How natural resource consumption, trade, energy transition, and geopolitical risk drive sustainable development in G20 nations?

It is on a daily basis that modern humankind encounters a challenge to provide basic resources for living. Population growth leads to the emerging need to use natural resources (fresh water, oil, natural gas, coal, arable soil, etc.). The supplies and use of these resources are a persistent problem. As the process of urbanization intensifies, the awareness of the limitations of specific commercially overused resources rises. These processes are tightly connected with environment impairment and sustainable development. New technologies do increase productivity but the ratio of labor force and job positions decreases, raising an issue of future working population. Population and human resources have a multidimensional impact on economic growth of each country, which also includes continuous use of natural resources. A balanced population distribution is one of the crucial factors of functional sustainability of space, natural resource use, and social prosperity. It is in late 2020 that our planet marks the population of slightly less than eight billion and the figures will grow up to 10 billion in 2050. Changes in the structure and number of population affect many aspects of our lives. It is of an utmost pertinence to understand modern demographic processes in order to meet many challenges regarding natural resource use as these challenges are directly connected with fresh water shortage, hunger and underfeeding, climate change, diseases, economic growth, energetics shortage, clashes and wars. Even though natural resources play an important role, it is the human resources that matter the most. The specificity and exceptionality of human resources make them more relevant than other resources and they are extremely pertinent for the economic growth of any given area. Investing in human resources is more effective than investing in any other resource because of the ability of self-renewal and growth. In addition, human resources may employ all their mental, physical, and other available potentials. Hence, special attention should be paid to demographic processes and other changes taking place in regard to population. The fast scientific-technological revolution transformed the relation between demographic processes and natural resources, i.e. natural resource management. Centralization and the introduction of the so-called agribusiness market approach based on new economic models resulted in massive increase of productivity and efficiency in natural resource use, which successfully met the needs of the growing population but also led to wealth accumulation. Nevertheless, the same process caused the vast decrease and degradation of arable soil and forests, over-usage of natural resources, and irreversible destruction of habitats. Humankind gradually entered into a vicious circle of demographic growth, urbanization, increased food demands and requests for natural resources on one side and the increasing degradation of these resources on the other side. Unsustainability of natural resource management based solely on agribusiness market principles (supranational or global framework, accumulation of private property or corporate wealth) is becoming more evident. The Republic of Srpska is currently employed in the final phase of demographic transition, which is conditioned by poor economic growth and tertiarization, inadequate use of natural resources, and favorable transportation-geographical position, which has already initiated biological disturbances. Given the population density and distribution, the Republic of Srpska is an extremely homogeneous area with pronounced regional and interregional disparities. One such unbalanced spatial population distribution has negative effects on natural resource use and the total socio-economic growth. Most areas are affected by depopulation. The situation is most alarming in undersized and mountain settlements and areas along the entity borderline. The negative demographic conditions are further complicated by the negative migration balance so a large-scale depopulation becomes an emerging problem. Negative demographic features resulting from the current socio-economic situation, historical factors, and geopolitical issues from the 1990s are typical of the Republic of Srpska. All these determinants clearly indicate the unbalanced concentration and the decrease in the number of population. Early 21st century is demographically challenging for the Republic of Srpska as the number of population decreases and birth rates are negative. We may infer that demographic resources of the Republic of Srpska are humble and insufficient in regard to potential use of main natural resources (arable soil, forests, hydropotential, and mineral ore). The renewal of demographic resources depends on the constantly decreasing birth rates and, unfortunately, increasing mortality rates. If we add negative tendencies of intensive population aging and emigration, we may infer that the future use of natural resources shall be a great challenge to the economic growth of the Republic of Srpska. Hence, a question remains how to most optimally use natural and demographic resources in order to achieve a more balanced socio-economic growth in the Republic of Srpska.

