Sustainable Development In Europe Research Articles

Rural land systems both support and hinder the Sustainable Development Goals across Europe

AbstractAchieving sustainable rural land systems, including farms and forestry, is essential to achieve the European Union’s goal of fair and healthy food systems while becoming climate-neutral and halting biodiversity loss. Here we quantitatively assess the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of rural land systems in Europe using spatial hotspot analyses based on 15 environmental and 9 social sustainability indicators from the European Sustainable Development Goals and the Common Agricultural Policy. We find high subsidy support for under-performing sustainability areas and low sustainability performance in areas producing the most calories. However, we identified two brightspots with good environmental and socioeconomic performance (Nordics and Central Europe), and five dragspots hindering sustainability: the Balkans, the Lowlands, Northern Italy, Southern Italy and Malta, and Southern Spain. Redirecting support to reward social and environmental benefits from land use can help achieve sustainability goals.

European Sustainable Development Goals Reporting: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis on Cultural Impact

European Sustainable Development Goals Reporting: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis on Cultural Impact

Implementing life cycle thinking and climate change indicators in small and medium size enterprises

The policy for a low emission society requires that companies measure their impact from a life cycle perspective for both products and corporate reporting. This work presents new climate performance indicators to evaluate business models (BM) based on life cycle assessment (LCA) and benchmarked with statistics for Sustainable Development Goal indicator 9.4.1. The research was conducted by action case studies involving 20 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from various sectors. The SMEs did not have previous experience with LCA. Therefore, a work process called “LCA á la carte” was designed to gradually increase details and effort. The results of simplified indicators on the manufacturing SMEs showed that the direct emissions to value added are lower than industry average. However, when upstream emissions and value added were included, the emission intensities are about industry average. The full life cycle climate indicators are presented for a boat production company that experiment with new BMs. Use phase electrification was found to be the most effective measure (60 % lower emission intensity), while material recycling and boat rental each reduced the emission intensity with about 30 %. However, a combination of these new BMs gives best results and could be needed to reach future benchmarks. This study suggests LCA for BM as a combination of a work process, actors' perspectives, and performance indicators. The results highlight that the scope of activities included in the performance indicators is crucial. New reporting standards such as the European Sustainable Development Standard (ESRS) should review the emission intensity indicators to ensure consistency between the scopes of activities included.

A unifying modelling of multiple land degradation pathways in Europe

Land degradation is a complex socio-environmental threat, which generally occurs as multiple concurrent pathways that remain largely unexplored in Europe. Here we present an unprecedented analysis of land multi-degradation in 40 continental countries, using twelve dataset-based processes that were modelled as land degradation convergence and combination pathways in Europe’s agricultural (and arable) environments. Using a Land Multi-degradation Index, we find that up to 27%, 35% and 22% of continental agricultural (~2 million km2) and arable (~1.1 million km2) lands are currently threatened by one, two, and three drivers of degradation, while 10–11% of pan-European agricultural/arable landscapes are cumulatively affected by four and at least five concurrent processes. We also explore the complex pattern of spatially interacting processes, emphasizing the major combinations of land degradation pathways across continental and national boundaries. Our results will enable policymakers to develop knowledge-based strategies for land degradation mitigation and other critical European sustainable development goals.

Quantyfing the impact of the water security index on socio-economic development in EU27

The issue of environmental security in the context of sustainable development is a highly topical one, being intensively studied by specialists both in terms of its impact on biodiversity and on the protection of non-renewable resources, and in terms of its economic and social impact. The authors aim to quantify the impact of water security on economic and social development based on a new structural equation model and identify changes in the latent variable Water Security Index. (WSI), economic development (ED) and social development (SD) dynamics over the period 2000–2022 for the 27 EU Member States. The methodology is based on the use of structural equation systems and the use of the Independent-Samples Kruskal-Wallis Test to identify the influences of water security measures on economic and social indicators and to assess regional disparities of environmental policy development in relation to economic and social development. The research results will highlight the level of homogeneity of regional water security clusters in Europe and the influence of this approach on economic and social disparities. The results of the study highlight the significant correlation between population density, pollution levels and the costs associated with maintaining water quality. The study shows that high population density and high pollution levels disproportionately increase the financial burden of water quality management. In addition, the analysis highlights the social ramifications of neglecting the sustainability of water sources, particularly in regions experiencing low economic growth. In such scenarios, the negative social impact intensifies, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices. The results allow the formulation of the following public policies: Standardization of the national water quality management framework in line with the European framework; Establishment of organizations to monitor the safety of water sources and the health of the local population; Continuation of innovations in the field of water environment protection; Promotion of social responsibility towards the aquatic environment; Continuation of the process of improving water management governance. The results are useful for economic, environmental and social policy makers to optimise European sustainable development strategies.

