CHINA’S GREEN SOFT POWER IN AZERBAIJAN: ENVIRONMENTALISM, AUTOCRACY, AND GEOPOLITICAL INTERSECTIONS

Geopolitics of separatism

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of Chinese infrastructure projects on the sustainable development of transport and logistics systems in Kyrgyzstan, including economic, environmental, and social aspects. The study analysed investment flows and the impact of transport infrastructure, evaluated the use of modern construction technologies, and conducted an environmental analysis of infrastructure projects and regional economic integration. It was found that Chinese infrastructure projects in Kyrgyzstan contribute to a significant improvement in the transport network, which has a positive impact on the economic development of the country. Projects such as the modernisation of the Bishkek-Osh road significantly reduce transportation time transportation costs, which stimulates the growth of trade and investment. However, potential risks have also been identified, including environmental problems such as increased pollution levels and impacts on local ecosystems. Social aspects also require attention: improved infrastructure has contributed to job creation, but has also caused displacement of local communities and a change in their way of life. The analysis showed that Chinese investments in infrastructure help to integrate Kyrgyzstan into regional transport and trade networks, which increases its strategic importance in Central Asia. In order to minimise the negative impact on the environment, it is recommended to strengthen environmental control and develop measures to compensate for the consequences for local communities. The study provides information on the complex impacts of Chinese infrastructure projects on the sustainable development of transport and logistics systems.

Significance A recent downward trend in relations reflects deep-rooted grievances and diverging geopolitical trajectories, but Azerbaijan's growing assertiveness, helped by regional interloper Turkey, has left less room for resuming past methods of mutual accommodation. Impacts Azerbaijani-Russian relations will remain tense as each distrusts the other's intentions in Karabakh. Relations between Armenia and Russia will remain strained. As the 'Middle Corridor' route gains attention, Turkey's engagement with Central Asia will increase. Ukraine-Iran ties will become more difficult as Tehran supplies Moscow with weapons.

The paper provides reasons for considering sustainable development paradigm as the most efficient and effective way for Ukrainian enterprises to achieve goals of post-war revitalization fast. Furthermore, the study substantiates that the sustainable development of enterprises, which is corporate sustainable development uniting corporate social accountability and shared social responsibility, in the conditions of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine can be ensured on the basis of achieving a balance between the interests of stakeholders and the company's ability to implement sustainable development projects. In order to provide corporate sustainable development, the study offers distinguishing three types of stakeholders: those who do economic pressures towards enterprise, those who do social pressure and those who do environmental pressures on corporate management. It is proposed to determine the group common interest of the company's stakeholders, expressed in terms of the benefits they want to receive and the contributions they are ready to make to sustainable development projects, using the method of cluster analysis. It has been proven that the subjective assessments of stakeholders regarding the value of any sustainable development project for them influence the choice of the final project of sustainable development that corresponds to the capabilities of the enterprise. This is due to the property of discreteness of the amounts of benefits and contributions to the projects of sustainable development of the enterprise, with the help of which the group common interest of stakeholders is set. The process of comparing sustainable development projects that represent the interests of stakeholders with projects that meet the company's capabilities is shown, and the scientific and practical task of choosing the final project based on the balance of stakeholders' interests and the company's capabilities is described. The stages of ensuring the sustainable development of the enterprise on the basis of taking into account the interests of stakeholders during the implementation of projects in the social, economic and environmental spheres are analyzed. It is substantiated that it is advisable to solve the task of choosing projects of sustainable development of the enterprise under the influence of subjective assessments of stakeholders using the method of fuzzy sets. Creating fuzzy variables connected to stakeholders’ assessments of endeavors allows managers of enterprises to ensure sustainable development project selection considering stakeholders’ subjective impact factor

