From Climate Change to Environmental Sustainability: Analyzing Phenomena and Determining Factors

Environmental sustainability is a critical global issue, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions facing climate change, population growth, and increasing water demand. This study aims to examine the phenomena and key factors influencing environmental sustainability using principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Factor analysis identified six major categories: (1) biological and ecological transformations, (2) resilience and sustainability of ecosystems, (3) environmental processes and climate change, (4) environmental and ecological changes, (5) fundamental resources and production, and (6) transformations in alternative resources. Path coefficient analysis highlighted that environmental processes and climate change significantly influence other environmental factors, with coefficients as follows: (4) 0.671, (1) 0.659, (2) 0.553, (5) 0.449, and (6) 0.352. Climate change ranked highest in priority (4.38/5), followed by aquatic habitat sustainability (4.35/5), land subsidence (4.21/5), and water quality (4.17/5). Sustainability factors had a uniform impact distribution (3.92/5 ± 0.83), indicating general agreement on how important these factors are. The findings emphasize the urgent need for climate change mitigation, improved governance, and collaborative strategies to enhance sustainability. Key sustainability aspects identified include aquatic habitat stability, biodiversity conservation, soil and water quality, air pollution control, and climate adaptation, aligning with the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs 6, 13, and 15). This study highlights the need to integrate ecological, climatic, and socio-economic indicators for effective environmental monitoring and policymaking. It contributes to advancing international environmental governance by integrating climate change, resource management, and ecosystem resilience, offering insights into addressing resource scarcity and promoting cross-disciplinary approaches to sustainability.