Exploring the mechanisms that drive land use and cover change (LUCC) is essential for informing the formulation and implementation of effective policies aimed at optimizing land use patterns. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal patterns of LUCC within the Lancang–Mekong River Basin (LMRB) using Globeland30 data for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. Firstly, we analyzed the quantitative characteristics of LUCC within the LMRB in terms of the value of change and rate of change. Additionally, we investigated the converting characteristics of LUCC within the LMRB by employing land use transition matrices and land use transition probability matrices. Furthermore, we depicted the spatial distribution of LUCC within the LMRB through land use mapping and statistical analysis. The results indicate a substantial decline in forests, coupled with a notable expansion in cultivated land. Given the vital role of forests as carbon sinks, reforestation can enhance ecological services and address challenges related to climate change. Converting cultivated land to forests is an effective human intervention promoting forest transition. This study applies binary logistic models to explore the mechanisms that influence the conversion from cultivated land to forests. The results reveal that slopes ranging from 5° to 15° have the lowest probability of conversion, whereas distances between the cultivated land and the nearest tourist attraction ranging from 9 km to 18 km have the highest probability. Moreover, the conversion process is positively associated with traffic conditions and significantly influenced by human interventions. Within the study area, China, Laos, and Myanmar show a tendency to convert cultivated land into natural LULC types, while Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam tend to encroach on cultivated land and expand artificial surfaces. Promoting ecological restoration in the LMRB requires cooperation among these countries.

International industrial transfer has driven rapid construction land expansion in emerging metropolitan areas, posing challenges for sustainable land management. However, existing research has largely overlooked the spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of this expansion, particularly in Southeast Asian metropolitan regions. To address this gap, we focused on the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, utilizing construction land data from GLC_FCS30D to analyze the dynamics of construction land expansion during this period. Findings indicated that: (1) Continuous expansion of construction land, with the expansion rate during 2010–2020 being five times that of 2000–2010; (2) The spatial pattern evolved from initial infilling development in urban cores to subsequent leapfrogging and edge expansion toward peripheral counties and transportation corridors; (3) The expansion of construction land occurred alongside substantial losses of wetland and cultivated land. Between 2000 and 2020, the conversion of cultivated land to construction land increased significantly, particularly during 2010–2020 when cultivated land conversion accounted for 93.76% of newly developed construction land. Wetland conversion also showed notable growth during this period, comprising 3.86% of total newly added construction land; (4) Foreign direct investment (FDI) served as the primary catalyst, while industrial park development and transport infrastructure projects functioned as secondary accelerants. This study constructed a framework to systematically analyze the global and local driving mechanisms of metropolitan land expansion. The findings deepen the understanding of land-use transitions in emerging countries and provide both theoretical support and policy references for sustainable land management.

Geopolitical risk (GPR) poses a significant obstacle to the achievement of sustainable development goals, yet its nuanced impact on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of multinational enterprises (MNEs) remains insufficiently examined. This study explores the influence of GPR on ESG performance by utilizing a comprehensive dataset of 12,699 subsidiaries of Chinese MNEs. The empirical results reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between GPR and ESG performance: at moderate levels of geopolitical risk, firms tend to proactively improve their ESG practices as a risk management strategy. However, as GPR intensifies beyond a certain threshold, this approach loses its effectiveness, leading to deteriorating ESG outcomes. Further investigation uncovers the moderating roles of firm-specific advantages (FSAs) and country-specific advantages (CSAs). Robust FSAs equip firms with a greater capacity to uphold ESG standards under rising geopolitical uncertainty, while high CSAs strengthen subsidiaries’ incentives to engage in ESG activities to buffer against external political threats. Subgroup analyses demonstrate that service-oriented MNEs, state-owned enterprises, and subsidiaries operating in high-income countries are particularly susceptible to the negative consequences of heightened GPR. By shedding light on the complex interplay between geopolitical risk and corporate sustainability, this study extends the ESG literature and provides practical implications for researchers, corporate strategists, and policymakers aiming to foster resilient and responsible global business operations.

The recent rise in anti-globalization sentiment has renewed interest in how tariffs influence the location decisions of multinational enterprises (MNEs). However, these decisions have also been reshaped by ongoing geopolitical tensions-a factor that remains underexplored in the existing literature. In this study, we construct a panel dataset comprising 283,272 country-country-industry observations spanning the years 2009 to 2021. The data are drawn from the WITS, BvD, World Bank, and GDELT databases. Using fixed-effects regression, fixed-effects logit, and fixed-effects negative binomial models, we examine how MNEs respond to tariffs under varying levels of geopolitical risk. Our analysis yields three key insights. First, in contexts of low or no geopolitical risk, higher tariffs increase the likelihood of international investment by MNEs, consistent with the “tariff jumping” hypothesis. However, under high geopolitical risk, this effect disappears-regardless of tariff levels, MNEs are not more likely to invest abroad. Second, tariff increases can escalate low levels of geopolitical tension between home and host countries, further discouraging international investment. In contrast, high levels of geopolitical risk are not significantly correlated with tariff changes. Third, when low-level geopolitical tensions arise, MNEs may redirect investment to neighboring countries or major trading partners of the host country as a way to access its market indirectly.

Promoting sustainable consumption is essential for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, encouraging consumers to translate sustainable intentions into green consumption remains challenging. Although e-commerce platforms increasingly implement green reward programs, limited research has examined how different reward designs interact with consumers’ psychological characteristics. Across three scenario-based online experiments with Chinese consumers, this research examines how rewards for monetary efforts (RME) and rewards for temporal efforts (RTE) influence green consumption intention. Study 1 (N = 186) shows that reward effectiveness depends on time orientation: future-oriented consumers exhibit stronger green consumption intention under RTE than RME, whereas present-oriented consumers respond more favorably to RME. Study 2 (N = 183) further demonstrates the mediating role of perceived consumer effectiveness, while Study 3 (N = 377) reveals self-control as an important boundary condition underlying consumers’ responses to different reward types. These findings suggest that green rewards do not generate uniform effects, as their effectiveness depends on the fit between reward design and consumers’ psychological characteristics. Ultimately, this study advances sustainable marketing literature by uncovering the psychological fit and boundary conditions dictating green incentive efficacy, thereby broadening perspectives on consumer heterogeneity while offering guidance for platforms to optimize reward programs.