Duarcides Ferreira Mariosa

In 2016, PUC-Campinas launched its Graduate Program in Sustainability (PPGS), designed to study socio-environmental challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective. Ten years later, this book revisits the Program’s origins and brings together faculty accounts of the research and training experiences that shaped its first decade. From water governance to urban forest conservation, from sustainability in organizations to innovation in agriculture, the chapters show how different fields of knowledge meet in practice. The authors share the paths that led to this research and its contributions to the training of researchers, the management of organizations, and public policy. In celebrating the Program’s tenth anniversary, the book records a history built by successive generations of faculty and students, and invites readers to see how sustainability research develops within the university and connects with society.

Monitoring inland surface water quality is essential for water security, ecosystem conservation, public health, and sustainable water resource management. Although in situ measurements remain indispensable, they are often limited by high costs, restricted spatial coverage, low temporal frequency, and discontinuous monitoring networks. This study presents a systematic literature review, guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework, of empirical studies published between 2021 and 2025 on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing (RS) for inland surface water quality monitoring. Searches were conducted in the Web of Science database, resulting in a final corpus of 367 peer-reviewed articles. Preliminary bibliometric characterization and qualitative content analysis were performed to identify sensors, platforms, AI paradigms, algorithms, estimated parameters, validation strategies, limitations, challenges, trends, and research gaps. The results show rapid growth in the field, with Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 as the most recurrent sensors and multispectral data as the dominant spectral source. Machine learning approaches, especially Random Forest, Artificial Neural Networks, XGBoost, and Support Vector Machine, predominated, while deep learning, multi-source integration, hybrid models, and Explainable AI emerged as relevant trends. AI–RS integration shows strong potential to complement conventional monitoring, but persistent challenges remain regarding in situ data dependence, limited external and temporal validation, model transferability, generalization, uncertainty reporting, validation robustness, and interpretability.

Access to water is a fundamental human right, yet it faces challenges that have persisted for centuries. In this context, social workers, acting within communities and public policies, play a strategic role in identifying vulnerabilities, promoting equity, and defending the right to water. This study analyzes the contribution of social workers in the formulation and evaluation of public policies aimed at the sustainable management of water resources, utilizing sociodemographic indicators alongside biological and physicochemical markers. Adopting a qualitative approach, we conducted a systematic literature review across national and international scientific databases, employing PRISMA and PICO methodologies, as well as VOSviewer software for bibliometric mapping. Preliminary results indicate that while Social Work intervention in the water sector still lacks robust theoretical consolidation, it is essential for integrating social dimensions into technical and environmental analyses. Furthermore, the use of indicators and markers proved relevant in drafting more inclusive and sustainable policies, thereby enhancing water security and social well-being. We conclude that strengthening this agenda is indispensable for facing contemporary challenges and ensuring social justice regarding water access.

Background: Water security is a growing global challenge that requires effective and sustainable watershed management. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) provide innovative tools to support this process, but their applications still demand systematic assessment. This study reviews and synthesizes the literature on ICT-based solutions for water resource management, emphasizing their potential to enhance water security and promote sustainable practices. Methods: A combined bibliometric and qualitative analysis was performed on scientific articles published between 2020 and 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The bibliometric analysis identified key trends and emerging themes, while qualitative analysis examined specific ICT applications. Results: Findings reveal a prominent focus on remote sensing integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) for water quality monitoring, enabling early detection of potential problems and enhanced data analysis. IoT and Big Data are also highlighted as promising tools for real-time monitoring and decision support. However, the analysis identified persistent limitations in practical implementation of these technologies across diverse geographical contexts. Conclusions: The integration of ICTs into water resource management holds significant potential for advancing water-related Sustainable Development Goals. Future research should expand application to underrepresented regions, explore emerging technologies, and address challenges of data integration and validation to ensure reliability and scalability.

This study analyzes urban sustainability practices in major Brazilian capitals from the perspective of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) - Sustainable Cities and Communities. With the growing challenges posed by rapid urbanization, especially in Brazil, the research aims to identify and compare public policies and initiatives that promote inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. The methodology adopted is qualitative and exploratory, based on document analysis of six selected cities: São Paulo, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, and Belém. Selection criteria included population size, regional diversity, and the existence of recognized sustainability practices. The results reveal significant differences in the implementation and effectiveness of sustainable urban initiatives, particularly in the areas of mobility, waste management, urban planning, and technological innovation. Cities like Curitiba and São Paulo stand out for their consolidated systems, while Belém and Salvador face greater structural challenges. The study highlights the importance of integrated governance, social participation, and the use of information and communication technologies to enhance urban sustainability. The case of Belém, in particular, demonstrates how international events like COP 30 can catalyze sustainable transformations in historically underserved regions. The research concludes by recommending the expansion of empirical studies and the inclusion of smaller cities in future analyses, reinforcing the need for territorial equity in achieving SDG 11 across Brazil.

