Ecological Imperatives Research Articles

Exploring the Sustainability-Oriented Strategies of Small- and Medium-Sized Construction Enterprises in China’s Construction Industry under Financing Guarantee Constraints: A Multi-Agent Computational Model Approach

In the context of China’s swift urbanization and heightened sustainability challenges, SMCEs in the construction industry play a critical role in driving both economic growth and sustainable development. This pioneering study introduces an integrative approach blending sustainability-oriented strategies (SSs) with financing guarantees, addressing key obstacles faced by these firms. Leveraging a multi-agent computational model, we dissect the dynamic interplay among construction SMCEs, governmental bodies, financial institutions, and guarantors, underscoring the transformative impact of financing guarantees on sustainable advancement. Our investigation reveals that optimally structured financing guarantees not only resolve funding challenges but also actively foster adherence to sustainability practices. This dual functionality positions such financial instruments as key enablers of SMCEs’ quest for sustainability, aligning economic objectives with ecological imperatives. Furthermore, we spotlight the transformative effect of strategic management on elevating SMCEs’ commitment to sustainable operations. Collectively, these insights offer actionable pathways for SMCEs embarking on sustainability endeavors, showcasing innovative financial solutions that do not detract from their economic prosperity.

Comparative Study of the Impacts of Maize and Soybean on Soil and Water Conservation Benefits during Different Growth Stages in the Loess Plateau Region

Maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) are prevalent summer crops planted widely in the Loess Plateau region of China, which is particularly susceptible to severe soil erosion on the sloping farmland. However, which crop exhibits superior soil and water conservation capabilities while maintaining economic viability, and how their performance in soil and water conservation is affected by slope gradient and rainfall intensity remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the impacts of maize and soybean on regulating runoff and sediment through rainfall simulation experiments, and explore the main control factors of soil and water conservation benefits. Five slope gradients (8.7, 17.6, 26.8, 36.4, and 46.6%) and two rainfall intensities (40 and 80 mm h−1) were applied at five respective crop growth stages. Both maize and soybean effectively reduced soil and water losses compared with bare ground, although increasing slope gradient and rainfall intensity weakened the vegetation effect. Compared with slope gradient and rainfall intensity, vegetation coverage was the main factor affecting the performance of maize and soybean in conserving soil and water. The average time delay benefit (TDB), runoff reduction benefit (RRB), and sediment reduction benefit (SRB) of soybean (246.48 ± 11.71, 36.34 ± 2.51, and 54.41 ± 3.42%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of maize (100.06 ± 6.81, 25.71 ± 1.76, and 43.70 ± 2.91%, respectively) throughout growth. After planting, the increasing rates of vegetation coverage, TDB, RRB, and SRB with time were consistently higher with soybean than maize. Moreover, under the same vegetation coverage, the TDB, RRB, and SRB of soybean were also consistently higher than those of maize. In conclusion, these findings indicate that soybean outperformed maize in terms of soil and water conservation benefits under the experimental conditions, making it more suitable for cultivation on sloping farmland. This finding offers crucial guidance for the cultivation of dry farming in regions plagued by severe soil erosion, facilitating a balance between economic objectives and ecological imperatives.

The Production Safety Strategies for Enhancing Food Quality Through Ecological Imperatives in the Context of National Security

The Production Safety Strategies for Enhancing Food Quality Through Ecological Imperatives in the Context of National Security

Ecological city concept: Challenge and future research agenda in urban ecology perspective