This research focuses on examining the impact of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 on the energy industry, specifically in the Hail region, by exploring the role of technological and economic strategies in fostering sustainable energy development. The study aims to identify key factors that facilitate the implementation of Vision 2030 to assess the current energy landscape in Saudi Arabia. By delving into the economic and technological dimensions of Vision 2030, the research seeks to determine the essential components that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs to establish systems and initiatives that align with global scientific and technological advances, ensuring competitiveness and progress in the global arena. By surveying 60 faculty members from Hail University, the study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to unravel how economic activities and technological advancements collaborate to shape a sustainable and competitive energy sector. The findings highlight the crucial role of technological innovations, including advances in administrative processes, human resource management, regulatory frameworks, and technical infrastructure related to energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Furthermore, the study evaluates economic aspects such as labor market reforms, skill development programs, and support for emerging energy enterprises. The results underscore the positive impact of technological and economic interventions on the energy sector in the Hail region, with significant improvements in energy project management efficiency and the creation of a conducive environment for sustainable energy practices. The study reveals that the integration of technological and economic initiatives has led to notable improvements in the energy sector, reflected in average values ranging from 68% to 84%. These results underscore the fundamental role of Vision 2030 in advancing sustainable energy development and underscore the importance of leveraging economic and technological strategies to achieve energy sustainability and competitive advantage. This research contributes to understanding how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is driving progress in the energy industry and emphasizes the importance of integrating economic and technological approaches in shaping a sustainable energy landscape. The findings provide valuable information for policymakers and stakeholders in the energy sector, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to harness economic and technological advancements to promote sustainable energy development. By showcasing the transformative impact of Vision 2030 on the energy sector in the Hail region, this study underscores the originality and importance of research in advancing the goals of sustainable energy development in Saudi Arabia.

The Middle Corridor and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) represent two significant transcontinental trade routes shaping Eurasian connectivity. Both corridors aim to diversify trade flows, reduce dependency on traditional maritime routes, and enhance economic integration. However, their overlapping geographic reach in Central Asia has raised questions about whether they are rivals competing for influence or potential partners fostering regional connectivity. This article examines the geopolitical, economic, and infrastructural dimensions of these corridors, analyzing their respective strengths, challenges, and strategic priorities. By assessing the interests of key stakeholders such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, and China, the study highlights areas of competition, including access to transit hubs and trade facilitation policies, as well as opportunities for collaboration, such as shared infrastructure and mutual reduction of logistical costs. The findings underscore the corridors' complementary potential in driving sustainable development and enhancing Eurasia's strategic role in global trade, provided regional and international actors prioritize cooperative frameworks over zero-sum competition.

Significance The same month, Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said Russia was willing to accept reduced rates for its gas. The two announcements follow an intense diplomatic game played between Russia and Central Asia -- Moscow’s latest effort to reassert its waning regional influence amid the war in Ukraine. Impacts Uzbekistan will try to build closer energy ties with Afghanistan. Iran will push for closer ties with Russia, possibly importing gas via either Azerbaijan or more probably Central Asia. Turkmenistan will try to expand its gas exports to China. Talks on a Transcaspian pipeline will continue. Work on the east-west ‘Middle Corridor’ will move ahead.

In January, 2023 the President of Kazakhstan welcomed the signing of an agreement between the Abu Dhabi Ports Group and KazMunaiGas National Company on a strategic partnership. Tokayev noted that the country intends to become a full-fledged transport hub in Central Asia and in the Caspian Sea region. Kazakhstan is working on the diversification of transport corridors, paying particular attention to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the International North-South Transport Corridor. Meanwhile, UAE aims at establishing a mutually beneficial partnership and providing various maritime services and solutions in the Caspian Sea and Central Asian region. The organization specializes in building ports, economic zones, and the development of logistics and digital businesses for their international partners. Dubai-based port operator DP World is reportedly also planning investment in freezone project and is said to invest $1bn in Kazakhstan Banking & Finance. There are plans to carry out joint projects with Abu Dhabi Ports/ DP World to develop the infrastructure of seaports in order to strengthen economic ties between Kazakhstan and the UAE, including partnerships in the transport and logistics sector. Keywords: Kazakhstan, UAE, Oil, Gas, “Middle Corridor”, Energy Security, Energy, Port Infrastructure.