Brazilian sanitation companies disclose their sustainable practices through sustainability reports as part of their commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of the 2030 Agenda, which aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation. This study proposes a methodology to evaluate how these companies integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their management and disclosure practices, rather than assessing service delivery or operational outputs directly. These indicators were applied to the sustainability reports of Brazil’s three largest sanitation companies: Sabesp (Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo), Copasa (Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais), and Sanepar (Companhia de Saneamento do Paraná). The results indicate that all three companies have incorporated sustainability into their competitive strategies and corporate governance practices. Sabesp demonstrated a stronger adherence in the environmental and governance dimensions, Copasa excelled in social performance while also performing well in governance, and Sanepar exhibited the lowest adherence among the three. Hence, we present a methodological framework for monitoring corporate ESG performance and governance practices aligned with SDG 6, focusing on their management and disclosure practices, rather than directly assessing service delivery or operational results.

This study analyzes sustainability assessment indicators utilized in various phases of water resource management decision-making. An exploratory, descriptive, and evaluative methodology integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches based on a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed academic articles published between January 2013 and January 2023. The research identifies and analyzes principal impact assessment indicators, offering a substantial contribution to water resource managers. The systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines, focusing on studies containing evaluation indicators used for interventions and the implementation of policies and action plans by governmental or institutional entities in water resources management. Key findings emphasize the significance of the water footprint as a sustainability indicator and a framework for water security that ensures adequate water access. Specific indicators for groundwater, such as AGWaRe, which assesses available groundwater, and QQWYE, which integrates water quantity and quality, are highlighted as vital for guiding sustainable policies and practices. The implementation of these indicators is critical for achieving sustainable water resource management by facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts. The study suggests implementing evaluation indicators to guide policies and practices for sustainable water resource management. Water stress emerged as a key indicator to assess water's rational use.

In Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sustainability of society has been put to the test and human fragility has been exposed, especially that of indigenous peoples. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the indigenous peoples of Brazil, in light of the five critical elements of the 2030 Agenda: people, prosperity, planet, partnership and peace. This is an applied study with a qualitative, descriptive and explanatory approach. The data was collected through bibliography, using official documents and publications and academic literature, with emphasis on the award-winning indigenous author Ailton Krenak. The results show that the COVID-19 pandemic can be understood as a warning about the vulnerability of the human species, with special emphasis on indigenous peoples. The conclusion is that a substantial and applicable knowledge of the critical dimensions of the 2030 Agenda involves environmental education, which must be inserted into the daily lives of society and the constituted authorities.

A água é essencial para a sobrevivência humana, e sua gestão eficiente requer instrumentos como o Plano de Bacias Hidrográficas (PBH), que estabelece diretrizes para recuperação e conservação dos recursos hídricos. A avaliação dessas metas exige indicadores bem definidos, cuja coleta e análise podem ser aprimoradas pelo uso de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC), permitindo dados em tempo real e previsões para um planejamento eficiente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo explorar possibilidades de um Sistema de Apoio à Decisão (SAD) para a gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos nos PBH, utilizando indicadores coletados e analisados com apoio de TIC inovadoras, propondo um modelo teórico para pesquisas futuras. Metodologicamente, a pesquisa é básica, exploratória e qualitativa. Como resultado, foram analisadas as possibilidades de um SAD fundamentado na coleta, cálculo e análise de indicadores com TIC, a partir do referencial teórico. Para exemplificação, o modelo teórico foi aplicado a ações do Plano de Bacias Hidrográficas dos rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (PBH PCJ).

Este artigo científico examina a complexa interseção entre saneamento básico, gestão de recursos hídricos e políticas públicas no Brasil. Destaca a alarmante realidade de milhões de brasileiros sem acesso à água potável e coleta de esgoto, evidenciando as falhas de um sistema insustentável. A análise crítica as estruturas socioeconômicas sob a ótica do capitalismo, argumentando a favor de práticas sustentáveis e princípios ESG (ambientais, sociais e de governança) como soluções essenciais. O artigo explora a evolução dos marcos legais e a importância da governança eficaz na universalização do saneamento, enfatizando a necessidade de políticas públicas que promovam equidade e sustentabilidade. Além disso, propõe uma reavaliação do modelo de produção capitalista e explora a potencial transformação através de práticas inovadoras e colaborativas. Ao alinhar-se com os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Agenda 2030, o estudo busca incitar um debate fundamentado e inspirar ações que melhorem o acesso universal ao saneamento no Brasil, abordando simultaneamente desafios sociais, ambientais e econômicos.