Innovations and barriers in sustainable and green finance for advancing sustainable development goals

Considering the existing funding conditionalities in India, the small and medium enterprises have to face stringent norms as sustainable financing requirements based on Environment, Society and Governance (ESG) disclosures are becoming mandatory for every organization worldwide. The onus still turns to be more intense than ever for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The main purpose of this paper is to warn SMEs of the upcoming sustainable financing conditionalities and develop a clear understanding among the SMEs on why they should adapt sustainable financing norms and be resilient towards sustainable financing and ESG disclosures. This paper also tends to inspire SMEs for entrepreneurial growth by striking a balance between their financial requirements and mandatory obligations to benefit themselves, society and the Indian economy. Moreover, this paper focuses on the conceptual stipulation and early adaption of sustainable finance framework by the SMEs and strives to fathom the gap between the sustainable financing realities and the expected level of SMEs’ exposure to sustainable financing and mandatory ESG disclosures. The research methodology identifies seven such areas interconnecting the sustainable financing and UN sustainable development goals (SDGs); Environment (Climate action & Carbon tax), Society (Sustainable Consumption & Externalities), Business (Sustainable Production) and Governance (Green finance, & ESG disclosures) and investigates to find the gap between the perception and expectation of SMEs about the mandatory requirements for sustainable financing and sustainability adaption in India.

Green banking, green financing in green projects and sustainable finance are very popular and significant terms to build up an environment friendly and green economy. This study is aiming at evaluating the performance and present scenario of green banking, green financing in Bangladesh with a focus on the financial sector’s integration of environmental sustainability in banking practices. By physical visit to check out green banking practices and collecting data from some selected commercial banks and analyzing data of Bangladesh Bank and the performance reports of the sample commercial banks, the research tries to find out the trend of green banking and green financing practices in Bangladesh with an effort to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through trend analysis, it assesses a result that in recent years there is a rising trend in practicing green banking and green financing under sustainable finance. Some challenges in green banking practices are also discussed with some recommendations for strengthening green banking practices in Bangladesh. As the study is done with the latest financial data analysis, it is expected to help the policy makers to take more effective action plan for increasing green banking practices and green financing in Bangladesh to achieve the sustainability in advancement with green economy.

Environmental Assessment (EA) is an environmental protection, generic environmental governance and good governance tool by which the consequences of natural processes and human activities on the environment are predicted and evaluated, to minimise adverse consequences of proposed development project-proposals and maximise positive consequences of the proposals, in order to ensure qualitative environment and social equity, so as to achieve Sustainable Development (SD). Thus, by its inherent nature, EA promotes beneficial environment, by protecting and managing the environment, and contributing to SD and thus the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) in sovereign states, especially developing countries like Nigeria, which are richly endowed with major natural resources but plagued by the resource-curse. Particularly, based on life-cycle assessment and strategic environmental assessment, EA, has the potential to address the ongoing global problem and challenge of climate change, by contributing to improved environmental protection and management of life-cycle development projects, especially major natural resources extractive industrial development projects, in resources-rich global states like Nigeria. This paper demonstrates how EA in the form of life-cycle development projects-level assessment (Environmental Impact Assessment) and Strategic Environmental Assessment in Nigeria can promote the objectives of the EA process and practice, towards achieving informed environmental decision-making, high environmental quality and social equity and high-profile benchmarked business responsibility and sustainability practices, in the effort towards SD and thus the achievement of UNSDGs, particularly Goals 13 and 17 of the UNSDGs (respectively captioned ‘Climate Action’ and ‘Partnerships for the Goals’) in the country. Keywords: Environmental Assessment (EA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Extractive Industrial Operations (EIOs), Petroleum Development Projects, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Government Social Responsibility (GSR), Good Environmental Governance (GEG), Sustainable Development (SD) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). DOI : 10.7176/JLPG/92-07 Publication date: December 31 st 2019

The article examines the role of the eco -financial sector in the implementation of sustainable development goals through the creation of a new ecological system of global financial resources -a system of responsible and green financing. Favorable economic conditions and significant socio-economic benefits are at the heart of banks’ transition to responsible and green finance. Provided that these principles are implemented on an ongoing basis, in the near future, one can expect an increase in investments in environmental and social projects, and, as a result, an improvement in the environmental situation and an increase in the standard of living of the population different countries of the world. In this paper, the authors analyzed the main directions of development of a new ecological system of global financial resources - a system of responsible and green financing in Russia and abroad and the role of the eco - financial sector in the implementation of the UN sustainable development goals in terms of combating climate change, industrialization, innovation and infrastructure, affordable and clean energy, clean water and sanitation. The analysis showed that foreign and domestic banks and other financial institutions are actively involved in organizing and conducting the issuance of “green” bonds.

