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The Legal Meaning of Environmental Sustainability – Do the Ecological SDGs Have Legal Status?

Gábor Kecskés

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 481-486

Description:

The study deals with the legal implications and core meaning of environmental sustainability. Ecological sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainability (the others are economic and social sustainability). By giving an in-depth analysis of the entire legal background of environmental sustainability, the study reveals the relevant normative basis of this concept in international law. Furthermore, it focuses on the implementation of the 2015-2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs or SDGs) as well. The SDGs are policy-based general commitments rather than binding and enforceable norms. However, their impacts are relevant to the findings of the United Nations member states’ policies. Nevertheless, the goals and the indicators and targets attached to the goals are crucial to achieving sustainability. The study examines the legal status as well as the legal relevance of the goals (and targets and indicators) of the eco-friendly SDGs. Then, the environmental sustainability issues will be analysed in an in-depth way. Bearing in mind the generally poor (or poorer than expected) state implementation of the SDGs, the study reveals the monitoring and review process of the SDGs.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107081

Martian image super-resolution with fuzzy rough feature selection-based ANFIS interpolation

Liang Shen Qiang Shen Jing Yang Muhammad Ismail Changjing Shang Zoltán Horváth

Publication Name: International Journal of General Systems

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Image Super-Resolution (ISR) is employed to generate high-resolution images from low-resolution inputs. However, most current techniques for ISR encounter important challenges such as: (i) the assumption of sufficient training data availability, and (ii) the presumption that target image regions are complete without missing data. To address these practically important challenges, this study applies a lightweight approach termed Fuzzy Rough Feature Selection-based ANFIS Interpolation for ISR, especially on Martian imagery. Feature extraction algorithms are first applied to capture potentially significant features, and population-based search mechanisms are then utilised to perform effective feature selection (via extending the popular fuzzy-rough feature selection mechanism). The selected feature set is subsequently fed into an ANFIS interpolation model to perform the ISR task. Particularly, to handle the issue of sparse and incomplete data in dealing with Mars images, two adjacent ANFIS models are trained on nearby regions with sufficient data, positioning the model for the sparse region in between. Experimental studies conducted on Martian image datasets under both sufficient and sparse data conditions validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, in overcoming the specific challenges faced by the task of ISR in extraterrestrial imaging scenarios.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1080/03081079.2026.2673451

Sustainable Hatred: Tesla as a Political Product and the Environmental Impact of Hate Crimes Committed on E-Vehicles

Gábor Kecskés Judit Glavanits Gergely Karácsony

Publication Name: Future Transportation

Publication Date: 2025-12-01

Volume: 5

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The production and sales figures for electric vehicles are showing a steady upward trend, clearly indicating the growing importance of sustainability goals. A unique historical situation has developed in the US: the owner of the leading electric car manufacturer (Tesla), Elon Musk, has taken an active role in political life. Amid a rising trend in electric vehicle (EV) adoption aligned with global sustainability goals, the political activism of Musk has provoked public backlash, including acts of vandalism and aggression toward Tesla vehicles. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the study explores (1) the psychological underpinnings of object-directed violence, (2) the legal classification of politically motivated vandalism, and (3) the broader market implications of corporate politicization. Our findings confirm that object-directed aggression stems from displaced frustration, especially when individuals feel politically powerless or morally outraged. Our analysis revealed that most Tesla-related vandalism will likely be prosecuted as property crimes. Although U.S. officials have labeled some acts as domestic terrorism or hate crimes, legal thresholds are generally not met. Our interdisciplinary model suggests that the politicization of Tesla has broader implications. Tesla’s symbolic status in the electric vehicle market means that attacks on it risk triggering a decline in public trust toward electric mobility.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/futuretransp5040200

Laboratory Evaluation and Finite Element Modeling of SBS and Basalt Fiber Modified Mixtures

Mohammad Fahad Nagy Richard

Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland

Publication Date: 2025-05-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 9

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The incorporation of basalt fiber into asphalt mixtures offers potential improvements in their viscoelastic properties. This study explores the addition of basalt fiber to Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt mixtures with varying SBS contents. Specifically, 0.3% basalt fiber was added to an asphalt mixture containing 3% SBS, and its performance, measured in terms of dynamic stability and flexural strength, was compared with a mixture with 7% SBS content. Additionally, finite element analysis using the Modified Burger’s Logit model was conducted to assess rutting and fatigue behavior. Given the high cost associated with increasing the SBS content, basalt fiber presents a cost-effective alternative without sacrificing performance. Laboratory tests, including the Marshall stability test, dynamic stability, flexural strength, and fatigue tests, were conducted to evaluate both mixtures. Results indicate that the mixture with 0.3% basalt fiber and 3% SBS outperforms the 7% SBS mixture, showing a 47% improvement in dynamic stability and rutting resistance and a 16% increase in flexural strength.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/app15094965

Disturbance and topography shape the capacity of microrefugia to support unique biodiversity

Károly Barta Gunnar Keppel Zoltán Bátori Barna Páll-Gergely Roland Wirth Gábor Lőrinczi Csaba Tölgyesi István Elek Maák Gergely Maróti Attila Bodor Kata Frei Ádám Lőrincz Gábor Li Bonita Ratkai Viktor Környei Éva Karasz Édua Kun-Péter Zsófia Krivács Nóra Molnár

