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The climate crisis we are confronted with has worsened substantially compared to 15, 20, or 30 years ago, when the first assessments related to climate change were presented to the world's governments. This crisis, with its severe repercussions on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena, natural ecosystems, and imbalances in every country's economies and people's lives, demands immediate attention. To halt the continuous degradation of the environment, we must identify the effects and serious phenomena that are affecting the planet due to the emissions of gases in the atmosphere, where this decline started, and how fast it has been expanding. Climate models are an appropriate tool to study the influence exerted by the effects of increasing GHG levels and disturbance factors. This paper not only examines current environmental policies but also proposes alternative strategies for the future, instilling hope and empowerment in the face of these urgent priorities for humanity.

The significance of this work is multifaceted, reflecting a wide range of potential impacts that free public transportation could have on society, the environment, and urban fabric. Delving into this topic, the research aims to clarify the potential transformative power of free public transportation, offering a clear understanding that could inform policy, planning, and social perspectives. From a social standpoint, the work is crucial in exploring how free public transportation can improve accessibility and mobility for all segments of society, particularly benefiting those in lower socio-economic strata. It highlights the potential for such a policy to act as an equalizer in urban societies, reducing disparities in mobility access and, more broadly, social and economic opportunities. By facilitating a more inclusive urban mobility realm, free public transportation could play a key role in promoting social cohesion and equality. From an ecological perspective, research on free public transportation is at the centre of contemporary discussions on sustainable urban development and environmental concerns. This work seeks to illuminate the ecological benefits of increased public transportation usage, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and traffic congestion. By offering a systematic analysis of these aspects, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of how urban mobility innovations can align with environmental sustainability goals, in line with global efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In an urban context, the significance of the work is anchored in its potential to inform urban planning and policy. It examines the implications of free public transportation on urban infrastructure, land use, and overall urban quality of life. The research explores how such a policy could impact urban form, potentially leading to more compact, efficient cities conducive to living. Furthermore, it addresses the operational and strategic dimensions of implementing free public transportation, providing insight into its feasibility and integration into broader urban mobility strategies. Ultimately, the work aims to offer a comprehensive and empirically grounded analysis that clarifies the potential benefits and challenges of free public transportation. It seeks to contribute valuable knowledge to the academic field, support informed policy-making, and stimulate public discourse on sustainable solutions for urban mobility in Croatia and beyond. As a basis for the work, secondary data were used, that is, a literature review of existing research.

The research aimed to analyze the contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the competitiveness of supermarkets in Florencia, Caquetá in southern Colombia. In a sample of six supermarkets, a self-assessment survey of CSR and competitiveness variables was carried out for 2021 to 2022, consisting of six dimensions: values and ethical principles, responsible marketing, economy and finance, social commitment, quality of working life, and environment. The tool makes it possible to measure the commitment of the organization's CSR activities to competitiveness. The environment is the dimension with the lowest score and contribution to competitiveness in the dimensions evaluated in the supermarkets (2.0 on a scale of 0.0 - 3.0). According to the correlation analysis, there is a relationship between CSR and competitive position. Awareness-raising and training actions aimed at stakeholders are proposed.