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie pojęcia zrównoważonego rozwoju energetyki i wskaźników służących ocenie rozwoju energetyki w wymiarach: społecznym, ekonomicznym i ekologicznym. Została podjęta próba oceny pod kątem przydatności wskaźników do monitorowania zrównoważonego rozwoju energetyki w Polsce. Zrównoważony rozwój energetyki to proces trwałego, bezpiecznego i efektywnego zapewniania energii na potrzeby zrównoważonego rozwoju. Wzorcem, który sprzyja do stworzenia zespołu wskaźników monitorujących ten rozwój, jest system zaproponowany przez IAEA. Stosowane na poziomie unijnym wskaźniki Eurostatu nie dostarczają natomiast wystarczającej informacji szczególnie o badaniach i porównaniach wymiaru społecznego. Monitoring zrównoważonego rozwoju energetyki powinien być bardzo funkcjonalny w ocenie realizacji Strategii na rzecz Odpowiedzialnego Rozwoju. Zestaw wskaźników proponowanych w tej strategii do oceny jej postępów jest bardzo jednostronny i ograniczony. Zastosowanie zestawu wskaźników, kompleksowo ujmujących rozwój energetyki, może przyczynić się do określenia tego rozwoju w sposób bardziej zrównoważony. Wskaźniki stosowane przez Eurostat nie pozwalają na monitorowanie zrównoważonego rozwoju energetyki, a jedynie wybranych jego elementów. Jednocześnie Główny Urząd Statystyczny nie przygotowuje odrębnych opracowań na temat zrównoważonego rozwoju krajowej energetyki. Dla oceny zrównoważonego rozwoju energetyki na poziomie krajowym i porównań międzynarodowych, wskaźniki mogą jednak być uzupełnione na podstawie danych z istniejących opracowań.

Sustainable energy in Baltic States

The necessity to achieve sustainable economic development, which would be environmentfriendly, would conserve natural resources and would not contribute to social tensions, is increasingly the key attitude in development strategies and plans for a range of economic activities, and in search for the best solutions. Sustainable development is understood as a lasting ideology of social change—as a compromise, which reconciles environmental, economic and social goals of our society. In the context of sustainable development, the energy development—the ability to ensure sufficient energy sources to the public—is of particular importance. Sustainable energy development is a complete set of measures, including better performance of energy production and consumption, gradually decreasing consumption of fossil fuels, lower pollution, introduction of renewable energy sources and advanced energy technologies, ensuring socially just pricing and accessible energy. The future of energy must go hand in hand with the concept of sustainable development and must ensure economic development of the public. Lately, many European countries face the issues of growing energy demand, and the consequences of global warming, ever-higher import dependency, also high and fluctuating prices of resources and energy. These issues lead to revisions of development projects and social programmes in the energy sector, and encourage adoption of instruments able to reduce social tensions, to satisfy the demand and to improve social safety. The EU energy policy is a means to ensure secure, competitive and sustainable energy. The document Green Paper: A European Strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy published by the European Commission on 8 March 2006 sets forth the key areas with specific energy development challenges. This document prescribes the axes for energy development, and contribution to economic growth and job creation in Europe. It also names the challenges to secure safe energy supply in the internal market, as well as the solidarity of member states, promotion of competitiveness, increasingly efficient and diverse energy, and innovation (Commission of the European...2006). Building of relevant strategies and development plans, selection of specific instruments in line with environmental conditions are among the priorities in each state. Development based on the sustainability principles, as well as planning, building and validation of various strategic decisions, demands for analysis and assessment of versatile information, such as EU policies and guidelines; political, social, economic and

The energy sector is experiencing various transformations. Simultaneously, merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the sector are surging globally. Extensive research has focused on and analyzed M&As from the perspective of acquirer- and target-level financial performance. In comparison, a significantly lower number of studies have analyzed the macroeconomic impact of M&A activities. The field of and interests in sustainability have also been expanding in recent decades. Sustainable development goal 7 (SDG7), which calls for “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2030, is among other sustainable development goals that were established by the UN (United Nations). However, the synthesis of indicators for measuring sustainable development and M&A performance remains a relatively vaguely explored field. Here, we perform SALSA (search, appraisal, synthesis, and analysis) and analyze which M&A and sustainable development performance indicators may be used when analyzing M&A within the energy sector. The employment of an eligible set of indicators measuring sustainable development and M&A performance may be used by practitioners, governments, and scholars for the purpose of monitoring, tracking, and the communication of the progress. The results imply that most popular sustainability measurements are indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED). There is a growing number of studies focusing on and applying country-specific methodologies. The measurement of M&A and sustainability performance faces difficulties in practice implementation due to a lack of availability of data, information, and databases, etc.

