Universities are aware of the imperative of sustainability and are focusing on promoting the aims and principles of sustainable development, such as greening their curriculum, enhancing the environmental performance of their campus and using sustainable criteria in their investment and purchasing behavior. Also, the scope of sustainable development was broadened by the introduction of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Agenda which stipulates new directions for sustainability at a global level. Given this background, this paper examines the level of alignment of universities with the 17 SDGs through an analysis of sustainability reports prepared by universities, in order to highlight the issues which are mostly discussed by universities in relation to SDGs. To do so, an empirical analysis was carried out on a sample of 37 sustainability reports using a methodological framework based on scoring techniques to analyze their content. The findings show that the universities have disclosed more information about climate change mitigation and adaptation practices and less about SDGs regarding quality of education and peace, democracy and strong institutions.

The current study presents an original chemical, elemental and mineralogical characterization of new quartz mineral deposits situated in Ios island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece, via X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) trace-element analysis. Actually, the mineral Quartz (crystalline SiO2) is found in nature in varying quality and is explored and traded for use in different applications of significant importance depending on the quartz purity. The results of the thorough chemical and mineralogical analysis indicate that quartz originating from the location examined in this research is almost free from other microcrystalline phases, and therefore it can be characterized as highly pure α-quartz. Thus, it can be used in the industry of ultra-high purity quartz production for specific applications, as long as the deposits are exploitable. In this framework, a preliminary estimation of the economic benefits from a potential exploration versus the environmental aspects of mining, taking into account sustainability issues in the region, is provided highlighting the local social needs

Purpose. Chromite samples from Aetoraches mine area in the southern part of the Vourinos complex in Western Macedonia, Greece were examined from mineralogical-geochemical perspective. Methods. Χ-ray Diffraction (XRD) mineral phase analysis, elemental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis and Thermogravimetry/Differential Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) were carried out. Findings. The XRD results showed that all the samples contain mainly magnesium- and aluminum-chromite (“aluminum-picrochromite”) phases, along with forsterite (magnesian olivine), serpentine and chlorite occurrences. Based on the SEM-EDS results, the computed average chemical formula indicative of this specific chromite type is: (Fe0.4 Mg0.6) (Cr1.6 Al0.4/)O4. The TG-DTG weight losses found to be in the range of 4.4-14.36%, at temperatures between 600 and 750°C, indicated the presence of the hydroxyl-rich silicate minerals, serpentinite and chlorite, in agreement to the Loss of Ignition (LOI) results. The mineral phases detected in the present analyses appear in the dunite/diorite/harzburgite/peridotite main rocks of the ophiolitic complex that hosts the chromite ore. Originality.In the current research, an original characterization, via thorough elemental, phase and thermal analysis, is carried out aiming to enlighten the geochemistry aspects of the Vourinos chromite complex, Region of Western Macedonia, Greece, particularly of easily accessible and exploitable chromite deposits of the Aetoraches mine area. Practical implications. The chromite mineral, and especially the metallurgical type, is of substantial importance in metal industry. In that sense, the findings of the present investigation of chromite purity and mineral structure is a prerequisite for future exploitation of the Aetoraches chromite deposits in particular and broadly for the ongoing exploitation of chromite ore in the Vourinos complex, situated in Region of Western Macedonia, Greece, an area with high unemployment and rather slow economic growth. Keywords: chromite ore, Vourinos massif, Aetoraches mine area, mineralogical characterization, geochemistry, XRD, SEM-EDS, TG/DTG

This paper examines the prospects of carbon dioxide capture and storage in depleted oil wells in Prinos in Kavala, Northern Greece. The need to store this gas arises from measures to minimize carbon emissions into the atmosphere to be climate-neutral by 2050 and establish an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Greece, as part of the European Green Deal, has adopted the EU’s strategy in line with its commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. The possibility of reusing the produced carbon dioxide through the oil industry is being investigated, a method that has been the subject of studies worldwide in recent decades. Incorporating evidence from studies, scientific research, and publications, the paper demonstrates that CO₂ storage is an affordable and technologically compatible method with existing gas storage methods. The resulting economic and environmental benefits are highlighted, and reference is also made to the possibility of exploiting similar reservoirs in the wider area. In brief, the greenhouse effect will be reduced, and oil fields “Epsilon” and “Ammodis” are going to be extracted; hence, the financial gain should be increased. The importance of making such an investment at this particular period and the environmental and economic benefits for Greece and the EU are pointed out.

The increase in world population and the expected global development of the world economy after the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impose unprecedented pressure on securing the supply of minerals. The World Bank report “Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition” finds that the production of minerals such as graphite, lithium and cobalt could increase by nearly 500% by 2050, to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies. Many of these critical minerals are found in the deep seabed, the only place on earth where mineral resources have not been exploited yet. There is a strong need to ensure that these critical minerals will be extracted in a sustainable way, verifying the protection of the marine environment and biodiversity. The regulatory, financial and engineering challenges for deep sea mining are considerable, but in fact are not considered prohibitive, taking into account the remarkable achievements in recent years. On the other hand, it is evident that the existing modern ecosystem-based management approaches cannot be applied to deep sea areas without detailed knowledge of the individual species and ecosystems; most of the species living on the deep-sea floor remain unknown up until now. There is a need for the development of a new environmental management approach for each specific area. The successful procedures of Natura 2000 can be followed, and the necessary information on the existing environmental conditions has to be collected separately at every site for a minimum period of 10–15 years. Natura 2000, the world’s largest ecological network united under a single, uniform regulatory framework, is regarded as one of the conservations success stories in the global effort to protect biodiversity.