JUST TRANSITION TO GREEN ENERGY - A CASE STUDY ON INDIA AND DENMARK

The transition towards green and decent jobs is a critical imperative for sustainable economic growth and environmental well-being. However, amidst global efforts to combat climate change, India faces the challenge of achieving inclusive economic growth. This paper delves into the juxtaposition of two distinct narratives in the realm of green and decent jobs, exploring the disparities between India and Denmark, an exemplar of sustainable development in Europe. Currently Denmark runs mostly on renewable Energy, around 75% of energy comes from renewable energy sources, with Denmarks trajectory in achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030, it serves as an aspirational benchmark against which we assess Indias CO2productivity. Indias coal dependency extends further due to its massive coal reserves, estimated at around 100 billion tons, primarily concentrated in the eastern states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. It was estimated that 74% of Indias energy generation came from coal fired plants in 2021. Therefore, it is essential to have a just transition which also ensures upskilling and employing workers in green Jobs. Linear regression models for Denmark and India have been constructed to understand the relationship between CO2 productivity and various predictor variables. The model for Denmark exhibits a good fit, implying that all predictor variables collectively explain 95% of the variance in CO2 productivity. The model for India shows a strong fit, indicating that approximately 97.5% of the variance in CO2 productivity is explained by the predictor variables. This suggests that the model is highly significant in understanding the factors influencing CO2 productivity in India. In conclusion it has been recommended that India can incorporate Denmarks policy for a smooth transition towards green energy, using the five Rs, these key elements provide a roadmap for policymakers, governments, and local stakeholders to navigate the complex challenges of economic restructuring and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Development in Europe: A Review of the Forestry Sector's Social, Environmental, and Economic Dynamics

Despite their resilience, forest ecosystems become increasingly impacted by extreme climatic events, fires, and pathogen outbursts, which have considerable economic repercussions. How forest management solves these difficulties will affect human health, environmental variety, productivity, and forest ecosystem recuperation from exogenic distresses. Assuming forests provide ecosystem services essential to society and humanity along with wood, a better understanding of forest ecosystems seems essential to defining a development policy that meets ecological safeguard and energy and climate goals. According to the UN 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals, European forest management practices still don't provide a clear picture of ecological conditions, monetary estimate, and biodiversity. In light of the existing research, this article reviews and discusses recent European forestry industry trends and the environmental-economic nexus' complexity. Wood use has social consequences for regions adapting to ecological change, from rising temperatures to landscape modifications. This paper confirms that the technical-economic dimensions of forestry affect short-term economic dynamics, sector growth prospects, supply chain organization, company interconnections, and investment strategies. Forestry practices conserve species and habitats while boosting sustainable timber production. The European Commission's policy direction is to gradually encourage public and private entities to embark on worthy circular economy pathways, which will result in more jobs, material recycling, minimized carbon emissions, and community-added value. Forestry should contribute more holistically to sustainable development at diverse spatial dimensions. This includes focusing on environmental and economic aims in light of the recognition of relevant features that may guide forthcoming research and policy action while enhancing cooperation among member nations and local experts.

Distributed Ledger Technologies for Food Sustainability indexing

The agro-food industry currently faces increasing environmental, social, and economic challenges, emphasizing the need for an effective assessment of food sustainability. While existing certification schemes serve to evaluate food production systems' sustainability, they are often complex, laborious, and prone to errors and result in a transparency deficit and a lack of trust in the process. This paper introduces a novel solution using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to facilitate certificate generation and verification, with the goal of contributing to the attainment of the European Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Leveraging Blockchain technology, the solution creates an unalterable record of food sustainability certificates that can be verified with ease, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and trustworthiness in the certification process. The feasibility of the proposed DLT approach is demonstrated through a proof-of-concept implementation, which shows that the proposed solution can significantly improve the certificate generation and verification process. The resultant framework presents a secure and reliable solution for food sustainability certification, which can benefit various stakeholders in the food industry, such as producers, retailers, and consumers. The proposed DLT solution promises a significant transformation in generating and verifying food sustainability certificates, fostering more sustainable food production systems.

