Public Environmental Organizations Research Articles

A co-evolutionary approach to MNE-assisted industry development: Uruguay’s forest-based pulp sector

Purpose This study aims to investigate how co-evolutionary interactions between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and local actors shaped resource-intensive industry development over several decades, examining the economic, industrial and social implications of these interactions. It details the long-term effects of MNEs’ activities on the host country’s economic and social development and unfolds the path-dependent sequence and mechanisms of occurrence. Design/methodology/approach In a historical case study of Uruguay’s forest-based pulp sector during the 1970s to 2023, the authors analyze data from interviews with local industry actors and from company archives, academic publications and public environmental organizations. Findings The findings untangle the path-dependent co-evolution between MNEs’ activities and local actors and the resulting gradual development of the local industry. The increasing commitment of MNEs to the host country and their engagement with business and social communities impact the development of the industry’s technology basis, activity networks, identity and market. Spillovers and linkages occur in these interactions, driving industry development processes forward. The authors also reveal how MNEs attempt to address the social and environmental tensions associated with their operations to support their long-term presence in the host country. Research limitations/implications The authors contribute to the MNE-assisted development literature by untangling the specific mechanisms of MNEs’ engagement in local industry development over a long-term period and elaborating on its industrial and social implications. The authors enhance knowledge about spillovers by capturing a wide range of spillover and linkage effects and assessing their long-term impacts on industry development. Practical implications The authors offer insights into how policymakers can tailor instruments for attracting MNEs by adopting a long-term perspective regarding the implications for local development and accounting for economic, industrial and social impacts. This approach can maximize beneficial outcomes from MNEs’ presence and limit tensions between MNEs and local actors. Social implications This historical case study illustrates the complexity of MNEs’ engagement with local actors over time, including various tensions and positive developments. It illustrates the importance of social acceptance in achieving quality linkages between local and foreign actors. Originality/value This historical analysis untangles the path dependency in the long-term impacts of MNE-assisted development, illustrating the value of a temporal perspective.

Норми орхуської конвенції в аспекті дуалізму права на безпечне довкілля і обов’язку його захищати

By ratifying the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) Ukraine has committed itself to a change of established practices regarding the provision of environmental information and the right of the public to appeal to the court with claims for environmental protection. The implementation of the norms of this Convention has become quite problematic, not least due to the insufficient level of environmental awareness of Ukrainian society. However, positive changes in this area are still taking place, not least due to the active work of various public environmental organizations. It seems that the scientific study of the norms of the Aarhus Convention will also to some extent contribute to the progress of our state and society in the field of environmental protection. We consider it necessary to enshrine the "automatic" recognition of legal interest (i.e. the right to sue in matters relating to environmental protection) for any non-governmental environmental organization registered and operating in accordance with Ukrainian law. This will meet the requirements of Part 4 of Art. 3 of the Aarhus Convention, according to which our state ensures "proper recognition of associations, organizations or groups that contribute to the protection of the environment, and provides them with appropriate support and ensures compliance of its national legal system with this obligation" Among the trends that can be considered extremely positive is the recent legal conclusion of the Supreme Court in the case of banning the dolphinarium. In this case, the Supreme Court stressed that "the right to protection of the violated constitutional right to a safe environment belongs to everyone and can be exercised both personally and with the participation of a public representative". Given the binding nature of the Supreme Court's legal conclusions, we hope that this case will be a significant milestone in bringing domestic legislation and the practice of its application to the requirements of the Aarhus Convention.

Эко-НИОКР – 18 лет для охраны птиц на объектах электросетевого комплекса России

Эко-НИОКР – 18 лет для охраны птиц на объектах электросетевого комплекса России

Использование современных информационных систем для повышения качества государственного управления в сфере недропользования

The purpose of the article is to create information tools aimed at improving the efficiency of public and state control in the field of placer gold mining in the Transbaikal Territory through the development and application of modern information systems. The problem statement is based on the conceptual approach of institutional economics, which substantiates the importance of the factor of inclusiveness for the effectiveness of economic institutions. The relevance is due to the fact that the management and control bodies in the field of environmental management in the information cannot effectively carry out their functions without the active involvement of local residents in environmental control and decision-making procedures. The object of the study is management activity in subsurface use, in the segment of placer gold mining. The subject of the research is tools based on modern information technologies to improve the efficiency of industry regulation in the context of the interaction «state-society-ecology». A key role in improving the effectiveness of industry regulation is played by the availability of high-quality and timely information on a systematic basis. This is the task that the created network resource is designed to solve. Development languages and frameworks are used: HTML, CSS, Django, Python, PHP, SQL, MySQL, Jquery, Java, C#/C++; as well as development tool environments: PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, GitHub, Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Android Studio, XCode. Modern means of obtaining up-to-date data are needed to improve the processes of implementing public and state control in the field of placer gold mining. An information and analytical system has been developed that will facilitate the active participation of regulatory and supervisory authorities, subsurface user enterprises, and the local population. The system will provide the possibility of entering data on the environmental obligations of the manufacturer and regular reporting on their performance; will provide information tools for monitoring, organizing constructive cooperation of the local community, business and public authorities. This is not the only, but a very important tool for coordinating environmental and economic interests, along with others that are proposed by the scientific community and public environmental organizations.

