Hydro-social dynamics of miningscapes: Obstacles to implementing water protection legislation in Mongolia

Studying financial development with low-carbon architecture development and green technological innovation: sustaining SDG-9

In order to accomplish Sustainable Growth Goal 9, this research analyzes in detail how green technological innovation, low-carbon architectural improvement, and more significant financial growth all work together to reach the goal. This research meticulously integrates secondary data from reputable sources to examine the relationship between economic growth, technological innovation in the built environment, and environmental sustainability from 1994 to 2019. For economic insights, the World Bank's World Development Indicators is a go-to resource, while Yale University's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a go-to for environmental metrics. Our research is based on this synthesis of multi-dimensional data, which enables an in-depth investigation of the interplay between financial development, sustainable architecture, and technical progress toward SDG-9. This research employs quantitative and qualitative methodologies to shed light on the intricate interaction between these elements, making it useful for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders dedicated to directing sustainable development paths.

Herd It in the Gobi: Deserting Pastoralism?

Global drylands host more than USD 1 trillion in resource extraction investments, which serve to reconfigure communities and landscapes. In Mongolia’s Gobi Desert mega-mining brings social challenges and environmental changes that question if nomadic herding and mining can co-exist. Whilst company and community conflict are common, nascent frameworks and mediation models suggest alternate ways to resolve the mining–community conundrum. Here we investigate environmental transformations that herders encounter in the presence of the Oyu Tolgoi mega-mine in Mongolia’s Khanbogd soum (district). Using socio-economic and physical data collected through interviews, field studies and climate records, we assessed local engagement and adaptation to large-scale mining. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods enabled us to examine the implications of mining for herder lives and lands in an integrated way. This study presents a holistic assessment of the roles of herders, governments and mines in reshaping pastoralism. In our chosen case study, we find that—contrary to common narratives—mining and herding can, and do, coexist in Khanbogd soum, though ongoing challenges exist which deserve critical attention.

Financial inclusion and green economic performance for energy efficiency finance

Financial inclusion is fundamental for increasing the nation’s performance and green economy has emerged as one of the dominant factors to ecological sustainability, but how will these two factors connect? This research analyzes the correlation between the two in the case of China, which is undergoing a transformation to a green economy, using state-level statistics from 2008 to 2020 to evaluate the connection between financial inclusion and the green economy. By taking into account the fast-expanding technology banking system, as well as the application of the minimum distance to the weak efficient frontier framework (MinDw), a comprehensive assessment of financial inclusion is created, as is an assessment of green economic productivity. The findings show that the expansion of financial inclusion may contribute to increased green economic proficiency, which is primarily achieved via the tightening of credit restrictions on carbon emitting companies. The results have more consequences for the implementation of a financial development strategy and the maintenance of healthy associations between the state, banking institutions, and businesses.