Publication Name: Ecological Indicators

Publication Date: 2026-04-01

Volume: 185

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Microrefugia play a key role in facilitating the persistence of biodiversity during climate change. Many occur in topographically complex landscapes shaped by various disturbances, but we know little about how the combined effects of topography and disturbance affect the capacity of refugia to support biodiversity. To better understand this, we inventoried taxonomic richness across four biological groups (soil microbiota, vascular plants, terrestrial snails, and ants), as well as climatic and soil conditions, in different microhabitats (south-facing slopes, north-facing slopes, and bottoms) of topographic depressions (dolines) and on the surrounding plateaus. Unique species assemblages and cooler, moister microclimatic conditions in dolines supported their importance as biodiversity hotspots and microrefugia. Relationships between indicators of disturbances (anthropogenic: historical logging; natural: canopy gaps) and species richness differed, depending on the biological group and microhabitat. While most biological groups seemingly recovered within 50 years following clear-felling, plants did not, highlighting the persistent impact of anthropogenic disturbances on refugial capacity. Plants were also the only group that displayed a significant response to the presence of small canopy gaps at doline bottoms, which promoted the occurrence of specific plant species. All biological groups displayed some response to microhabitats, although these responses differed among taxa. Therefore, high environmental heterogeneity appears to help facilitate the role of dolines as biodiversity hotspots and microrefugia. We conclude that the direction and magnitude of the effects of disturbances and topography are taxon-specific, due to species-specific responses to microenvironmental conditions. Disturbance history is an important consideration when identifying refugia for climate change management.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114797

Review of multihazards research with the basis of soil erosion

Hamid Reza Pourghasemi Vipin Kumar Imlirenla Jamir Narges Kariminejad Vahid Shafaie Mostafa Biglarfadafan

Publication Name: Advanced Tools for Studying Soil Erosion Processes Erosion Modelling Soil Redistribution Rates Advanced Analysis and Artificial Intelligence

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 295-306

Description:

Soil erosion is a primary geomorphic process that may result in hazards and significant socioeconomic losses. These processes occur mainly through the surface and subsurface flows. We conducted a systematic literature review on the quantitative attribution analysis of soil erosion, presenting state-of-the-art erosion processes and demonstrating the relative importance of soil erosion as a natural hazard responsible for land degradation and desertification. This explains why a multidisciplinary approach is needed to understand how erosion occurs and what factors are involved. This justifies the multihazard analysis and the need to model the erosion processes. Knowledge of the quantitative elements of soil erosion measurement combined with the consideration of multiple risk assessments can help develop conceptual models of slope hydrology and soil erosion that can help decision-makers determine an appropriate early warning system design policy. Filling these gaps will guide us to increase our knowledge of surface and subsurface erosion, thereby helping us to better explore the changing landscape for improvement and develop strategies and effective soil erosion control techniques. However, more research is required to better explore the morphology and connectivity of soil erosion, their subsurface watershed, and behavior, as well as several challenges, opportunities, and strategies facing the analysis of soil erosion.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-22262-7.00014-X

Example of a German free-float car-sharing company expansion in East-Central Europe

Cecilia Szigeti Árpád Tóth

Publication Name: Resources

Publication Date: 2019-12-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study examines the expansion of a German free-float car-sharing company in Hungary from financial and sustainability perspectives. BMW and Daimler recently created the joint ventures ShareNow, ChargeNow, ReachNow, FreeNow, and ParkNow, which are having a significant global impact, as their services are now available in 14 different countries. We also expect further market development, since ShareNow started to operate in Hungary in May 2019. The whole EU market is just one step away from being covered by the same professional service, and the future might bring a real globally available free-float car-sharing service provider. Our review used a combination of two methodologies: financial statement-based business analysis and sustainability analysis. On the basis of this study, we concluded that these companies are primarily operated for profit and not on a sustainable operation basis. Additionally, it was also found that the current statistical data collection method does not measure precisely these activities. Financial reporting and sustainability reporting are connected, but they cover different areas. As a subject of further research, we suggest examining whether it is possible to establish a clear connection between these methodologies in the foreseeable future.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/RESOURCES8040172

EVALUATION OF REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTED CHINESE PROVINCES

Laszlo Vasa György Iván Neszmélyi Jing Cai

Publication Name: Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 10

Issue: 3

Page Range: 542-556

Description:

This study aims to investigate and evaluate the status of sustainable development in the Fujian, Guangdong, and Zhejiang provinces over a decade (2011-2020) using the quantitative analysis approach of the entropy weight TOPSIS method. Based on the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, this research analyzes the three provinces' social, economic, and environmental development using data collected from relevant economic and social sectors in China. The findings demonstrate that the sustainable development levels in the respective regions of these three provinces have improved, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the study period. Drawing upon the 14th Five-Year Plan promulgated in 2021, the report provides recommendations for future social, economic, and environmental development in the examined region. The study's results have implications for similar regions seeking to achieve sustainable development goals.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.15549/jeecar.v10i3.1200

Enhancement of pure-pursuit path-tracking algorithm with multi-goal selection

Csaba Hajdu Erno Horváth Péter Korös

Publication Name: Gpmc 2019 1st IEEE International Conference on Gridding and Polytope Based Modeling and Control Proceedings

Publication Date: 2019-11-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 13-18

Description:

In this paper, we present an enhancement to the popular pure-pursuit algorithm, widely used in robotics and automotive applications. The original algorithm is simple and straightforward as it depends only on the very basic attributes of the kinematic model of the target mechanical system. The algorithm is usually tuned by choosing a look-ahead distance of points from the reference trajectory. On the other hand, pure-pursuit suffers from considerable tuning weaknesses highly attributed to improper selection of look-ahead distance, resulting in poor tracking performance. Our method proposes the dynamic change of lookahead distance based on selecting multiple-goal points, thus aiming a curvature fitting more the reference trajectory. Our work was motivated by an ongoing robotics and autonomous vehicle research project at our university.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/GPMC48183.2019.9106958