Environmental Radicalism in Public Organizations of the FRG at the Present Stage

This article is devoted to the study of public environmental organizations in Germany. The largest of them are “NABU” and “BUND”, which have existed for a long time. They operate at a high scientific level throughout the country, from mass events and environmental education to study of global environmental problems and the development of ways to solve them. Particular attention is paid to radical environmental organizations such as “Robin Wood”, “Earth First!”, “Earth Liberation Front”and” Animal Liberation Front”. Their activities are concentrated locally, and their methods of solving environmental problems are harder. As a rule, eco-radical protests are aimed at attracting public attention and encouraging the ruling authorities to take measures to change the environmental situation in a particular region. The attitude of the population to such methods of struggle is ambiguous, but no one is indifferent. Despite the peak of activity of these organizations has passed, this does not prevent them from existing, conducting educational activities and attracting new supporters to their ranks, since some of their initiatives remain relevant to this day.

PROJECT «UNIVERSITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE» AS PART OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF ODESA NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY

One of the effective levers in solving environmental and socio-economic problems of modern Ukraine is educational work in the field of ecology, raising the level of environmental education and the formation of environmental awareness and culture. Libraries play an important role in the system of public institutions that ensure the right of citizens to environmental information. The availability of libraries and appropriate information resources, the introduction of modern technologies as well as qualified personnel allow them to become an irreplaceable partner of society and the state in the field of environmental education. An important component of environmental education of Odesa National Scientific Library is the formation of thematic resources (traditional and electronic) and ensuring free access to them for users. The library provides information support to the educational process and research activity of students, graduates, researchers of higher educational institutions of the country. It also actively works in the direction of knowledge spreading on environmental protection; develops and improves new forms of cooperation with state and public environmental organizations; introduces innovative forms of individual and mass work on environmental education. One of the striking innovative projects, implemented by the library, is the project «University of Environmental Knowledge». During 10 years of project activity (2001‑2011) 106 meetings of the University were organized and held, as well as a number of thematic forums, scientific conferences, round tables, publishing projects, exhibitions of new literature, thematic reviews on ecology and more. The events were attended by more than 12 thousand visitors – students, graduates, professionals working in the field of ecology, members of environmental NGOs, people who are not indifferent to environmental issues. This strengthened the ability of ONSL to act as a powerful information center on environmental issues and made ONSL one of the important parts in solving environmental problems in Odesa Region and Southern Ukraine.

Green Areas as a Framework for Ensuring the Resilient of Cities

The article is devoted to the assessment of one of the settlements resilient elements - green areas. It is the settlements greenery that fulfill a huge complex of ecosystem environmental services and functions. Several definitions of the settlement’s resilient are given. Further development of this scientific area is includes city resilient profiling and is carried out to compilation the object passport. The method of systematic analysis was applied to field data of structural features and functional zoning of cities in Russia and abroad. It allows us to identify the possibilities of green areas for determination of settlement resilient. The article gives a general view of relevant and up-to-date classification of green areas, which consists of 4 categories and 30 types. Each greening object is evaluated according to the author’s methodology, which includes an assessment of 31 indicators (e.g. debris on the land, area of disturbed land, the presence of unique species, the intensity of the load at survey time, etc.) Each greening object is evaluated according to the author’s methodology, which includes an assessment of 31 indicators (e.g. debris, area of disturbed land, the presence of unique species, the intensity of the load at survey time, etc.) and estimation of six classes of hemerobicity from normal to catastrophic. The total score of these indicators is the coefficient of the environmental situation. With this coefficient, it is possible: to assess the state; compare dynamics and objects, carry out remedial actions to reduce the class of hemorrhage and analyze the effectiveness of these actions. This indicator is a convenient tool for city logistics decisionmakers and public environmental organizations.

Digitalization wildfire management near smart city

In article, there are considered results in digitalization wildfire management near smart city within Industry 4.0 period, when while climate change and Covid-19 pandemic. While research, there are used methods of data bases constructing, web-technologies and virtual reality tools. Also, there are used Foresight technologies, theory of decision making under uncertainties and risk management. As digitalization tools, authors propose to use online platforms, which integrate heterogeneous hardware and software resources in distributed networks. As study result, there is proposed a block model, that combines the investment objectives with cost of wildfire management near smart city adapted to Covid-19 pandemic and climate change conditions. Authors demonstrate usage of developed digital tools. The research results presented in this article has significant scientific novelty and can be useful for private investors, public environmental organizations of the civil sector and state environmental control bodies. They can be used in training and educational purposes, including development of Master’s programs in environmental economics.