Subject. Every 8-10 years, the global economy faces financial crises that slow down and drive back its development. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals were announced as one of the ways to smooth the cycles. Most countries are actively involved in the fulfilment of this global project. An important precondition for the transition to a sustainable development path is the participation of the corporate sector. However, under capitalism, solving such a problem is not an easy task since many items within the UN's Sustainable Development Goals are not profitable for corporations and do not contribute directly to capitalisation. In this regard, the study and search for opportunities to introduce the UN's Sustainable Development Goals into corporate practices is a very important issue which corresponds to the modern global agenda of economic development. The purpose of the study is to analyse the involvement of major Russian corporations with the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals using open data based on corporate reports. The methods of the study included the analysis and synthesis of publicly reported data, grouping and expert assessment of published information related to the topic of the UN's SDGs in the annual reports of Russian corporations. Conclusions. The study revealed positive dynamics related to the involvement of companies with the achievement of the UN's SDGs. It is more pronounced in the areas where the UN's SDGs intersect the economic interests of corporations. It was shown that there is no uniform form for information disclosure, significant differences in the volume and quality of information presented in the companies’ reporting, and no common understanding of a number of goals by corporations. According to the results, most of the work aimed at fulfilling the UN's SDGs is carried out by Russian export companies with a predominance of private investors within the structure of business ownership. State-owned companies and companies focused on the domestic market are lagging behind in their development in this direction by all indications. As a recommendation, it was proposed to develop public reporting formats and better disclose the processes related to the fulfilment of the UN's SDGs.

Effective global collaboration is crucial to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It requires an understanding of the needs of individual countries and their expectations related to bioeconomy. With the aim to explore the prospective developments in the global bioeconomy over the next 20 years, the German Bioeconomy Council, an independent advisory body to the German Federal Government, commissioned BIOCOM-AG to invite experts from around the globe to share their insights in a global expert survey. The survey was conducted online in autumn 2017. 345 experts from 46 countries completed the questionnaire about future developments and strategies in the global bioeconomy. As claimed by the experts, the upcoming bioeconomy must primarily meet humanity’s needs in the energy, agriculture, and food sectors. Moreover, innovative products based on renewable resources are anticipated to be of great importance. Even though all UN SDGs will be affected by future bioeconomy success stories, five SDGs stood out within the sample: SDG 12: ‘responsible consumption and production’; SDG 9: ‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’; SDG 13: ‘climate action’; SDG 7: ‘affordable and clean energy’; and SDG 11: ‘sustainable cities and communities’. About three quarters of the experts emphasized the need to specifically address three conflicting goals in any future bioeconomy strategy: non-food uses of arable land, use of crop land to produce feedstock for meat, milk and egg production and, finally, the conversion of virgin forests into agricultural land. Most experts stated that reducing food loss and waste is crucial to eradicating the world hunger problem. The proposed solutions relied greatly on innovation and technological development. Bioeconomy expertise and know-how should be shared in close cooperation between developed and developing economies to reach UN SDGs. A supportive political framework would be the ultimate goal towards furthering the progress of a future bioeconomy all over the world.

The <scp>SDGs</scp>: A change agenda shaping the future of business and humanity at large

Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels is the German publishers and booksellers association. Sustainability and working towards achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are top priorities for the organization. This includes the aim of reducing carbon emissions. Börsenverein is a member of the International Publishers Association, the Federation of European Publishers and the European and International Booksellers Federation as well as a corresponding member of STM and collaborates with all these associations in its work on sustainability. At the domestic level, Börsenverein has established a Sustainability Working Group with three task forces to lead its efforts, focusing on promoting the book sector’s achievement of selected SDGs, such as SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). At the same time, the book sector has an outstanding role and opportunity in promoting other SDGs through the works it publishes, distributes, and makes accessible to readers. Börsenverein strives to foster the positive impacts of this “carbon handprint” on SDGs such as SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Concrete first steps include an external sustainability audit, member-facing events, and a conference.

