Concept Of Sustainable Development Research Articles

Ensuring sustainable development by prioritizing national economic interests

Aim. To develop recommendations on the formation of a national model of sustainable development of the Russian economy based on the identification of its key vectors, components in the conditions of external and internal shocks and changes caused by the transformation of strategic guidelines for sustainable development.Objectives. To analyze the peculiarities of the implementation of the global concept of sustainable development of the United Nations (UN) under the influence of deglobalization processes; to substantiate the need to transform the established foundations of sustainable development of economic systems in order to ensure the national economic interests of Russia; to propose the author’s approach to the formation of the structure and content of the national model of sustainable development of economic systems; to build a scheme of interaction between different levels of the economic system, ensuring the development of the national model of sustainable development of economic systems.Methods. In the course of the research we applied general scientific methods and techniques: analysis and synthesis, generalization of practical experience, expert assessments, comparison, abstraction and concretization, monitoring, modeling.Results. Based on the analysis of modern processes of deglobalization, the necessity of changing the structure and content of the concept of sustainable development of the Russian economy in the conditions of external shocks caused by the transformation of the global agenda of sustainable development was substantiated. The author’s approach to the formation of the structure and content of the national model of sustainable development of economic systems is proposed, which supplements the current triad of sustainable development (economy, ecology and social sphere) with innovation and institutional components and is scalable to the meso(regions) and micro-level (enterprises). The structure of the model sets socio-economic security, innovation security and the quality of the institutional environment in the conditions of external and internal shocks as controllable parameters, focusing on the creation of conditions for convergent convergence of meso-level systems. The scheme of organization of interaction between macro-, mesoand microlevels of the economic system is constructed, in which at the macrolevel the foundations of sustainable development of the country’s economy on the basis of national interests are set, management and control of mechanisms of sustainable development of economic systems of other levels are organized, and at the mesolevel the multiplier effect is provided for in the implementation of economic mechanisms of interaction of all elements of the regional ecosystem; the key task of the microlevel is the implementation of effective management of the regional ecosystem.Conclusions. Sustainable development of the Russian economy in the current conditions of global challenges is a complex task, the solution of which requires a systemic and holistic approach based on the prioritization of national economic interests. The proposed model, which determines the general guidelines at the macro level, suggests the organization of interaction of all three levels of the economy (macro-, mesoand micro-) with the provision of multiplier effect at the meso level, which requires the elaboration of adaptation mechanisms to the conditions of regional ecosystems and the specifics of business entities, suggests the continuation of the study.

Impact Study of Environmental Tax Reform Policy on Corporate ESG Performance

The concept of sustainable development is an important issue concerning the national economy and people's livelihood. With the prosperity and development of the economy and society, human beings are increasingly aware of the importance of the ecological environment. This article takes the listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2011 to 2021 as the research sample, using the double difference method to explore the impact of environmental protection tax reform on corporate ESG performance and its mechanism. The study found that the implementation of the “Environmental Protection Tax Law” has a restraining effect on corporate ESG performance. Mechanism analysis reveals that green technology innovation, social welfare expenditures, and the proportion of overseas background executives play an intermediary role in the impact of environmental protection tax reform on corporate ESG performance, with the indirect effect of green technology innovation being the largest. This article provides a new research perspective on the impact of environmental protection tax reform on corporate ESG performance and offers empirical insights for improving environmental tax policies and enhancing corporate ESG performance.

Simulation-Driven Strategies for Improving Natural Ventilation in Educational Spaces: A Case Study of An Educational Building in Sari