Cities are no longer viewed as creatures with a linear-climax-established cycle but as ecosystems with dynamic and complicated processes, with people as the primary component. Thus, we must understand urban ecology’s structure and function to create urban planning and appreciate the mechanisms, dynamics, and evolution that connect human and ecological processes. The ecological city (ecocity) is one of the city conceptions that has evolved with the perspective of urban ecology history. The concept of ecocity development within urban ecology systems pertains to recognizing cities as complex ecosystems primarily influenced by human activities. In this context, individuals actively engage in dynamic problem-solving approaches to address environmental challenges to ensure a sustainable and satisfactory quality of life for future generations. Therefore, it is necessary to study how ecocity has developed since it was initiated today and how it relates to the urban ecology perspective. This study aims to investigate the progression of scholarly publications on ecocity research from 1980 to 2023. Additionally, it intends to ascertain the trajectory of ecological city research trends, establish connections between scientific concepts, and construct an ecological city science network using keyword co-occurrence analysis from the urban ecology perspective. The present study used a descriptive bibliometric analysis and literature review methodology. The data was obtained by utilizing the Lens.org database, was conducted using the VOS (Visualization of Similarities) viewer software for data analysis. The urban ecology research area ecology of cities can be studied further from density visualization of ecosystem services and life cycle assessment. Finally, the challenges and future agenda of ecocity research include addressing humans by modeling functions or processes that connect humans with ecosystems (ecology of cities), urban design, ecological imperatives, integration research, and improving the contribution to environmental goals, spatial distribution, agriculture, natural resources, policy, economic development, and public health.

Green Banking in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study

In the face of escalating global warming, the call for transformative action becomes increasingly urgent. As industries and consumers grapple with the imperative of environmental stewardship, the banking sector takes centre stage in the journey towards a sustainable future. Green Banking is a ground-breaking shift aimed at harmonizing financial practices with ecological imperatives. This study delves into the evolving landscape of Green Banking within Pakistan, investigating its impact on customer engagement and institutional viability. Through qualitative research methods, interviews with key stakeholders from leading Pakistani banks unveil a nuanced interplay of challenges and opportunities. While initial reservations and differing viewpoints persist among stakeholders, a growing consensus emerges regarding the inherent benefits of Green Banking. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks including theory of planned behaviour, ecological consumerism, innovation diffusion theory, and prospect theory, our analysis highlights the increasing allure of Green Banking initiatives for Pakistani banks. Despite enduring obstacles, our findings underscore the necessity for Pakistani banks to embrace and advocate Green Banking, not only as a moral obligation but also as a strategic imperative for maintaining market relevance and sustainability.

Advocating for a Political Vegan Feminism: A Rebuttal to Val Plumwood and Donna Haraway’s Criticisms of Ethical Veganism

ABSTRACT This paper highlights the vital connection between intersectional ecofeminism and veganism as profound ethical and political practices. It critically engages with the ideas of feminist philosophers Val Plumwood and Donna Haraway, revealing how their contributions, while significant in critical animal studies and ecological philosophies, inadvertently allow continued exploitation of non-human animals, especially for food. Drawing from neo-materialist feminism and recent developments in political veganism, this paper underscores the ethical and ecological imperatives for an intersectional and radical veganism. This approach seeks to deconstruct biopolitical structures upholding non-human oppression, envisioning liberation for sentient beings and ecological restoration. It argues that the boundaries between ecofeminism, veganism, and multispecies justice should blur to dismantle systems rooted in human exceptionalism and ensure non-human animals are not treated as mere tools. In conclusion, this paper advocates for a holistic approach to non-human liberation, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen the bonds between ecofeminism and veganism. This union challenges prevailing biopolitical systems and paves the way forgenuine liberation for all sentient beings, both human and non-human.

Education and full employment in the Capitalocene: Political possibilities, ecological imperatives

Imagine what education would look like if upon completion every graduate was guaranteed a job paying a living wage, democratically created, doing meaningful work… This is a political possibility in most countries in the world today: Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) demonstrates that, provided a country has sovereignty over its currency, which most now do, it faces no nominal constraints on spending and can always choose to guarantee jobs and maintain full employment. Yet a pervasive feature of the neoliberal phase of the Capitalocene has been precisely the opposite: high and rising rates of un- and underemployment. This article examines the reasons for this trend and argues that its impact on education has been both unnecessary and detrimental. Finally, it suggests a strategy for educators to reverse this trend and the associated policy of economic growth, and, with reference to history, imagines what the effects such a reversal might have.

