Rational Policy Research Articles

EXPLORING AL-FĀRĀBĪ’S SECRETS IN HARMONIZING SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Harmonization between science and religion in al-Fārābī’s thought is an important topic in addressing the challenges of paradigm differences between the two in modern society. This research aims to explore al-Fārābī’s views on the integration of spiritual values and scientific rationality and their relevance to contemporary challenges. Using a qualitative method based on a literature study, this research analyzes al-Fārābī’s works as well as supporting literature that discusses the relationship between science and religion. The results show that al-Fārābī viewed science and religion as two different paths that lead to the same goal, which is the highest human happiness. Science provides rational knowledge to understand the physical world, while religion offers moral guidance to live life. In al-Fārābī’s view, the two complement each other, with science playing a role in revealing the nature of reality and religion providing ethical and spiritual meaning. This research emphasizes that al-Fārābī’s thoughts are relevant in the context of holistic education, ethical development in science and technology, and dialogue between science and religion. This approach can serve as a foundation for moral and rational value-based policies, creating a balance between intellectual progress and social responsibility. Thus, the harmonization of science and religion not only addresses the conflict between the two but also contributes to the construction of a just society with integrity. This research proposes that such integration can be a comprehensive solution to global issues such as technological ethics, climate change, and pluralism.

ADOÇÃO DO ACORDO DE NÃO PERSECUÇÃO PENAL NO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE (ANPP)

The Non-Prosecution Agreement (ANPP), established by Law No. 13.964/2019 (Anti-Crime Package), aims to reduce mass incarceration, especially for less serious crimes, primarily those committed negligently. This article evaluates the effectiveness of the ANPP in the Criminal Courts of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, analyzing the reduction in the number of cases, the impact on recidivism, and the social repercussions. Between 2020 and 2023, the ANPP prevented the imprisonment of more than 8,000 people, promoting a more agile justice system and consequently alleviating prison overcrowding in the state. However, despite the advances brought by the law, it is necessary to consider limitations regarding the application of this benefit to repeat offenders, particularly regarding retroactivity to the fact and the individual. As liberty is the most valuable legal good that the law seeks to guarantee and uphold, the article highlights constitutional principles such as subsidiarity and proportionality in the defense of a more rational and humane criminal policy.

Textual Analysis of China’s Environmental Policies from the Perspective of Policy Instruments

Environmental governance cannot be separated from scientific and rational policy guidelines, and content analysis of environmental governance policy texts helps to understand the characteristics of existing policies and improve policy design. Using policy bibliometric and content analysis, this study analyses the environmental governance policy texts issued by China’s central government from 2018 to 2023, constructs an analytical framework that combines types of policy instruments and environmental governance cycles, and is devoted to exploring the key hotspots, design features, and development logics of the policy system. The study finds that China’s environmental governance policy instruments show characteristics of the synergistic development of diversified regulatory instruments, but focus on the use of environmentally based policy instruments, with relatively few supply-based and demand-based policy instruments. Furthermore, they focus on the prevention of environmental pollution in advance, with relatively little attention paid to post-pollution governance and the construction of the governance guarantee system, and the use of economic instruments remains limited. Accordingly, this paper puts forward relevant policy recommendations to provide valuable reference and guidance for the future development of China’s environmental governance.

Investigation of Inflation and Wage Dynamics in Nigeria: New Empirical Insights

The current inflationary pressure in Nigeria is eroding the purchasing power of the salaried workers and the value of the national currency with the proposition that it could worsen the welfare of the citizens despite the abject and extreme poverty that prevails in the country. The paper therefore made an empirical investigation into the inflation and wage dynamics in Nigeria. The variables were tested for unit roots using ADF tests. The unit roots shows that all the variables are non-stationary at levels except the Consumer Price Index of Transportation (CT) and Wages and Salaried Workers as Proportion of Total Employment (WSW). Employee compensation including remittances (COMP), inflation rate (INFR), WSW and Consumer Price Index of Transportation (CT) are stationary at first difference. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was used in the methodology. The ARDL long-run result shows that the Consumer Price Index for Food (CF) has the highest impact on the Compensation of Employees (COMP). For every 1 percent change in COMP, CF changes by 19 percent. As INF rises, COMP falls. This is shown by the negative coefficient of INFR. The long-run result also suggests that for every 1 percent change in COMP, CT increases by 9%.The short-run dynamic model showed that a 6% fall in the lag period of inflation level led to a 1% increase in employee compensation and a one-year previous period fall of 30% in WSW, bringing about I% increase in employee compensation. The long-run model showed that the variables are co-integrated which indicates that variation in the short run will be corrected in the long run with 59% speed of adjustment. The study shows that the main drivers of inflation in Nigeria are Consumer Price Index for Food (CF) and Consumer Price Index for Transportation (CT) which directly have negative impact on Employee Compensation (COMP). In line with the above findings, It was recommended that maximum price legislature, demonetisation of currency, exercising great caution in incurring public debt, drastic reduction in government expenditure and adoption of rational wage policy can be a viable macroeconomic policy option.

