Articles

Open defecation is a major global health problem. The number of open defecators in India dwarfs that of other states, and most live in rural places. Open defecation is often approached as a problem scaled at the site of the individual, who makes a choice not to build and/or use a toilet. Attempts to end rural open defecation by targeting individuals, like social marketing or behavior change approaches, often ignore the structural inequalities that shape rural residents’ everyday lives.

India has the world's highest burden of child undernutrition. Lack of income is considered as one of its primary causes. However, evidence suggests that despite steady economic growth and investments in social services directed towards child welfare, undernutrition rates continue to rise. Thus indicating, that there are other societal factors impacting child undernutrition. Previous studies indicate that countries with higher gender inequality have worse health outcomes for women and children.

Marine plastic pollution has been a growing concern for decades. Single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads) are a significant source of this pollution. Although research outlining environmental, social, and economic impacts of marine plastic pollution is growing, few studies have examined policy and legislative tools to reduce plastic pollution, particularly single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads). This paper reviews current international market-based strategies and policies to reduce plastic bags and microbeads.

"The Elsevier Foundation is encouraging innovation and enhancing scientific research through its Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge. This open competition aims to encourage green and sustainable chemistry solutions to tackle some of the biggest sustainability challenges, whether in water, energy or sanitation and directly supports SDG 9 target 5 by encouraging innovation, in particular in developing countries. The winner of the 2017 Challenge is developing low-cost and sustainable insecticides with the aim of reducing mosquito-related diseases such as Dengue Fever."