RISULTATI RICERCA

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of digitalisation on energy consumption for the small island economy of Mauritius. The study is done for the period 1990 to 2019. For this purpose, the vector error correction model has been used followed by a threshold regression analysis. The results confirm the rebound effect of digitalization whereby a positive relationship was found between digitalization and electricity consumption. Similar result was found for economic growth, participation in global value chain, financial development and higher industrial intensity. The threshold regression analysis showed that the increase in electricity consumption as a result of a rise in digitalisation was greater between the period 1990-1995 as compared to 1996 and onwards explained by the adoption of more efficient technologies and increased use of renewable energies.

Energy decentralization has become an increasingly significant issue in recent years, while the world has searched for sustainable, resilient, and fair energy solutions. This study contributes to mapping the development and identifying the key underlying themes of energy decentralization by using a systematic bibliometric analysis of the scholarly literature. Based on 65 English-language publications from 1982 to 2024, this study uses the Scopus database to show how these have systemically evolved from broad concepts of decentralization and governance to focused discussions on energy decentralization, blockchain, and renewable energy integration. A trend in the research focus has been increasing interest in what digital technologies and policy frameworks mean for the future with regard to decentralized energy systems. It also established that there is a high degree of global collaboration in this area of research, although this is centered around the United Kingdom. Thematic analysis identifies established motor themes related to blockchain and energy policy, specialized niche themes, and new areas of study. It contributes to an important overview of the state of the art on energy decentralization but equally puts forward some critical gaps and future directions, thereby offering valuable insight for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with the advancement of decentralized energy systems.

This study evaluates the heterogeneous impacts of the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas emission reduction across diverse country groups, including OECD, EU, BRICS, Asian, and African nations. Employing fixed-effects panel regression and Difference-in-Differences methodologies, the research analyzes longitudinal data (1990-2020) to assess emission performance using absolute reductions and CO2 intensity metrics. Findings reveal significant disparities: OECD and EU nations demonstrate consistent progress in absolute and intensity-based reductions, while BRICS countries improve CO2 intensity but face rising absolute emissions. Asian and African nations show limited progress, constrained by financial and technological barriers. The study highlights the differentiated trajectories driven by Kyoto’s rigid, binding commitments versus Paris’s flexible, inclusive framework of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Emerging economies benefit from intensity-based targets, balancing economic growth with emissions management. However, the lack of enforceable mechanisms under the Paris Agreement hinders uniform progress. This research underscores the need for tailored, equity-focused policy interventions to enhance climate governance. It emphasizes strengthening international cooperation, financing mechanisms, and monitoring systems to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals while addressing unique regional challenges and fostering sustainable development.

This paper provides a comprehensive study assessing anthropogenic-related environmental risks for the coastal city of Limassol, Cyprus. The case of Limassol is interesting because it is characterized by an increased number of industrial activities, both varied and tightly concentrated in a relatively small geographic area. We initiate the research by looking at citizens’ perceptions for environmental threats through an extended opinion survey. We utilize the results of the survey to direct our research across 6 industries, involving 88 institutional stakeholders. For each sector, we map industrial activities to potential threats and qualify the risk level of each threat as the likelihood of risk realization times the impact to citizens’ wellbeing should the risk event occurs. We thereon identify areas in which threats are interactive and the corresponding risks synergistic. Our findings inform a range of policy recommendations for ameliorating man-made environmental risk for coastal cities. Discrepancies between citizens’ perceptions and actual data underscore the importance of effective risk communication.

In the last few decades, climate change has become a real crisis with important consequences on many socioeconomic contexts, such as the sport sector. In fact, sports training and competitions are more and more threatened by extreme weather events and hot temperatures. Since the social and individual benefits of sport are well known, this could lead to further negative consequences. At the same time, sports industry and the other sport-related sectors such as sponsorship, apparel, media, and travel sectors contribute to the environmental crisis. Therefore, substantial changes are needed in this setting, in order to adapt the sport activities to the changing climate and to achieve sustainability.

Although there is still no unanimous definition of eco-anxiety, this term is used to describe an emerging phenomenon which, in recent years, has attracted the attention of psychologists, sociologists and those involved in Public Health. It refers to a form of anxiety and worry related to climate change and for the future of the planet and its resources. This article explores how eco-anxiety can influence environmental awareness and sustainability practices, highlighting both challenges and opportunities it presents for promoting a sustainable future. While these feelings towards the environment and climate change can generate anxiety, it can also act as a powerful driver of change and awareness in promoting sustainability. Therefore, it is crucial to develop strategies that transform eco-anxiety into positive action, supporting individuals, particularly more vulnerable, in their transition to more sustainable practices.

