Kinga Koziak, Małgorzata Krasowska, Jolanta Piekut
et al.
This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of fertiliser granules and compare their fertiliser value. The study used analytical methods, including potentiometric pH determination, the Kjeldahl method for nitrogen determination, spectrophotometry for phosphorus determination, and flame photometry for potassium and sodium determination. The content of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Pb) was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The test material consisted of pellets made from compost (consisting of green waste: grass cuttings, leaves, and pruned branches) and slurry made from dried nettle. The results showed that the granules had pH values ranging from 7.44 to 8.20. The nitrogen content ranged from 1.77 to 2.18%, phosphorus from 0.17 to 0.38%, potassium from 0.77 to 0.90%, and sodium from 0.02 to 0.05%. In addition, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Pb) were within acceptable limits for organic fertilisers. Studies have shown that granules made from compost and nettle slurry have favourable physicochemical properties that allow their use as a supplement to mineral fertilisation. They are characterised by an optimal pH value and a balanced content of key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium while maintaining acceptable concentrations of heavy metals. The results confirm that the tested materials meet standards for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and heavy metals, confirming their suitability as safe and effective organic fertilisers. Their use can contribute not only to improving soil quality and increasing crop yields but also support sustainable development goals and fit into the concept of a circular economy.
We provide a mechanistic foundation for economic complexity methods. In our model, an economy's ability to produce an activity depends on the joint presence of required factors. We analytically derive the Economic Complexity Index for this model and show that it is a monotonic function of the probability an economy holds many factors, validating it as an agnostic measure of productive capabilities. We also show that this model explains differences in the shape of networks of related activities, such as the product space or research space. These findings solve long standing puzzles in the literature on economic complexity.
This paper offers a bibliometric analysis of Green Competences (GCs) within Green Human Resource Management (GHRM). With the growing recognition of business sustainability, organizations are increasingly adopting green practices in GHRM. Therefore, GCs are often redefined in research and are presented in light of specific keywords explored in this bibliometric study. The article aims to present and explore various GCs definitions and scientific interest areas. This study uses the triangulation method based on Classical and Structured Literature Review. Query characteristics were explained and provide an inspiration for other researchers interested in GCs in GHRM context and provide information about reproducibility or future research directions. The paper also outlines future research direction towards a green psychological contract, focusing on aligning employee and management commitment to environmental norms and values, and provides theoretical insights and managerial recommendations for sustainable business practices.
Suyanto Suyanto, Muhammad Afdha Alif Almughni, Jajuk Suprijati
et al.
G20 member countries are forced to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the global community as well as economic development constraints from domestic resources and the environment. Literature related to institutional quality and government expenditure is still limited, especially in G20 countries. To provide empirical evidence to support the theoretical argument, the study investigated the effects of institutional quality and government expenditure on CO2 emissions using a balanced panel dataset of nineteen countries that were members of the G20 between 1995 and 2015. Empirical results show that institutional quality is able to reduce carbon emissions. A good government can formulate strict environmental regulations and ensure transparency, which allows investment in green technologies and renewable energy. Other findings suggest that government spending can increase carbon emissions. The findings show that government spending in G20 countries still does not consider environmental impacts. Several policy recommendations are suggested.
Harry D. Jonas, Heather C. Bingham, Nathan J. Bennett
et al.
Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are sites outside of protected areas that deliver the effective, long-term conservation of biodiversity. Both protected areas and OECMs contribute to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s Target 3, which calls for the conservation of 30% of marine, terrestrial and inland water areas by 2030. This paper provides the first global assessment of the contribution of OECMs to GBF Target 3. Between 2019 and 2023, 820 sites in nine countries and territories were reported to the World Database on OECMs, covering 1.9 million km2 of the Earth’s surface and, in the terrestrial realm, contributing over 1% to the 30% coverage target. Notably, over 50% of reported OECMs are under governance by governments and less than 2% are governed by Indigenous peoples and local communities. In countries and territories that have reported OECMs, a far greater proportion of OECMs than protected areas are under shared governance (40.9% compared to 2.5%), and collaborative governance is the most common governance sub-type among reported OECMs. This paper finds that almost 30% of the 820 reported OECMs overlap with identified Key Biodiversity Areas, which are one global classification of areas of particular importance for biodiversity. With Target 3’s pressing deadline of 2030, there is an urgent need to scale up understanding and local to national engagement with the OECM framework, ensuring that it fulfills its potential to recognize diverse forms of equitable governance and effective conservation.