Environmental policy, green trade and sustainable development in Europe: New perspective on the Porter hypothesis

This study tests the validity of the Porter hypothesis through the examination of the joint effects of green trade and environmental policy stringency on sustainable development in the European Economic Area. To achieve the study objective, data for 14 countries within the region between 2003 and 2015 is analyzed using advanced panel estimation techniques – panel method of moments quantile and nonparametric time-varying coefficient panel models. The empirical analysis yields a number of interesting results. In confirmation of the Porter hypothesis, the interaction term is positive and significant. Specifically, a percentage increase in environmental policy stringency raises the positive impact of green trade on sustainable development by 0.005%. This interactive effect also ranges between 0.002% and 0.007% across quantiles. This indicates that the higher the level of sustainable development, the higher the moderating impact of environmental policy stringency on the relationship between green trade and sustainable development. This suggests that stringent policies are able to induce green technological shocks that cause efficiency improvements and innovation, which in turn promote sustainable development either directly or indirectly through their interactions with green trade. Moreover, the individual and synergistic impacts of environmental policy stringency and green trade are time-varying and sensitive to economic conditions. They become more pronounced in periods of major regional/global economic events. Responsible use of strict environmental policies is advocated, and the removal of green trade barriers is encouraged.

GNH and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development

The objective of this research is application of Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework, grounded in the principles of Buddhist economics, in the Eastern European sustainable development context, specifically in Slovakia. This studies aim is to investigate the possibility of applying GNH framework in Slovakian environment. The research is an experimental study about the evaluation of the happiness index of Slovakian employees and employers of SMEs in Slovakia, in Rožňava region. The sustainable development in the region is lowest in the country, its' characterized by high unemployment rate, tendency of emigration, low standard of living, and inadequate healthcare services. Data were collected through two quantitative questionnaires, adapted and supplemented versions of the original Bhutanese questionnaire. The sample comprised 315 employees and 50 organizations in Slovakia. A distinctive aspect of this survey is its consideration of the implications of artificial intelligence and technological advancements. The study investigates the ways in which artificial intelligence influences human well-being and perceptions of trust. The findings reveal a critically low happiness index in the Rožňava region, indicating a need for intervention. This study would like to be contribution to the existing and further research of sustainability, about possibility to apply GNH framework in European culture in context of social, ecological and economical sustainable development.

Working in (Slow) Progress: Socio-Environmental and Economic Dynamics in the Forestry Sector and the Contribution to Sustainable Development in Europe

Forest ecosystems are increasingly subject to disturbances, such as extreme (climate) events, fires and pathological outbreaks, which exert significant (and still poorly quantified) economic impacts, despite their intrinsic resilience. How forest management addresses these challenges will have profound effects on human health, environmental diversity, (ecological and economic) productivity and the ability of forest ecosystems to recovery from exogenous shocks. Assuming forests as ensuring ecosystem services that are vital to society and human well-being, in addition to providing wood material, a better knowledge of forest ecosystems appears a key requirement to delineate a developmental strategy that guarantees environmental protection objectives and achievement of climate and energy targets. In the context of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the information available on forest management practices in Europe still seems not completely suitable to provide a comprehensive overview of ecosystem conditions, their economic value, and their biodiversity. Based on a literature review, the present contribution focuses on recent dynamics of the forestry sector in Europe, delineating the inherent complexity in the environmental-economic nexus. Additionally, the extensive use of a key natural resource such as wood exerts social implications for local districts adapting to ecological change—from climate warming to landscape transformations. In line with earlier studies, our paper confirms the role of the technical-economic dimension of forestry in sustainable development paths of districts and regions, affecting together (i) short-term economic dynamics, (ii) the growth prospects of the sector, (iii) the organization of the supply chain, (iv) the interconnections between companies, and (v) investment strategies at large. One of the major issues is the low reliability of official statistics to provide a coherent picture of the actual status of forest resources. At the same time, forestry practices are pivotal in maintaining habitats and species while increasing the timber production that remains (too) sustainable. This is the policy direction constantly given by the European Commission to stimulate over time public bodies and private (in whose hands is about 60% of European forests) to start virtuous paths in the circular economy with considerable repercussions in terms of additional jobs, recycled materials, mt of CO2 equivalent avoided, and increase in community added value. In this context, forestry should assure a more ‘holistic’ contribution to sustainable development paths at various spatial scales. This means concentrating on both economic and environmental targets based on the identification of significant (ecological-economic) dimensions that may delineate future lines of investigation and policy intervention, while increasing between member countries and regional authorities.