A framework of composite factors for assessing ecosystem service supply drivers: A sustainable socio-ecological perspective

Studying the coupled relationship between social-ecological systems (SES) provides a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of human activity on ecosystems, thereby facilitating the formulation of more rational environmental protection policies. A deeper understanding of this relationship can promote the sustainable utilization and management of the environment. With its abundant natural resources, Ganzhou City represents the most typical ecological location in the southern hilly region of China. In this study, we constructed a sustainable framework for composite factors to analyze their effects on the ecosystem services supply (ESS). This framework emphasizes the positive roles assessment indicators such as water, forests, lakes, grasslands, and governance have on ESS, which are directly linked to the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, which include forest conservation, biodiversity maintenance, and water resource management. The results indicate that: (1) From 2005 to 2020, the overall ESS index in the central and western regions of Ganzhou showed a trend of being lower in the north and higher in the south, with areas outside the central and western regions showing a yearly increase. (2) Water, forest, lake, grassland, and governance indicators have a positive impact on the total ESS, while indicators such as mountains, sand, society, and actors have a negative impact. (3) From 2005 to 2020, the coupling coordination relationship in the central-northern and southern regions of Ganzhou gradually strengthened, with most areas shifting from a dysfunctional state to a low coupling state. By 2030, the total ESS index in counties such as Ningdu, Yudu, Huichang, Chongyi, and Xunwu is expected to decline. Some northeastern and southern regions are projected to show an upward trend by 2035. This study will significantly contribute to the realization of SDG 15, as it integrates closely related composite factors into a sustainable SES framework, by further delving into the factors influencing ESS and providing practical guidance for achieving SDGs.

Do public-private partnerships (PPPs) promote the sustainable development of infrastructure (SDI)? Evidence from China

PurposeTo address challenges such as inadequate funding and inefficiency in public infrastructure construction, PPPs have gained significant global traction. This study aims to comprehensively assess the impacts and mechanisms of PPPs on the SDI and to provide rational policy recommendations based on the findings.Design/methodology/approachWe collated a dataset from 30 Chinese provinces covering the years 2005–2020 as our research sample. The study’s hypotheses are tested using a double fixed-effects model, a chained mediated-effects model and a multidimensional heterogeneity analysis.FindingsOur findings indicate that PPPs have a facilitating effect on SDI in general. This boost usually lags behind policy implementation and is cyclical in the time dimension. In the spatial dimension, PPPs contribute significantly to SDI in the eastern and western regions, but not in the central region. From the perspective of the dynamics of economic, social and industrial development, PPPs in economically backward areas are difficult to promote SDI, promote it the most in economically medium regions and are slightly less in economically developed regions than in medium regions. This promotion effect has an inverted U-shaped relationship with social development and diminishes with industrial structure upgrading. Finally, due to the negative relationship between PPPs and social development and between social development and SDI, PPPs are shown to contribute to SDI and are identified as critical paths. However, PPPs suppress SDI by inhibiting economic and industrial development.Originality/valueThis study makes three novel contributions to the existing body of knowledge: (1) we innovatively introduce the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the field of infrastructure research, offering fresh perspectives on SDI enhancement; (2) revealing the mechanisms by which PPPs affect SDI through the three dimensions of economic, social and industrial development enabling policymakers to better understand and optimize resource allocation and improve planning, design and management of PPP projects for sustainable infrastructure and (3) we assess the spatiotemporal variances of PPPs’ effects on SDI and the diversity across regions at different social, economic and industrial structures developmental stages, offering critical insights to global decision-makers to devise tailored policy measures.

SIMULATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT ON THE FORMATION OF AN ATTRACTIVE MACRO SPACE OF THE ECONOMY OF UKRAINE

The economic situation in most countries demonstrates an ever-increasing demand for investment resources while their supply is significantly limited. A system of factors characterized by multidirectional action forms the so-called investment environment in the country. Its structure and level of efficiency are crucial determinants for ensuring the sustainable economic development of a country. The purpose of the study is to substantiate scientific and practical recommendations for the formation of a highly efficient macro-space of the economy of Ukraine based on the implementation of rational investment policy measures. In the course of this research, an analysis of foreign investment volumes in Ukraine was conducted, and a list of factors ensuring the positive investment image of the country in the international arena was identified. The result of the study is constructed trend lines of GDP dependence on direct foreign investors in Ukraine and abroad, as well as trend lines of GDP dependence on the level of the tax burden and the integral indicator of the level of the shadow economy; the delineation of the main directions for forming an investment environment in the context of attracting foreign capital investments. The priority vectors of optimizing the investment environment in Ukraine are substantiated and the main problems of Ukraine's investment attractiveness as a motivational factor for investment activity are determined. The strategic directions for the development of investment attractiveness of the national economy under modern business conditions have been justified. The methodological basis of the research consists of a systematic, comprehensive, and evolutionary approach. The main scientific results of the study were obtained through the use of methods such as structural-logical analysis, theoretical generalization, comparative analysis, structural-functional analysis, and a comprehensive approach based on identifying cause-and-effect relationships, as well as logical, economic and mathematical modelling, analytical, and graphical methods.

‘제주환경보전분담금(관광세)’ 제도 도입과정 분석 : 정책흐름모형(PSM)의 적용

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has been reviewing the introduction of a tourism system related to a Tourism Tax for the environmental conservation of tourist destinations since 2012. However, the system, now referred to as the ‘Environmental Conservation Contribution,’ was ultimately postponed in May 2024 due to legal issues, political interests, negative public opinion regarding the system’s introduction, and a lack of supporting evidence. This study analyzes the process through the application of Kingdon(1984)’s Policy Streams Model(PSM), noting that discussions surrounding the ‘Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution’, which faced long-standing challenges, did not follow a rational policy process due to differences in stakeholder opinions and the fluid nature of the system’s details. The anaylsis identified two main factors congributing to the difficulty in introducing the Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution System. First, the window for policy decision-making did not open because the problem stream, policy alternatives stream, and political stream were not aligned, largely due to the insufficient formation of the political stream. Second, the policy leader who held significant influence in aligning these three streams, were unable to strongly lead the introduction of the system to it’s conclusion. Based on the research results, the practical implications of this study are as follows. First, for the successful implementation of the system, political efforts to persuade the public and shape public opinion are essential. Additionally, effective policy PR strategies are needed to foster social consensus through negotiations with multilateral consultative bodies and to enhance public awareness of the system. Second, it suggests that a logical and reasonable design that can change and persuade public perception is necessary when designing policy alternatives. Third, policy leaders should lead changes in the national atmosphere and public opinion formation based on professional knowledge and resources, and combine the three streams of the policy formation process with innovative strategies. The academic contribution of this study is that it lies in its application of empirical research using policy theory in the field of tourism studies, by clearly identifying the complex factors and problems involved in the introduction of the tourism system. Furthermore, this study enhances the clarity and objectivity of the analysis by refining the factors analyzed in the existing Policy Streams Model.

ROLE AND OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT IN ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE FUEL PROCESSING COMPANIES

The purpose of the study is to disclose the composition and content of the actions of the management of innovative fuel processing companies to ensure their sustainable development in a competitive market. Based on the results of the work carried out, the following main conclusions were obtained. One of the effective mechanisms for solving the problem of optimizing the provision of consumers with fuels and lubricants is the organization of this work using fuel payment cards (fuel processing). There are relatively many companies participating in the payment card market, but they are not stable enough, which reduces customer confidence in this type of service and generally weakens the potential of the market infrastructure. To increase the stability of the work of processing companies, it is recommended to follow a number of imperatives that develop the principles of building their rational economic policy formulated by the authors. These include: application, improvement and development of marketing technologies to expand the sale of company services; implementation of a balanced, moderate economic policy focused on the stability of the company's development, and not on explosive growth; prioritization of profit distribution based on the interests of the company's development; conducting a thorough business case for the company's new projects using specialized modern software systems; absence of unjustified withdrawal of assets, increase in their value, including at the expense of an intangible component (patents, licenses, shares, participation interests...). The practical implementation of these imperatives requires from the management and line personnel of processing companies the appropriate composition and content of actions determined by the specifics of this business and the use of digital technologies.