The article examines the concept of use of natural in Environmental Law. It has been shown that both in law and in legal science, the concept is unreasonably used in the following meanings: sustainable use of natural resources, the use of natural resources that does not make their exploitation difficult, the use of natural resources that does not entail violation of the legislation, etc Two common legal criteria for the rational use of all natural resources have been identified: (1) achieving maximum efficiency of their use at the current level of the technique and technology development (2) with such a level of negative impact that the environment can handle itself On the basis of the named criteria, the rational use of any natural resources suggests understanding of the use of natural resources characterized by maximum efficiency in terms of the balance of private and public interests in environmental law in compliance with the current level of technological development and the extent of the negative impact that the environment is able to cope with itself because of its assimilating capacity The article defines legal differences between rational use of natural resources and their sustainable use. Also, it formulates additional legal criteria that separate the rational use of renewable and non-renewable natural resources An additional legal criterion for the rational use of renewable natural resources includes enhancement of sustainability of natural ecological systems, natural and natural-anthropogenic objects. Additional legal criteria for the rational use of non-renewable natural resources include: their most efficient use and/or extraction; their economical consumption with minimum losses at the current level of technology development It is suggested that the rational use of renewable natural resources means the use that results in strengthening natural ecological systems sustainability, natural and natural-anthropogenic objects. Rational use of non-renewable natural resources means their most efficient use and/or extraction, their economical consumption with minimum losses at the current level of technological development and such extent of the negative impact that the environment is able to overcome independently

The purpose of the paper is to develop factor model of renewable natural resources management, specifying the assessment of the amount of resource, including the natural factor, consumption level and intensity of reproduction.Methodology.The survey is based on highlighting factors influencing the reproductive capacity of natural environment.It allows, on the base of taking into consideration reproductive abilities of resources and intensity of consumption, to substantiate three models for their use, including: heavy exploitation of renewable natural resources as the most commonly used model at the current level of development of society; model of reproductive use of natural resources, stipulating for the interference from the side of authorities and management, and the model of simple reproduction of renewable natural resources, at which the resource itself and the amount of its reproduction for the next period remain constant.Practical implications.The need is substantiated in implementation of the new model for determination of the processes of managing balanced use of natural resources, which will stipulate processes of reproduction in the sphere of natural management, form new approaches to environmental protection and promote the optimal ratio between the consumption and reproduction of natural resources.At this, the processes of natural reproduction are influenced by the amount of resource itself, intensity of its reproduction and level of consumption.The main objective of the managing bodies in the sphere of the use of renewable natural resources should be securing optimal ratio between consumption and reproduction of such natural resources.The efficiency of the implementation process and reproduction of natural resources presupposes providing their simple and extended reproduction, economic effectiveness and sustainability in allocation and use of such resources.This will have positive effect on ecological and economic security of the country as a whole and enhance implementation of basic provisions of the concept of balanced and sustainable nature management.Value/originality.Solving the problem of renewable natural resources preservation requires decreasing the level of consumption of natural resources to the level lower than their recovering capabilities are.Determination of the processes for securing reproductive capabilities of natural resources, their sustainable use and preservation substantiate the importance of the use of managerial approaches aiming to form favorable environment for their preservation and accumulation, and such way of using natural goods, that will provide for increase in consumption levels due to both advance growth of goods and their reproductive capabilities.The more the deviation between reproduction and consumption is, the more effective accumulation and reproduction processes will be, as well as consumption process in future.

Energy transition, natural resource consumption and environmental degradation: The role of geopolitical risk in sustainable development

G20 roadmap for carbon neutrality: The role of Paris agreement, artificial intelligence, and energy transition in changing geopolitical landscape

Legal support for an environmentally balanced system of natural resource management in terms of European integration of Ukraine

