Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis

• Associate Professor, Habilitation PhD MSc (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2198-6740; madinis@ufp.edu.pt)
• Professor (Associate) at Fernando Pessoa University

Background The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires much planning and the provision of resources, especially regarding the necessary investments, technologies and infrastructures needed. Yet, it is presently unclear how available these elements are, what gaps exist, what changes have taken place in terms of their avai...

Universities are key actors and play a central role in the cities which host them, either as employers, consumers or simply as a magnet to young people and cultural activities. They can be also influencers and supporters of cities in the field of sustainable development. Through an exploratory method and aiming to explore the efforts deployed to fo...

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal SDG 17, which focuses on international cooperation, partnerships, will be vital. In this comment, we examine the key obstacles such as vested economic interests that will need to be overcome for the successful implementation of SDG 17.

Background Climate change is a problem which is global in nature, and whose effects go across a wide range of disciplines. It is therefore important that this theme is taken into account as part of universities´ teaching and research programs. Methods A three-tiered approach was used, consisting of a bibliometric analysis, an online survey and a s...

Over the past decades, many declarations on sustainable development (SD) have been produced , various of which led to no real changes or improvements. This article discusses the role of declarations and international cooperation on SD, outlining their evolution. It also highlights the reasons why instruments and international cooperation have faile...

Climate change (CC) is increasingly recognised as a critical driver in the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases. The relationship between CC and infectious diseases is complex and multifaceted, encompassing changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. This study describes the role of CC in the emergence a...

Marine littering is a global challenge and a significant threat to a sustainable planet, requiring comprehensive and effective mechanisms to address it in a comprehensive manner. This study reports on a bibliometric analysis that has identified the extent to which the topic has been explored in the international literature, by focusing on geographi...

Human-induced alterations to the Earth’s climate, primarily through the release of greenhouse gases, have far-reaching implications for ecosystems and both human and non-human health. However, treating climate change exclusively as an external force continues to limit human potential to effectively address it. This introductory chapter to the book...

This book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how climate change affects planetary health and what this means for our collective future. In recent years, the discourse surrounding climate change has grown increasingly urgent and for good reasons. Our planet is undergoing unprecedented transformations driven by human activities, which are al...

Human-induced alterations to the Earth’s climate, primarily through the release of greenhouse gases, have far-reaching implications for ecosystems and both human and non-human health. However, treating climate change exclusively as an external force continues to limit human potential to effectively address it. This introductory chapter to the book...

Purpose-This paper aims to emphasize the significance of integrating sustainable development (SD) content into higher education institutions (HEIs) curricula. The focus is on identifying areas of research demand related to SD in teaching and learning programmes. Design/methodology/approach-This study uses a comprehensive approach, combining bibliom...

Purpose This study aims to identify and describe the nature of higher education institutions’ (HEIs) engagement with climate change (CC) education, exploring their contributions to addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with the phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach By using a dual methodological approach consisting of an expert-drive...

Communities living within Africa's river basins remain vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. This study aimed to explore the various local knowledge (LK)-based climate change adaptation strategies used by the vhaVenda and baTonga communities, residing in the Limpopo and Zambezi river basins (LRB and ZRB, respectively) in Southern Af...

Purpose In light of the growing emphasis on sustainability in higher education, this paper aims to explore the effectiveness of sustainability university rankings, specifically focusing on sustainable development (SD), to understand their impact on advancing universities’ sustainability goals and address gaps in practical implications and limitatio...

Indiscriminate disposal of dry cell battery (DCB) waste contributes to environmental and public health issues in developing countries such as Ghana, due to the toxic nature of this specific waste. Accordingly, a study was conducted in Accra, Ghana, to determine the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing handling DCB waste, aiming a sust...

Networks can help implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a variety of ways. They can facilitate the sharing of best practices and resources among organisations, enabling them to more effectively implement the SDGs. They can also help spread awareness on the SDGs and encourage people to take action. Networks can also as...