Any architectural space, especially the architecture of an educational complex, should provide comfort for human beings in the face of geographical and climatic characteristics. Climatic factors have always profoundly affected the formation of the physical environment of buildings. Energy demand has always been one of society’s most critical issues. Saving resources is one of the architectural design goals to achieve a suitable environment-friendly architecture. This architectural approach, which comes from the concepts of sustainable development, is one of the basic human needs in the current world due to its compatibility with the environment. The goal is to build constructions that can improve the climate, prevent the waste of energy consumption, and avoid the adverse effects of construction on the environment. In traditional Iranian architecture, there are numerous passive methods; natural ventilation is an essential part of Iranian conventional building design, which is being ignored today. Since humid and moderate climates have high relative humidity on most days of the year, one important goal is to move the stagnant moisture inside to establish a suitable thermal environment for occupants. The research method of the present study is descriptive-analytical, which has been experimented with according to library studies in addition to climate and meteorological data. Then, analysis of the data is provided by an energy simulator. It is concluded that the best orientation of the educational building is south, which can provide proper natural ventilation and solar heat gain. In other words, optimal interior air quality is achieved in this orientation.

Operational and Environmental Assessment for Night Markets under the Informal Economy Impacts: Insights from the Case Study of Selangor, Malaysia

As an expression of the informal economy, the night market is not only a place that could attract locals to buy goods but also a place where tourists can experience the local characteristics. While the night market brought economic vitality to the city's economy, it also brought some issues. A comprehensive literature review of night markets revealed that existing studies paid less attention to outdoor night markets' spatial operations and waste management. Grounded in the connection between sustainability and night markets, the present study reflected on existing research findings by adopting different periods of fieldwork to conduct a case study of the night market in Jalan 17/1A, Selangor, Malaysia. The study focused on three aspects of night markets: spatial operations, waste, and waste recycling. It found that night market operations brought localized regional economic benefits while causing more severe pollution issues, significantly affecting the region's environmental health and sustainable development. The findings revealed that local government regulation of night market businesses in Malaysia is weak (the issuance of business licenses is informed of the operational guidelines), and there is also no relevant monitoring and penalties by the local government to intervene in the misbehavior of night market consumers. Based on the results of the field survey and combined with the concept of sustainable development, the present study recommended suggestions for the future spatial operation and waste management of night markets. Innovative and novel perspectives of the study combined qualitative observations and data analysis to comprehensively examine how spatial considerations and waste management strategies intersect in the unique context of night markets—aiming to fill the gaps in the sustainability of night market operations and to protect the ecology of the surrounding territorial environment, contributing to the discourse on sustainable development.

Mechanical Properties and Durability of Sustainable UHPC Using Industrial Waste Residues and Sea/Manufactured Sand

Abstract Considering the continuous development of sustainable development, energy saving, and emission reduction concepts, it is very important to reduce concrete’s cement content in order to improve its environmental impact. Using a reactive admixture to replace part of the cement in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) can effectively improve the overall performance of the concrete and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is an important aspect of environmental protection. Here, industrial waste residue (fly ash and slag), sea sand (SS), and manufactured sand (MS) were used to produce UHPC under standard curing conditions to reduce the material cost and make it more environmentally friendly and sustainable. The effects of water–binder ratio, contents of cementitious materials, types of sands, and content of steel fibers on the mechanical performance of UHPC under standard curing were investigated experimentally. In addition, evaluations of the impermeability, chloride, and freeze-thaw resistance of various UHPCs produced were conducted by investigating the effects of various factors on the depth under hydraulic pressure and electric flux of UHPC, as well as the mass loss, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, and compressive strength of UHPC specimens after freeze-thaw cycles. The obtained experimental results show that the SS-UHPC and MS-UHPC prepared by standard curing exhibit high strength, excellent impermeability, and chloride resistance. The frost-resistant grade of all groups of UHPCs prepared by standard curing was greater than F500 and had excellent freeze–thaw resistance, including those produced with local tap water or artificial seawater. The investigation presented in this paper could contribute to the production of new low-cost and environmentally friendly UHPCs and accelerate the application of UHPC in engineering structures.