The problems of efficient use of natural resources capacity in conditions of administrative and territorial reform show themselves the most at local level. That is why it is important to eliminate contradictions that emerge between population and economic entities on one side and territorial natural sector on the other side at the level of consolidated territorial communities (CTCs). Natural resources are the component of complex territorial natural systems. A certain combination of various types of natural resources or modifications of one type of resources within the integral system forms the territorial combination of natural resources. Therefore, the analysis of the use of natural resources capacity of communities is of utmost importance for forming of the CTCs’ development policy. The paper aims to analyze the natural resources capacity of CTCs, detect and substantiate the process of forming, use and maintenance of natural resources capacity of CTCs and to form the directions and measures to increase it. Methodology of research. The set tasks are accomplished by means of calculations groups of sub-indices: budget efficiency of the use of natural resources capacity; density of natural resources; provision with resources; rent payments. Findings. The use of natural resources capacity to fill the CTC’s budget is analyzed; density of natural resources at the territory of a CTC is determined; provision of a CTC’s population with natural resources is calculated; main aspects of rent payment as the main revenue to local budget are examined; reserves of increasing of natural resources capacity of communities are detected. Practical value. The paper proves that participation of residents in control over the use and protection of natural resources on their territory and complex assessment of natural resources based on cadaster data as information-analytical ground for making managerial decisions by CTC’s authorities on nature management are of the utmost importance for the development of communities. Keywords: administrative-territorial reform, budget, authorities’ decentralization, consolidated territorial communities, natural resources capacity, rent. REFERENCES 1. Shkuratova, І. І. (2011). Upravlinnya pryrodnoresursnym potentsialom v ekonomichniy systemi rehionu [Management of natural resources capacity in economic system of a region]. Visnyk Akademiyi mytnoyi sluzhby Ukrayiny. Seriya Derzhavne upravlinnya – Bulletin of the Academy of Customs Service of Ukraine. Series Public management, 1, 92–97 [in Ukrainian]. 2. Dmitriyevskiy, Yu. D. (1968). 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There is a limited number of studies describing the situation and importance of current or potential usage of the local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge in the region of Northern Nicaragua. To fill this gap, the author supported by a local team conducted the participative research in this rather neglected Central American region, concretely in the northern area of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark. The purpose of this research was to identify the local and indigenous knowledge regarding the present and traditional use of natural resources including land use and to analyse the contribution and potential of the usage of this knowledge for the local development sustainability. The practical long-term impact of this research is expected mainly in the form of enhancement of the local geotourism sustainability. The research process itself was of the same importance as its results, especially the involvement of the local and indigenous people. In this participative research, young local and indigenous people obtained training and served as co-investigators who later interviewed representatives of the local households. The other field methods included life history of elders, discussions in the focal groups involving common people from local communities as well as the mapping and photo-documentation of the identified local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge. The participative character of the research process not only facilitated the data collection and validation but also supported the revival of the community memory and revitalization of its cultural and natural identity. The research findings point out that the more distant and more dispersed are the local settlements the better conserved local and indigenous knowledge regarding the traditional land use and other use of natural resources is. Among the best-conserved local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge in the northern area of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark was the usage of the earth material and plants. The local indigenous people are not expressing and transmitting the spiritual dimension of their traditional environmental knowledge (sacred times or sites, rites, rituals or taboos regarding the traditional land use and other use of natural resources) anymore because they were experiencing a continuous repression realized by the dominant (colonial) society in the past. They are not accustomed to appreciating the aesthetic values of the landscape as do visitors, but they are open to share their authentic life with them. The majority of the identified traditional land use and the use of the other natural resources as well as related traditional environmental knowledge in the researched northern region of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark seems to be more sustainable than the present land use practices and the use of natural resources generally for agriculture, medicine, constructions etc. The local communities should dedicate much more attention and efforts to conserve, transmit and use this local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge to enhance the sustainability of their development as well as geotourism emerging in this part of the aspiring geopark.

Natural resources, e.g., metals, industrial minerals, water, and soil, are the essential basis for our economy and well-being. We have to know where these raw materials come from and how they are mined. Sustainable development requires the maintenance, rational use and enhancement of natural resources, as well as a balanced consideration of ecology, economy and social justice. Four general rules concerning the implementation of sustainable development for renewable and non-renewable resources are discussed. Examples of the consumption of selected materials from historical times to the present day are presented, as well as of regional distribution, usage (in contrast to consumption), lifetimes of resources, the supply-and-demand cycle, recycling and substitution in modern times. To fulfill the requirement of sustainable development, the efficiency with which resources are utilized has to be improved. The learning process, often driven by financial rewards, leads from one technology to a better one, thus increasing the efficiency of the use of a resource or commodity. Examples of learning curves are discussed. Industrial countries have to transfer their advanced technologies to developing countries in order to avoid undesirable development in the mining industry and use of natural resources in those regions. The use of the best available technology by the mining industry, taking into account economic considerations, and the necessity to establish environmental guidelines are essential if environmental impact of the production of non-renewable resources is to be minimized. Far more critical than the production of non-renewable resources under the aspect of sustainable development and the capacity of the pollutant sinks of the Earth is the element of natural attenuation with regard to the resources soil and water.

