International Journal of Sustainable Society (11 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Measuring the Effectiveness of E-Government in Malaysia: Does Information Literacy Matter?  
  by Abu H. Ayob 
  Abstract: The objective of this paper is to examine the moderating effect of information literacy between supply-demand factors and the effectiveness of e-government. Particularly, the present study aimed to ascertain whether information literacy moderates the effect of web security, political trust and social influence on the frequency of use and perceived usefulness of government websites in Malaysia. This research employed a quantitative methodology using a survey data amongst 178 adults in Malaysia. Hypotheses were tested through two levels of Ordinary Least Squares regression models. The results showed that social influence is positively related with both frequencies of use and perceived usefulness. However, web security was associated only with the former whilst political trust was associated only with the latter. Lastly, we found a weak relationship between information literacy and the frequency of use. Overall, this paper tested on a comprehensive model of supply-demand factors on a broader perspective of e-government effectiveness amongst users.
  Keywords: e-government; information literacy; web security; political trust; social influence.
  
  
• What We Know About Volunteer Tourism an approach to motivations and impacts  
  by José Abreu, Marisa Ferreira 
  Abstract: Generally defined as an activity in which people decide to volunteer in development or conservation projects, voluntourism is one of the most fast-growing alternative tourism markets, arousing interest from several different people and creating an increasing number of volunteers. These developments are being used by many organizations has a way of using volunteers expertises as important benefits. rnOur paper analyses and describes the concept of voluntourism, as well as the motivations that drive the volunteers, and the impacts or benefits of their projects experience in the host community and in themselves. We did a literature review, firstly using a bibliometric analysis, to deeply understand and categorize the generic concept. Secondly, we did ten exploratory online questionnaires to volunteers with experiences in international volunteering programs. The results show that this topic have become a trend in recent years and that understanding the motivations of volunteers, as well as the benefits and impacts of the projects, are essential to the development of voluntourism.
  Keywords: Voluntourism; Volunteer; International.
  
  
• FUNCTIONAL NEEDS AND RESIDENTS MOTIVATION TOWARDS VISITING A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK  
  by Amine Moulay, Norsidah Ujang 
  Abstract: Neighborhood parks are the backbone of the urban park systems, and thus are crucial for the sociability and livability of a society. The parks can meet the residents social needs and provide visual enjoyment, in addition to creating passive and active recreational opportunities. Hence, the issue of underutilised parks is the central debate on the ability of these parks to provide livable residential neighbourhoods. To understand this issue, most of the studies have focused on the social and physical aspects of parks using mainly quantitative methods. There is minimal study that have attempted to understand the psychological aspect of parks in terms of motivation and dependence by using an in-depth approach that offers direct access to park users subjective experiences. Thus, this qualitative research aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of the residents functional needs, which is the parks necessary activities rather than the optional ones, that foster their dependence towards neighbourhood parks. The study involved purposively a sample of twenty-nine park users living in the neighbourhood of Precinct 9, Putrajaya, Malaysia. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used and later transcribed in a verbatim way. Then, the data were analysed through the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. The results revealed two main themes and six sub-themes. The first identified theme is the contextual dimensions of park utilisation, with the social interaction, gathering outdoors, and physical activity variables as sub-themes. The second identified theme is the incentives for park utilisation, with the emotional, functional, and environmental motivation variables as the sub-themes. The practical and theoretical implications are outlined regarding park users expectations and experiences for enhanced park utilisation.
  Keywords: Neighborhood parks; place dependence; behaviour; phenomenology; park utilization; third place.
  