Management of Innovative Development of the Regional Industrial Complex: Theoretical Aspect

Relevance. Innovative development is currently an integral part of any organization, city, country and the world as a whole. Innovative development determines the potential and ability to achieve a goal through the use of new technologies The modern world is a dynamic system at the stage of globalization associated with the expansion of international integration and the creation of regional integration associations. The modern economic paradigm, as the main instrument of systems, is exposed to the danger of wasteful consumption of resources caused by market competition. The concept of sustainable development of socio-economic systems is a new paradigm, the main content of which is a global unregulated economy and the need to find comprehensive solutions to achieve the goals of social, economic and environmental development. Thus, managing the innovative development of the regional industrial complex is a pressing issue, the study of which should begin with consideration of theoretical aspects. The purpose of the study is to study the theoretical aspects of managing the innovative development of the regional industrial complex. The objectives of the scientific article are to reflect the research ideas of Russian and foreign authors regarding the basic concepts that reveal the topic of research, such as “innovative development”, “industrial complex”; approaches to the composition of the structure of the industrial complex of the region are considered. Methodology. The research methodology includes the use of methods of comparative analysis of the points of view of scientists of Russian and foreign science, analysis and synthesis. The results of the study are presented by a comparative analysis of theoretical views on the main scientific categories of management of innovative development of the regional industrial complex, such as “innovative development”, “industrial complex”, the structure of the regional industrial complex. Conclusions. A theoretical study of managing the innovative development of the industrial complex of the region was carried out in the context of a discussion between representatives of Russian and foreign science, substantiating the author's concept of managing the innovative development of the industrial complex of the region.

Sustainable Development of Mining Regions in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

The Arctic’s specific conditions require increased attention to natural and human capital. Therefore, implementing the principles of the sustainable development concept, balancing economic, social, and environmental goals is of paramount importance. Mining is at the heart of the strategy for the socio-economic development of Russia’s Arctic territories. This study’s objective is topical: to justify measures lifting the restrictions on sustainable development of AZRF (the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation) mining regions. The authors propose a method to identify AZRF regions where mining determines the socio-economic development level (Komi Republic, Nenets Autonomous District, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, Yakutia, and Chukotka Autonomous District). The multi-factor regression analysis conducted confirms the hypothesis that living standards and achievement of social standards in the AZRF mining regions depend on the income and fiscal capacity levels, which makes the state more responsible for the region’s development. The authors prove the expediency of reconsidering the proportions of rental income redistributed between the budgets of the AZRF mining regions and the federal budget in favor of the former, until migration and natural population growth become positive and reach the target indicators of strategies of socio-economic development. The study’s results can be used to justify the state policy while elaborating strategies for AZRF development.

Evaluation of Low-Carbon Economic Efficiency under Industrial Clustering and Study of Regional Differences, Taking Xinjiang as an Example

As a major resource region, Xinjiang is both China’s energy security base and an important hub connecting Asia and Europe. Following the country’s call for carbon emission reduction, the Xinjiang government proposes to accelerate the construction of eight major industrial clusters in 2023. The concept of sustainable development is also reflected in the industrial clusters in areas such as new energy. In this study, we combined panel data from 14 regions and cities in Xinjiang from 2006 to 2020 and analyzed the synergy between the development of industrial clusters, carbon emissions, and economic growth using a coupling coordination degree model. Subsequently, we used the super-efficiency slack-based measure (SE-SBM) and Dagum’s Gini coefficient to analyze the spatial disequilibrium of efficiency measures and efficiency cases. The results show the following: (1) Overall, the industrial clusters, carbon emissions, and economic growth in the 14 regions and cities of Xinjiang are not well coordinated. The best reported level has been medium coordination, but there exists a certain degree of correlation among the three. (2) Low-carbon economic efficiency under the influence of industrial clusters in the 14 regions and cities shows significant regional differences. The regions and cities with low-carbon economic efficiency greater than 0.8, which is significantly better than the other regions in terms of efficiency, are all located in northern Xinjiang. (3) During the study period, the overall regional difference in low-carbon economic efficiency under industrial clusters in Xinjiang decreased from 0.183 to 0.17. However, the regional differences were still large. The conclusions indicate that policies for industrial clusters in Xinjiang can promote industrial development, and there may be a correlation between them and the low-carbon economy. This will effectively contribute to local sustainable development. However, overall regional differences are significant, and the degree of coordination is low. Therefore, we suggest that the government can share the advantages of development by constructing cross-regional cooperation platforms. At the same time, the Xinjiang government should make full use of the rich local wind and solar energy resources and explore a low-carbon path toward transforming the traditional energy industry. It can also be seen that industrial clusters in Xinjiang can effectively promote local sustainable development.

