Despite unprecedented global commitment to the 2030 Agenda, progress toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs) continues to lag in ways that structural, institutional, and resource‐based explanations do not fully explain. This study argues that a critical missing dimension is human: the psychological and relational capacities that enable collective action for sustainable development. We introduce social–emotional capital (SEC) as a multidimensional typology of three distinct resources, particularised (bridging) trust, social tolerance and subjective well‐being, grounded in social capital theory, broaden‐and‐build theory, and the emerging literature on inner development goals (IDGs) for sustainability. Using combined European Values Study and World Values Survey data across 85 countries, merged with SDG Index 2025 indicators, we validate a three‐factor SEC model and examine its effects through multilevel modelling and bootstrapped country‐level regression. At the individual level, social tolerance consistently predicts pro‐sustainability attitudes, while particularised (bridging) trust shows more complex, outcome‐specific effects. At the country level, aggregate subjective well‐being is the only SEC dimension that independently predicts overall SDG performance after controlling for economic development and governance quality. SEC effects also vary across SDG clusters: well‐being is most strongly associated with the People goals, while trust uniquely predicts Peace, Justice and Institutions. The findings position well‐being as an independent macro‐level driver of sustainable development, introduce cross‐level divergence as a theoretical puzzle for social capital research and identify goal‐specific pathways through which inner capacities can support sustainability transitions.
Mohamed Nassar, Amr Elalfy, M. Kucukvar et al.· Sustainable Development· 0 citations
This study delves into the previously uncharted territory of dayas, ephemeral wetlands dotting the arid limestone plateau of Northwest Egypt. As the first comprehensive investigation of these ecologically and geologically vital features, it addresses the critical lack of research on their origins, evolution, and spatiotemporal dynamics. Employing a multi-method approach that integrates high-resolution Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, multi-decadal Landsat time-series analysis, ALOS PALSAR digital elevation model (DEM) processing, and systematic field validation, we identify and delineate 5430 dayas encompassing 258.1 km
2
within a study area of 11,254 km
2
. The supervised maximum-likelihood image classification, validated against 346 stratified field control points, achieved an overall accuracy of 91% (kappa = 0.88). Morphometric analysis characterizes dayas as shallow saucer-shaped depressions with diameters ranging from a few meters to several hundred meters and depths of 0.75 to 5.5 m, etched into the limestone surface filled with loose sediments. 0.75 m is the minimum depth recorded among field-confirmed dayas during the March 2025 survey; the DEM-based automated detection employed a minimum sink-depth threshold of 0.5 m, which represents the lowest depth reliably resolvable at 12.5 m DEM resolution without incurring unacceptable false-positive rates from surface noise. A daya typology comprising bowl-shaped, small flat-bottom, and large flat-bottom classes is established, each reflecting distinct stages within a continuum from active to relict karst. Spatiotemporal analysis of Landsat imagery from 1984 to 2025 documents a 32.63% net increase in daya surface area, corresponding to a mean annual expansion rate of ∼0.8%. Their evolution appears to be a complex interplay of karstic processes, surface-water runoff, hydro-geomorphological interactions, and erosional forces, all influenced by the interplay of structural and climatic factors. This underscores the critical need for sustainable land management practices that acknowledge the dayas’ significance for environmental stability and potential aquifer recharge. In conclusion, this study not only sheds light on the origins and hydrological dynamics of these enigmatic wetlands but also emphasizes their crucial role in the Northwest Egyptian landscape. By advocating for sustainable land-use practices and conservation efforts, we can ensure the continued presence and beneficial influence of these unique dayas for generations to come.
W. Galal, Mohamed Nassar, Walaa A. Ali· Progress in Physical Geograp...· 0 citations
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