Forecasting fluidity: A green predictive approach to water risk management in supply chains

This research utilizes the 2016 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) dataset and predictive analytics to explore water risk management in global supply chains within the landscape of ecological imperatives intersecting with economic realities. Employing a Random Forest (RF) model, the study investigates water risks from local to global scales, emphasizing the strategic importance of understanding and managing these risks. The findings reveal the RF model’s efficacy in predicting the financial impacts of water risks, highlighting the necessity for proactive risk management strategies in supply chains. This research not only demonstrates the application of machine learning in green supply chain management but also paves the way for future studies on comprehensive and adaptive environmental risk mitigation approaches.

ИДЕЯ ЦЕННОСТИ ПРИРОДЫ В БАШКИРСКОМ ЭПОСЕ «УРАЛ-БАТЫР»

The actualization of ecological discourse in modern research is due to the growth of problems in the relationship between man and nature both in the world and in modern Russian society, requiring the involvement of all possible mechanisms in their complex solution, including the study of everything rational and constructive in the cultural and historical heritage of each nation, including its mythopoetic folklore creativity, which it can bring real practical benefits in overcoming the consumer attitude of an individual to his environment and the formation of personal and social ecological culture. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that the value dimension and the significance of the spiritual meanings of the Bashkir epic Ural-Batyr, in particular the proclamation of nature as a value, are revealed for the modern world and man, who are on the verge of an ecological catastrophe today. The purpose of the study: to consider the axiological and ecological components of the ideological ideas of the epic about the Ural Batyr. In accordance with the goal, the following tasks were solved: to identify the spiritual, moral and ecological potential of the epic Ural-Batyr; identify the key environmental imperatives of the legend; and to prove the relevance and significance of the ecological ideas of the epic for modernity. The authors used general scientific and philosophical methods: dialectical, hermeneutic, descriptive, abstraction, generalization, analysis and synthesis within the framework of the socio-cultural approach to the study of the topic and on the basis of the philosophical and axiological interpretation of the text of the epic about the Ural Batyr. These methods, in contrast to the exclusively philological analysis of epic works, the study of their poetics, the system of images, etc., made it possible to identify the spiritual and cultural meanings of the epic, the significance of its ecological imperatives for modernity. Moreover, the philosophical and ethical view of the value aspects of this work, the results obtained and the conclusions drawn about the importance of the ecological ideas of the epic for contemporaries allow us to further project the concept of “nature as value” also to other genres of Bashkir folklore and use their pedagogical potential in the educational process, in particular in the formation of the ecological culture of the individual and society.

Ecological imperatives in contemporary Hungarian poetry

Abstract The study reviews from an ecopoetic point of view the tendencies in Hungarian poetry of recent years that emphasise the biopoetic aspects of existence. László Lázár Lövétei’s eclogues, for example, renew the discourse from the perspective of the ancient tradition, while Tamás Korpa and Mátyás Sirokai transform the reader’s mental consciousness by focusing on the plant life, and in doing so, reassess and rethink the concept of being embedded in nature. For example, Gábor Dávid Németh combines the mechanisms of cultural memory, the ecosystems of environmental awareness and the plant metaphor system arising from the organicity of language. Gábor Mezei approaches the question from the perspective of hybridity. Besides blurring the traditional boundaries of body and self, these authors also exploit the subversive, resistant character of ecopoetics, not once asserting the principle of what they call the ecopoetic imperative whose topological, tropological, entropological and ethnological dimensions are worth exploring.

Strategic directions of development and increase of the economic efficiency of sunflower production and processing