Objective: Promoting environmental geoconservation, geodiversity and local culture, namely through tours and research on these natural environments. Theoretical Framework:t is based on modern scientific definitions used in geology, geomorphology, paleontology, culture, and for educational and geotourism purposes. Method:The literature review signif...

The role of universities in addressing climate change is often discussed, but one crucial aspect tends to be overlooked: their potential contribution to carbon sequestration. Many universities around the world possess significant tracts of land, often featuring substantial forested areas. These landscapes represent an underutilised opportunity for...

Sustainable development (SD) research is vital in providing a basis for progress in this rapidly growing field of inquiry. In this context, higher education institutions (HEIs) and leading top researchers belonging to them are playing a key role. Despite this being widely acknowledged by the academy, it is largely unclear how individual HEIs, and t...

The main purpose of this study is to analyze how stakeholders’ perceptions of sustainable land use and the management of natural parks affect land management planning, with a focus on park visitors. This study was carried out in July 2019, during a period of high visitor numbers at the Belgrade Forest nature parks, as reported by the park manager....

Citation: Škėma, M.; Doftartė, A.; Perkumienė, D.; Aleinikovas, M.; Perkumas, A.; Sousa, H.F.P.e.; Pimenta Dinis, M.A.; Beriozovas, O. Abstract: The development of a monitoring system for the socioeconomic indicators of private forest owners includes the comprehensive collection of various socioeconomic data. These data encompass general informatio...

Owing to global trade and travel, the recent novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has surpassed all geographical barriers and encompassed the entire world, impacting everyone in all spheres of life. Yet, it is evident that not every person was equally affected. In order to overcome this challenging ordeal, the World Health Organization (WH...

The process of implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were approved by the UN General Assembly in 2015 has not been simple, being influenced by variety of social, economic, and logistical problems. It has also been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are to date no specific studies aimed at assessing the...

There is a widespread social awareness for the need of adequate accessibility (e.g. missing ramps at crosswalks, obstacles and potholes at sidewalks) in the planning of safe and inclusive city spaces for all citizens. Therefore, municipal authorities responsible for planning urban spaces could benefit from the use of tools for automating the identi...

This chapter addresses Obstetric Violence (OV) as a form of gender-based violence, particularly affecting female individuals. OV involves harm inflicted by healthcare professionals on females and their families in the context of sexual and reproductive healthcare, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and abortion. The various forms of OV, ranging fro...

Climate change (CC) will likely significantly impact the world’s infrastructure significantly. Rising temperatures, increased precipitation, and rising sea levels are all likely to stress critical infrastructures (CI). Rising temperatures can lead to infrastructure damage from extreme heat events. This can cause roads and bridges to buckle or crack...

There is a widespread social awareness for the need of adequate accessibility (e.g. missing ramps at crosswalks, obstacles and potholes at sidewalks) in the planning of safe and inclusive city spaces for all citizens. Therefore, municipal author- ities responsible for planning urban spaces could benefit from the use of tools for automating the iden...

The study aimed to determine the short-term effects of the Short Motivational Program (SMP) in increasing motivation to change on intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators and to analyse its suitability and acceptability. Ten male IPV perpetrators sentenced to prison, aged between 26 and 64 years (M = 47.8; SD = 13.2), participated in the SMP. B...

Climate change can have direct and indirect effects on human health. Direct effects can include an increase in extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, as well as an increase in the spread of vector-borne and infectious diseases, which may lead to a set of health problems and diseases. Indirect effects can include changes in air qualit...

Due to climate change, the risk of natural disasters has increased. Certain regions of the world, more vulnerable to these phenomena due to geographical and climatic factors, are also among the most fragile in terms of political, technological, and social capacity. While the impact on infrastructure and healthcare systems is well-documented, it's c...

Addressing the global urgency for improved sustainable cities and communities, as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, requires innovative and disruptive approaches, which also include applying artificial intelligence (AI). While AI holds significant potential to address complex socioeconomic and environmental challenges in...

