Edwin Agus Buniarto, Nur Sayidah, Dian Ferriswara
et al.
This study rigorously explains the contribution of environmental performance, firm characteristics, sustainable development goals, and firm value in mining firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2019 to 2022. The study employs the Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique, using Structural Equation Modelling, to analyse annual data. This approach is used to investigate the factors influencing firm value in mining companies. The PLS-SEM method was selected for its effectiveness in managing complex variable relationships and its suitability for predictive modelling. The findings show that three hypotheses were accepted from the six hypotheses proposed. Environmental performance has a negative impact on firm value. Firm characteristics have a negative contribution to firm value. Firm characteristics have a significant positive contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environmental performance has no significant contribution to SDGs. Firm characteristics have no significant contribution to Environmental performance. SDGs have no significant contribution to firm value.
The purpose of this article is to examine the diffusion of eco-innovations in selected local government units. A qualitative approach was applied, using case studies to analyse local revitalisation efforts and pro-environmental initiatives. Findings show that such activities measurably improve residents’ quality of life and environmental conditions. Despite these benefits, progress is often hindered by rigid legal frameworks. Practical implications include recommending the enhancement of current strategies by integrating technologies such as solar energy and developing local sustainability indicators. Socially, local initiatives foster community engagement and environmental awareness. The originality of this study lies in its focus on eco-innovation diffusion driven by local governments, rather than the business sector. The article highlights the value of empowering municipalities to act as key agents of sustainable development.
Sylwia Słupik, Joanna Trzęsiok , Aldona Frączkiewicz-Wronka
et al.
Purpose: Growing ecological, social, and regulatory pressures make acquiring green managerial competences essential for building competitive advantage. This study aimed to identify the antecedents of acquiring and developing green managerial competences from the perspectives of literature findings, District Labour CEOS, and entrepreneurs operating in the Silesia Region. Methodology: The study employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to analyse data from the survey (based on 71 structured questionnaires) conducted in May 2024 with District Labour Office CEOs and entrepreneurs in the Silesia Region. Findings: The findings contribute to the conceptualisation of green managerial competences, providing a basis for more precise definitions in future research. Respondents define these competences broadly, including green economy skills and personal, social, and interpersonal competences. Five key antecedents were identified: organisation, competition, self-development, socio-economic changes, and job loss, which significantly influence the achievement of organisations' competitive advantage, particularly in the context of the economy's transition towards sustainable development. Practical and social implications: Insights from the study guide managers in developing competences crucial for navigating the transition to a sustainable economy. Emphasising green competences promotes sustainable development and aligns organisational strategies with societal goals. Originality: This study addresses a research gap by enhancing the understanding of green managerial competences and identifying key factors influencing their development.
Hasan Huseyin Coban , Wojciech Lewicki, Agnieszka Brelik
This article addresses the contemporary environmental challenges stemming from rapid economic growth, surging energy consumption, urban expansion, and mounting waste issues. The study explores the optimisation of a regional energy system, considering not only the electric energy sector but also the fuel and thermal energy sectors for the selected geographical destination. In this study, the application of the Linprog optimisation function in MATLAB programming tool to solve Regional Energy System Optimization with renewable resources is explained. The primary objective is to develop a mathematical model that identifies the optimal energy balance structure, allowing for the partial replacement of hydrocarbon sources with bioresources and waste in heat and electricity generation, as well as in vehicle fuel consumption. The modelling approach involves linear programming and integrates two key criteria: economic (cost of energy for consumers) and environmental (carbon footprint). The novelty of this approach lies in applying life cycle analysis to assess potential environmental consequences. Results reveal optimal generation volumes based on economic and environmental considerations. When optimising solely for economic criteria, municipal solid waste, along with wind energy, emerges as the preferred source. In contrast, the simultaneous optimisation of economic and environmental parameters aligns with the economic calculation, demonstrating a balanced approach to sustainable development.