This paper presents an overview of the meat supply chain in the perspective of main UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). To perform this overview, meat supply chain was presented with five main stakeholders (livestock farmers, slaughterhouses, meat processors, retailers and consumers). As this chain is specific, four SDGs have been revealed as most important, as follows: SDG6 — Clean water and sanitation; SDG7 — Affordable and clean energy; SDG12 — Sustainable consumption and production; SDG13 — Climate action. Discussion and literature review was performed for each of the four UN SDGs. In addition, other UN SDGs of interest for this supply chain have been briefly presented.

Pranic Agriculture (PA) is a holistic, energy-based agricultural method that aims to enhance the vitality of soil, plants, and the environment by leveraging prana (life force). Rooted in energy healing principles, PA focuses on cleansing energetic impurities, energizing crops, shielding against harmful influences, and programming intentions for optimal yield and resilience. Unlike conventional farming, it emphasizes non-invasive, chemical-free practices that align with nature's energy dynamics. Pranic agriculture consist of applying pranic healing techniques to seeds, soil, and plants to balance biofields, improve physiological pathways, and foster ecological harmony. The approach enhances water retention in soil, minimizes chemical runoff, and boosts plant disease resistance. It has showed potential in increasing crop yield, improving nutritional quality, and promoting sustainable practices, making it particularly suitable for farmers in developing regions. This indicate that PA aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15). PA reduces environmental impact, supports climate resilience, enhances biodiversity, and fosters sustainable land management. Partnerships (SDG 17) can integrate PA into mainstream agriculture, validating its effectiveness through collaborative research and knowledge exchange. PA offers a promising energy-based, sustainable solution to modern agricultural challenges, supporting ecological and human health while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

Objective: The aim of the research is to propose a Sustainable Management Plan for Vale dos Dinosaurs Park aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Theoretical Framework: The theoretical findings regarding Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are described by (SILVA; LIMA, 2020), (Costa, 2023), and (CESAR et al., 2018), focusing on the approach to the definition and characterization of SWOT Analysis by Ulrich (2002) and Sapiro (2003), underpinning the investigative phenomenon. Manager (2009) bolstered the theme of sustainable development through SWOT analysis. Method: The adopted methodology included the analysis of previous studies by Costa and Martins (2023) on the SWOT tool and Sustainability Indicators in the Dinosaurs Park in Sousa, Paraiba. Based on these sources, a strategic plan aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focused on environmental conservation, regional socio-economic development, and paleontological preservation of the Dinosaurs Park, was developed. Results and Conclusion: The study emphasizes the relevance of SWOT analysis in sustainable management, identifying key points to boost competitiveness and profitability consciously. It integrates SWOT principles with sustainability indicators, aiming at environmental conservation and socio-economic development. Research Implications: The research identifies opportunities for sustainable management of Vale dos Dinosaurs Park, such as recycling programs, energy conservation, and collaborations with community organizations. It proposes the development of a Sustainable Management Plan aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing effective strategies, adoption of new technologies, and partnerships with other parks to promote sustainability. Originality/Value: The integrated and proactive approach to sustainable management of Vale dos Dinosaurs Park, proposing a Sustainable Management Plan aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrates a holistic and updated vision regarding the environmental and sustainability challenges faced by park management.