An in-house numerical code to assist in designing a small-scale red-hot air furnace

The implementation of a sustainable development concept that involves an improvement of resource use efficiency, whilst maximizing the utilization of locally available biomass resources, has contributed to an increased interest in the combined heat and power systems based on externally fired gas turbines. Since the high-temperature gas/gas heat exchangers intended to heat the turbine inlet air are the key components of such systems, intensified research on exchangers of this type has been observed over the last decade. This work presents the in-house calculation code developed to analyze the heat transfer between the hot-side and cold-side streams in the small-scale red-hot air furnace of a unique design. The performed calculations, based on the assumed thermal and flow operation parameters and technical specifications, allowed to determine the required heat exchange surface area of the furnace to achieve the target outlet conditions. The calculation code allows for determining the geometry of a furnace, including its overall dimensions, number of tubes, and their bent sections in the heat exchange parts. The study of the laboratory-scale furnace performance has demonstrated its good agreement with the simulation results, thereby proving the code a reliable tool in designing.

Role of Higher Education Students’ Environmental Awareness and Environmental Concern in the Purchase Intention of Circular Economy Products

A circular economy is a concept of sustainable development that enhances a company’s image and influences consumers’ attitudes toward the corporation. Trust, commitment, and identification in relationship marketing are key factors for fostering long-term relationships. This study aimed to examine the relationship quality and attitudes between higher education students’ personal environmental perspectives and circular economy products, further investigating their impact on the purchase intention of circular economy products. Therefore, this research proposed and tested a theoretical framework that combined variables, including environmental concern, environmental awareness, relationship quality with circular economy products, and attitudes, to determine the influencing factors on higher education students’ purchase intention of circular economy products. This study adopted a survey design method and employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 443 higher education students from Taiwan and Thailand. The results indicated that environmental awareness and environmental concern are critical antecedent factors for attitude and relationship quality (trust and identification) in circular economy products. In addition, trust and attitude in circular economy products have a significant impact on commitment. Furthermore, trust, commitment, and identification with circular economy products are crucial determining factors for the purchase intention of circular economy products. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing higher education students’ purchase intention of circular economy products, thereby achieving the goal of environmental sustainability.

Assessment of the Chesapeake Bay watershed socio-ecological system through the Circles of Coastal Sustainability framework

The concern with preserving natural resources for the future has been capturing global attention due to the state of decline of productive ecosystems. Chesapeake Bay, a large estuary located on the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States of America is such a productive ecosystem supporting thousands of animal and plants species, and the surrounding human population. Despite the concept of sustainable development, there has been continued pressure on the natural resources and the ecosystem services of the Bay. Institutional restoration and management efforts have been extensive, generating organizations, agreements, regulations and projects, among others. This research assesses Chesapeake Bay’s sustainability in four domains: environment, social, economy, and governance, using the Circles of Coastal Sustainability methodology. Each of the four domains has five categories, and each category is evaluated by the authors’ expert judgment using indicators related to the socio-ecological system and the definition of sustainable development. The article proposes a global sustainability score developed by a literature review of sustainability evaluated through the expert judgment of the authors. The results from the framework gave a “Satisfactory” score to the overall system; the environment and economic domains obtained the “Satisfactory” score, whilst the government and social domains obtained “Good” and “Poor” scores, respectively. The categories ranged between “Excellent” and “Poor” scores. The “Excellent” score was obtained by organization. The “Poor” score was obtained by five categories across the domains including social benefits, demographic, identity, security, and economic wellbeing. The assessment showed that the system has degradation problems, but the results have provided a general foundation for management bridges and barriers for sustainable development, with the barriers used to discuss new bridges towards holistic management proposals. The framework is a tool in progress to communicate to various actors the current sustainability development with the available information, provide a holistic system view, and find knowledge gaps in the research of a system. Similarly, the framework and assessment can be complemented, adapted, refined, and improved with each application as part of an adaptive management iterative cycle.