  
• Local Participation in the Management of Protected Areas: Legitimate Claims and Unfulfilled Promises A Case Study of Wadi El Gemal Protected Area in Egypt  
  by Aziza Moneer 
  Abstract: In Egypt protected areas (PAs) are one of the most frequently used conservation strategies and represent the most extensive legislative mechanism in the country's environmental policy. There has been an increasing recognition that the establishment of PAs alone cannot safeguard perpetuation of biodiversity, and local community participation is a viable strategy for reducing local costs of PAs, while improving their management performance. Here the emphasis is on the local community perceptions of the practices and challenges of grassroots community participation in the management process of Wadi El Gemal Protected Area (WGPA), one of the most ecologically diverse protected areas in Egypt and is inhabited by the local community of Ababda tribe that heavily rely on the natural resources for their livelihood. The study revealed that the current participatory approach in the WGPA resembles in many aspects manipulative and passive-receptive participation, where people are involved by being told what is going to happen or what has already happened. It is based mainly on a unilateral announcement by the management authority and usually information shared belongs to government officials, who try to get community support or consent to their decisions. This type of local participation in the WGPA does not identify local communities as managers and decision makers, rather as law abiders and in best cases as passive consultees.
  Keywords: Co-management of protected areas; local people perceptions; Wadi El Gemal Protected Area; manipulative participation; Egypt.
  
  
• The incorporation of environmental issues in the Simmelian metropolis: a (de)construction in light of the Bourdieusian sociology.  
  by Rafael Borim-de-Souza, Jacques Haruo Fukushigue Jan-Chiba 
  Abstract: This theoretical essay was developed with the objective of (de)constructing, by means of a Bourdieusian interpretation, the incorporation of environmental issues in the Simmelian metropolis. Regarding the consideration of environmental issues in the social construction of the metropolitan reality, some reflections were reached, which are exposed in sequence. The metropolis is an ideological archetype that debates the environment from within itself, which is why the metropolitan shares environmental concerns only if it is effectively threatened by them, a consequence of its objective relationships, which place too much value on the occupational aspect of life in the metropolis. The metropolitan social order, by countless media devices, legitimises the submission of the environment to the socio-economic interests of those who reside in the metropolis. Linked to this aim, dissociations of voices that diverge from the metropolitan environmental ideal are necessary to guarantee less conflicting socialisation of environmental issues.
  Keywords: Simmelian metropolis; Bourdieusian sociology; environmental issues.
  
  
• A full package of gains? Lay perspectives on a bioeconomic transition in Norway  
  by Maja Farstad, Pia Piroschka Otte 
  Abstract: A sustainable bioeconomy based on production and consumption of food, products, and materials within healthy ecosystems is considered a promising response to global challenges like climate change and environmental degradation combined with a growing population. However, ultimately, it is the public as consumers and citizens who provide the market and governance for bioeconomic development. In this paper, we explore lay perspectives on a bioeconomic transition based on eight focus group interviews with lay people in Norway. Overall, we find that the public appears quite positive towards the idea of a bioeconomic transition due not only to expected global gains, but also to individual gains. The findings are relevant for the design of further bioeconomy-related policies aiming to achieve wide public acceptance.
  Keywords: bioeconomy; social acceptance; valuation; collective gains; individual gains; perceived naturalness.
  
  
• The Influence Of Status Orientation On Green Purchase Intention : A case of a developing market  
  by Phu Nguyen, Linh Tran 
  Abstract: The paper aims to study about the relationship between the status orientation and the intention in purchasing a green product. Based on the Theory of Reasoned Act (TRA), the authors has applied a quantitative method with a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and proposed a conceptual model to examine the relationships. The findings suggest that Traditional Status Orientation has significant positive effects on Environmental Knowledge, Attitude towards Green Products, and Green Product Purchase Intention. It also demonstrates a positive direct effect of Environmental Knowledge on Green Product Purchase Intention. Henceforth, as this study contributes to the field of marketing, the study has made some recommendations for marketers to target at high Traditional Status Orientation consumers to promote green products. Besides, the paper suggests future studies developing a further model that can examine further relationships.
  Keywords: Modern Status Orientation; Traditional Status Orientation; Green Product ; Green Purchase Intention; Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA).
  
