In the context of globalization and urbanization, rural development faces many challenges, such as population loss and uneven distribution of resources. This paper analyzes the similarities and differences in sustainable rural development strategies between China and Europe through a comparative perspective. China has optimized land use by relying on land policy innovations, such as the household contract responsibility system and the “separation of three rights”, as well as the construction of small towns; while Europe focuses on private ownership and market mechanisms, and supports agricultural and rural development through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Using literature review, comparative research and policy analysis, the study shows that the policy innovations in China and Europe, each with its own focus, have been effective in promoting agricultural output and rural social development. Particularly noteworthy is that the “three rights” policy has increased agricultural productivity through the liberalization of management rights, while the European CAP has contributed to the diversification of the rural economy and environmental protection through continuous reforms. This study emphasizes that through policy innovation and international cooperation, combining the strengths of China and Europe, it is possible to provide a new model of sustainable development for the global countryside. Specifically, through the establishment of Sino-European R&D centers for agricultural science and technology, exchange of talents, and cooperation in green infrastructure development, technology transfer and application can be accelerated, cultural exchange and understanding can be promoted, and the sustainable development agenda for global rural areas can be jointly advanced.

Given the eclectic and localized nature of environmental risks, planning for sustainability requires solutions that integrate local knowledge and systems while acknowledging the need for continuous re-evaluation. Social-ecological complexity, increasing climate volatility and uncertainty, and rapid technological innovation underscore the need for flexible and adaptive planning. Thus, rules should not be universally applied but should instead be place-based and adaptive. To demonstrate these key concepts, we present a case study of water planning in Texas, whose rapid growth and extreme weather make it a bellwether example. We review historic use and compare the 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022 Texas State Water Plans to examine how planning outcomes evolve across time and space. Though imperfect, water planning in Texas is a concrete example of place-based and adaptive sustainability. Urban regions throughout the state exhibit a diversity of strategies that, through the repeated 5-year cycles, are ever responding to evolving trends and emerging technologies. Regional planning institutions play a crucial role, constituting an important soft infrastructure that links state capacity and processes with local agents. As opposed to “top-down” or “bottom-up”, we frame this governance as “middle-out” and discuss how such a structure might extend beyond the water sector. 

This study employed the theory of planned behavior to examine how green urban spaces influence walking behaviors, with a focus on Chongqing’s Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street. Using structural equation modelling to analyse survey data from 401 respondents, this study assessed the relationships between attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, walking intentions, and actions. The results revealed that attitudes toward walking (β = 0.335, p < 0.001) and subjective norms (β = 0.221, p < 0.001) significantly predict walking intentions, which strongly determine actual walking behavior (β = 0.379, p < 0.001). Moreover, perceived behavioral control exerts a direct significant impact on walking actions (β = 0.332, p < 0.001), illustrating that both environmental and social factors are crucial in promoting pedestrian activity. These findings suggest that enhancing the appeal and accessibility of urban green spaces can significantly encourage walking, providing valuable insights for urban planning and public health policy. This study can guide city planners and health professionals in creating more walkable and health-conducive urban environments.

This study aims to develop a framework that helps organizations to fulfill their environmental and social responsibility amid constraints in selecting which stakeholders’ interest comes first and the essential to have an evolved strategic planning that can accommodate broader systemic planning and practice that will yield authenticity in business sustainability with components of environmental worldview of its leaders and organizational learning in the framework. This research uses the method of literature review with the data from interviews and content analysis of the report from one organization that has successfully implemented social and environmentally friendly practices. Based on an in-depth review of literatures on worldview, organizational learning, and strategic planning, and with empirical study from one organization, a conceptual framework by combination of the existing concepts is produced to enable an integration of theories in a range of possible actions for organizations to achieve sustainable development. The result from this research’s framework will allow further study to be carried out in the future to verify associations between existing concepts or variables within the framework, and to produce next empirical results in supporting those theories being reviewed in this paper.

The success of a city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) depends on a combination of interconnected factors that foster innovation, collaboration and growth. Urban planning, infrastructure management and an entrepreneurial culture are essential factors for the success of cities’ Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs). Land use and infrastructure management create opportunities for growth and industry expansion. EEs are local, social, business, institutional and cultural stakeholders that encourage and enhance the formation and growth of new businesses, which are supported by enabling infrastructure. The objective of this study was to investigate how urban planning affects EEs in the metropolitan region, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), South Africa. NMB is known for poor land use management, which hinders the management of diverse spatial needs, as well as bureaucratic processes for land rezoning for commercial activity. In order to better understand the fundamental issues, a qualitative case study was conducted. The data were collected from fifteen economic development role players from NMB using semi-structured interviews combined with secondary data from the NMB Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The data analysis included thematic analysis using Atlas.ti and Claude 2.0. In order to validate the findings, qualitative data were cross-referenced with secondary sources from the NMB IDP. The key themes that emerged effect the NMB metropole’s management of infrastructure to support the EE. These include, Land use issues, Poor oversight by metropolitan leadership, Lack of infrastructure maintenance and pushing out potential investment and economic growth. The results highlight that the NMB metropole fails to prioritise land use and infrastructure challenges, impacting the NMB metropolitan area’s economic development and worsening inequality among different groups. The findings from this study add to the current research on cities’ EEs and The Right to the City Theory, which supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8, 9 and 11.

Taking the west slope of Cangshan Mountain in Yangbi County, Dali as the research site, on the basis of investigating the local natural geographical conditions, topography and biodiversity status of Cangshan Mountain, the CAP protection action planning method was adopted, and the priority protection objects were determined to be native forest vegetation, rare and endangered flora and fauna, alpine vertical ecosystems, hard-leaf evergreen broad-leaved forests and cold-tempered coniferous forests; The main threat factors were commercial collection, tourism development and overgrazing. Biodiversity conservation on the western slope of Cangshan Mountain should take species as “point”, regional boundary as “line”, ecosystem and landscape system as “plane”, so as to realize the overall planning structure system combining “point—line—plane”, which can be divided into conservation core area, buffer zone and experimental area. The results can provide a reference for biodiversity conservation on the western slope of Cangshan Mountain.