Digital tools for seaports geo-information support while climate change and Covid-19 pandemic

In article, there are presented digital tools development results for geo-information support to seaports activity within Industry 4.0 period, when while climate change and covid-19 pandemic. In study, there are used methods of data bases constructing, web-technologies and virtual reality tools. Also, there are used Foresight technologies, theory of decision making under uncertainties and risk management. As digital tools, there is proposed to use digital online platforms, which integrate heterogeneous hardware and software resources with the use of web-technologies in distributed networks and wide application of cloud services. In study, there are used data bases and tools of geo-information digital online platform EOS, including its Land Viewer product. As study result, there is demonstrated usage of geo-information support system for Russian seaport Ust-Luga. The research results presented in this article has significant scientific novelty and can be useful for private investors, public environmental organizations of the civil sector and state environmental control bodies.

ECOLOGICAL CULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE UKRAINIAN REALITIES AND PROSPECTS

The purpose of the article is to identify the features of the development of ecological culture in the modern Ukrainian society according to the concept of the sustainable development. The research methodology is based on the use of the axiological method, which provided the harmonization of knowledge, moral and spiritual development of a person, and contributed to the identification of a personal perception of nature as selfworth and a man. The system approach helped to describe an object as a systematic whole in terms of its structure, elements, purpose, and functions. The historical and logical method contributed to the study of dynamic transformations of relationships in the system “man-nature-society”; according to the sociocultural ecological culture is a type of world-view and a way of mastering social and cultural experience in accordance with the principle of co-evolution. The scientific novelty lies in the identification of trends in the ecological innovation culture as a part of the sustainable development concept and current environmental initiatives of domestic entrepreneurs in the process of modernization of the Ukrainian society. Conclusions. The study has shown that environmental sustainability has become an integral part of business practices in all areas of the human activity. It includes: the improvement of living standards by protecting human health, preserving the environment, efficient use of resources and ensuring long-term economic competitiveness. Thus, the definition of sustainability focuses on four areas: education, process, community participation, and future conditions. Though, the concept of sustainable development has not become widespread in the Ukrainian practice, there are several hundred public environmental organizations, associations and movements at the state and regional levels. Ecological guidelines of upbringing, culture and education based on the ecological consciousness and morality by rethinking the environmental safety in the material and moral spheres become expedient in the context of the prospects of the development. It has been identified that the main task of the Ukrainian society is to increase the demand for the ecological innovations and the current trend – the program of supporting sustainable development as the best way for a manufacturer to demonstrate its care and attention to consumers. It has been defined that the main trend in the development of the ecological culture in the context of the European integration processes should be the formation of a model of ecoculture based on the moral and spiritual dominant of the world perception in the public consciousness, a change in the sociocultural mentality and responsible attitude to the environmental issues.

REALIZATION OF THE NON-FORMAL YOUTH ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN THE FUNCTIONING OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

The article highlights the peculiarities of the realization of non-formal youth ecological education which is performed through the functioning of public environmental organizations and is characterized by increasing interest, interaction with educational institutions, close cooperation with environmental organizations, orientation towards the resolution of regional and global environmental problems. The scheme of realization of non-formal youth ecological education in the functioning of public environmental organizations through the mutual practice with educational institutions in ecologization of cultural and educational space, organization of environmental volunteerism, education, tourism, which will encourage young people to ecologically oriented activities, is presented in the given paper. The experience of public organization «Kremenets Ecological League» in the implementation of such educational activities is described in the article in particular art eco-workshop, ecological photo-workshop, training «Ecological education of the public» and the course «Computer literacy».

Handling historical information on protected-area systems and coverage. An information system for the Natura 2000 European context

Protected-area coverage is an internationally-recognized surrogate indicator for measuring biodiversity conservation. To measure trends in biodiversity conservation over time, historical records on protected-area boundaries are needed. Protected-area systems represent a challenge in information management for public environmental organizations. Protected areas may be subjected to changes which must follow a mandatory multiple-step administrative process. A wealth of information is generated which needs to be stored in a way that eases the handling process and for future reference. We present an information system which handles both change on protected-area boundaries over time and their related administrative processes. It also provides distributed data maintenance functionality as well as integrated alphanumeric, file and cartographic information handling. We discuss the actual implementation of the system for handling Natura 2000 sites in the Catalan and Spanish contexts. The designed system is applicable to other European Union member states.