Turkish Public Diplomacy in the Minutes of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (1931-1938)

For the young Republic of Turkey, the 1930s were a test of international public diplomacy. Turkey, which based its domestic and foreign policy on the principle of “Peace at home, peace in the world!”, was also concerned about its own future with the dictatorial regimes of Germany, Russia and Italy, which had distanced themselves from democratic governance and entered into an arms race with a sense of revenge, as well as the public diplomacy it would conduct and the measures it would take with the countries in its region. During the First World War, the country had suffered great devastation. The Turkish nation had spent everything it had in the struggle for liberation and was almost exhausted. However, it had managed to build a democratic state based on “National Sovereignty” despite the great economic depression that engulfed the world. However, the political developments in Europe and the possibility of the Republic of Turkey entering into a new chaos with the approaching World War could have destroyed all the gains and the future of the country. The task of protecting Turkey from this impending danger and keeping it safe could only be possible with the rational policies pursued by President Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the correct decisions taken by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in line with these policies. The aim of this study is to examine the Turkish public diplomacy as reflected in the minutes of the Turkish Grand National Assembly of Turkey between 1932 and 1938 in order to prevent Turkey's involvement in the upcoming great war and to secure its gains with measures to ensure its security in the region.

Clarifying the impacts of climatic coupling on plastic-mulching potato production in the loess plateau of China

ContextThe ongoing changes in climate constitute a major risk factor for global potato production. Recent studies have underscored the productivity-enhancing effects of plastic mulching for rain-fed potatoes. However, the adaptability of mulching measures to climate change in order to facilitate increased potato yields remains a question. Moreover, the coupling effects of different climatic factors on potato production was unclear. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of different climatic factors and their coupling effects on the yields of mulching and no mulching potatoes in the Loess Plateau. MethodsWe utilized multiple crop models and global climate models (GCMs) to predict the yields of mulching and no mulching potatoes on the Loess Plateau based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 245 and SSP585 scenarios. Additionally, we analyzed the response of yields to the coupling effects of climate, and clarified the effects of main climatic coupling effects to yield of mulching and no mulching potatoes. Results and conclusionsWe found that, for mulching potatoes, the contribution of climate coupling to yield under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios ranged from 47.05 % to 49.31 % for the period 2021–2060 and increased to 49.09 % to 50.94 % for the period 2061–2100. The mean temperature (Tmen)-dominated coupling contributed the most to yield for mulching potatoes, while for no mulching potatoes, precipitation (Pr)-dominated coupling played a dominant role. The maximum temperature (Tmax)-dominated coupling significantly reduced potato yields in the future, and mulching measures exacerbated the negative effect. However, mulching measures eliminated the adverse impact of minimum temperature (Tmin)-dominated coupling on potato yields. After decomposing the coupling effects of climatic factors, we found that the main factors leading to a reduction in potato yield were Tmax and Pr couplings, with mulching measures amplifying the heat-moisture effects. But mulching not only alleviated Tmin and Pr coupling but also strengthened the Tmean and Pr coupling, resulting in increased yield. SignificanceHence, understanding how mulching potatoes avoid heat-moisture coupling to promote production was crucial for the future on the Loess Plateau. Our findings contribute to clarifying the impact of climatic coupling on mulching potato production, thereby aiding in the informed development of rational policies.

