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Legal Perspective on Access to Medicines and Innovation: Balancing Right to Health With Patent Protection
This chapter examines the intricate legal and policy conflicts between the right to health and the global intellectual property system that regulates pharmaceutical patents. Although patents encourage innovation, they frequently result in obstacles to the affordable availability of essential medicines, especially in low-and middleincome countries. This chapter explores the legal bases of the right to health, the TRIPS Agreement along with its flexibilities, and investigates ways in which national and international legal structures can align the need for innovation with public health needs. Case studies from India, Brazil, and South Africa demonstrate the challenges and opportunities associated with reform. It also assesses different innovation models and provides legal and policy suggestions for reconciling patent law with human rights duties, especially regarding global health emergencies like COVID-19. It concludes by pinpointing future research avenues, such as legal strategies for addressing new biotechnologies and readiness for worldwide pandemics. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
AI-Driven Innovations in Soil Management, Crop Productivity, and Autonomous Agricultural Vehicles
The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into agriculture is escalating significant transformations in essential areas like soil management, crop yield enhancement, and self-operating farming vehicles. This chapter examines the ways in which AI-driven tools-such as machine learning algorithms, remote sensing technologies, robotics, and autonomous systems-enhance decision-making processes, optimize resource utilization, and contribute to environmental sustainability. With AI, it is possible to carry out accurate diagnostics of soil health, predictive irrigation and fertilization, early detection of diseases, and real-time monitoring of crops. Moreover, AI-enabled self-driving vehicles are transforming the world of mechanized agriculture by providing efficient planting, spraying, and harvesting. This chapter offers a detailed examination of these innovations, assesses their practical uses, and deliberates on the consequences for farmers, researchers, and policymakers. It also underscores the ethical, infrastructural, and socio-economic challenges linked to the use of AI in agriculture. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
The Digital Pulse of Volunteerism: Tools That Drive Engagement and Impact
Volunteering has changedas a resultofthe digitalage, whichhas increased chances for involvement beyond time and location restrictions. In addition to assessing and enhancing social effect, this chapter examines the technological tools and platforms that help organizations recruit, engage, and retain volunteers. Using case studies and real-world examples, it looks at data-driven monitoring frameworks, gamification strategies, recruitment tools, and collaboration platforms. Issues like data privacy, the digital divide, and the dangers of relying too much on technology at the detriment of interpersonal relationships are also covered in the conversation. The chapter emphasizes how digital innovation can improve community participation and support long-lasting social change by fusing theoretical models with practical applications. Future trends and policy issues are discussed to help businesses create digital volunteer ecosystems that are ethical, inclusive, and productive. Copyright 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
The intersection of industrial policy and environmental regulation: Balancing growth and green goals
The interplay between industrial policy and environmental regulation is pivotal in achieving sustainable economic growth. While industrial policies promote economic expansion, job creation, and technological advancement, stringent environmental regulations ensure ecological preservation and climate resilience. However, conflicts often arise when growth-driven policies prioritize industrial expansion at the expense of environmental sustainability. This study explores the challenges and synergies at the intersection of industrial policy and environmental regulation, emphasizing strategies for harmonizing economic objectives with green goals. Through a comparative analysis of policy frameworks, regulatory mechanisms, and industry best practices, the research identifies pathways for fostering sustainable industrial development. The study highlights the role of innovation, public-private partnerships, and adaptive regulatory frameworks in aligning industrial expansion with environmental responsibility. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Autonomous Systems in Agriculture: An Innovation-Based Framework
The emergence of autonomous systems in agriculture signifies a transformative change in global food production, propelled by developments in artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics. This chapter suggests a thorough innovation framework that brings together technological, organizational, institutional, economic, social, and environmental aspects to steer the sustainable development and implementation of autonomous agricultural technologies. The chapter examines essential facilitators and obstacles to innovation, such as infrastructure deficiencies, digital literacy, and regulatory challenges, by analyzing historical trends, case studies, and policy landscapes. It stresses ethical and inclusive innovation to guarantee the involvement of smallholders and ecological resilience. This framework acts as a strategic resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who seek to connect digital transformation in agriculture with sustainability objectives, especially those outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