Which risks drive European natural gas bubbles? Novel evidence from geopolitics and climate

Ensuring the natural gas market's sound and ordered progress is crucial to Europe's sustainable development. This investigation employs the Generalized Supremum Augmented Dickey-Fuller (GSADF) approach to explore whether there are multiple bubbles in the European natural gas market. Also, we further investigate the influencing factors that contributed to these boom and bust episodes. The empirical results suggest that the multiple European natural gas bubbles are mostly accompanied by abnormal fluctuations, which is consistent with the asset pricing model. In addition, geopolitical and climate factors could increase the possibility of European natural gas bubbles, where the “cold winter” caused by the La Nina event brings more impetus to these bubbles than the “warm winter” due to the El Nino phenomenon, and Russia's geopolitical conflict with Ukraine is more likely to cause bubbles. Besides, the international oil market and European economic situation also exert positive effects on such explosive behaviours. Against the backdrop of an increasingly serious energy crisis in Europe, the above conclusions provide valuable implications to promote European sustainable development by reducing over-dependence on Russian energy and preventing dramatic surges in natural gas demand.

INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN TRANSFORMATIONS AND MILITARY ACTIONS IN UKRAINE

The article examines the essence of the concept of "innovation ecosystem", highlights the factors that affect the processes of formation of innovation ecosystems, and provides a proper definition of the innovation ecosystem. The components of the innovation ecosystem were analyzed; the priority areas of Ukraine's innovative activity are highlighted and their correlation with the Strategy of Smart and Sustainable Development of Europe is determined. It has been proven that innovation is a strategic growth factor. The principles of formation and functioning of the national innovation ecosystem are systematized. The importance of technological platforms as a mechanism of effective cooperation between participants of the innovation ecosystem is highlighted. Guidelines for the formation of innovative ecosystems in the context of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union are proposed, which take into account the losses caused by the full-scale military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine.

Звітність провідних гірничодобувних компаній в ЄС і в Україні (розкриття екологічного капіталу): порівняльне дослідження

The purpose of the article is to study the activities of mining companies operating in both the European Union and Ukraine by analyzing their non-financial reports, in particular in terms of ecological capital, in terms of sustainable development and evaluating the efficiency of the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The article is aimed at disclosing the ecological aspects of the activities of mining enterprises of the EU and Ukraine in their reporting. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that disclosure by mining companies of information about their condition (in particular, ecological aspects – in order to identify risks that threaten the company’s sustainability) and increase investor and consumer confidence is vital for managing changes towards building a sustainable global economy by combining long-term profitability with environmental protection. Accordingly, the task of ensuring the sustainable development of mining companies is strategic not only for them, but also for the industry and the economy in general. The study analyzes the non-financial reports of the EU and Ukrainian mining entities to determine their actions in the light of social responsibility and to check whether they correlate with environmental protection and the implementation of the SDGs. The degree of disclosure of ecological information in the Management Reports of domestic extractive enterprises and Sustainability Reports of European companies is characterized. The results of this study present a unique contribution to understanding the performance of mining companies in sustainable development in Europe and Ukraine, the external driving factors that encourage them to participate in these activities, and their implementation of the SDGs in their sustainability reports. The article also emphasizes the importance of non-financial information for the sustainable development of companies and the environment.

