Progress toward SDG ‐2: Assessing food security in 93 countries with a multidimensional indicator system

The global food system is recognized as the largest source of pressure on the Earth's stability, and there is a pressing need for a swift global transformation toward a sustainable food system, which is also crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement goals. While various response strategies have been developed to achieve the sustainable food system, it remains unclear how different response strategies and their combinations interactively affect global environmental functions. Here, we use a system dynamics‐based integrated assessment model to quantitatively assess the effects of five representative response strategies, which are well‐recognized to be potential for achieving a sustainable food system, and their combinations on the global environment. We use six boundary indicators, corresponding to six key Earth system processes and indicating the safe‐operating spaces of the global food system, to define the global environmental performance. Our results show that the effects of response strategies may have a synergistic effect or counterbalance. While some individual strategies are sufficient to maintain certain boundary indicators within their safe zones, only the combination of all strategies can simultaneously prevent all boundary indicators from entering high‐risk zones. More coordinated solutions within and outside the global food system are required to restore all boundary indicators to their safe zones.

“…It is worth noting that the food production and consumption patterns could significantly differ among countries (Fujimori et al, 2019;Peng et al, 2024)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing environmental impacts of response strategies for sustainable food system transformation

Yang,

Gao,

Liu

et al. 2023

Supplier–buyer (in)congruence in environmental management accounting for sustainable development in the context of Japan

Zeng,

Katsumata,

et al. 2024

This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the integration of Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) in translating environmental management strategies into corporate outcomes, both at the firm and supply chain levels. Grounded in legitimacy theory and agency theory, we introduce a conceptual framework to comprehensively investigate the impact of EMA implementation on corporate environmental performance (CEP) and corporate financial performance (CFP). Additionally, by considering the dynamics of supplier–buyer relationships, this research delves into the influence of supplier–buyer alignment in EMA on corporate performance, encompassing CEP and CFP within a supply network. To collect empirical data, we partnered with two prominent information firms in Japan, Toyo Keizai Inc. and., Nikkei Inc and gathered EMA data from chief financial officers of publicly listed companies spanning multiple industries in Japan. We manually paired these public firms with their business partners, including industry buyers and suppliers, to establish focal firm‐business partner pairs. Our findings indicate a positive correlation between the extent of EMA implementation and both CEP and CFP. Furthermore, we observe that board gender diversity enhances the relationship between EMA implementation and CFP, while it exerts no influence on the connection between EMA implementation and CEP. Lastly, our study reveals that supplier–buyer congruence in EMA implementation yields positive effects on the performance of focal firms operating within a supply chain network.

Decentralization policies and sustainable rural development: A path to eradicating poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2)

Ain,

Yousaf,

Tahir

2024

Rural infrastructure development is crucial for achieving sustainable development. It enhances quality of life, improves connectivity, promotes economic growth, and supports food security. Whereas rural infrastructure development is influenced by fiscal decentralization, which enables local administrations to prioritize investments and allocate resources based on local needs and priorities. Given this background, this empirical study investigates the impact of devolution reform policy on rural infrastructure development in Pakistan, employing the Stackelberg model. The findings exhibit a positive relationship between subnational government spending through decentralization and the accessibility to transport and communication services, rural development, and development of irrigation infrastructure. The theoretical model proposes that decentralized information permits efficient decision‐making, with local authorities better equipped to deliver public services aligned with local preferences. Increased public utilization of services is expected as a result of decentralization. The combination of empirical analysis and theoretical foundations suggests that the 2001 decentralization policy enhances the accountability of subnational governments. By providing them with more informed and essential benefits for resource allocation according to voter priorities, this policy ultimately increases the efficiency of public expenditures in achieving sustainable development.