General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
Elżbieta Broniewicz, Ewa Jastrzębska, Agata Lulewicz-Sas
The aim of this article is to analyze the environmental disclosures of non-financial information presented in the selected Polish banks in terms of meeting the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) guidelines. The ESRS reporting standards, adopted by the European Commission in July 2023, not only introduced an increase in the scope of reporting but also clearly defined the information to be disclosed in reports that banks are obligated to submit. The research method used was a critical analysis of the subject-matter literature, and, in the empirical part, a method of analyzing information posted on bank websites was assumed. Among the analyzed entities, 23 banks operating in Poland, functioning in the form of joint-stock companies, were taken into consideration. Research has shown that the required data is contained in various documents published by banks, and their availability on websites is relatively low. The scope of environmental disclosures was assessed as insufficient in relation to the ESRS guidelines. The highest number of disclosures occurred in the “Climate” area and the lowest in the “Biodiversity and Ecosystems” area, which may stem from the specificity of the banks' activities. The conducted research revealed that banks were inadequately prepared for reporting that takes into account ESRS guidelines.
Joanna Kostecka, Sławomir Progorowicz, Anna Mazur-Pączka
et al.
In the 21st century, waste is a growing problem and must be considered one of the essential elements of creating conditions for sustainable development. The article pays special attention to the biofraction of cemetery waste, and interviews with cemetery visitors made a possible determination of its place among other wastes produced in the cemetery. The willingness of cemetery visitors to participate in the logistics of the cemetery waste management system was also tested. The article also presents selected elements of cemetery waste management logistics. The system should consist of several subsystems. Subsystems of waste minimisation "at the source" and waste segregation, disposal, and secondary management were considered crucial. In addition to the logistics mentioned above, subsystems were proposed to include innovation in cemeteries, the biotechnology of composting/vermicomposting of the biofraction, and segregation on-site by those cleaning their graves. The cemetery biofraction represents a waste suitable for on-site management, increasing the potential for environmental, social, and economic savings. The issues under consideration are part of the problem of integrating the cemetery biofraction into the green recycling system in force in Europe. Logistics for management of other cemetery wastes (plastic, metal, glass, and paper), which require subsystems involving their long-distance transportation, should be limited at the level of purchase by cemetery users. From civic participation in the control of logistical improvements, the entire cemetery waste management system will gradually evolve.
Barbara Borusiak , Bartłomiej Pierański, Aleksandra Gaweł
et al.
Purpose: Modifying patterns of overconsumption towards reducing consumption as a degrowth-oriented consumer attitude is crucial to mitigating the environmental impact of high-consumption households. The aim of this article is to develop a model of the intention to reduce consumption for environmental reasons and test it among business students. Methodology/approach: Grounded in the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the paper develops a model of consumption reduction intention. Based on a survey conducted among business students from six European Union countries, the model is tested using structural equation modelling. Findings: The study revealed the twofold influence of the intention to protect the environment on intention to reduce consumption: direct and indirect. The predictive power of the intention to protect the environment and willingness to accept the economic sacrifices in the intention to reduce consumption is confirmed as a direct effect. Additionally, the impact is mediated by a willingness to accept economic sacrifices. Originality/value: Our paper contributes to a better understanding of the intention to reduce consumption as a degrowth-oriented consumer attitude for environmental protection.