  
• Sustainable Banking: A Systematic Literature Review  
  by Sanjeet Singh, Jayaram R 
  Abstract: Sustainable Banking had unprecedented importance in the modern world, especially after the subprime crisis of 2007 and this research paper presents a systematic review analysis of Sustainable Banking. In this systematic review, fifty-five articles in thirty-eight peer-reviewed journals, related to Sustainable Banking (1999-2019) had been reviewed from the source of Scopus and Web of Science. This review had focused its research on four major themes of Determinants of Sustainable Banking, Sustainable Lending Practices, Evaluation of Sustainable Banking, and Reporting of Bank Sustainability. This research is concluded by identifying themes of Determinants of Sustainable Banking, Sustainable Lending Practices, and Evaluation of Sustainable Banking as the most promising niches for future research in the area of Sustainable Banking.
  Keywords: Sustainable Banking; Lending; Bank Evaluation; Banks; Sustainable Finance; Sustainability. Sustainable Credit; Sustainable Development; Green Banking; Non-Conventional Banking.
  
  
• Sasak Community Sustainability Based on the Values and Benefits of Water from Customary Forests in the Traditional Village of Senaru, Lombok, Indonesia  
  by Agus Zulkarnain Arief, A. Tutut Subadyo, Grahita Chandrarin 
  Abstract: This research focuses on the valuation of the communities' sustainability in the Sasak Senaru Traditional Village (SSTV) in Indonesia based on the carrying capacity of water from Bayan customary forest at Mount Rinjani's foot. The resident community of SSTV has full responsibility for managing the natural resources in the customary forest. One of them is the management of water that comes from springs in customary forests. This water resource is used for coffee fields (14.25 hectares), rice fields (9.5 hectares), and household needs such as drinking, bathing, washing. The value analysis of water uses in this research, measured by Willingness to Pay (WTP) as the base price per m3. The study results indicate the Sasak community's sustainability in SSTV based on the proportional results of water consumption and their income that can support their lives properly.
  Keywords: Customary forest; Community Sustainable; Water Value; Traditional village; Sasak Senaru.
  
  
• The Role of Satisfaction and Profitability on CSR-Firm Value Relationship: Evidence from Indonesian Customer Satisfaction Award (ICSA)  
  by Josua Tarigan, Saarce Elsye Hatane 
  Abstract: This paper adopts customer satisfaction as the mediating variable to find the indirect effects of CSR toward firm profitability and value. Partial least squares analysis is conducted to assess 144 firm-year observations from Indonesian listed firms that consistently received ICSA. The empirical findings clarify that CSR holds a prominent part in driving the satisfaction level from customer and the financial performance of the firm. Accordingly, firm should consider CSR engangement into its the corporate strategy to achieve customer satisfaction level and improve the short-term and long-term financial aspects. This finding could be a deliberation for managers in CSR investment as it does bring positive impact for the firm. This paper provides a new and first evidence in adopting customer satisfaction, based on ICSA, to assess the CSR and financial performance relationship in Indonesian context.
  Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); GRI; Customer Satisfaction; ICSA; Firm Profitability; Firm Value.
  
  

Special Issue on: Sustainable Practices in Businesses and Environmental Policies Balancing the Triple Bottom Line

• Measuring Infrastructure Projects Impact on UN SDG Global Goals: Development of an SDG Impact-Value Chain for the Infrastructure Sector based on the Triple Bottom Line  
  by Paul Mansell, Simon Philbin, Tim Broyd, Ian Nicholson 
  Abstract: Global grand challenges of climate change, pandemics and other sustainable development risks are threatening international societies. Five years ago, the need for urgent action was grasped by the international community in their report, Transforming Our World: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development (United Nations, 2015), where the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were adopted by 193 states at the UN General Assembly. This paper develops a theory-led value-chain impact model that enables project success to be measured against economic, social and environmental aspects, i.e. Triple Bottom Line (TBL). This provides the infrastructure sector a way to increase the benefits realised across the TBL with SDG language that accords with global imperatives. It informs investment decisions and offers academics and practitioners a workable model for future development. For example, it has recently completed trials and been agreed for full roll-out across UKs Environment Agencys
  Keywords: infrastructure projects; sustainability; Sustainable Development Goals; UN SDG; project management; project success; impact; outcomes; value chain.