Geopolitical instability and environmental sustainability

Multiple factors including climate change, price uncertainties, and geopolitical instability have prompted many industries to investigate the feasibility of replacing traditional petroleum-based fuels with biofuel alternatives. However, to make this transition successful, these new biofuels must be environmentally sustainable and the necessary support infrastructure must be in place to make the production, distribution, and storage of these biofuels technologically feasible and cost effective. Developing a value chain, spanning from feedstock production to distribution to end users, requires garnering buy-in from multiple stakeholders by demonstrating environmental, economic, and social benefits and incentives. Two critical factors are the environmental benefits achieved from the use of the biofuel technology and the degree of resilience of the value chain to emergent conditions to ensure steady supply to consumers. Moreover, different biofuel pathways have different costs, benefits, and risks which must be compared. In this paper, we describe how environmental sustainability can be modeled using life cycle assessment (LCA) and how the resilience of value chain initiatives can be modeled using a scenario-based decision model. We then describe how sustainability and resilience assessments can be integrated in an iterative, anticipatory LCA framework. These assessments can be used as the basis for a business case for various investments, as well as a means for promoting responsible innovations, with the aviation industry used as a case study.

Environmental security and sustainability is a major issue for development of Eastern European and post-soviet countries. Economical development and technological change must be balanced with effective environmental solutions. Secure and sustainable development in is connected with several, mostly common problems. In Armenia secure development policies are focused on several problems: Economic and social problems specific to countries in transition (overall decline of economic activities, severe budget constraints, high domestic and foreign indebtedness, institutional weakness, etc); Geopolitical instability (neighborhood problems, blockade, ethnic wars, political upheavals, etc) and their impact on environment; Soil degradation and desertification; Unequal distribution of water resources; Deforestation problems; High occurrence of natural disasters. Armenia is stepping towards implementation of secure development strategies and has real shifts, meanwhile on the way to sustainable solutions there are several underlined obstacles. The paper is focused on the analysis of current situation with legal and institutional framework and development policies. Nowadays soil degradation and desertification are key problems for the Republic of Armenia. The problem of desertification in Armenia, on which is focused the paper, is a typical case, around which the process of secure development in the region could be observed.

In the dynamic landscape of the manufacturing industry, sourcing decisions play a Pivotal role in determining operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall business resilience. This abstract provides a concise overview of the evaluation of sourcing risk within the manufacturing sector, highlighting key factors, methodologies, and implications. Manufacturers face multifaceted challenges in sourcing, ranging from geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions to fluctuating market demands and regulatory constraints. Evaluatingthese risks demands a holistic approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative assessments. Traditional risk assessment frameworks often focus on financial metrics, supplier stability, and operational contingencies. However, contemporary approaches recognize the need for broader considerations, including environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing practices, and social responsibility. This abstract delves into the methodologies employed for assessing sourcing risk, encompassing both pre-emptive risk identification and ongoing risk management strategies. It explores the role of advanced analytics, including predictive modelling and simulation, in forecasting and mitigating potential disruptions.

This paper explores the diverse risks impacting supply chains within the manufacturing sector, particularly in an increasingly globalized and technologically interconnected world. Using real-world data and industry case studies, it evaluates key risk categories including operational disruptions, financial volatility, geopolitical tensions, and cyber threats. The analysis highlights both the vulnerabilities and resilience strategies of modern manufacturing firms, offering insights into how proactive risk management can sustain competitive advantage. Charts and risk matrices visually support the discussion. The paper concludes with practical mitigation frameworks to guide firms toward more agile and secure supply chains. In the dynamic landscape of the manufacturing industry, sourcing decisions play a Pivotal role in determining operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall business resilience. This abstract provides a concise overview of the evaluation of sourcing risk within the manufacturing sector, highlighting key factors, methodologies, and implications. Manufacturers face multifaceted challenges in sourcing, ranging from geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions to fluctuating market demands and regulatory constraints. Evaluating these risks demands a holistic approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative assessments. Traditional risk assessment frameworks often focus on financial metrics, supplier stability, and operational contingencies. However, contemporary approaches recognize the need for broader considerations, including environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing practices, and social responsibility. This abstract delves into the methodologies employed for assessing sourcing risk, encompassing both pre-emptive risk identification and ongoing risk management strategies. It explores the role of advanced analytics, including predictive modelling and simulation, in forecasting and mitigating potential disruptions. Previous Road Accident Detection Using AI and ML.