Study on the Precise Evaluation of Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution in Cold Regions Using the Cost Control Method

Objective: With the acceleration of industrialization, air pollution has become a global environmental issue, particularly in cold regions where the unique climatic and geographical conditions give rise to distinctive types of air pollution and impacts. Considering the economic evaluation of environmental damage is crucial for effective pollution control policies, this study aims to provide a more precise environmental damage assessment method through the Improved Virtual Control Cost Method (IVCCM) to optimize air pollution governance strategies in cold regions. Method: This study utilizes a case study of a major company producing methanol and coal-based natural gas, where the emissions from the boiler exhaust exceeded the prescribed standards for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides during a specific period. By employing a segmented counting approach that accounts for downtime, precise calculations were conducted for the actual periods of excess emissions. Adjustments were made to the calculation coefficients within the Virtual Control Cost Method to more accurately reflect the ecological damage caused by air pollution. Results: The IVCCM calculations revealed that the total environmental loss caused by the company’s excessive air pollution emissions amounted to USD 1.6844 million, significantly lower than the original calculation method (USD 2.1885 million). Specifically, the environmental losses due to particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides were USD 0.0032 million, USD 0.3600 million, and USD 1.3212 million, respectively. Conclusions: The IVCCM enables a more precise assessment and prediction of ecological environmental damage caused by air pollution in cold regions. Compared to traditional methods, it effectively reduces assessment costs, mitigates disputes arising from unclear parameter values and calculation methods, and facilitates the development of more rational environmental protection policies and measures.

Sustainable Spatial Development of Multifunctional Villages: A Case Study of Eastern Poland

The decline in the role of agriculture as the basis for the livelihood of rural residents has led to the development of new directions for rural transformation. In Poland, the concept of multifunctional development has gained the most popularity. However, it does not have a defined spatial development model. There has also been no research into how the development of non-agricultural functions affects spatial development and to what extent this development is sustainable. Therefore, the aim of this study is to show and compare the changes that have taken place over the last 40–50 years in the spatial arrangements of development in traditional agricultural villages and in villages with different non-agricultural functions (tourist, industrial, and service functions). At the same time, we want to indicate which of these functions have contributed to the development of the most sustainable spatial arrangements. To this end, we selected three indicators of sustainable development of rural space: compactness of buildings, continuation of traditional rural layouts, and availability of services, and then carried out an analysis of changes in these indicators on the basis of archival and current cartographic materials and data on service facilities. We conducted the research for four municipalities in eastern Poland (50 villages). The results indicate the predominance of negative spatial phenomena such as the deterioration of the accessibility of services and spatial development contrary to historical spatial layouts. There is a spillover of development in the form of discontinuous, chaotic clusters of buildings often having the character of suburbia and, consequently, the disappearance of village centres, worsening walkability, and blurring of village boundaries. The only positive change is an increase in the compactness of buildings—mainly in villages that previously had a dispersed character. It is difficult to identify village functions that would unequivocally favour spatial sustainability. The service villages showed slight advantages in terms of social (availability of services) and environmental (compactness of buildings) factors. In contrast, the development of agricultural villages was more favourable in cultural terms (traditional village layouts). In all aspects, negative changes were recorded in industrial villages and (the worst results) in tourist villages. However, the trends were similar in all municipalities, which draws attention primarily to the lack of a rational spatial policy related to multifunctional village development.

WŁADZA NARODOWA PAŃSTWA I SPOSÓB JEJ OCENY NA PRZYKŁADZIE REPUBLIKI AZERBEJDŻANU

This study aims to analyze the national power of the state and its structural components including population, territory, economy, military power, scientific and technical progress, political will, and geopolitical factors. The research problem of the study was focused on estimating the state’s national power. The hypothesis of the study assumes that government policies should be based on real national power in order for policymakers to adopt rational policies. Research methods used in the study include comparative analysis, analysis and synthesis, and statistical data analysis. Additionally, the structural components of national power are reformulated into a new formula by reviewing the calculation rules. Furthermore, a mechanism for measuring the national power of the Republic of Azerbaijan is proposed using a fuzzy numerical scale based on expert opinion.

An accident severity prediction framework with consider features interaction

Accident severity prediction is increasingly important for preventing and reducing traffic accident losses. However, many studies always ignore the complex relationship between features during feature selection. To improve the prediction accuracy of the accident severity prediction model, this paper considers the interactions between multiple features. First, the feature selection algorithm of Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validation (RFECV) is improved by using Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) as the feature importance assessment metric. Then, to decrease the time expense of manually finding hyperparameters of the model, the Hunter Prey Optimization (HPO) algorithm is introduced and logistic mapping together with stochastic perturbation is added to it, which makes it easier to skip out of the partial optimum during the optimization search. Finally, the improved HPO algorithm is used to optimize the hyperparameters of the CatBoost model. The US traffic accident dataset is introduced for the validity of the proposed framework. Experimental results show that the proposed framework achieves a prediction accuracy of 96.63%, which is better than other state-of-the-art methods. The high accuracy of the prediction model can help decision-makers develop more rational transportation policies, and this study also proposes some traffic management measures based on the selected features.