The article highlights the problems of strategic development and increasing the efficiency of sunflower production and processing. The primary attention is paid to identifying the agro-technological features of the crop (first, high energy intensity and extremely demanding restrictions on predecessors and compliance with crop rotations. A comprehensive assessment of the problems accompanying its production and processing was carried out. They relate to two dimensions of the environment: production-economic and ecological. Therefore, strategic directions for sunflower production development and improving the efficiency of its production and processing should cover, satisfy, and harmonize them. Production and economic strategies should include a selection of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids, innovative production techniques and technologies, new means of plant protection and fertilizers and land reclamation, and innovations in processing, logistics, implementation, and marketing policy. Nevertheless, they should not manifest themselves due to violating ecological imperatives. Therefore, ecological strategies should include modern agrotechnical techniques with simultaneous improvement of the quality of the environment and soil fertility. Only such a comprehensive approach will ensure a high level of development of the industry at the level of agricultural enterprises and a comprehensive increase in sunflower production and processing efficiency without harming the environment. The directions of development and improvement of sunflower production and processing efficiency should now be considered in two inextricably linked planes: from the standpoint of production and economic improvement of management and under the conditions of compliance with its ecological limitations and ensuring the ecological quality of the produced products. Irrational technology leads not only to a drop in productivity and a decrease in the quality of products but also to a catastrophic deterioration of the environment. This undoubtedly leads to additional costs and reduces the potential for effective development of agrarian enterprises for sunflower production and processing. Therefore, introducing innovations in all stages of the reproduction process of sunflower and its processing compliance with ecological imperatives should be a priority of strategic directions of development and improvement of the efficiency of industries at the level of agricultural enterprises. Keywords: agricultural enterprises, sunflower, production, processing, development, strategic directions, efficiency improvement, production and economic processes, ecological imperatives, harmonization.

Co-creating a sustainable blue economy for sweden

Co-creating a sustainable blue economy for sweden Wehn, Linders and Barquet explain how the MISTRA C2B2 programme is working to bring about transformative change in participatory ocean governance in Sweden. The ocean – the new frontier of human activity – is being redefined by new discoveries, technologies, national strategies, and ecological imperatives. Yet, it is undeniable that the status of most seas is in decay – and if the goal would be to restore or improve their status, then most human activities should be banned. Instead, we witness that, in recent years, the blue economy is promoted as an answer to energy and food insecurity, as well as to an increased demand for shipping of goods, and transport of people and services. So, humanity depends on marine livelihoods, but the blue economy is also rapidly increasing pressure on the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems.

A Critical Discourse Analysis on Climate Change in a Globalized World: The Nexus of Islam and Sustainable Development

The interplay between climate change and society requires the cultivation of deeper insights into the interdisciplinary connections between faith and development. This study seeks to undertake a grounded theory analysis of the Islamic narrative among policy makers about climate change and Islamic values. A focus group panel of key experts was conducted on the topic of sustainability and faith, using a climate policy canvas to gain insights into the role of faith in shaping perceptions and policies to mitigate climate change. The results showed that Islamic values can be in positive interaction with environmental responsibility and ecologically friendly behavior. Despite the divergent narratives between the Global South and North with regard to equity and liability, policy makers are mindful of the ecological imperatives and the need to mainstream ethical values in order to influence climate policy. This research reveals that Islamic values can influence the perceptions on and practice of climate action for both policy makers and the public. The study recommends supporting value-based initiatives for shaping a new discourse around climate policy.

Renewable energy deployment in Europe: Do politics matter?

This study analyzes non-hydroelectric renewable capacity across 27 European countries from 2000 to 2020, using advanced econometric techniques like the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel Granger non-causality method, Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimations. This investigation reveals complex relationships extending beyond immediate variables. These relationships, rooted in pairwise causalities and broader interactions, underpin observed phenomena. Causality tests show that achieving non-hydroelectric renewable capacity is a long-term endeavor, emphasizing persistent policy approaches for effective energy transition. Three key variables emerge as potent policy drivers: maintaining an environment conducive to economic freedom, fostering financial development, and driving non-hydroelectric renewable patents’ research and development. These variables play a pivotal role in capacity expansion. Additionally, the findings of this empirical investigation spotlight the role of political orientations. Leftist governments have lagged in prioritizing energy transition, prompting questions about neglecting environmental concerns and necessitating comprehensive policy reform. In essence, this study offers novel insights into non-hydroelectric renewable energy deployment. By unraveling complex relationships, emphasizing persistent policies, and identifying key variables, this investigation provides a nuanced perspective in line with sustainable energy transition urgency. As global ecological imperatives heighten, our work guides informed policy decisions for a greener future.