This thesis presents a new algorithm to mitigate cloud masking in the analysis of sea surface temperature (SST) data generated by remote sensing technologies, e.g., Clouds interfere with the analysis of all remote sensing data using wavelengths shorter than 12 microns, significantly limiting the quantity of usable data and creating a biased geographical distribution (towards equatorial and coastal regions). To address this issue, we propose an unsupervised machine learning algorithm called Enki which uses a Vision Transformer with Masked Autoencoding to reconstruct masked pixels. We train four different models of Enki with varying mask ratios (t) of 10%, 35%, 50%, and 75% on the generated Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) dataset referred to as LLC4320. To evaluate performance, we reconstruct a validation set of LLC4320 SST images with random ``clouds'' corrupting p=10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% of the images with individual patches of 4x4 pixel^2. We consistently find that at all levels of p there is one or multiple models that reconstruct the images with a mean RMSE of less than 0.03K, i.e. lower than the estimated sensor error of VIIRS data. Similarly, at the individual patch level, the reconstructions have RMSE 8x smaller than the fluctuations in the patch. And, as anticipated, reconstruction errors are larger for images with a higher degree of complexity. Our analysis also reveals that patches along the image border have systematically higher reconstruction error; we recommend ignoring these in production. We conclude that Enki shows great promise to surpass in-painting as a means of reconstructing cloud masking. Future research will develop Enki to reconstruct real-world data.
Anna Zielińska-Chmielewska, Anna Wielicka-Regulska, Dobrosława Mruk-Tomczak
The purpose is to assess the usability of a sustainable and environmentally friendly food policy tool in Poland in 2022. First, the systematic literature review of regulatory and market-based tools was carried out. Second, interviews with food consumers registered in the municipality of Poznań were conducted. Third, the assessment of the usage of a «higher» VAT tax rate on junk food using one-way ANOVA analysis was examined. In the theoretical part, methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and graphical transposition of data were used. In the practical part, quantitative methods like the CAWI questionnaire and ANOVA analysis, along with qualitative methods like IDI interviews and case studies, were used. The study shows that the majority of the respondents who do everyday shopping and make decisions on preparation and consumption of food at home are women. Females were characterised by statistically significant social acceptance of a «higher» VAT tax rate.
The purpose of this paper was to assess the level of satisfaction of passengers using public transport services in Wrocław and to identify the quality characteristics that the service provider needs to improve if it wants to increase the overall quality of its services. The passenger satisfaction survey was conducted according to the stages of the developed procedure outlined in the article. In pursuit of the stated goal, CSI and IPA were used. The main measurement tool used was a survey questionnaire. The survey was conducted on a sample of 500 respondents, which allows us to trust the results at 95%, assuming an “estimation error” of ± 5%. A total of 14 transport demands were selected to evaluate the level of satisfaction of passengers using services provided by MPK Wrocław. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Statistica 13.3 software and using functions and commands available in Microsoft Excel. The results obtained allowed us to conduct a detailed analysis related to the level of the services quality of the Wrocław’s public transport. These results should be used by urban transport organisers and operators to shape their transport offerings, primarily in terms of increasing the quality of transport services. This is very important since it is, among other things, the quality of public mass transport that determines the quality of life of residents, as well as the conditions for economic development of the transport network.