The rising importance of responsible environmental behaviour requires educational approaches that integrate sustainability into daily practices. Outdoor physical education combines sports activities with contact with nature, offering an effective way to foster ecological awareness and promote sustainability. These practices not only improve individuals' psychophysical wellbeing but also develop sense of responsibility toward the environment. This article aims to examine the state of the art on the benefits of outdoor physical education, emphasising its role in encouraging eco-responsible behaviours and supporting sustainability. It also explores how outdoor learning environments can provide valuable insights for future developments in educational practices aimed at sustainability.

Sport promotes social inclusion and sustainability in schools. This mixed-method study, conducted in a secondary school in Naples, examines the impact of an innovative sports program on inclusion and sense of belonging, aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda. A total of 100 students participated, with an experimental group engaging in cooperative sports and a control group following traditional physical education. Results showed improved peer collaboration and a 15% increase in belonging and 12% in inclusion in the experimental group. The study highlights the role of structured sports in fostering cohesion, well-being, and inclusive school communities.

Activist associations play a crucial role in promoting sustainability through initiatives focused on environmental, social, and cultural restoration and enhancement. These efforts not only contribute to the preservation of ecosystems and local heritage but also foster collective well-being by strengthening community bonds and social inclusion. Furthermore, by directly involving local communities, these associations empower individuals, and increase social capital. Additionally, related physical activities, such as environmental clean-ups or urban farming, enhance participants' psychophysical well-being by encouraging active lifestyles. This paper explores the impact of such initiatives on quality of life, highlighting the connection between sustainability, health, and social aspects.

Psychological well-being is essential for promoting sustainable behaviors, yet awareness alone is insufficient. Economic and cognitive barriers often hinder eco-friendly choices. This article offers a theoretical reflection, supported by academic literature, on the applicability of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in fostering sustainable lifestyles. CBT can reduce cognitive distortions, enhance self-efficacy, and support value-based decisions. Techniques like mindfulness, nudging, and reframing all-or-nothing thinking can help bridge the intention–behavior gap. Schools and workplaces are key contexts for applying these strategies to promote lasting, environmentally responsible habits. A structured effort at social and educational levels is needed, but CBT provides key tools for a lasting sustainable mindset.

This study examines how inclusion is discursively constructed in sustainability-oriented educational policies through a linguistic analysis of six Executive Orders issued by former President Biden during his 2021-2025 administration, and by Donald Trump during the first month of his current presidency, January 2025. Drawing upon a critical discourse perspective and employing the tools provided by Systemic Functional Linguistics, we explore representations of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in order to assess how vulnerability, participation, and exclusion are linguistically framed in the field of education. The findings will contribute to understanding how institutional discourse shapes inclusive education and sustainability, informing strategies for future equitable learning environments.

Dual career athletes play a crucial role in the sustainable development of sports and society. Balancing education, professional training, and athletic commitments fosters long-term career stability while enhancing social and economic inclusion. Effective dual career policies mitigate financial and psychological risks, equipping athletes with essential skills for post-sport careers. Investing in structured dual career frameworks benefits both individuals and the broader sports ecosystem, ensuring long-term viability and resilience. Collaboration among stakeholders is key to promoting sustainability and inclusion in sports through dual career opportunities.

During physical activity, the contracting skeletal muscle acts as an endocrine organ for its ability to secrete molecules called myokines, mostly cytokines and growth factors, which modulate metabolic and cellular functions in different organs and tissues. Some of the most relevant for the brain include Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Insulin-like growth factor-1, Interleukin-6, Irisin, cathepsin B, and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are involved in muscle-brain crosstalk. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor improves cognitive functions by neurogenesis, and the increase of plasticity in the hippocampus region. This review aims to provide recent insights on the role played by physical activity and diet in ameliorating cognitive functions, focusing on the effects involving Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

Social inclusion, sustainability and the management of urban spaces are central themes in modern urban development policies, ina global context marked by increasingly complex economic, environmental and social challenges. With the process of urbanization,cities face the delicate task of ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens, without discrimination based on socio-economic, culturalor physical factors. Social inclusion, in this context, becomes essential to avoid the risk of marginalization of specific social groups,such as people with disabilities or the most vulnerable sections of the population. The aim of the article is to highlight the closeconnection between social inclusion and sustainability and how these two aspects can reinforce each other in achieving theSustainable Development Goals.