Agriculture will have to meet the future challenges posed by food security by increasing production while conserving natural resources. The conservation of natural resources is important because of the dependence of agriculture on these resources. This means that the natural environment should be managed in such a way as to assure food security for the present and future generations. So, food security is a matter not only of quantity but also of continuity. In this context, the responsible use of natural resources plays a role of paramount importance. Among the basic natural resources upon which life depends are soil and water. The responsible use of soil and water can be described in terms of sustainability or sustainable development. Sustainable development can be viewed as a transformation process in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the direction of technological innovation and adaptation, along with institutional changes, are all in harmony and enhance both the current and future potential, to satisfy the needs and aspirations of a growing world population. This process implies long-term perspective for planning and integrated policies for implementation. Increasing agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable manner will be crucial in responding to these challenges. In the past, the increased demand for food has been satisfied by the expansion of agricultural land. Today, the availability of new land for cultivation and additional water resources are limited. Moreover, the more or less uncontrolled increase of agricultural production over the last few decades, in both industrialized and developing countries, has pushed agricultural production to, and in many cases over, the edge of sustainability. This means that the traditional methods for increasing production are facing a new challenge; reconciling agricultural development and the conservation of natural resources. Agricultural engineering has been applying scientific principles for optimizing the use and management of natural resources for centuries, and with the new millennium it is playing an increasingly important role. There are at least two reasons for this. First, the wise use of land and water resources will play a role of paramount importance in the provision of food for future generations. Second, the demand for different land and water uses is increasing tremendously, especially in the developed world. Rational water management and land-use planning will help to reconcile these different demands and assure food security, while conserving the environment. In this context, the prospects of increasing the gross cultivated area, in both developed and developing countries, are limited by the dwindling number of economically attracDaniele De Wrachien

Abstract:Sustainable development means that human societies survive and meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is as if existing resources are to be preserved for future generations and the resources that we are running out of are to be reduced or used in such a way that they remain usable for a long time. In modern times, due to population expansion and overuse of natural resources, resources are dwindling day by day and the world's population is not benefiting from these resources. Therefore the concept of sustainable development has become very popular globally and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) to ensure the balanced and sustainable economic and social development of human society. We find in the Qur'an and Sunnah the basic concept of the proposed measures for sustainable development to protect and augment the resources of the state. Many verses in the Holy Qur'an draw attention to the best management of resources. While some verses are clearly related to natural collective resources and directly or indirectly call for proper arrangement of natural collective resources. This article will explain the concept of safe use of natural resources in the light of the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Sīrah of the Prophet (S.A.W). Keywords: Safe Use of Natural Resources, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development and Islamic point of view, Sustainable Development in light of Sirah, Use of Natural Resources in light of Sirah

The paper discusses a system of criteria that make it possible to assess the level of environmental safety of an enterprise. The model of the “nature-population-production” system and the very interaction of the system are presented. Environmental problems, problems of ecology of production, and consumption of natural resources lead to an increase in the rate of growth of production, which, in turn, leads to an increase in demand for resources, and as a consequence, to their irrational use, and then to massive emissions into the environment as waste. In order to improve the environmental situation in the country, some areas for improving the greening of the production sector are presented, which increase the efficiency of consumption and use of natural resources, while reducing environmental pollution by emissions, effluents, and waste. The main indicators that determine the level of environmental management are presented - indicators of resource intensity, an indicator of the degree of restoration of natural resources, and indicators of saving primary natural resources. All three indicators are part of the specific consumption of natural resources and can be used at the enterprise to control the consumption of natural resources, as well as in order to minimize waste through the use of secondary resources and low-waste technologies. The established ways of improving the greening of the production sector are able to improve the ecological situation in the regions of the country and establish the relationship between man, nature and the production sector.

Natural resource consumption and industrial green transformation: Does the digital economy matter?

Fats and Oils as Renewable Feedstock for the Chemical Industry

Sustainable development is a key tool for the management of areas with natural and cultural wealth. Particularly in protected areas, the sustainable use of natural resources enables the rational use of environmental resources and environmental awareness, both for the protection from increased tourism and for mild development of downgraded areas. Land planning in such areas is a tool for controlling the intensive use of resources and for creating appropriate infrastructure. This paper explores the perceptions and attitudes of the local community of the region of Pantokratoras, in north Corfu, Greece, on the development of ecotourism and on environmental education, as well as the residents' general attitude towards sustainable development in an area, part of which is included in the Natura 2000 and is ideal for alternative tourism and environmental education. The strong development of tourism in Corfu and coastal areas will inevitably lead to an uncontrolled growth of the Pantokratoras mountain. Using questionnaires, this study investigates: a) the degree of awareness of the local community in protecting and preserving the environment, b) the knowledge of the local population on sustainable development, and c) the willingness of the local community to be active in sustainable tourism development plans. The analysis of the questionnaires shows the local community is interested in the protection and conservation of natural and cultural resources, while it also believes that sustainable tourism development is the ideal model for economic revitalizing and retaining local population.