Citation: Teixeira, A.; Teixeira, M.; Gaio, R.; Torres, T.; Magina, S.; Dinis, M.A.P.; Sousa-Lobo, J.; Almeida, I.; Peixoto, M.; Almeida, V. Influence of Clinical and Psychosocial Factors on the Adherence to Topical Treatment in Psoriasis. Healthcare 2024, 12, 822. Abstract: (1) Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease wi...

Violence is a multifaceted phenomenon that infiltrates various cultures and systems, necessitating a comprehensive understanding to enhance prevention and intervention strategies. This Special Issue reprint includes systematic and scoping reviews on diverse forms of violence, aiming for improved characterization. It highlights the growing focus of...

The international debate on food waste prevention and handling often oversees one critical modality, whose importance should not be overlooked: offshore food waste. The amount of offshore food waste produced is not a commonly reported or tracked statistic. However, offshore food waste is a global issue. It can result from various sources, such as c...

If the global healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest carbon emitter, also producing massive volumes of waste. A revolutionary transition to an environmentally sustainable model of healthcare is required. Decarbonisation efforts are initially focused on transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficienc...

The internet has become a prevalent tool for offenders engaging in the sexual grooming of children, posing a serious threat to fundamental rights and unsettling societies. Challenges in defining online sexual grooming, variations in its prevalence, and evolving offender strategies necessitate a cohesive global legislative effort to combat child sex...

The clothing, footwear, and household textiles sectors play a significant role, providing employment opportunities on a global scale. However, they are also associated with a considerable consumption of natural resources, leading to high levels of water pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. The carbon footprin...

The project is research project covering the years 2023 to 2026, coordinated by the School of Medicine of the University of Athens. It joins several European and non-European universities: the University Fernando Pessoa and the Fernando Pessoa School of Health, the Department of Medicine of the University of Salerno (Italy), the Faculty of Health S...

Climate change affects human activities, including tourism across various sectors and time frames. The winter tourism industry, dependent on low temperatures, faces significant impacts. This paper reviews the implications of climate change on winter tourism, emphasising challenges for activities like skiing and snowboarding, which rely on consisten...

Students are central actors at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Whereas much can be achieved by the active participation of students in sustainability affairs, it is unclear what is the current level of students’ knowledge and engagement regarding the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the world, as well as which i...

Understanding the relationship between physical spaces and crime in the Historic Centre of Porto (HCP), Portugal, is crucial, considering the relevance of this area to the city. This study analyses HCP's physical space characteristics and its official statistics of crime, identifying the physical space facilitating crime. A mixed methodology compri...

Understanding the relationship between physical spaces and crime in the Historic Centre of Porto (HCP), Portugal, is crucial, considering the relevance of this area to the city. This study analyses HCP’s physical space characteristics and its official statistics of crime, identifying the physical space facilitating crime. A mixed methodology compri...

Despite the abundance of studies focused on how higher education institutions (HEIs) are implementing sustainable development (SD) in their educational programmes , there is a paucity of interdisciplinary studies exploring the role of technology , such as data science, in an SD context. Further research is thus needed to identify how SD is being de...

Partnerships have become a key tool in the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Partnerships can scale up the impact of initiatives by leveraging the strengths and reach of each involved partner. This allows for the replication and expansion of successful projects and programs. In the context of the UN SDG...

Purpose Higher education institutions (HEIs) offer courses and programmes focusing on sustainability in economics, as courses on sustainable development (SD), which examine the economic, social and environmental dimensions of SD. This paper aims to examine sustainability integration in economics degree programmes. Design/methodology/approach Throu...

Within the field of geological analysis of subsurface data, some input may be scarce and include a small set of data. Such a data set is under-sampled and mapping algorithms result in uncertain outcomes. It then becomes necessary to obtain a reliable statistical data set of individual geological variables. The possibility of applying the bootstrap...

Editorial on the Research Topic Sustainability Challenges Around Energy Poverty in an Era of Global Environmental and Economic Crisis

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 refers to "Climate Action". It is one of the 17 goals established by the United Nations in their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary objective of SDG13 is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. It recognises that climate change is a global challenge that requires immedi...