Role of mechanisms regulating the environmental and economic development of mining industry in the formation of innovative environment of national economy

Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is the scientific works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the problems of the national economy and its sectoral structure, subsoil use, sustainable development, state regulation, environmental economics, and environmental policy. The results of the work were obtained through the use of methods of analysis and synthesis, a dialectical approach, the method of analogy, scientific generalization, and the method of economic and comparative analysis. Results. The need for government influence on economic development is substantiated in order to effectively use the natural resource potential based on the extraction of minerals from the subsoil, as well as their exploration, development, primary processing, use and sale. The role of management mechanisms in the formation of an innovative model of balanced development of the national economy is determined, and the priorities of ecological and economic development of the mining industry are highlighted. The concept of state regulation is substantiated by the economic development of the mining industry, which varies between two extreme scenarios - active extractionof minerals in compliance with the requirements of effective use of natural resource potential and/or suspension of extraction of minerals in view of the interests of future generations and ecological imperatives. It has been proven that the improvement of the administrative and legal mechanisms of regulation of ecological and economic development should be carried out not so much through the introduction of new norms as by monitoring the implementation of existing provisions, as well as taking into account the experience of regulation of ecological and economic development in the system of national economies in the EU countries. Novelty. The specifics of the state regulation of ecological and economic development of the mining industry are revealed, which requires compliance with the principles established by law and will enable the implementation of relevant mechanisms for the purpose of forming an innovative environment of the ecological economy. Practical value. The results of the study are of an applied nature, since the study of the principles and issues of priorities of ecological and economic development in the system of the national economy in general and the mining industry, in particular, provides an opportunity to improve the implementation of mechanisms of state regulation aimed at the formation of innovative foundations of the ecological economy.

Social and solidarity economy insights for the circular economy: Limited-profit and sufficiency

Given the call for societal transformations to foster sustainability transitions, we consider in what way the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) contributes to a more circular society. We build on recent critiques of mainstream Circular Economy (CE) and engage with the notion of sufficiency, with respect to defining limits for and by society, in considering social and ecological imperatives over profit motives. The main aim of our article is to analyse the implications of the normative principles and values of the SSE for ensuring an integral circularity approach. For that purpose, we conducted qualitative research involving 26 in-depth interviews with 31 key informants from 20 initiatives in two case studies: SSE networks in the Basque Country and Western Switzerland. We reveal how one of the guiding principles of the SSE – limited-profit – is a clear basis for a distinctive circularity approach towards sufficiency. Our main contribution is to demonstrate how SSE principles foster specific characteristics of the Sufficiency-driven Business Model (SBM) and shape an integral social circularity approach. This perspective on circularity results in entities that embrace the following measures: seeking to transform the economic system as a whole; prioritizing the implementation of the more transformative Rs (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce); recognizing limited profit as a core distinctive principle; minimizing overall consumption; raising conscious consumer engagement (satisfying needs over wants); fostering stakeholders’ cooperation and collaboration; and maximizing social and ecological aims over economic profitability.

Equitable energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean: Reducing inequity by building capacity

The study evaluates links between the unfolding energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean and sustainable development goals (SDGs) relating to innovation (SDG 9), equality (SDG 10), and institutions (SDG 16). The study argues that if energy technology choices in the region continue to be driven by techno-economic rationality, many demands put upon the energy transition will remain unmet, namely, solving the pre-existing challenges (SDGs 9, 10, and 16). Unequal access – to education, training, and capabilities that could make local livelihoods more resilient, will preclude synergies between the latest renewable energy science, cross-sectoral innovation, and equitable institutions, in the end compromising local and regional potential, creativity and productivity. Additionally, given the unique, biodiversity-rich contexts of Latin America, energy technology choices need to account for context-specific climate and ecological imperatives. For the energy transition to be equitable and climate-compatible, the study concludes that new ways of integrating and acting on inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge need to be conceptualized and implemented in practice. This entails creating an interface between local communities (Indigenous and community knowledge), research community (local and international climate-energy knowledge), and policy-makers (policy knowledge).The proposed concept of Research & Training Centers (RTCs) fills the gap, as it serves as an umbrella institution for collaborative learning across a spectrum of disciplines, transdisciplinary collaborations, and implementation of specific climate-compatible solutions. RTC's integrative forms of research can be directed to help overcome pre-existing gaps and vulnerabilities, and simultaneously promote equitable energy transition and decarbonization pathways compatible with the region's ecological systems.

