Widespread use of digital information technology is having a significant impact on economic growth and people’s well-being. This paper assesses the mediating role of social capital in the impact of digital information technology on multidimensional poverty. Due to differences in regional, industrial structure and other factors, digital information technology has different impacts on urban and rural residents. In this paper, the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database is used for data, and a mediating effect model is used to study the problem. The digital information technology use was found to enhance social capital from social network, social participation and social trust, and subsequently alleviates multidimensional poverty. The results indicate that social trust plays a more significant mediating role than social capital and social participation on the impact of digital information technology on multidimensional poverty. Furthermore, the results reveal that the use of digital information technology has varying effects on poverty reduction among different income groups, with a much higher effect on low-income groups. However, the mediating effect of social capital in high-income groups is higher than that in low-income groups. In particular, social capital in the top 25% of income groups has the highest mediating effect. In the heterogeneity analysis between urban and rural areas, it is found that the multidimensional poverty situation in urban areas is significantly better than that in rural areas, because urban residents have a higher use of digital information, and at the same time, the quality of social capital in urban and rural groups is different, leading to the difference in the effect of digital information technology on poverty reduction of multidimensional poverty. Based on the results of the study, we believe that the use of digital information technology has actually improved the multi-dimensional poverty status of all groups, and social capital plays a key mediating role in it. Relying on the progress of digital information technology, we can build more convenient social network. Establish more adequate channels of information communication, enhance social trust and social participation, and alleviate multidimensional poverty.

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the influence mechanism of the new round of Collective Forest Rights Reform (CFRR) on farmers’ production efficiency from the perspective of forestland transfer. Based on the panel data of field investigation in Jiangxi Province, a panel logit model was used to verify whether the new round of CFRR has affected farmers’ forestland circulation behavior. The results showed that the new round of CFRR has played a significant role in promoting forestland circulation. Secondly, the non-parametric DEA method was used to estimate the technical, scale, and comprehensive efficiency of households. DID and panel quantile models were constructed to analyze the impact of forestland inflow policy and forestland outflow policy effects on rural household productivity. The regression results showed that the effect of forestland inflow has had a significantly positive impact on scale and comprehensive efficiency, but it only had a significant effect on technical efficiency in the 0.1 quartile. The effect of forestland outflow was not found to be significant for technical, scale, and comprehensive efficiency, but it was found to be negative for technical efficiency in the 0.75 quartile and negative for scale efficiency in the 0.5 and 0.75 quantiles.

Corporate governance and financial mechanisms are instrumental in steering businesses toward sustainable practices. Several papers in this collection examine how corporate and financial sectors can contribute to carbon reduction and sustainability goals. Li and Liu (2024) Technological innovation and urbanization are powerful drivers of low-carbon transitions. Several articles in this collection focus on the role of technology and urbanization in promoting sustainable development. Khan and Khan (2024) Chai and Qiao (2024), in The Impact of Household Population Aging on Carbon Emissions: Micro-scale Evidence from China, examine how demographic shifts impact carbon emissions at the household level. The study finds that as populations age, carbon emissions tend to decrease due to changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle, offering a unique perspective on the relationship between population aging and carbon reduction.Several contributions emphasize the importance of regional cooperation and policy interventions in promoting green development.Yu and Zheng. ( 2024), in Efficiency of Green and Low-Carbon Coordinated Development for Mega Urban Agglomerations, focus on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, analyzing how coordinated regional policies can promote sustainable development. The study highlights that regional cooperation and policy integration are essential for achieving balanced and effective low-carbon development.In Collaborative Integration or Policy Diversification: The Influence of Policy Synergy on Regional Green Development, Chang and Wang (2024) explore how synergistic policy approaches-such as combining carbon trading and free trade zone policies-can enhance green development in urban areas. Their findings demonstrate that integrated policies amplify positive outcomes, fostering regional sustainability efforts. Tang et al. (2024), in Resources on carbon emissions reduction in China, analyze the role of natural resource accountability audits in enhancing green technological innovation and reducing emissions across China. Their findings underscore the importance of governance in driving sustainable resource management and achieving carbo n reduction targets.The role of public perception in influencing environmental policy and corporate behavior is explored in Sentiment Analysis of Global News on Environmental Issues by Bucur et al. (2024). Using sentiment analysis of global news articles, the authors find that public perception of environmental issues significantly influences both policy and corporate actions. Positive sentiment toward sustainability enhances stakeholder engagement and accelerates the lowcarbon transition.The 20 articles in this Research Topic provide a comprehensive overview of the driving forces and synergistic mechanisms that promote a low-carbon economy and sustainable development.From agriculture and corporate governance to technological innovation an d regional policy, this collection offers valuable insights for policymakers, business leaders, and researchers committed to achieving sustainability goals. As the global community continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, these contributions emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and cross-sector collaboration. By integrating technological advancements, financial mechanisms, and public engagement, stakeholders can drive meaningful progress toward a low-carbon, sustainable future.We hope that this Research Topic serves as a valuable resource for future research, policy formulation, and practical implementation in the pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient global economy.

村镇体系是实施乡村振兴战略的空间支撑，在单村发展问题日益凸显的背景下，构建服务于乡村组团发展的村镇体系识别路径，并探索不同发展团的振兴途径，有利于区域的协调发展。论文构建“乡村发展极—乡村发展团”的村镇体系识别路径，利用天津市静海区18个镇的379个村庄的多源数据，探析村镇空间关联网络特征，而后基于村镇体系识别路径划分乡村发展团，最后提出不同发展团的乡村振兴途径。主要研究结论为：① 经济发展、资源禀赋以及人居环境不同维度下的空间关联网络特征各异，综合发展水平的局部集聚特征明显，其网络密度呈现出由东北向西南方向递减的分布格局；② 根据资源特征，将村庄划分为多资源主导型(P-C-A)、双资源主导型(P-C、P-A、C-A)、单资源主导型(P、C、A)和无主导资源型(p-c-a)4类8种，静海区的单资源主导型和无主导资源型村庄占多数；③ 按照村镇体系识别路径，依次识别中心村、特色村、乡村发展团，进一步根据主导资源评价结果，识别乡村发展子团；④ 基于村镇体系优化格局探析乡村发展团的特征，提出分区分类推进乡村振兴战略的组团发展路径。