The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), defining achievable goals directed towards sustainable development until 2015, includes the following: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) To achieve universal primary education, that is to ensure access to education for all, 3) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, 4) To decrease the mortality rate of newborns and children, 5) To improve mothers’ health, 6) To fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) To develop global partnership, i.e. co-operation for the purpose of development as a strategic commitment planned until 2015. The current global goals are: 1) World without poverty, 2) World without hunger, 3) Health and well-being, 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) Reduced inequalities, 11) Sustainable cities and communities, 12) Responsible consumption and production, 13) Climate protection, 14) Preservation of life below water, 15) Preservation of life on land, 16) Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17) Strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development. These goals are the guiding principles of today’s globalized world. The issues associated with sustainable development are not exclusively related to a single scientific area or one group of scientific disciplines. The universal issues presented through the millennium and global goals are also the issues dealt with by kinesiology and all its applied sciences. Particular focus is on the issues pertaining to the formation of environmental awareness connected with a positive attitude toward health benefits ​​of physical exercise. Kinesiology contents, aside from health benefits, the impact on the quality of education, and confirmed economic values ​​are not in collision with other proclaimed goals of sustainable development, which is the only option that guarantees survival. Key words: globalization; kinesiology; millennium goals; sustainable development.The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), defining achievable goals directed towards sustainable development until 2015, includes the following: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) To achieve universal primary education, that is to ensure access to education for all, 3) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, 4) To decrease the mortality rate of newborns and children, 5) To improve mothers’ health, 6) To fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) To develop global partnership, i.e. co-operation for the purpose of development as a strategic commitment planned until 2015. The current global goals are: 1) World without poverty, 2) World without hunger, 3) Health and well-being, 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) Reduced inequalities, 11) Sustainable cities and communities, 12) Responsible consumption and production, 13) Climate protection, 14) Preservation of life below water, 15) Preservation of life on land, 16) Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17) Strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development. These goals are the guiding principles of today’s globalized world. The issues associated with sustainable development are not exclusively related to a single scientific area or one group of scientific disciplines. The universal issues presented through the millennium and global goals are also the issues dealt with by kinesiology and all its applied sciences. Particular focus is on the issues pertaining to the formation of environmental awareness connected with a positive attitude toward health benefits ​​of physical exercise. Kinesiology contents, aside from health benefits, the impact on the quality of education, and confirmed economic values ​​are not in collision with other proclaimed goals of sustainable development, which is the only option that guarantees survival. Key words: globalization; kinesiology; millennium goals; sustainable development.The United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), defining achievable goals directed towards sustainable development until 2015, includes the following: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) To achieve universal primary education, that is to ensure access to education for all, 3) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, 4) To decrease the mortality rate of newborns and children, 5) To improve mothers’ health, 6) To fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, 7) To ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) To develop global partnership, i.e. co-operation for the purpose of development as a strategic commitment planned until 2015. The current global goals are: 1) World without poverty, 2) World without hunger, 3) Health and well-being, 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) Reduced inequalities, 11) Sustainable cities and communities, 12) Responsible consumption and production, 13) Climate protection, 14) Preservation of life below water, 15) Preservation of life on land, 16) Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17) Strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development. These goals are the guiding principles of today’s globalized world. The issues associated with sustainable development are not exclusively related to a single scientific area or one group of scientific disciplines. The universal issues presented through the millennium and global goals are also the issues dealt with by kinesiology and all its applied sciences. Particular focus is on the issues pertaining to the formation of environmental awareness connected with a positive attitude toward health benefits ​​of physical exercise. Kinesiology contents, aside from health benefits, the impact on the quality of education, and confirmed economic values ​​are not in collision with other proclaimed goals of sustainable development, which is the only option that guarantees survival. Key words: globalization; kinesiology; millennium goals; sustainable development.U Milenijskoj deklaraciji Ujedinjenih naroda s ostvarivim ciljevima usmjerenim prema održivu razvoju do 2015. godine ističe se: 1) Iskorijeniti ekstremno siromaštvo i glad, 2) Postići univerzalno osnovno obrazovanje, odnosno jamstvo obrazovanja za sve, 3) Promovirati ravnopravnost spolova i osnažiti žene, 4) Smanjiti stopu smrtnosti novorođenčadi i djece, 5) Poboljšati zdravlje majki, 6) Boriti se protiv HIV/AIDS-a, tuberkuloze, malarije i drugih bolesti, 7) Osigurati održivost okoliša i 8) Razviti globalno partnerstvo, odnosno suradnju za razvoj, što je strateško opredjeljenje do 2015. godine. Danas su aktualni globaln ciljevi: 1) Svijet bez siromaštva, 2) Svijet bez gladi, 3) Zdravlje i blagostanje, 4) Kvalitetno obrazovanje, 5) Rodna ravnopravnost, 6) Čista voda i sanitarni uvjeti, 7) Pristupačna energija iz čistih izvora, 8) Dostojanstven rad i ekonomski rast, 9) Industrija, inovacije i infrastruktura, 10) Smanjenje nejednakosti, 11) Održivi gradovi i zajednice, 12) Odgovorna potrošnja i proizvodnja, 13) Zaštita klime, 14) Očuvanje vodenog svijeta, 15) Očuvanje života na Zemlji, 16) Mir, pravda i snažne institucije i 17) Učvršćenje globalnog partnerstva za održivi razvoj. Ti ciljevi vodilja su današnjeg globaliziranog svijeta. Problemi održiva razvoja nisu ekskluzivno povezani samo s jednim znanstvenim područjem i jednom grupacijom znanstvenih disciplina. Univezalna problematika sadržana u milenijskim i globalnim ciljevima problematika je i kineziologije i svih njezinih primijenjenih područja. Posebno se ističe problematika formiranja ekološke svijesti povezane s pozitivnim stavom prema zdravstvenim vrijednostima tjelesnog vježbanja. Kineziološki sadržaji osim zdravstvenih vrijednosti, utjecaja na kvalitetu obrazovanja, potvrđene ekonomske vrijednosti nisu u koliziji s ostalim proklamiranim ciljevima održiva razvoja, jedinog jamca opstanka. Ključne riječi: globalizacija, milenijski ciljevi, kineziologija, održivi razvoj.