Seraj Al Mahmud Mostafa, Jinbo Wang, Benjamin Holt
et al.
Ocean eddies play a significant role both on the sea surface and beneath it, contributing to the sustainability of marine life dependent on oceanic behaviors. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate ocean eddies to monitor changes in the Earth, particularly in the oceans, and their impact on climate. This study aims to pinpoint ocean eddies using AWS cloud services, specifically SageMaker. The primary objective is to detect small-scale (<20km) ocean eddies from satellite remote images and assess the feasibility of utilizing SageMaker, which offers tools for deploying AI applications. Moreover, this research not only explores the deployment of cloud-based services for remote sensing of Earth data but also evaluates several YOLO (You Only Look Once) models using single and multi-GPU-based services in the cloud. Furthermore, this study underscores the potential of these services, their limitations, challenges related to deployment and resource management, and their user-riendliness for Earth science projects.
In this chapter, an input-output economic model with multiple interactive economic systems is considered. The model captures the multi-dimensional nature of the economic sectors or industries in each economic system, the interdependencies among industries within an economic system and across different economic systems, and the influence of demand. To determine the equilibrium price structure of the model, a matrix-weighted updating algorithm is proposed. The equilibrium price structure is proved to be globally asymptotically achieved when certain joint conditions on the matrix-weighted graph and the input-output matrices are satisfied. The theoretical results are then supported by numerical simulations.
The financial situation of rural municipalities in the Podlaskie voivodeship, which a large forest areas was discussed. The problem that was undertaken was addressed on the basis of mass statistical data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), and analysis covers the years 2016-2019. Assessment of the financial economy was carried out based on budget, per capita and debt liability indicators. Correlation analysis was conducted to determine relationships between indicators. Both incomes and expenses per capita are lower than the average for Polish rural communes. Large differences in the values of other indicators are present between groups, which arises from, among other things, the policy conducted by local authorities. Income from forestry tax supplement other income from taxation of natural persons’ property. The share of income from forestry tax is similar to the share of income from agricultural tax, and even higher in certain municipalities.
We analyze the link between standardization and economic growth by systematically reviewing leading economics journals, leading economic growth researchers' articles, and economic growth-related books. We make the following observations: 1) No article has analyzed the link between standardization and economic growth in top5 economics journals between 1996 and 2018. 2) A representative sample of the leading researchers of economic growth has allocated little attention to the link between standardization and economic growth. 3) Typically, economic growth textbooks do not contain "standards" or "standardization" in their word indexes. These findings suggest that the economic growth theory has neglected the role of standardization.
In this paper, we propose a data-driven economic model predictive control (EMPC) scheme with generalized terminal constraint to control an unknown linear time-invariant system. Our scheme is based on the Fundamental Lemma to predict future system trajectories using a persistently exciting input-output trajectory. The control objective is to minimize an economic cost objective. By employing a generalized terminal constraint with artificial equilibrium, the scheme does not require prior knowledge of the optimal equilibrium. We prove that the asymptotic average performance of the closed-loop system can be made arbitrarily close to that of the optimal equilibrium. Moreover, we extend our results to the case of an unknown linear stage cost function, where the Fundamental lemma is used to predict the stage cost directly. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is shown by a numerical example.
Jose Maria Manzano, David Muñoz de la Peña, Daniel Limon
This paper presents an economic model predictive controller, under the assumption that the only measurable signal of the plant is the economic cost to be minimized. In order to forecast the evolution of this economic cost for a given input trajectory, a prediction model with a NARX structure, the so-called oracle, is proposed. Sufficient conditions to ensure the existence of such oracle are studied, proving that it can be derived for a general nonlinear system if the economic cost function is a Morse function. Based on this oracle, economic model predictive controllers are proposed, and their stability is demonstrated in nominal conditions under a standard dissipativity assumption. The viability of these controllers in practical settings (where the oracle may provide imperfect predictions for generic inputs) is proven by means of input-to-state stability. These properties have been illustrated in a case study based on a continuously stirred tank reactor.