This volume represents a milestone in the study of the complex economic relations between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean in antiquity. D.R. is a recognised expert on the subject, and this publication on the one hand ties together many of his previous lines of research, while on the other it offers many new and interesting insights into Indo-Roman trade. The title only partially gives justice to its content: the volume contains much more than just an analysis of the Muziris Papyrus and the Indo-Roman pepper trade; it also offers a general review of trade between the Mediterranean world and the Indian Ocean. However, it is true that the undisputed protagonist of the volume is P. Vindobonensis G 40822, known as the Muziris Papyrus, a complex document, in fact containing two different texts, one on the recto and one on the verso. On the recto is a partially preserved loan contract in support of a commercial enterprise to Muziris, in India. On the verso, an equally fragmentary text lists the assessment of customs duties on the Indian cargo imported by the ship Hermapollon. The papyrus is usually dated to the mid second century CE. It was first published in 1985, and since then has been the subject of a long list of scholarly works (duly acknowledged in the ‘Introductory Notes’ of the book). In fact, the introduction and all of Part 1, i.e. around 40% of the book, are centred on the analysis of the text and the context of the Muziris Papyrus. Here, D.R. displays his huge competence on the papyrus. He proposes a full list of the integration and possible interpretation of controversial parts of the fragmentary text, restoring as far as possible the overall comprehension of the papyrus and of the documents contained in it. D.R. then offers a detailed analysis of the importance and the significance of the papyrus in the context not only of Indo-Roman trade, but also of ancient economic history. This is probably the most interesting part of the book, and a much needed one, adding order to decades of scholarship on the subject and offering a unifying and coherent interpretation of the text. Furthermore, D.R. underlines the challenges of the voyage between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, describing the geography and the weather conditions of the area under scrutiny. In the second half of Part 1 D.R. focuses on the Indian coasts and on the merchandise that it was possible to trade there. This part ends with a detailed analysis of the written sources on the trade, in particular the Periplus of the Red Sea, Strabo, Pliny and Ptolemy, amongst others. Reconciling the accounts of the sources with the available archaeological and numismatic evidence is never a straightforward process, and D.R. is aware of these difficulties. Nevertheless, in most cases his reconstructions sound persuasive, especially in the section devoted to Pliny the Elder, which is the most convincing and best argued of his philological analyses. The relatively brief Part 2 deals with the technicalities of the loan agreement on the recto of the Muziris papyrus. Here again the philological skills of D.R. are essential to allow him a coherent and convincing overall reconstruction of the loan contract as well as of the deadlines and clauses relating to the repayment of the loan. The fragmentary status of the text implies that some of the restorations proposed are somewhat speculative; therefore not all the hypotheses put forward by D.R. are equally convincing. For instance, THE CLASSICAL REVIEW 625
Thucydides Trap, in case of USA ; China collision highway, true or otherwise in an enactment of Belt Road Initiative (BRI), South China Sea clash of interests and Blue versus Red , and Pakistan in a ‘Golden Chair’ dilemma led to a known fact of interacting as well as overarching clash of interests in global world in general and Asia in particular. However, China has become one of the world’s major powers despite all odds of clash of interests against her strategic, geographic and social or economic competitors evidently displayed after the universal Pandemic of Covid. The fast-paced economic development of China was the narrative foreign policy imbued with economic progress across the globe, with benefits for all humanity. In the same context, China has launched Belt and Road Initiative, in response to the USA’s Pivot Asia policy. On the contrary, changing foreign policy roles and their performances have led to conflicting signals, raising concerns about China’s future role in international politics. This paper argues that, though China’s rise may be projected as benign by China itself, however China under Xi Jinping will be an “Economic Giant” aiming to remodel the global order. Visualizing the discourse of its economic over-arching progress, is it really a collision course that has shaped Belt Road Initiative (BRI), South China Sea’s militarization/weaponization in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and alliances of Blue versus Red or a mature Economic Cooperation in a globalized world, really seems far away from clash of interests as displayed during and after Pandemic Crisis. Recent visit of Speaker of USA Representatives, Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, is a test case in strategic dilemma for IOR that proved fractional to crisis.