Including sustainability in the corporate strategy is the main way for a company to be competitive and thrive in the long term. In this scenario, a strategic and evolutionary approach gains considerable importance: sustainable marketing. It is focused on developing future-oriented solutions in the market while considering environmental, social, and ethical aspects as to generate effects on entire systems in terms of institutions, value chains, or sectors. The agri-food sector experiences growing awareness and concern among stakeholders about not only the environmental but also the social and ethical aspects. This can translate into market opportunities for companies that differentiate themselves from competitors by offering products that reassure and comfort the consumer. This paper aims to investigate the role of the social dimension expressed in its main indicators within an agri-food company's sustainable marketing strategy and the benefits or risks that can be recognized within a growth strategy with local and international. Specifically, using the qualitative, in-depth single case study methodology, the research explores how a medium-sized dairy company located in a geographical area characterized by high limitations integrated its social dimension within its business philosophy and how this integration is at the basis of its strategy of covering historical markets, commercial development in the Italian market and expansion towards foreign markets. Considering the new market scenarios, the study significantly contributes to policymakers, practitioners, and academic debate on the social sustainability dimension in agriculture.

One of the most important consumer trends in the food sector is the increasing popularity of nutritionally enriched food product consumption, especially omega-3 enriched foods. This study examines the consumers’ willingness to consume omega-3 enriched eggs and applies the Health Belief Model (hereinafter: HBM). An online survey was conducted on a representative sample of 524 Croatian consumers who do grocery shopping for their households and purchase eggs. The data was collected from a representative panel using quota sampling by gender and age and analyzed using SEM by Partial Least Square. The results show that almost 3/4 of the respondents do not know what omega-3 enriched eggs are. The perceived benefits, selfefficacy, cue to action and health motivation have a positive impact on the willingness to use omega-3 enriched eggs.Contrarily, the effects of threat perception variables (perceived severity and perceived susceptibility) and barriers on the willingness to use omega-3 enriched eggs are not significant.The results could support the efforts of the producers and the authorities to develop strategies that promote the consumption of omega-3 enriched foods, especially eggs.

Innovation in family farming plays a critical role in regional economic and social development by introducing new products, technologies, processes, and attitudes. This article aims to evaluate the innovative behaviors of family farmers in southern Brazil concerning agricultural sector innovations. We conducted a quantitative survey of 442 family farmers, employing partial least squares structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis as our analytic methods. Our results reveal both direct and indirect relationships among the dimensions of the innovative behavior scale, tailored to family farming, and the moderating role of organic production on the model.Comparative analysis showed no significant difference in the intensity of the dimensions between organic producers and nonproducers.This study offers valuable insights into innovative behavior in family farming, which could inform strategic planning and more effectively direct public policies to support family farmers, ultimately leading to technological advancement and innovation within the sector.

The stocker cattle farming business is an essential component of the cattle production system for farmers in Thailand. Raising stocker cattle independently allows for a reduction in costs related to fattening. This research aimed to investigate the factors influencing the economic profits of farmers in SCFB.The study was carried out in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire through faceto-face interviews with 390 stocker cattle farmers supplying cattle to the Phon Yang Kham Livestock Cooperative Limited in Sakon Nakhon. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The results indicated that the majority of the farmers were male, with an average age of 52.78 years and 11.78 years of experience in stocker cattle farming.During an 18-month production period, farmers realized cash profits amounting to 73.43 percent of the total production cost per cattle, whereas the economic profit value was negative.The study identified five factors that significantly impacted the economic profits of SCFB: membership in the association (MA), cattle herd size (CS), feed cost (FC), labor cost (LBC), and selling price (SP). This study provides essential insights into the factors affecting the economic profits of SCFB, which should be considered in policy design aimed at assisting farmers in optimizing stocker cattle farming for profit.

This study simultaneously analyzed the industrial concentration measured using CR4, technical efficiency measured using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), and competitiveness using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) approach of the CPO industry in Indonesia. The study uses time series data from 2001 to 2020, sourced from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the World Bank, and UN Comtrade. This study uses a simultaneous model approach of Two Stage Least Squares (2SLS). The results show that the efficiency of the technique has a negative and significant impact on industrial concentration.The market concentration measured by CR4 shows a positive and significant relationship with competitiveness. Large companies that dominate the market are able to create price stability and encourage innovation, which ultimately improves the profitability and quality of CPO. RSPO policy is negatively correlated with concentration levels, the high cost of certification can be a barrier for new companies to enter the market. Biodiesel policy opens up new opportunities, the push to meet domestic demand can reduce the pressure to innovate.