Global supply chains face increasing disruptions from cyber threats, geopolitical instability, extreme weather events, and a range of economic, social, and environmental sustainability challenges. As these disruptions intensify, enhancing Supply Chain Resilience (SCR) has become a strategic priority. This study investigates how Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) can contribute to SCR by mitigating vulnerabilities and strengthening key capabilities within global supply chains. A qualitative research approach is employed, utilizing expert evaluations to examine DLT’s impact on supply chain vulnerabilities and capabilities. Five workshops were conducted with 25 industry professionals from logistics, IT, procurement, and risk management. Experts examined how DLT could address disruptions stemming from supplier instability, poor traceability, and regulatory and environmental pressures, while highlighting its potential to drive ethical sourcing and environmentally responsible practices. The structured discussions were guided by theoretical frameworks and expert evaluations were synthesized into two analytical matrices illustrating DLT’s influence on SCR. The findings reveal that the contribution of DLT to SCR and sustainability is highly context-dependent, with its effectiveness hinging on how it is embedded within governance structures and aligned with the interplay of complementary technologies. Building on these insights, the study presents the DLT-LFL (Distributed Ledger Technology–Learning Feedback Loop) framework, which integrates sensing, decision-making, adaptation, and predictive learning from distributed operational data, allowing supply chains to better anticipate disruptions, adjust processes dynamically, and continuously strengthen resilience and sustainable practices. The study also develops a practical checklist to assess how effective DLT applications and their integration with predictive and AI-driven analytics reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen capabilities, mitigate risks, and support adaptive decision-making.

Geopolitical risks present a significant challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the European Union, disrupting economic stability, environmental sustainability, and social progress. This chapter examines how geopolitical conflicts reshape corporate sustainability efforts by creating barriers at the environmental, economic, and social levels. Using the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach, which integrates environmental, social and economic dimensions, the research explores how companies are managing these disruptions while maintaining their sustainability commitments. Geopolitical instability exacerbates financial uncertainty, disrupts supply chains and weakens regulatory frameworks, forcing companies to prioritise short-term survival over long-term sustainability goals. Economic performance is strained by declining investment levels, infrastructure and increasing market volatility, while social sustainability suffers from labour displacement, declining labour protections and weakened community engagement. In addition, environmental sustainability is compromised since conflicts contribute to resource depletion, pollution and weakened enforcement of environmental standards. Despite these challenges, some companies are demonstrating resilience through adaptive strategies such as decentralised energy solutions, ESG integration and financial risk management. However, the effectiveness of these approaches depends on the broader geopolitical landscape, regulatory stability and international cooperation. The chapter highlights the urgent need for greater collaboration between businesses, policymakers and global institutions to strengthen business resilience and ensure sustainable progress towards the SDGs in an era of growing geopolitical uncertainty. The findings call for a reassessment of corporate governance and risk assessment models to better address the complex and evolving nature of geopolitical risk.