How does concrete and cement industry transformation contribute to mitigating climate change challenges?

Cement and concrete are among the major manufactured materials used, and their environmental impact is constantly under debate. As their use increases, concrete and cement production results in significant GHG emissions and puts increasing stress on natural resources sustainability, especially water. Here, we explore the environmental challenges of cement and concrete industry transformation and highlight existing options that could be undertaken over the coming decades to mitigate environmental impacts of cement and concrete production. The analysis indicates that promising avenues exist for sustainable use of concrete, which reconcile societal needs, ecological imperatives, and technical capabilities.

The Foundational Economy as a Cornerstone for a Social–Ecological Transformation

This theoretical paper synthesises research on the foundational economy and its contribution to a social–ecological transformation. While foundational thinking offers rich concepts and policies to transition towards such transformation, it fails to grasp the systematic non-sustainability of capitalism. This weakness can be overcome by enriching contemporary foundational thinking with feminist and ecological economics. Whereas the feminist critique problematises foundational thinking’s focus on paid labour, the ecological critique targets Sen’s capability approach as a key inspiration of foundational thinking, arguing that a theory of human needs is better suited to conceptualise wellbeing within planetary boundaries. Based on this, we outline a novel schema of economic zones and discuss their differentiated contributions to the satisfaction of human needs. By privileging need satisfaction, such broadened foundational thinking demotes the tradable sector and rentier economy, thereby revaluating unpaid work as well as respecting ecological imperatives. This empowers new articulations of social and ecological struggles to improve living conditions in the short run, while having the potential in the long run to undermine capitalism from within.

ФІНАНСОВЕ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ В УМОВАХ ЕКОНОМІКО-ЕКОЛОГІЧНИХ ІМПЕРАТИВ

Анотація. Концепція сталого розвитку формує новітні принципи економічного, соціального та екологічного розвитку. Сталий розвиток підприємств реального сектору економіки стримується низкою чинників, серед яких пріоритетне значення має фінансове забезпечення та обмеженість щодо нарощування їхнього фінансового потенціалу. При формуванні стратегії сталого розвитку підприємств потрібно керуватися економіко-екологічними імперативами, що передбачає обґрунтування ефективних фінансово-економічних важелів регулювання екологічно орієнтованої діяльності, які забезпечують їхню інвестиційну привабливість. Запропоновано науково-методичний підхід до аналізу фінансового забезпечення сталого розвитку підприємств з урахуванням економіко-екологічних імператив, який інтегрує: аналіз стану і тенденцій розвитку екологічно орієнтованої діяльності; оцінку закономірностей впливу факторів на рівень фінансового забезпечення її розвитку та оцінку інвестиційної привабливості. Установлено, що впровадження системи екологічного менеджменту сприятиме створенню умов нарощування фінансового потенціалу сталого розвитку підприємств і підвищення конкурентоспроможності за рахунок: запобігання або пом’якшення негативного впливу на навколишнє середовище; поліпшення екологічних показників діяльності; ефективності використання ресурсів, отримання додаткових економічних, соціальних й екологічних вигід; підсилення ринкової позиції в результаті впровадження дій з охорони навколишнього середовища. На основі аналізу з’ясовано зв’язок між упровадженням системи екологічного менеджменту на підприємствах та фінансовими показниками результативності діяльності підприємств. Змодельовано інтегральний індекс оцінки інвестиційної привабливості підприємств, який поєднує дві групи показників — відкритого коефіцієнта фінансового стану і результатів екологічно орієнтованої діяльності. Результати дослідження можуть використовуватися практиками в різних галузях при розробленні фінансової стратегії сталого розвитку підприємств. Ключові слова: фінансове забезпечення, екологічно орієнтована діяльність, сталий розвиток, інвестиційна привабливість, екологічний менеджмент, економіко-екологічні імперативи, аналіз. Формул: 0; рис.: 1; табл.: 3; бібл.: 22.