The Akit tribe fishermen on Rupat Island, Riau, Indonesia, are a remote indigenous community with a low level of education. They have experienced cultural acculturation after the influx of outsiders and the government built road infrastructure to break the isolation. The government also provides internet facilities to speed up the process of modernizing communications between them. The research aim is to analyze the role of government support as a mediator in the influence of education and acculturation on communication modernization among Akit fishermen. The research used a survey method, involving 165 of the 763 Akit fishermen as respondents. This number determine used the Sample Size Calculator technique. Respondents were selected using a purposive random sampling technique. The variables studied consisted of education, acculturation, government support (as mediator), and communication modernization. Data collection was carried out through a closed questionnaire containing statements, which were measured with a 5-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling method with the help of SmartPLS 4 software. The research results show that acculturation and government support have a positive and significant influence on communication modernization, while education plays a negative influence. Government support as a mediator plays a positive and significant role in the influence of education on communication modernization, while it does not play any role in the influence of acculturation. The most implication of this research is that the government must further increase its role in organizing the acculturation process for Akit fishermen to accelerate the communication modernization process.

Border areas can play a crucial role in market integration and infrastructure development between Central Asian countries, thus creating favorable economic growth and regional cooperation conditions. This study aims to assess the economic impact of border areas between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, focusing on their role in enhancing market integration and infrastructure development to foster regional growth and cooperation.  Focusing on labor and capital as essential production drivers, this study employs a sophisticated panel data regression model to explore the Cobb-Douglas production function’s application in these border territories. The research findings indicate that regions’ elasticity towards capital and labor inputs vary, necessitating differentiated economic strategies. For capital-intensive areas, we recommend prioritizing investments in infrastructure and technology to boost production outputs. Conversely, in regions where labor significantly influences production, the emphasis should be on human capital development through education, training, and improved labor market conditions. The study’s insights into the evolving trade relations between the two countries underscore the need for flexible economic policies to enhance regional integration and cooperation. This research not only fills a crucial knowledge gap but also offers a blueprint for leveraging the diverse economic landscapes of Central Asia’s border areas in future policy-making and regional economic strategy.

This study aims to explain the design of policy strengthening in forest and land fire disaster mitigation governance, through the integration of ecotourism development in Siak Regency. Based on the research topic, this study employs a qualitative approach to describe governance conditions and the design of policy strengthening in ecotourism-based disaster mitigation governance. Data analysis is performed using Nvivo 12 Plus software. The results of this study indicate that forest and land fire disaster mitigation governance based on ecotourism development still has shortcomings that need to be addressed in the principles of conservation, economy, and community involvement. Then, the design of a policy to strengthen ecotourism-based disaster mitigation governance includes three crucial policy recommendations, namely: the need for special regulations related to forest and land fire disaster mitigation prevention based on the integration of ecotourism principle development, the need for a balance of roles between actors in determining and implementing ecotourism-based disaster mitigation policies, and the need for effective and efficient implementation of ecotourism-based disaster mitigation policies through increasing the involvement of strategic actors. Substantially, the handling of forest and land fire disasters in Siak Regency can be combined with ecotourism activities, especially in tourist village areas, by developing policies to strengthen the utilization of village-owned disaster mitigation facilities such as reservoirs, lakes, or ponds that are converted into water supplies during the dry season for forest and land fire disaster prevention activities and local economy-based tourist destinations. Our findings are a strategic effort to raise awareness among actors and highlight the need for policy-strengthening design in ecotourism-based disaster mitigation. These findings can also contribute to the literature that will be useful for all stakeholders in developing future long-term disaster mitigation governance policies. This study relies heavily on information from key informants, who represent only the perspectives and expertise of the stakeholders encountered. However, it still refers to important elements based on the informants’ knowledge capabilities in the disaster and tourism sectors. Therefore, we propose to conduct future studies on a comprehensive analysis of sustainable ecotourism-based disaster mitigation governance to promote and accelerate the idea of disaster and tourism in the future.

This paper aims to systematically analyze the current state of plastic waste legal supervision in China and to propose a vision for future governance frameworks. In recent years, along with the vigorous rise of emerging industries such as the express delivery industry and takeaway services, the consumption of plastic products has increased sharply. This trend has triggered profound reflection and high vigilance on the issue of plastic waste supervision. This trend has triggered profound reflection and acute vigilance regarding the regulation of plastic waste. Although the Chinese government has initiated multiple regulatory measures and achieved certain outcomes, from a macroscopic perspective, the issue of plastic waste pollution remains grave, and the relevant legal and regulatory system presents a complex situation with limited enforcement efficacy. Hence, it is exceptionally urgent and significant to deeply explore and formulate legislative strategies aimed at alleviating and regulating plastic waste pollution. This paper is dedicated to systematically analyzing the current state of plastic waste legal supervision from both international and domestic dimensions, and meticulously outlining the regulatory framework for plastic waste governance in China. Through the application of legal norm research methods, this paper dissects the flaws and challenges existing in the current governance mechanisms and further conducts a comparative study of the successful practices in this field in developed countries like the United States, with the intention of drawing valuable experiences. On this basis, this paper not only offers a forward-looking outlook on China’s future legislative tendencies in plastic waste pollution but also innovatively proposes a series of new insights and recommendations. These explorations aim to provide a more solid theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the governance approach to plastic waste pollution in China, promote the improvement and enhancement of the enforcement effectiveness of environmental regulations, and thereby effectively confront the global challenge of plastic pollution.

The paper analyzes the corporate carbon emissions and GDP contributions of the top ten companies by turnover for 2020–2023 in Germany, South Korea, China and the United Kingdom. Focusing on Scope 1, 2, and 3, the study explores the contribution of these companies to carbon intensity across different sectors and economies. The analysis shows that there are significant gaps in carbon efficiency, with the UK’s and Germany’s firms emitting the lowest emissions per unit of GDP contribution, followed by China and South Korea. Additionally, the study further examines the impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty on both firm carbon intensity and economic productivity. While EPU is positively associated with GDP contributions, its impact on emissions is nuanced. Firms apparently respond to policy uncertainty by increasing energy efficiency in direct (Scope 1) and energy-related (Scope 2) emissions but find it more difficult to manage supply chain emissions (Scope 3) in that case. The results point out the critical role of comprehensive ESG reporting frameworks in enhancing transparency and addressing Scope 3 emissions, which remain the largest and most volatile component of corporate carbon footprints. The paper then emphasizes the importance of standardized ESG reporting and bespoke policy intervention for promoting sustainability, especially in carbon-intensive industries. This research contributes to the understanding of how industrial and policy frameworks affect carbon efficiency and economic growth in different national contexts.

This research quantitatively examines how online professional development (OPD) affects cognitive development in special education instructors. 100 individuals took part in outpatient department activities for six months, undergoing cognitive ability examinations before and after the intervention. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-tests, multiple regression analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the data. The findings show a significant rise in post-test scores on the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT) after taking part in the OPD program. Years of experience and education level were important indicators of cognitive progress, emphasizing the significance of individual traits. Moreover, those with greater expertise and advanced levels of education often had better marks on the post-test. The results highlight the significance of cognitive growth as a crucial result of professional development for special education instructors, adding to the existing knowledge base. The research suggests giving priority to cognitive growth in professional development programs, customizing programs to meet individual requirements, and offering continuous support to educators. Future studies should investigate how OPD impacts cognitive development and analyze its lasting consequences on teacher efficacy and student results.