This paper focuses on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its relationship with sustainability. The authors investigate the linkages between CSR and sustainability at both enterprise and country levels. The main focus of this study is the energy sector due to its importance in terms of economic, environmental, and social impacts. There are some doubts as to whether a socially responsible business meets public welfare expectations and fosters the country’s social and economic development, as well as the successful achievement of sustainable development objectives. However, it becomes apparent that the development of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector faces a plethora of challenges. Corruption is one of the most important challenges of sustainable energy development. The study analyzes the main areas of CSR policies where energy companies are expected to make a positive contribution to sustainable energy development: mitigation of environmental impact, economic and social development, and good governance. The authors argue that the corruption risks represent a very important issue that is hampering sustainable energy development, and CSR can be applied to mitigate these risks in the energy sector. In addition, government policies might be necessary to create a favorable environment for corruption risk mitigation. The study analyzes the main tools of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector and addresses the impact of CSR on the sustainability of energy sector and corruption risk mitigation. The study analyzes a corruption risk mitigation model in the energy sector and provides recommendations for strengthening corporate social responsibility and mitigating corruption risk. Our results show that CSR can play a vital role in dealing with corruption in the energy sector at the enterprise level. It becomes apparent that anti-corruption standards represent the main supporting means for achieving other CSR goals and principles. Therefore, mitigation of corruption risks should become a priority for socially responsible companies that are operating in the energy sector.

Trans-regional integration and connectivity has been considered mostly in the sense of cross border transport and logistics corridors for regional and inter-regional trade in the context of this particular research work. Central Asia, after the breakup of former Soviet Union, reappeared in the ebb and flow of international exchanges as the global and regional powers are intensely engaged in developing regional and trans-regional transport corridors across the region. Russia, China and European Union (EU) have developed and operating their own plans of integration and connectivity. Russia’s approaches to trans-regional integration in Eurasia’s heartland demonstrate the characteristics of both ‘open regionalism’ under Greater Eurasian Partnership and ‘close regionalism’ under the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) framework. China’s plans of regional and trans-regional integration in Eurasia’s heartland under the BRI are based on the concept of open regionalism despite having geographical contiguity. EU’s approach towards regional and trans-regional integration in Central Asia is also based on the principles of open regionalism where Middle Corridor has become a necessity. Multilateralism under the regional organizations is also at work for enhanced cross border hard and soft connectivity. Hence a number of trans-continental Eurasian trade and transport corridors across Central Asia are being developed giving impetus to regional cooperation in Central Asia. The paper attempts to answer three main questions; how regionalism and trans-regional integration has been evolving in Central Asian context? How Russia, China and European Union (EU) have been developing their plans of trans-regional connectivity in altered regional configuration?, and how the trans-regional connectivity plans impacting Central Asia as a region? The approach in this study is explanatory and exploratory and methodology adopted is qualitative in nature mainly descriptive and analytical.