Rare faction of flora of the designed landscape reserve “Balka Shchurovka”

The article is devoted to the study of the modern distribution of certain rare plant species within the "Balka Shchurovka" beam system (near the settlements of Dniprovske, Novomykolaivka of the Verkhnyodniprovska OTG of the Dnipropetrovsk region) and substantiation of the prospects for granting the object the status of a nature conservation area. The natural diversity of the vegetation cover of the designed reserve consists of zonal steppe vegetation, bairach forests, psamophilic and petrophilic communities, and meadow vegetation. According to indicators of biodiversity, the territory b. Shchurovka is one of the most valuable within the borders of Verkhnyodniprovska OTG of Dnipropetrovsk region. In the process of researching the flora of the planned reserve, a number of new locations of species rare for the region and the region were discovered. 26 regionally rare plant species grow here, 13 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 3 species from Resolution 6 of the Berne Convention and Annexes of the Habitats Directive, presented in the flora of Ukraine, 1 species from the World Red List. The list of plants of the Dnipropetrovsk region included in the Red Book of Ukraine includes 56 species of vascular plants, of which 13 species grow within the b. Rat, which is 23% of the total number of red book species of Dnipropetrovsk region. An important and interesting feature of the layer of sand exposed on the right slope of the gully is the presence of blocks of red sandstone enriched with iron oxides. Near the sandstone outcrops, a characteristic complex of flora has formed on sandy soil with the participation of Sempervivum ruthenicum Schnittsp. & C.B. Lehm, Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill. s.l., Thymus pallasianus Heinr.Braun, Peucedanum arenarium Waldst. & Kit. (Taeniopetalum arenarium (Waldst. & Kit.) V. N. Tichomirov), Achillea leptophylla M. Bieb. Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb and Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill grow here. s.l. - rare species from the Annexes of the Habitats Directive, Annex I of the Berne Convention, which prefer biotopes with an intact structure as part of rare coenoses. The study of the rare fraction of the flora of the beam system in the context of the conservation of biodiversity of the Right Bank Steppe of the Dnieper region can become the basis of the nature conservation concept of sustainable development of the region.

Rare faction of flora of the designed landscape reserve “Balka Shchurovka”

The article is devoted to the study of the modern distribution of certain rare plant species within the "Balka Shchurovka" beam system (near the settlements of Dniprovske, Novomykolaivka of the Verkhnyodniprovska OTG of the Dnipropetrovsk region) and substantiation of the prospects for granting the object the status of a nature conservation area. The natural diversity of the vegetation cover of the designed reserve consists of zonal steppe vegetation, bairach forests, psamophilic and petrophilic communities, and meadow vegetation. According to indicators of biodiversity, the territory b. Shchurovka is one of the most valuable within the borders of Verkhnyodniprovska OTG of Dnipropetrovsk region. In the process of researching the flora of the planned reserve, a number of new locations of species rare for the region and the region were discovered. 26 regionally rare plant species grow here, 13 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 3 species from Resolution 6 of the Berne Convention and Annexes of the Habitats Directive, presented in the flora of Ukraine, 1 species from the World Red List. The list of plants of the Dnipropetrovsk region included in the Red Book of Ukraine includes 56 species of vascular plants, of which 13 species grow within the b. Rat, which is 23% of the total number of red book species of Dnipropetrovsk region. An important and interesting feature of the layer of sand exposed on the right slope of the gully is the presence of blocks of red sandstone enriched with iron oxides. Near the sandstone outcrops, a characteristic complex of flora has formed on sandy soil with the participation of Sempervivum ruthenicum Schnittsp. & C.B. Lehm, Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill. s.l., Thymus pallasianus Heinr.Braun, Peucedanum arenarium Waldst. & Kit. (Taeniopetalum arenarium (Waldst. & Kit.) V. N. Tichomirov), Achillea leptophylla M. Bieb. Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb and Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill grow here. s.l. - rare species from the Annexes of the Habitats Directive, Annex I of the Berne Convention, which prefer biotopes with an intact structure as part of rare coenoses. The study of the rare fraction of the flora of the beam system in the context of the conservation of biodiversity of the Right Bank Steppe of the Dnieper region can become the basis of the nature conservation concept of sustainable development of the region.