Prediction of Land Use and Habitat Quality in Harbin City Based on the PLUS- InVEST Model

Analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution of urban land use and habitat quality can reveal the correlation between land use and habitat quality, aiding in rational urban land policies and high-quality ecological environment development. This study was based on land use transition matrices and an Intensity-Migration （IM） model to analyze the changes in land use in Harbin from 2000 to 2020. It combined the PLUS model to explore the driving factors of land use expansion for various land types and predicted land use scenarios for 2030 under natural development, ecological protection, farmland protection, and urban development scenarios. Finally, the InVEST model was used to complete the habitat quality analysis. The results indicated： ① The dominant land use types in Harbin were cropland, forest land, and grassland. From 2000 to 2020, there was a significant tendency of conversion into grassland, cropland, forest land, and artificial surfaces, with noticeable changes in land use intensity. Water bodies, bare land, and wetland types showed less conversion and tended to be restrictive. ② Elevation was the primary factor influencing the expansion of grassland, cropland, forest land, bare land, wetland, and water bodies. Socioeconomic factors were the main factor affecting the expansion of artificial surfaces. ③ Simulation of land use types in Harbin for 2030 under the four scenarios showed an increase in forest land area and a decrease in grassland area, with insignificant changes in wetland, water bodies, and bare land areas. Except for in the ecological protection scenario, the area of artificial surfaces increased, whereas cropland decreased. ④ Overall, habitat quality in Harbin improved from 2000 to 2020. ⑤ In 2030, the spatial pattern of habitat quality in Harbin remained consistent across all scenarios, showing an overall improvement in habitat quality. Under the ecological protection scenario, areas with low and medium habitat quality decreased, whereas areas with higher habitat quality increased, indicating a relatively significant improvement in habitat quality. The research results provide a scientific basis and insights for the development of ecological civilization and urban planning and construction in Harbin.

The Efficiency of Financing Environmental Protection Measures in the Context of Ukraine’s Future Membership in the EU

In recent decades, humanity has had a significant negative impact on the environment. This problem can be solved only by establishing a rational environmental management policy and ensuring an effective financial policy in the context of balancing emissions and expenditures on environmental protection measures. The purpose of this article is to analyze the efficiency of financing environmental protection measures by determining the dependence of pollutant emissions on environmental protection expenditures in Ukraine and the European Union. The following methods were used for the study: analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, specification, and statistical and graphical methods. The statistical information was systematized on the basis of open data from the Open Budget web portal, the State Statistics Service, and Eurostat. This study identified the dynamics of revenues from environmental taxes in Ukraine; taxes on air emissions prevail. Most of the expenditures are made from the state budget. According to the functional classification, environmental expenditures are mainly aimed at preventing and eliminating environmental pollution. The dynamics of capital investments in environmental protection were also studied. To assess the effectiveness of the state policy in the field of environmental protection, we analyzed the dependence of pollutant emissions in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania on the amount of environmental expenditures and investments in this area and revenues from environmental tax. In Ukraine, the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere depends mostly on investments in this area; in Poland—on revenues from environmental taxes; and in Romania—on expenditures on environmental protection. It has been established that the obtained models are adequate and can be used to build future forecasts of pollutant emissions. Directions for the development of financial and environmental policy are proposed. Post-war restoration of the environmental situation should be carried out on the basis of sustainable development, focusing on the European Green Deal A triple-task approach should be implemented, including environmental restoration, the minimization of negative climate change and balanced use of resources, and the expansion of powers of the relevant ministry with a focus on the strategic goals of the state policy. It is necessary to develop methodological recommendations according to international standards to assess the real state of the environment.