The article analyzes the correspondence between the national development goals of the Russian Federation and the UN sustainable development goals in the field of ensuring the quality and accessibility of education. It has been substantiated that the implementation of sustainable development goals in Russia is of great importance for activities to achieve the country’s national goals and development priorities. A comparative analysis of the education system in Russia as a source and factor of socio-economic development and improving the population’s quality of life is carried out. An analysis of the comparison between SDG 4 and the national project “Education” led to the following conclusion: the consistency of national policy measures with plans to achieve SDG 4 depends, first of all, on political priorities and national interests of the country and requires intersectoral coordination in planning and monitoring the implementation of targeted activities. Analysis of the compliance of the development goals of Russia within the framework of the implementation of the national projects “Labor productivity and employment support” and “Small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and support of individual entrepreneurial initiative” and SDG 8 showed the importance of institutional and financial instruments, the active use of which in the Russian economy is facilitated by the significant changes in legislation. The problem of mismatch of indicators of the studied documents is determined. For these are no statistical data in the framework of the implementation of sustainable development goals. It is concluded that the national development goals of the Russian Federation in the field of ensuring the quality and accessibility of education are generally consistent with the UN sustainable development goals.

Advancing the pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Initiatives of selected publicly listed companies in the Philippines

Imagine a world where businesses thrive by regenerating resources, fostering equity, and prioritizing innovation to protect the planet. This vision is made possible by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a framework of 17 global targets addressing challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change. The SDGs urge businesses to move beyond profit as a sole measure of success, embracing environmental stewardship, social inclusion, and ethical governance. This study examines two key aspects: how businesses are transforming their ecosystems by adopting sustainable models aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Innovation &amp; Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG 13 (Climate Action); and the role of innovation and collaboration in these efforts. These goals guide businesses to balance profitability with positive global impact, demonstrating that sustainability is not a cost but an investment in long-term success for businesses, communities, and the planet.

The troubling reports of the increasing CO2 emissions in 2017 are in and taken together with the recent political developments across the globe, further highlight the need for intensified research into climate change mitigation as one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Advanced Sustainable Systems embarked on a mission to publish the best and the most important research results and concepts, addressing one or more of the SDGs in: Climate action (SDG 13), Renewable energy (SDG 7), Sustainable food and agriculture (SDGs 2, 3), Urban development and sustainable living (SDGs 9, 11), Ecology (SDGs 6, 14, 15), Cradle-to-cradle processing (SDG 12), Social and economic challenges (SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16) and Policy and governance (SDGs 16,17). For details, please go to “Aims & Scope” of our journal. While the majority of the contributions published in Advanced Sustainable Systems so far address recent developments in the fields of renewable and sustainable energy, we are gradually publishing a broader topical spectrum, thus, covering more of the mentioned SDGs. This is reflected in the upcoming special issues in 2018 covering diverse topics such as renewable energy technologies, natural hazards and biodiversity. So far, researchers from China and the United States have made the largest contribution to the journal, followed by authors from Australia, Japan, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, and the Netherlands (see Figure). We would like to highlight a few papers of high interest from the areas of energy, environment, and cradle-to-cradle with applications in energy. Dendrite growth is a challenging problem for batteries with lithium metal electrodes. Researchers from the Manthiram group at the University of Texas showed that by simply wrapping Li electrodes in a Kimwipe paper dendrite growth can be suppressed, leading to significantly improved stability and cyclability.1 Solving the problem of the ever increasing frequency of flood and drought periods is vital since more than 40% of the world's population is affected by clean water scarcity (addressed in SDG #6). Fratalocchi and co-workers from KAUST2 have come up with a really innovative idea. They loaded super-dark nanoparticles on a spongy substrate which can float on water and by converting solar radiation into heat, seawater could be transformed into clean water steam. In addition, the whole system is recyclable and can be produced on a large scale. Another major environmental concern is the overwhelming accumulation of plastic waste. 269 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide in 2015, with 50 million tons of that within the EU. 40% of this amount was for product packaging. Although the recycling rate of packaging is the highest of all plastic products, in the EU it measures to less than 40%. Gao, Richards and co-workers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology reviewed the recent advances in the efficient and complete sorting of plastic waste.3 In addition to publishing the very best of scientific research, one of the first milestones in the history of a young journal is its inclusion in the major indexing services. We are happy to announce that Advanced Sustainable Systems has been included in the Web of Science (the Emerging Sources Citation Index), which is an important step for increased discoverability and accessibility. Equipped with many great ideas and a fantastic feedback from our board members, authors and reviewers, we look forward to further developing Advanced Sustainable Systems, after a very promising start. We would like to thank all who made this journal a success and to offer you the chance to get complimentary access to the next volume of Advanced Sustainable Systems!