This study estimates the Medical Waste (MW) generated and the handling process in six Healthcare Facilities (HF) in Ghana, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and identifies the associated parameters. The data were collected by field work and MW collection, identification and weighing. The results indicate that the average rate of infectious MW ranged from 0...

Purpose – To analyze the evolution of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and innovation in the civil construction industry, focusing on innovative and sustainable practices, as well as ways of measuring the level of construction companies in these themes. Design/methodology/approach – A Systematic Literature Review approach was used. The We...

The Series 'Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals- Regional Perspectives' aims to support the acceleration needed for the implementation of the SDGs, by mobilising the academic community, industry and the civil society by generating information and communicating on experiences focusing on the SDGs deemed as being most important for the...

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity all over the world and the second major cause of death in Portugal. Dermatological side effects resulting from cancer treatment have a psychosocial impact on patients’ lives, such as quality of life (QoL), body image, cognitive fusion and social inhibition. This systematic review aimed to explore...

The sustainability term is widely used to define the scope of the principles and practices that are translated into the operationalization of actions and projects aiming to contribute to the citizens' quality of life. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a preponderant role in the implementation of sustainability, having among its objectives t...

Organizations worldwide are facing challenges in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) integrating the 2030 Agenda, defined by the United Nations (UN). Among these goals, it is the SDG 5 on gender equity (GE), which addresses the need to increase the necessary skills for workers to achieve empowerment and leadership in managemen...

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have had a noticeable impact on the European Region. According to a recent Eurostat report, the region has made significant progress toward most of the 17 Goals. For example, the region has improved and maintained a high level of access to sanitation services, strengthened infrastructure for rural regions...

This volume describes the thinking on sustainable development and a variety of initiatives across Europe, illustrating regional efforts to foster sustainable communities and ecological and social innovation. It contains various contributions which showcase examples of thinking, economic and social structures and in consumption and production patter...

When reflecting about the subjectivity implicit in the tasks’ execution and in the affective relationships developed in the work environment, the psychosocial factors influencing work are frequently ignored. Excessive demand, hierarchical requirements, and discontent are issues that, if poorly managed, can contribute to the worker’s mental illness...

This short communication reports on the pressures posed by climate change on permafrost. The phenomenon of the (melting) rocks, soil, and ground that host permafrost does not just concern a remote stretch of the Arctic north. It is a far larger area than most citizens may realise if looking at an ordinary map projection. Broadly distributed and cru...

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in academic routines. These changes have also contributed to an increase in the number of papers submitted to journals, citations and, ultimately, to changes in metrics. This study aims to address a gap between theory and practice, analysing the changes in the impact factor (IF) of a sample of 30 env...

The establishment of partnerships between universities and communities can significantly support the implementation of initiatives related to sustainability as a whole and help to realize some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Despite the usefulness of mapping of partnerships, there is a perceived necessity for studies, which may...

It is widely assumed that transformative societal action is required to address the world's many sustainability challenges of today. This is especially true in an urban context, since urban sustainability may assist in improving the conditions of the urban environment and the quality of life of humans. Nevertheless, and despite the many advantages...

When reflecting about the subjectivity implicit in the tasks’ execution and in the affective relationships developed in the work environment, the psychosocial factors influencing work are frequently ignored. Excessive demand, hierarchical requirements, and discontent are issues that, if poorly managed, can contribute to the worker’s mental illness...

Higher education (HE) matters to the global struggle to combat climate change. Research builds knowledge and informs climate solutions. Educational programmes and courses upskill current and future leaders and professionals to tackle the systems change and the transformation needed to improve society. Through their outreach and civic engagement wor...

This article reports a study in Greater Accra and Eastern Region, to assess knowledge and practices related to biomedical waste (BMW) handling and disposal in six health care facilities (HF) in Ghana. The results showed a significant knowledge gap in handling expired blood units, human tissue, and liquid BMW. Of the respondents, 87.0% revealed inad...

Governance is a key component for implementing sustainable development (SD) initiatives in university teaching, research, and projects. This line of thinking also applies to implementing the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs). Despite the role of governance in guiding processes related to the SDGs, few studies have examined th...