Carbon Footprint Assessment of Hydrogen and Steel

Hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize a variety of energy-intensive sectors, including steel production. Using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the state of the art is given for current hydrogen production with a focus on the hydrogen carbon footprint. Beside the state of the art, the outlook on different European scenarios up to the year 2040 is presented. A case study of the transformation of steel production from coal-based towards hydrogen- and electricity-based metallurgy is presented. Direct reduction plants with integrated electric arc furnaces enable steel production, which is almost exclusively based on hydrogen and electricity or rather on electricity alone, if hydrogen stems from electrolysis. Thus, an integrated steel site has a demand of 4.9 kWh of electric energy per kilogram of steel. The carbon footprint of steel considering a European sustainable development scenario concerning the electricity mix is 0.75 kg CO2eq/kg steel in 2040. From a novel perspective, a break-even analysis is given comparing the use of natural gas and hydrogen using different electricity mixes. The results concerning hydrogen production presented in this paper can also be transferred to application fields other than steel.

Green finance and sustainable development in Europe

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of whether financial development impacts environmental degradation, over time. It highlights how financial development, institutional frameworks, and foreign investment dictate the extent of green development. The sample includes 40 countries in Europe and data is collected on a large set of variables, for the years from 1990 to 2019. Financial development is measured through domestic credit to the private sector, bank credit to the private sector and foreign direct investment (FDI). Environmental degradation is measured through energy use, CO2 emissions, greenhouse emissions and natural resource depletion. The model controls for income levels, institutional quality, technology, education, population, and urbanization. Regression analysis is conducted to analyze the data. The results suggest that financial development has a negative relationship with four different measures of environmental degradation, while FDI and institutional quality appear to worsen the environmental measures. Recommendations for policy makers include development of green finance policies and strong institutions, to lower environmental degradation in the long run.

Culture as a Driver of Sustainable Development in Europe

Abstract Research purpose. The link between culture and sustainable development has been frequently debated by European authorities and academicians. Culture is treated as a tool for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and considered as the fourth pillar of sustainable development. The research goal is to investigate the relationship between culture-related indices and a country’s sustainable development based on European sample data. Design / Methodology / Approach. To complete research, culture-related statistics indicators from Eurostat were collected and regressed against the SDG index, based on data covered 2016-2019. Findings. The relationship between culture-related indices and SDG score was specified using European statistical data. The most significant impact on sustainable development measure was revealed regarding the factors “cultural employment” and “government expenditure on culture”. Originality / Value / Practical implications. The current research differs from most studies that investigated cultural issues using the mathematical apparatus versus the commonly used practice of interviewing consumers or representatives of the cultural sector. The results of this research could be used by municipalities, the cultural private sector, and NGOs by arguing for funding and applying for EU grants. On the other hand, the results and approach of this research could be transposed to other regions to understand the common cultural impact on sustainable development in the non-EU part of the world.

European Sustainable Development: Assessment of the Degree of Expenditure on Innovation in Power Companies in Poland

European Sustainable Development: Assessment of the Degree of Expenditure on Innovation in Power Companies in Poland

The Process of Sustainable Development and the Linkage to the Social - Ecological Transformation in the World and in Vietnam

The Process of Sustainable Development and the Linkage to the Social - Ecological Transformation in the World and in Vietnam

Alternative Ways of Cooling a Passive School Building in Order to Maintain Thermal Comfort in Summer

The heatwaves that have affected our civilization in recent years pose a serious threat to the environment as well as the proper functioning of our bodies. Schools are facilities with specific microclimatic requirements. Thermal conditions in educational buildings are decisive for the stimulation and efficiency of the learning process, as well as the interaction of students. Based on the measurements of thermal comfort carried out in the school building, with the energy standard of a passive building, it can be observed that in schools with very low energy consumption, the problem of interior overheating may occur in the summer months. In this paper, an attempt was made to search for alternative passive measures allowing for the required indoor microclimate conditions to be obtained. Such solutions are in line with the spirit of the European energy policy and sustainable development. A model of the school under study was created using the Design Builder simulation program. The role of mechanical ventilation and the possibility of night ventilation in reducing discomfort were examined. Consideration was given to the justification of using expensive heat pump installations with a ground heat exchanger to reduce overheating in summer. The application of the adaptive approach to the assessment of thermal conditions and the acceptance of limited overheating periods led to the conclusion that the analyzed building could function successfully without these additional installation elements. A proprietary tool for the analysis of microclimate conditions was proposed to estimate the hours of discomfort in a way that is objective and easy to calculate.