Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable development considered in its economic, social, and environmental dimension has declined, at an international level, according to the 17 sustainable development goals (SDG), and at the European level, it is regarded as an essential element with respect to any choice of policy and territorial planning. However, territorial evidence shows that the same sustainability action can produce different effects depending on the territorial context (metropolitan city, internal area, cross-border area, etc.) where it will be implemented. Nevertheless, sustainable policy/planning choices (from an economic, social, and environmental point of view) may not be efficient if not territorialized. Thus, the need emerges to promote sustainability actions within the framework of new approaches integrated both on the side of the cities that assume the role of sustainability engines and on that of the companies called toward more and sustainable management and production choices in relation to the specific context in which they operate.

The choice between the possible sustainability actions to be implemented passes through a territorial impact assessment process that evaluates, in advance, the different impacts that the same policy generates in each context or geographical–functional specificity.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect contributions from different disciplines (geographic, corporate, legal, economic, etc.) to identify where convergences and nonconvergences occur. In particular, the objective is to examine the territorial impacts of the sustainability choices implemented in different geographical–functional contexts (urban, rural, metropolitan, mountain areas, etc.) in relation to business and production choices also conditioned by a legislative system in national contexts and regions with regard to the Europeanization process.

Relevant topics include but are not limited to the following areas:

• Sustainability dimensions (economic, social, environmental);
• Adaptation and mitigation to climate change (best practices, indicators, assessment);
• Europeanization process;
• Energy policy;
• Smart cities
• Sustainability risk assessment;
• Sustainability management approach (matrix of sustainability, green marketing, reporting activities, etc.);
• Innovation value and circular economy;
• Sustainable procurement for the private and public sector;
• Best practices of sustainable territorial operation management;
• Sustainable Development and Global Value Chain.

Scholars from different fields are invited to present both theoretical and empirical research contributions on these issues. Interdisciplinary contributions are welcome both with a qualitative and a quantitative approach.

Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of a rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications. 

Prof. Dr. Andrea Appolloni
Dr. Maria Coronato
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sustainability policy choices
• cities and enterprises as a motor of sustainable development
• functional regions
• sustainability in the SME activities
• sustainable public procurement
• green public procurement
• circular economy for innovation