Policy, Standards, and Regulations for Sustainable Internet of Vehicles: Navigating the Future of Smart Mobility
The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) represents a transformative shift in smart mobility, integrating connected and autonomous vehicles with intelligent infrastructure. However, achieving a sustainable IoV ecosystem necessitates robust policies, standards, and regulations to address ethical, and legal challenges. This chapter explores the regulatory frameworks governing IoV sustainability, including emission controls, energy efficiency mandates, and circular economy principles. It examines ethical and legal dimensions, such as liability in autonomous systems, data protection laws, and cybersecurity protocols. Additionally, it highlights international standardization efforts and policy strategies to balance technological innovation with socio-economic and environmental sustainability. By analyzing existing regulatory gaps, the chapter provides actionable insights for policymakers and researchers. A harmonized regulatory approach is critical to fostering sustainable, efficient, and ethically responsible IoV ecosystem, ensuring long-term resilience and equitable access to smart mobility. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Accelerating Green Energy Adoption to Combat Climate Change: Innovations and Pathways to a Sustainable Future
Climate change is a pressing concern. It demands a rapid transition to green energy sources. In order to mitigate climate change and make the transition to a sustainable future, green energy adoption must accelerate. Significant progress has been achieved in renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, and energy storage, which have increased efficiency and decreased costs. But issues like funding, regulations, and infrastructure constraints continue to be major roadblocks. Furthermore, to guarantee a smooth transition, significant funding and legislative assistance are needed for the integration of green energy into current systems. To overcome these obstacles and promote widespread adoption, cooperation between the public and commercial sectors is crucial. In light of the aforementioned, this chapter examines the technological advancements in renewable energy. Through the promotion of efficient regulations, increased investment, and innovation, society can hasten the adoption of green energy and clear the path for a low-carbon, sustainable future. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Leveraging technology for climate resilience in urban areas
Urban areas, densely populated and often located in vulnerable coastal regions, are particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. This chapter explores the diverse ways technology can be leveraged to enhance climate resilience in these urban environments. Focusing on mitigation and adaptation strategies, the study examines the potential of smart city technologies, including sensor networks, data analytics, and AI, to improve infrastructure management and disaster preparedness. Specific examples include real- time flood monitoring systems, predictive modelling for extreme weather events, and optimized energy grids for reduced carbon emissions. Furthermore, the chapter investigates the role of digital platforms in facilitating community engagement and fostering collaborative responses to climate- related challenges. Furthermore, the importance of equitable access to technology and the need for robust data governance frameworks to ensure that technological interventions effectively contribute to building climate- resilient and sustainable urban futures is explored. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Right to Health vis-vis Climate Change: A Critique From the Lens of Sustainability
The health of the population in a State is one of the preconditions for survival of humanity. Covid-19 pandemic is a reminder as to how one group of population can affect the whole world. World Health Organization defines health as 'a state of com-plete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. Achievement of such a state and the 'right to health' is the domain of 'public health'. Climate change, as acknowledged by the UN as one of the greatest challenges, is posing threat for the realization of universal health and sustainability goal. Different risks to human health come from the complexity of climate change. Climate change requires efforts from States as well as global institutions. Keeping the above in view, this chapter examines the sustainable development perspective, the various facets of right to health and how they are getting affected by climate change. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Navigating the healthtech ecosystem: Challenges and roadblocks
Driven by recent technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, and digital twins, the healthcare sector is revolutionizing at a fast pace. HealthTech has numerous applications such as robotic surgery, virtual assistants, telemedicine and fitness tracking devices. But this data-driven innovation in healthcare sector is severely hampered by government barriers, privacy and security issues. The potential for comprehensive patient care is limited by interoperability problems across different healthcare systems, which impede smooth data interchange. Additionally, access to HealthTech solutions is limited by the digital divide. Many healthcare providers face issues with high developmental challenges, implementation costs, and required infrastructure investments. Considering the above perspective, this chapter examines the challenges and roadblocks in the HealthTech ecosystem. To address these issues and promote a strong HealthTech ecosystem, the authors critically analyze the role of healthcare providers, tech firms, and patients in view of an all-inclusive approach. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Sustainable Service Marketing: The Ethics of Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as a marketing strategy, influences the sales and other important factors of the company. Consumers support the firm that is inclined and committed to the environment and social responsibility. An effective CSR initiative has the capability of improving the companys reputation and enhancing customer loyalty. Innovation can be stimulated by CSR challenges, resulting in the creation of sustainable goods and services. Furthermore, including CSR into fundamental business plans is helpful for the companies and the society. CSR must be incorporated into service marketing that goes beyond token gestures; businesses must embrace sustainable practices that complement brand values and consumer demands. This development reflects a wider recognition that sustainable and ethical business practices are closely related to long- term corporate achievement. Considering the above, this chapter explores the ethical dimensions of CSR while practicing sustainable market management along with its impact on the customers and the environment. -
The Convergence of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Healthcare
Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) together are revolutionizing healthcare by improving safety, privacy, and electronic health records security. Adoption of private blockchain enhances accessibility and efficiency while demonstrating the industry's dedication to data protection. In addition to addressing important sector issues, this convergence offers improved illness detection, response, and overall health care efficacy. Additional research into cutting- edge AI features combined with blockchain promises to improve results and influence the way healthcare is delivered globally in the future while ensuring data security, privacy, and innovation. In light of the aforementioned, this chapter looks at how blockchain technology and AI can be combined to solve current issues with healthcare data security and privacy. It offers insights into best practices and strategies for utilizing blockchain and AIs revolutionary potential in healthcare by examining various recent studies and developing trends. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Advancing climate justice: Aligning the strategies with SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of universal objectives focused on sustainable development, were established by the UN in 2015 in view of its 2030 Agenda for a sustainable future. The SDGs tackle urgent environmental problems related to the Anthropocene like climate change and pertinent socioeconomic complexities. Human-made climate change is a serious worldwide concern that threatens the accomplishment of all SDGs, including SDG 13, a specific climate target. However, an alignment of these goals with climate justice is crucial to address the challenges faced by the vulnerable and marginalized strata of society. Justice is a highly acclaimed value of human survival and international collaborative efforts. The application of a justice perspective to the discussions of climate change and SDGs will provide more significance to the claims. In light of the above, this chapter explores SDGs and related strategies for advancing the cause of climate justice. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Technology as a Catalyst for Social Empowerment: Shaping the Future of Human Society
In the 21st century, the intersection of technology and society has become an undeniable force shaping peoples lives, work, and their global interconnectivity. Beyond its initial use as a straightforward tool, technology has evolved into a dynamic, allpervasive force influencing practically every aspect of human life. Every element of society is already heavily reliant on technology. The introduction of cutting- edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things, the proliferation of social media platforms, and the use of smartphones are all indicators of a rapidly evolving technological landscape, which redefine the meaning and implications of human existence. Despite its ability to empower the society, it poses some challenges such as threat to privacy, misinformation, polarization, and several unintended repercussions. In light of the above perspective, this chapter explores the role of technology in social empowerment and enhancing the future of society as envisioned by the United Nations 2030 agenda. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Drones and Robots in Smart Business: Navigating the Autonomous Innovations in Logistics
Use of drones and robots are slowly but surely making their way into people's personal and professional lives. International companies are spending millions of dollars on drone research and development for logistics. Companies like Google, Amazon, DHL, and Walmart are actively experimenting on autonomous systems and robotics. Drones and robots are used in the business strategies of these organizations to ensure last-mile delivery, which involves transporting packages straight from a depot to the ultimate customer, maintaining inventory, loading and unloading of trucks, order processing, and the like. But the usage of these advancements poses some critical ethical and legal issues. Authorities must pay attention to these challenges and difficulties in order to ensure their meaningful usage. This chapter, in this perspective, overviews the most significant legal and ethical concerns pertaining to the use of autonomous vehicles in smart businesses and logistics and provides recommendations for their effective utilization in future. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Human-machine interaction: Ethical and legal considerations