The article examines the current problem of ensuring food security in Ukraine in the context of geopolitical instability, which affects the agro-food market and food industry. Particular attention is paid to the challenges associated with the instability of international trade relations, economic sanctions, and the growing demand for functional food products. The authors analyze the current state of food security in Ukraine, considering the impact of market conditions and state policy on the availability and quality of food products. The paper highlights key strategic areas for ensuring food security, including the introduction of innovative technologies, the development of production based on the domestic raw material base, the creation of products with improved physiological properties, as well as the modernization of production facilities to increase their efficiency and environmental sustainability. Special emphasis is placed on developing environmentally safe production, which is focused on forming competitive products with high-added value for domestic consumption and export. The authors emphasize the importance of integrating national strategies into the context of global challenges ensuring food security, sustainable development, and adaptation to climate change. The article emphasizes the role of state policy in forming an effective system of access to quality food, which is the basis of social stability and economic development. The prospects for the development of functional food products in the market are also considered, as they can satisfy the growing consumer demand for healthy food and contribute to improving the population’s standard of living. The study offers specific recommendations for improving food policy, focusing on the need for state regulation, supporting low-income groups, stimulating local production, and reducing dependence on imports. The presented results are the basis for further scientific research in ensuring food security in Ukraine in the face of global challenges and crises. Keywords: food security, agri-food market, functional products, sustainable development, innovative technologies, competitiveness.

Purpose: Our study investigates the combined effects of financial technologies (fintech) and the digital economy on sustainable development, considering geopolitical risks as a moderating factor. Origin: While sustainable development is a global imperative, the integrated roles of digital transformation and fintech remain insufficiently explored. Our research addresses this gap by analyzing their impacts on socioeconomic advancement and environmental sustainability across diverse contexts. Methodology: Employing panel data from 30 developed and developing countries between 1990 and 2023, we assess sustainable development using the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the Human Development Index (HDI). Independent variables include proxies for the digital economy (e.g., internet usage, mobile subscriptions, and high-tech exports) and fintech (e.g., digital payments, digital currency, and peer-to-peer lending). The Geopolitical Risk Index (GPRI) is used to evaluate the effect of political instability. We apply generalized least squares (GLS) and fixed-effects estimation (within) to ensure robustness. Findings: Our results indicate that digital transformation and fintech significantly foster socioeconomic development and environmental performance, even amidst geopolitical instability. Key variables such as digital payments and internet access show substantial positive impacts, providing valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance resilience and sustainability. Contributions: Our article offers a comprehensive evaluation of how the digital economy and fintech jointly influence sustainable development under geopolitical risks, providing a nuanced understanding for policymakers and researchers.

Governments around the world are betting heavily on biofuels as one part of a solution to a wide range of public policy challenges, from environmental sustainability in the face of climate change, to energy security given rising geopolitical instability, to economic growth especially in rural regions and developing countries. Policy interventions typically take the form of legal and regulatory measures, for example, to drive demand for renewable fuels through mandates, or to subsidize costs through financial and other supports for production and processing of feedstock and output fuels. Such complex legal/regulatory mechanisms combine to create a multi-level or network system of governance. This article analyzes the implications of this complex framework for the production and international trading of biofuels.

Factors such as climate change, economic development, population growth, pandemics, and geopolitical instability threaten water, energy, and food (WEF) security, which consequently put sustainability at risk. However, studies that simultaneously consider WEF security and sustainability aspects still need improvement. This research aimed to build a sustainable WEF nexus framework and analyze the interrelationships among water consumption, electricity demand, food production, and ecological footprint, considering the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and external factors of the WEF nexus. For the empirical analysis, this study employed the three-stage least squares method to identify synergies and trade-offs in the sustainable WEF nexus in South Korea using panel data from 2005 to 2019. The results indicated that rice production causes excessive use of agricultural water, thereby deteriorating water availability and quality. This phenomenon leads to scarce water resources and environmental degradation, which negatively impact energy production and sustainability. Although increased agricultural productivity through automation improves food security, it can pose a threat to energy security by increasing electricity demand and energy imports. The EKC hypothesis test revealed that environmental problems cannot be solved through economic development. However, the indicators related to WEF security influence environmental sustainability rather than economic growth. These results indicate that WEF security and sustainability can be improved simultaneously by maximizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs within a sustainable WEF nexus. Therefore, this research provides a roadmap for policymakers regarding efficient ways to improve environmental quality and WEF security.