Introduction. The development of innovative activity should be considered one of the strategic directions of the economic development of Ukraine in the war and post-war period. It ensures the transition of the country's economy to a higher technological level, and accordingly contributes to the increase of the country's competitiveness. The country's competitiveness depends on the level of development of technology parks, which can specialize in the development of one industry (specialized technology parks) or many industries (general technology parks), as well as develop several areas of specialization (semi-specialized technology parks). Their industry structure is represented by such directions as conducting research in the field of technologies; provision of information services; development of high-tech industry, trade in high-tech goods, technologies in the field of space and ocean exploration; production of new materials; training of highly qualified scientific personnel. When evaluating the activity of technology parks, we came to the conclusion that they should meet such parameters as territorial location, location depending on the size of the city, location in relation to the university, the total area occupied by the technology park, green areas, built-up area (the total area of all premises located in the technology park), the number of companies located in the technology park, the number of jobs created, basic and auxiliary services, areas of activity, ownership structure, etc. Materials and methods. The information base of the study was made up of statistical materials, regulatory and legal acts, national programs for the development of technology parks. Positive international experience in the development of technological parks can be used in Ukraine in the war and post-war periods for the purpose of economic recovery of the country. Results and discussion. As a result of the conducted research on the functioning of technological parks in the world, it was found that the main factors of their functioning (physical-geographical location, economic-geographical location) exist in the countries. Unlike the countries of the world, there are factors in Ukraine that restrain the development of technological parks, in particular, the presence of military actions in connection with Russia's attack on Ukraine. In this regard, proposals have been developed to improve the regulatory and legal framework in terms of the functioning of technology parks; development of network cooperation; attraction of funds from international financial organizations on program principles, etc. Conclusions. On the basis of the study of the peculiarities of the functioning of technological parks, proposals for their activation in Ukraine in the war and post-war periods have been developed. A significant development is the development of proposals in the direction of introducing the mechanism of public-private partnership in technological parks in Ukraine, taking into account the peculiarities of the experience of the countries of the world.
Robert Grygo, Kevin Bujnarowski, Jolanta Anna Prusiel
This paper presents the possibility of managing plastic post-production waste, i.e. ordinary and heat-shrinkable film, in the construction sector. For this purpose, two types of lightweight 16 mm aggregate were produced from plastics, using proprietary technology (i.e. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PET/PVC/OPS (MIX) mixtures). The raw material was sourced from post-production waste, generated during the production of film labels. The results of the experimental testing of aggregate properties (bulk density, grain density, absorbability, compressive strength) are presented, the aggregate being sourced from recycled plastics. This paper presents the physical and mechanical properties of the plastic, as well as other popular lightweight aggregates (Certyd and Kermazyt) used in construction. In addition, the financial efficiency of the production of lightweight aggregate from the by-products of plastic label production was analysed. The economic analysis has shown that the use of plastic waste for the production of lightweight aggregate is rational, not only in terms of environmental protection, but also the financial benefits to companies that generate significant amounts of plastic waste.
This article is devoted to the issue of the sharing economy. In Poland, the sharing economy is a relatively new area but with high development dynamics. Therefore, the paper aims to answer the question: „is Polish society ready to adopt the sharing economy concept?”
In Poland, there is a research gap in the context of the sharing economy. The phenomenon of collective consumption concerning Polish consumers is a relatively new area that requires careful research . For this purpose, a pilot study was used with the use of the diagnostic survey method using the questionnaire survey technique.
The presented research results show that 39.7% of the respondents have come across the sharing economy concept. However, ignorance of the concept does not mean that the respondents did not use services based on the assumptions of the sharing economy. 56.7% of respondents used at least one service provided by the sharing economy. There is a visible relationship between the respondents’
age and education and their awareness of the sharing economy. The highest knowledge of the sharing economy was found in the age group under 36 and among respondents with higher education. Most of the respondents support the directions of activities presented by the sharing economy and use its services.
The conducted research is of a pilot nature. However, it allows drawing attention to an important issue in the acceptance of new solutions related to the application of the sharing economy by the older generation of Polish consumers. This is a field for further research on a much wider research sample.
Mario Mineo, Juan Francisco Gibaja Bao, Laura Caruso Fermé
et al.