Introduction: Internet addiction results in intense and frequent use. There is a gap in the literature in relation to the unawareness of problematic Internet use (PIU) in predicting Internet use time (IUT). Objective: To identify sociodemographic/psychological variables contributing and moderating IUT. Participants: 1,270 participants of the Euro...

Biomedical waste (BMW) incineration is the most used alternative disposal method in developing countries, such as Ghana. The improper disposal of incinerator-generated bottom ash (BA) is a significant concern due to the hazardous nature of waste. A study was conducted at Tema Hospital (TGH) and Asuogyaman Hospital (VRAH) incinerator sites. The BA s...

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human induced climate change is known to be causing dangerous and widespread disruptions in nature, is affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. Climate change is also negatively influencing health and is a mounting threat to o...

This book contains a set of papers which explore the links among climate change, health, and hazards and demonstrate how they interact. It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human-induced climate change is known to be causing dang...

Climate change (CC) manifests itself through extreme weather conditions and is gaining more and more attention from the scientific community and civil society, considering the social implications in various domains of daily life. Undeniable social, economic and environmental consequences have been disclosed worldwide, in addition to the significant...

Waste having a significant and relevant material presence in our everyday life was not considered worthy of human attention up until the 1990s. Most probably, this delayed recognition of waste is due to the fact that it has been mistakenly understood as something that is supposed to remain invisible to the human eye in a sense that it is assumed to...

When the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed upon by the UN General Assembly in 2015, and subsequently endorsed by most UN Member States, there was a sense of optimism in respect of their timely implementation by 2030. This optimism has now become a concern. This is due to the fact that a combination of unfavourable...

Background and objective: This study aims to identify the connections between social interventions (SI), Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) 2030 Agenda, and the bioethical paradigm, using research involving women dealing with waste in Ghana, Africa, as a background. In its SDG 5 – gender equality – the 2030 Agenda makes it possible to reflect o...

Abstract Background The implementation of sustainability at universities means that they can also play a key role in the transition to a low carbon economy, and in assisting global efforts towards decarbonisation. Yet, not all of them have so far fully engaged in this area. This paper reviews the state of the art on trends in decarbonisation, and o...

Purpose – Higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world are engaged in internationalisation efforts. Yet internationalisation per se is associated with significant pressures on the environment and environmental resources, which need to be addressed. Therefore, this study assessed the opportunities, benefits, and challenges associated with t...

Existent waste indicators may measure the current environmental dynamics but cannot keep up with the rapid changes of our time. Waste management has deep specific implications in different sectors of our society, namely in terms of environmental quality and health outcomes. Alongside, it is undeniable that waste management practices are linked with...

Apart from the many social and health problems it has caused, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on most sectors of the economy worldwide. One of the areas where such impact is noticeable is the textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industry. The lockdowns and limited access to retailer outlets resulted in a considerable drop in consumptio...

Excessive, abusive, or inappropriate use of mobile phones can have a negative effect on interpersonal relationships. This study aims to adapt the Phubbing Scale (PS) and the Generic Scale of Being Phubbed (GSBP) for the Portuguese population, establishing the convergent validity of the instruments with others that assess approximate constructs, suc...

The aim of this study is to adapt a Portuguese version of the original 18 items of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), via a translation / back translation process, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a Portuguese sample. The sample comprised 232 respondents from the general population. The modified BFAS acquires a different factor...

Background Sustainable production and consumption are two important issues, which mutually interact. Whereas individuals have little direct influence on the former, they can play a key role on the latter. This paper describes the subject matter of sustainable consumption and outlines its key features. It also describes some international initiative...

In the last decades, the anthropogenic actions on the planet have dually gained visibility: on the one hand as promoters of strategies for safeguarding the environment at a global level and on the other hand as protagonists of the excessive exploitation of its natural resources, threatening the natural balance of the planet. Considering this scenar...

This paper reports on a comprehensive study, which has investigated the approaches, methods and tools being deployed in implementing living labs among higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world. Two methods were employed. First, a bibliometric analysis of the current emphasis given to living labs in a sustainable development context and...