The study looks at Ghana’s mining industry’s audit culture and green mining practices about their social responsibility to the communities where their mines are located. Results: According to this study, the economic motivations of mines and green mining are inversely related. Even large mining companies incur significant costs associated with their green mining initiatives because they require a different budget each year, which has an impact on their ability to maximize wealth. Conversely, mines with strong green mining initiatives enjoy positive public perception, and vice versa. Ghanaian mines do not have pre- or during-mining strategies; instead, they only have post-social and post-environmental methods. The best method for evaluating mines’ environmental performance in the community in which they operate is, according to this study, social auditing. This is primarily influenced by the mine’s audit culture, but it is also influenced by the auditor’s compliance with audit processes, audit guidelines, and, ultimately, the audit firm’s experience. The analysis confirms that Ghana’s mine environmental performance is appallingly low since local audit firms are not used in favor of foreign auditors who lack experience or empathy for the problems encountered by these mining communities. Last but not least, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is connected to Ghana’s development of green mining, either directly or indirectly. Whether the mine adopts a technocrat, absolutist, or relativist perspective on mining will determine this. The study discovered that, in contrast to the later approach, the first two views generate work in a mechanistic manner with little to no consideration for CSR.

This research conducts a comparative urban analysis of two coastal cities with analogous tourism models situated in distinct geographical regions: Balneário Camboriú in Brazil and Benidorm in Spain. The study delves into two critical urban phenomena impacting the sustainability of tourist cities, utilising social network data to gather insights into economic and urban activities (Google Places) and spatio-temporal patterns of citizen presence (Twitter). The spatial analysis explores the municipal and, to a more detailed extent, the coastal strip extending 500 m inland from the coastline, spanning the entire length of each city to their municipal boundaries. The analysis uncovers both similarities and differences between the two destinations, offering insights that could inform future development strategies aimed at fostering sustainable urban environments in these well-established coastal tourist areas.

This paper investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing infrastructure governance and economic outcomes. Through a bibliometric analysis spanning more than two decades of research from 2000 to 2024, the study examines global trends in AI applications within infrastructure projects. The analysis reveals significant research themes across diverse sectors, including urban development, healthcare, and environmental management, highlighting the broad relevance of AI technologies. In urban development, the integration of AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is advancing smart city initiatives by improving infrastructure systems through enhanced data-driven decision-making. In healthcare, AI is revolutionizing patient care, improving diagnostic accuracy, and optimizing treatment strategies. Environmental management is benefiting from AI’s potential to monitor and conserve natural resources, contributing to sustainability and crisis management efforts. The study also explores the synergy between AI and blockchain technology, emphasizing its role in ensuring data security, transparency, and efficiency in various applications. The findings underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in AI research and implementation, advocating for ethical considerations and strong governance frameworks to harness AI’s full potential responsibly.

The study is devoted to the problem of processing the organic waste that is generated as a result of paper, textiles and other industries production as well as food waste. The growth of economic activity in Kazakhstan has resulted in a significant challenge with regard to industrial waste management. The accumulation of waste on the territory of the country has reached 31.72 billion tonnes, comprising approximately 2.5 billion tonnes of hazardous waste, 50 million tonnes of phosphorus-containing waste, over 2.5 million tonnes of lead-zinc waste and more than 120 million tonnes of solid domestic waste. The study object was the Shymkent-Kokys polygons. According to the research carried out, it was determined that the titer of microorganisms of the studied groups is 1–10 CFU/g in the soils selected around the garbage in the area of the Shymkent landfill. The titer of microorganisms in the soil horizons was high at a depth of 20–30 cm and the titer were 10⁹ cells/mL. The structure of the soil microbiome obtained around the Shymkent Waste Landfill consists of actinomycetes, micromycetes, heterotrophic bacteria, nitrifying, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enterobacteria, as well as algae and protozoa. It was found that strains KPA1, KPA2 Pseudomonas sp. strains KPA3, KPA4, KPA5 Bacillus sp. isolated from the soils of the Shymkent-Kokys landfill are able to recycle domestic waste with a high content of cellulose and organic substances up to 95%–97%. The findings can be used to develop more effective organic cellulosic waste management strategies and improve the environmental sustainability of various industries.

This paper aims to advance the knowledge in the domain of youth entrepreneurship and empowerment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The rationale is to address the gap in knowledge on entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in the UAE by analyzing strategies and initiatives that support empowering millennials to achieve sustainable development, with the aim of promoting youth entrepreneurship and supporting sustainable economic development. The primary research question guiding this study is: “What strategies and initiatives in the UAE foster the empowerment of the millennial generation for sustainable development?” This study relies on a mixed methodology that combines a descriptive approach, content analysis, and data meta-analysis, with the aim of exploring the relationship between youth entrepreneurship and sustainable development in the United Arab Emirates. with a focus on the future sustainability leaders (FSL) program. While the FSL program demonstrates its significance in promoting youth entrepreneurship and empowerment, it also reveals certain limitations in its design and implementation that may hinder sustainable economic development. To address these challenges and support youth entrepreneurship, the paper proposes three essential action-oriented approaches: promoting participatory diversity and engagement, managing entrepreneurship drivers, and ensuring access to essential support mechanisms. These recommendations are intended to guide multilateral agencies, voluntary sectors, and private entities in the UAE in designing, evaluating, and implementing effective youth entrepreneurship programs. This paper underscores the importance of continued discourse and critical input to refine existing theories and establish a normative framework for youth entrepreneurship and empowerment. Such efforts are crucial for poverty reduction, sustainable development, and the promotion of intergenerational equity.

Tourism plays a crucial role in driving economic development, and there is a growing demand to integrate sustainability into the sector, particularly in the financial practices of governments. This study introduces the Quintessence Sustainable Tourism Public Finances (QSustainableTPF) model, which combines five established financial models commonly used in the tourism industry. The research aims to identify statistically significant relationships between these models and assess their impact on sustainability and financial performance in tourism. A quantitative methodology was employed, with data collected from financial reports and budget documents of both local and central governments, along with a survey of 2099 citizens and visitors conducted during the 2023–2024 period. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and AMOS, incorporating exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings underscore the essential role of public finance in supporting tourism sustainability, particularly through transparent budgetary practices, efficient allocation of resources, and targeted investment in local tourism initiatives. The analysis reveals key insights into the benefits of financial transparency, citizen-centred budgeting, and the promotion of innovation in tourism finance. The interconnectedness of the five models highlights the importance of responsible public financial management in fostering tourism growth, enhancing investment, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability in the sector. The study offers practical implications for policymakers, advocating for the adoption of transparent and innovative financial practices to boost tourism development. It also recommends further research to broaden the scope across different regions, integrating additional public finance dimensions to strengthen sustainable tourism growth.