In the era of digitalization and technological advancement it is crucial to note the dichotomy between the earlier and present times with regard to human-machine interaction. Previously human controlled machines but today its opposite happens. Human-Machine Interface has so deeply touched the life of the present generation and its most explicit example could be the change from a basic push button to a touch-screen display. A simple touch has multiple effects on people's daily life. Innovation has permeated and influenced daily physical activities. Every time people use an ATM, food dispenser, snack machine, touchscreen, cloud computing, etc., they inevitably make interactions between humans and machines. Since the applications of HMI cover numerous fields, several ethical and legal considerations should be taken into account for making it effective and viable. In this perspective, the authors analyze the challenges of Human Machine Interaction suggesting a concrete policy design for its effective application. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
Climate finance: Analyzing the global movements, actions, and local framings
With emerging trends in industrialization, the globe is facing a rise in greenhouse gas emissions leading to extreme change in climatic conditions. Several connected issues such as melting of glaciers and increase in the level of greenhouse gas emissions are affecting the environment sustainability. The mitigation and adaptation of change in climatic conditions have become the need of the hour. Climate finance is the solution to these problems. Global climate finance in 2021-2022 was approximately $1.3 trillion annually. But much more is required to limit global temperature increases to 1.5C. The challenge of fulfilling global climate financing needed to enable adaptation plans and lower carbon emissions to sustainable levels is one of the significant discussions in the multilateral arena. In this perspective, the chapter analyzes the current actions and movements related to climate finance. The exploration of international, regional, and national instruments of climate finance have been significantly highlighted. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
Leveraging artificial intelligence for sustainable development in agriculture: An exploratory study
In a world where sustainability has been given utmost priority, agriculture plays a pivotal role. Artificial Intelligence in the agricultural sector has changed the landscape of agriculture across the globe. 'Agvolution' (evolution in agriculture) including AI supported precision farming methods, data analytics, and robotics is a novel strategy which increases crop yields using less fertilizers, and energy. AI in agriculture supports ethical farming, boost revenue, and lessen negative environmental effects. AI systems aggregate data from weather stations, sensors, and satellites to produce improved weather forecasts. This mechanism enhances environmental sustainability. Despite numerous advantages with AI, the farming community face challenges like data security and privacy, high cost of machines and tools. In light of the above, the authors explore the usage of AI in agriculture to attain sustainability, and analyze the need to establish governance structures for increasing food security and systems to overcome the challenges faced by the farmers. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Emerging Trends in Blue Economy: A Roadmap Through the Lens of Sustainable Development
On Earth, the oceans make up 71% of the land area. Approximately 40% of the worlds population lives in coastal regions with 3 billion people depending on it for livelihood. 80% of the global trade is (en)routed via oceans. A long-term unbalanced usage of marine routes leads to unsettling issues such as ocean-acidification, marine pollution and habitat destruction. This causes disruption towards the attainment of sustainability. To safeguard the oceans and marine life, Blue Economy (BE)" was introduced by the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012. The SDG-14 (life below water) contributes to focusing attention on BE. Till date there is no universally accepted policy towards implementation of BE. However several regions like Africa, Brazil, China, EU and India formulated guidelines towards the implementation of BE. With this perspective, the chapter analyzes the emerging trends of BE as a way forward towards sustainable development. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Emerging Trends in Blue Economy: A Roadmap Through the Lens of Sustainable Development
On Earth, the oceans make up 71% of the land area. Approximately 40% of the worlds population lives in coastal regions with 3 billion people depending on it for livelihood. 80% of the global trade is (en)routed via oceans. A long-term unbalanced usage of marine routes leads to unsettling issues such as ocean-acidification, marine pollution and habitat destruction. This causes disruption towards the attainment of sustainability. To safeguard the oceans and marine life, Blue Economy (BE)" was introduced by the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012. The SDG-14 (life below water) contributes to focusing attention on BE. Till date there is no universally accepted policy towards implementation of BE. However several regions like Africa, Brazil, China, EU and India formulated guidelines towards the implementation of BE. With this perspective, the chapter analyzes the emerging trends of BE as a way forward towards sustainable development. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.