The article's objective is a presentation of the non-financial reporting practice in the scope of issues regarding the natural environment in public companies based on the example of the energy, fuel and gas sectors. The study covers WIG20, WIG30 and mWIG40 companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2019. The research method applied in the article is based on a case study. The article starts with the theoretical part regarding the disclosure of non-financial information. The second part presents non-financial reporting with special consideration given to the natural environment, based on public companies operating in the energy, fuel and gas sector.
Atmosphere and ocean are coupled via air-sea interactions. The atmospheric conditions fuel the ocean circulation and its variability, but the extent to which ocean processes can affect the atmosphere at decadal time scales remains unclear. In particular, such low-frequency variability is difficult to extract from the short observational record, meaning that climate models are the primary tools deployed to resolve this question. Here, we assess how the ocean's intrinsic variability leads to patterns of upper-ocean heat content that vary at decadal time scales. These patterns have the potential to feed back on the atmosphere and thereby affect climate modes of variability, such as El Niño or the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation. We use the output from a global ocean-sea ice circulation model at three different horizontal resolutions, each driven by the same atmospheric reanalysis. To disentangle the variability of the ocean's direct response to atmospheric forcing from the variability due to intrinsic ocean dynamics, we compare model runs driven with inter-annually varying forcing (1958-2018) and model runs driven with repeat-year forcing. Models with coarse resolution that rely on eddy parameterizations, show (i) significantly reduced variance of the upper-ocean heat content at decadal time scales and (ii) differences in the spatial patterns of low-frequency variability compared with higher resolution models. Climate projections are typically done with general circulation models with coarse-resolution ocean components. Therefore, these biases affect our ability to predict decadal climate modes of variability and, in turn, hinder climate projections. Our results suggest that for improving climate projections, the community should move towards coupled climate models with higher oceanic resolution.
Akifumi Nakayama, Takanori Kodama, Masahiro Ikoma
et al.
Terrestrial planets covered globally with thick oceans (termed ocean planets) in the habitable zone were previously inferred to have extremely hot climates in most cases. This is because ${\rm H_2O}$ high-pressure (HP) ice on the seafloor prevents chemical weathering and, thus, removal of atmospheric CO$_2$. Previous studies, however, ignored melting of the HP ice and horizontal variation in heat flux from oceanic crusts. Here we examine whether high heat fluxes near the mid-ocean ridge melts the HP ice and thereby removes atmospheric ${\rm CO_2}$. We develop integrated climate models of an Earth-size ocean planet with plate tectonics for different ocean masses, which include the effects of HP ice melting, seafloor weathering, and the carbonate-silicate geochemical carbon cycle. We find that the heat flux near the mid-ocean ridge is high enough to melt the ice, enabling seafloor weathering. In contrast to the previous theoretical prediction, we show that climates of terrestrial planets with massive oceans lapse into extremely cold ones (or snowball states) with CO$_2$-poor atmospheres. Such extremely cold climates are achieved mainly because the HP ice melting fixes seafloor temperature at the melting temperature, thereby keeping a high weathering flux regardless of surface temperature. We estimate that ocean planets with oceans several tens of the Earth's ocean mass no longer maintain temperate climates. These results suggest that terrestrial planets with extremely cold climates exist even in the habitable zone beyond the solar system, given the frequency of water-rich planets predicted by planet formation theories.
This paper is devoted to the cultural heritage of the Podlasie region and in particular, the intangible heritage of culinary art. Changes in the definition of “intangible heritage” and the definitions related to culinary tourism are also discussed. The area of research has been defined as the Hajnówka county. On the basis of authors research examples of traditional dishes and products and the possibility of their use in order to increase the value of economically under-invested areas are considered. In addition, the paper presents cases of similar activities undertaken in Italy and Great Britain. To conclude, a comprehensive approach of combining tangible and intangible cultural heritage is proposed.