Este trabajo tiene como eje discursivo la información publicada sobre dos de las cinco piraguas neolíticas documentadas en el asentamiento neolítico de La Marmotta (Anguillara Sabazia, Lazio, Italia), y como este hallazgo puede darnos nuevos datos sobre la navegación y la expansión neolítica por el Mediterráneo. Se trata de un yacimiento excepcional, pues el hecho de hallarse en el fondo del Lago di Bracciano ha permitido que se conservaran extraordinarios restos bióticos. Las características de estas piraguas, así como del conjunto de elementos navales asociados, nos demuestran que estamos ante sociedades complejas en su organización social, con unos conocimientos tecnológicos difícilmente imaginables. Conocer La Marmotta es comprender mucho mejor las sociedades neolíticas y el éxito de su expansión. Sin duda conocían muy bien la navegación y el mar Mediterráneo. De lo contrario es difícil suponer cómo iniciaron su diáspora hace unos 10000 años BC desde Próximo Oriente y llegaron a las costas portuguesas hacia el 5400 BC. Domesticaron las plantas y los animales, y revolucionaron todo el espectro técnico que, gracias a yacimientos como La Marmotta, podemos evaluar. Sin duda, somos los herederos de aquellas sociedades.
Tomasz Pasierbek, Lyubomir Bezruchko, Rakos Juraj
et al.
The aim of the article is to compare the legal and administrative foundations of the functioning of national parks as factors determining the quality of management. National parks in Poland and Ukraine, representing different nature protection systems, were selected for the comparative analysis and evaluation. The data was obtained from published sources. The most important were legislations that create the legal basis of the nature protection systems in both countries. The available data were used for analysis using the Desk Research method. There are numerous differences between the Polish and Ukrainian systems of protected areas, mostly based upon the position in the government structure (what is the way of creating the national park and which ministry is responsible for it). Despite those differences, general conclusions can be drawn. Due to the separate legal entity of individual units, as well as subordination to various ministries, there is no clear link between the institutions. This hinders the flow of information and reporting and complicates the decision-making process both at individual units and between national parks.
Abstract The Mediterranean and Black seas compose a semi-enclosed intercontinental marine system (MBMS) connected to the Atlantic Ocean, hosting a coastal population that exceeds 150 million inhabitants that share a coastline of 54,000 km long and being involved in various economic activities. The MBMS has a total marine surface area of ~3000 × 106 km2, representing about 4% of the global ocean, while its drainage basin covers an area of >7000 × 106 km2 providing annually >1000 km3 of freshwater and > 1300 Mt. of sediment. The MBMS has an overall negative water balance that is compensated by the inflows (i.e., 1260 km3y−1) of the Atlantic water through the Strait of Gibraltar. The MBMS is microtidal (astronomical tidal range 7 m). In both Mediterranean and Black Sea basins, the general surface water circulation is cyclonic, characterized by a large number of permanent gyres and coastal eddies. The MBMS trophic status varies considerably, with the Mediterranean Sea being generally oligotrophic, the upper layer of Black Sea mesotrophic and the Marmara Sea eutrophic. On the other hand, it demonstrates a great biodiversity with >10,000 marine species (442 of them are native), which represent ~7% of all the world's known marine species. Therefore, any natural change or human intervention that may take place in the MBMS complex environment could have variable direct or indirect effects on its status at a regional scale and/or at an interregional extent.
Józefa Wiater, Dariusz Boruszko, Wojciech Dąbrowski
et al.
Dairy plants development should be based on the principle of sustainable development, which is present both in National Environmental Policy and European Union environmental protection policy. It is in compliance with Best Available Technology (BAT). Technology connected with recovering energy from sewage, sewage sludge and production waste is gaining more and more interest. The authors of this article have been cooperating with several production plants in podlaskie province for many years through conducting scientific research and preparing environmental reports or integrated permissions (IPPC). The article discusses the most crucial aspects of sustainable development of the dairy industry. Also, the results of environmental aspects (water consumption, sewage production and treatment, wastes, gas and noise emissions, energy consumption) connected with dairy plants management are presented.
The postulate of intergenerational justice is the core concept of sustainable development. National parks as protected areas with the highest status of protection bring together individual elements contained in the Brundtland definition and the tasks they perform are intended to satisfy the needs of the present generation, without prejudice to subsequent generations. The article presents the implementation of this postulate through a review of sustainable development concepts and their reference to the statutory tasks and functions performed by national parks.