The Relationship between the Green and Digital Economy in the Concept of Sustainable Development

The Relationship between the Green and Digital Economy in the Concept of Sustainable Development

Analysis on Improving the Utilisation Rate of Commuter Railways in Mature Metropolitan Areas in China in the Context of High-quality Development

China’s six mature metropolitan areas are facing a shortage of land resources. Commuter railways are a solution to this problem in the context of high-quality development. Nevertheless, the current commuter rail utilisation rate in these metropolitan areas is significantly lower than those in developed countries. Therefore, on the basis of analyses through the literature survey method, this paper collects the latest data on commuter railway services in the six metropolitan areas to discuss the reasons for the current low utilisation of commuter railways in terms of coverage, efficiency and operation, and to propose corresponding practicable solutions. The study found that the number of routes currently in operation is too small. In addition, there are issues including irrational station distribution, sparse train frequency and short operating hours and slow interchange in the services, all of which make the commuter railways fail to achieve the idealised time-saving effect, and serve as a reason for commuters to rely on private cars. In the foreseeable future, with the imposition of the concepts of sustainable development, transportation integration and service orientation, there is possibility that the utilisation rate of commuter railways in these metropolitan areas will be elevated.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN MODERN CONDITIONS

The article is focused on the issues of sustainable development management of cultural organizations in modern conditions. In the framework of the research, it is identified that the concept of sustainable development of these organizations can be considered from the standpoint of both their functional role (producers, repeaters, carriers of the "culture of sustainable development") and organizational development itself (qualitative changes that form the conditions for the system’s transition to a new level of development while maintaining a balance in the triad of "economic-social-environmental goals"). It is determined that exogenous and endogenous factors in modern conditions form a number of risks and threats, which makes both the entire system of institutions in the field of culture and its individual subsystems and organizations to adapt to new conditions of activity more rapidly. At the same time, ensuring sustainable development through the use of modern management tools is becoming increasingly relevant. It is identified that the vector of environmental factors, the level of uncertainty in decision-making and the available resource potential have a greater impact on the nature of sustainable development management tools. It has been identified that despite the negative environmental conditions, such management is becoming strategic, organizations are gradually switching to the use of crisis and project management, adapting to the use of a market approach to organizing their sustainable development. The author proposes directions for further scientific and applied research that can lay the groundwork for improving the efficiency of sustainable development management and making it systematic in the activities of cultural organizations.

An improved dynamic game analysis of farmers, enterprises and rural collective economic organizations based on idle land reuse policy

Land use is a crucial symbol of sustainable development. Rural homestead idleness is problem that is caused by market failure and related to the national economy and people's livelihood. (1) Background: Developing countries should use idle land to develop their economies. The government has introduced various land policies for the reuse of idle residential land to improve the land utilization rate. (2) Methods: This paper investigates players' behavior in reusing rural homesteads based on an improved dynamic game model. An improved tripartite evolutionary game model is developed by introducing principal-agent theory, which is the major contributor to behavioral investigation. MATLAB2022a is used to simulate the analysis to propose countermeasures and suggestions for optimizing homestead reuse. (3) Results: In this paper, it was found that disputes among participants about the sharing of reuse costs and the distribution of potential benefits constituted a potent system of explanatory coordinates that effectively revealed the hidden logic of homestead reuse. The government can strengthen incentives by providing dynamic subsidies linked with individual behavior. (4) Conclusions: Regardless of the initial probability, players will jointly reuse homesteads in the end. Local governments and rural collective economic organizations play an important role in reusing homesteads, so the carrot-and-stick approach supervised by local government is the key to maintaining the stability of cooperation. Moreover, under the concept of sustainable development, governments of all countries actively release the policy of reusing idle land to promote the utilization of resources.

ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN SERBIA AND BULGARIA

Land is the most important resource for the sustainable development of agriculture. Optimal use of land for the production of a sufficient amount of food, while simultaneously preserving biodiversity and its quality, is very important within the policy of preserving resources for future generations. Safety in food production represent one of the most important goals of sustainable development consist in actual the 2030 Agenda. We face numerous problems related to land. Degradation due to excessive use of modern agrotechnical means in food production, deforestation, erosion, excessive urbanization, floods are just some of the most common problems in land policy. An important problem is the abandonment of land use for agricultural production and its underutilization. Serbia and Bulgaria have significant areas of agricultural land. The subject of research in this paper is the share of agricultural and arable land in the total land area in Serbia and Bulgaria. The focus of the analysis is the average size of farm land, the percentage of irrigated land, and the production structure on farms, as well as the contribution of agriculture to the realization of added value in the creation of GDP. Agriculture and the food industry play a significant role in creating GDP, employment and exports and reducing the foreign deficit. Bearing in mind that the Republic of Serbia is in the process of joining the European Union, it is necessary to reform the agricultural policy and adapt it to the Common Agricultural Policy. This is one of the most important and demanding reforms in the integration policy process. The entire European model of agricultural development is based on the concept of sustainable development. Agricultural land policy in this process is of great importance and the experiences of EU member countries are important. The results of the research should indicate different experiences and recommendations that can be useful in agricultural land management policy. Land policy measures are aimed at creating optimal conditions for agricultural production while achieving the goals of all dimensions of sustainable development. Strategic approach in land management policy in Bulgaria provides guidelines and an example of good practice for taking measures and activities in the direction of its improvement in the Republic of Serbia. These results are also the basis for examining the causes of insufficient utilization of available natural resources and the balanced development that ensures the production of sufficient quantities of food and the preservation of the environment. Keywords: agricultural land, arable land, sustainable development JEL codes: Q15, Q18, Q24

Development of renewable energy in Russia: Challenges and opportunities

Subject. This article discusses the issues of climate change and environmental aspects of the development of the Russian regions' economy. Objectives. The article aims to assess the importance of green energy in ensuring economic advance and analyze the specific risks for the economy associated with the active use of renewable energy sources. Methods. For the study, we used a comparative analysis. Results. The article finds that solar, wind and small hydroelectric power plants are extremely unevenly distributed across the federal districts of Russia. Renewable energy generation facilities are the most cost-effective at the local level and have a positive impact on the environment. Conclusions. The activities of Russian regions in the introduction of renewable energy sources should be recognized as insufficient for the implementation of the concept of sustainable development.

Review on Lightweight Mobile Flood Wall Barrier: Way Forward for Malaysia

Flooding is a persisting challenge in Malaysia. Combating flood risk has become a main priority for sustainable development in this country. The application of sophisticated engineering in hard structure approaches and flood control systems are often incongruous to the public. Therefore, there is a need to integrate the soft engineering approaches and the best practises of flood management to mitigate flood risk. There is also a need to integrate the concept of sustainable development into its planning policies towards flood hazard reduction. Mobile flood protection measures are useful as an alternative solution in flood protection and mitigation purposes. Mobile protective systems can be used for temporarily increasing the height of permanent flood protection structures during extreme events and can be utilised as emergency measure against flooding in unprotected low-lying areas. As the available mobile systems differ in the type of material, method of installation and available protection height, a description of their features, and potential application were examined including their respective opportunities and drawbacks. This article presents a review on different types of lightweight mobile flood wall barrier (MFWB) that were implemented to cope with floods in Malaysia with examples of application in other countries such as United Kingdom, Slovakia, and Netherlands. The MFWB products are reviewed and compared to each other according to the types, characteristics, mechanisms, drawbacks and how these measures are integrated into spatial planning. Based on the findings, several suggestions are given on how to improve the flood risk management in flood-prone areas and way forward for Malaysia.