Modeling and Monitoring CO2 Emissions in G20 Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Multiple Statistical Models

The emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered one of the main factors responsible for one of the greatest challenges faced by the world today: climate change. On the other hand, with the increase in energy demand due to the increase in population and industrialization, the emission of CO2 has increased rapidly in the past few decades. However, the world’s leaders, including the United Nations, are now taking serious action on how to minimize the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. Towards this end, accurate modeling and monitoring of historical CO2 can help in the development of rational policies. This study aims to analyze the carbon emitted by the Group Twenty (G20) countries for the period 1971–2021. The datasets include CO2 emissions, nonrenewable energy (NREN), renewable energy (REN), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and Urbanization (URB). Various regression-based models, including multiple linear regression models, quantile regression models, and panel data models with different variants, were used to quantify the influence of independent variables on the response variable. In this study, CO2 is a response variable, and the other variables are covariates. The ultimate objective was to choose the best model among the competing models. It is noted that the USA, Canada, and Australia produced the highest amount of CO2 consistently for the entire duration; however, in the last decade (2011–2021) it has decreased to 12.63–17.95 metric tons per capita as compared to the duration of 1971–1980 (14.33–22.16 metric tons per capita). In contrast, CO2 emissions have increased in Saudi Arabia and China recently. For modeling purposes, the duration of the data has been divided into two independent, equal parts: 1971–1995 and 1996–2021. The panel fixed effect model (PFEM) and panel mixed effect model (PMEM) outperformed the other competing models using model selection and model prediction criteria. Different models provide different insights into the relationship between CO2 emissions and independent variables. In the later duration, all models show that REN has negative impacts on CO2 emissions, except the quantile regression model with tau = 0.25. In contrast, NREN has strong positive impacts on CO2 emissions. URB has significantly negative impacts on CO2 emissions globally. The findings of this study hold the potential to provide valuable information to policymakers on carbon emissions and monitoring globally. In addition, results can help in addressing some of the sustainable development goals of the United Nation Development Programme.

Optimizing Station Placement for Free-Floating Electric Vehicle Sharing Systems: Leveraging Predicted User Spatial Distribution from Points of Interest

Rapid growth rate indicates that the free-floating electric vehicle sharing (FFEVS) system leads to a new carsharing idea. Like other carsharing systems, the FFEVS system faces significant regional demand fluctuations. In such a situation, the rental stations and charging stations should be constructed in high-demand areas to reduce the scheduling costs. However, the planning of the FFEVS system includes a series of aspects of rental stations and charging stations, such as the location, size, and number, which interact with each other. In this paper, we first provide a method for forecasting the demand for car sharing based on the land characteristics of Beijing FFEVS station catchment areas. Then, the multi-objective MILP model for planning FFEVS systems is developed, which considers the requirements of vehicle relocation and electric vehicle charging. Afterward, the capabilities of the proposed models are demonstrated by the real data obtained from Beijing, China. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of the model is made based on varying demand and subsidy levels. From the results, the proposed model can provide decision-makers with useful insights about the planning of FFEVS systems, which bring great benefits to formulating more rational policies.

A Data-Driven Pandemic Simulator with Reinforcement Learning

After the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak erupted, it swiftly spread globally and triggered a severe public health crisis in 2019. To contain the virus’s spread, several countries implemented various lockdown measures. As the governments faced this unprecedented challenge, understanding the impact of lockdown policies became paramount. The goal of addressing the pandemic crisis is to devise prudent policies that strike a balance between safeguarding lives and maintaining economic stability. Traditional mathematical and statistical models for studying virus transmission only offer macro-level predictions of epidemic development and often overlook individual variations’ impact, therefore failing to reflect the role of government decisions. To address this challenge, we propose an integrated framework that combines agent-based modeling (ABM) and deep Q-network (DQN) techniques. This framework enables a more comprehensive analysis and optimization of epidemic control strategies while considering real human behavior. We construct a pandemic simulator based on the ABM method, accurately simulating agents’ daily activities, interactions, and the dynamic spread of the virus. Additionally, we employ a data-driven approach and adjust the model through real statistical data to enhance its effectiveness. Subsequently, we integrated ABM into a decision-making framework using reinforcement learning techniques to explore the most effective strategies. In experiments, we validated the model’s effectiveness by simulating virus transmission across different countries globally. In this model, we obtained decision outcomes when governments focused on various factors. Our research findings indicate that our model serves as a valuable tool for decision-makers, enabling them to formulate prudent and rational policies.