Housing industry is one of the major threats to global environment and resource depletion. Particularly in China, it is regarded as a major challenge due to massive population growth. The most common barriers involve; economic barriers and environmental barriers. Therefore, to promote sustainable housing development, the management of these barriers is most crucial. This study is an attempt to overcome these barriers with the help of financial institutions in the context of China. The sample of the study are construction sector employees which are selected through simple random sampling method. Partial Least Square (PLS) is employed as statistical tool to analyze the primary data. Results revealed the positive role of financial institutions to overcome the challenges related to the economic barriers and environmental barriers. Financing from banks for the sustainable housing schemes can reduce the economic barriers and help to fulfil the sustainable housing criteria. Similarly, the environment requirements can also be achieved through environmental policy developed by the banks in China. This study recommended the Chinese government to promote sustainable hosing development through the promotion of bank financing and implementation of banks environmental policies. First published online 14 March 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand whether or not the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Model and the Shingo Model promote and are embedded into the three pillars of sustainability, as well as to propose a conceptual model for excellence in business towards sustainability. Methodology/Approach: Following the PRISMA methodology, 102 articles were included in the review. A bibliometric co-citation network was created based on those publications to understand the link between the topics, using the VOSViewer software. This paper presents a literature review on the topics of the EFQM and Shingo Model, Corporate sustainability (CS), and the relationship between the excellence models and CS. Findings: Findings from the literature review indicate that effectively the new version of the EFQM Model and the Shingo Model guide organisations towards achieving sustainable economic, social, and environmental results. Research Limitation/Implication: There are still a restricted number of articles on the Shingo Model and on the relationship between the Shingo Model and CS, as well as, on the latest version of the EFQM Model and therefore on the relationship between this model version and CS, which presents a limitation to this paper. Originality/Value of paper: This paper contributes to filling the literature gap regarding the lack of studies evolving the EFQM 2020 model version and the Shingo Model, as well as its relationship with CS.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the European Union’s "Fit for 55" plan, announced in 2021, which intends to meet a 2030 goal of reducing carbon emissions by 55 percent from 1990 levels. Design/methodology/approach: An analytical model is used to assess the impact of the EU environmental policies, including the carbon border tax, emissions trading system, energy efficiency, and emission standards. Findings: The study finds that the environmental policies achieve different policy criteria, including cost minimization, equalization of marginal abatement cost, minimization of general equilibrium cost, political feasibility, and minimization of inequitable impacts across income groups. But no single policy instrument is necessarily superior to the others. The paper finds that a revenue-neutral carbon border tax and an emissions trading system with auctioned permits satisfy the most evaluation criteria. Research limitations/implications: For the purpose of simplification, the model ignores dynamic extensions. That is, the adjustments of businesses to policy measures and the effects on emissions are beyond the scope of this analysis. Originality/value: The study develops a model that evaluates the European Union’s environmental policies in a unifying perspective, assessing the tradeoffs of policy design.

The fight against climate change is one of the significant challenges of the 21st century. The European Union's environmental policy has evolved as the perception of the problem has become more evident. This paper examines the environmental commitments made by the European Union on the global scene to verify its involvement and responsibility in environmental policy. A comprehensive analysis of the European Union's environmental policies compared to other countries has been carried out using a comparative methodological framework of these commitments. The results confirm the European Union's leadership in promoting and implementing policies to combat climate change and environmental sustainability, which therefore opens windows of opportunity for technological development and entrepreneurship. Future lines of research are proposed following the conclusions, considering the current economic and environmental situation in an environment of energy crisis and inflation.

In order to provide suggestions forthe reform and transformation of coal mining firms, we construct regression models to analyze the impact of innovation capability. Using a sample of coal mining firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges in China from 2013 to 2018, and explaining the innovation capability from three perspectives of R&D intensity, innovation level, and innovation efficiency, this paper is the first to empirically examine the relationship between innovation capability and enterprise profitability, and further investigate the impact of environmental policy on the relationship. We find that the innovation of coal mining firms can effectively promote the improvement of profit growth, especially for the coal mining firms with stronger R&D intensity and higher innovation level. After considering the constraints of environmental policy on coal mining firms, we also find that the greater the intensity of environmental policy, the stronger the positive relationship between R&D intensity and profit growth, which is the effective evidence of applying the Porter’s hypothesis to the high-polluting coal mining firms in China. The conclusions facilitate the managers of coal mining firms to further understand the impact of innovation on profitability. At the same time, the study also provides empirical evidence for policy-makers to stimulate innovation of coal mining firms from the perspective of environmental policy.

Sustainability and sustainable development are objectives, but also values that must be respected in the field of public procurement. The main objective of this paper is to document the interest in the research area of green public procurement. The research methodology involves the elaboration of a bibliometric analysis (therefore a quantitative research method), in the form of an inventory of the publication activity in the aforementioned field. The analysis was developed by querying the existing database on the Scopus platform, which contains documentation on journals, scientific papers, books and others. The query determined the display of a number of 6,257 scientific documents existing in the database containing the acronym for Green Public Procurement in the title, summary or keywords. The query was conducted on September 25, 2019 and includes publications, regardless of the location or date of publication. The research results confirm the increase of the scientific interest in the field of green public procurement. Since 2010 until the moment of querying the Scopus database, 3,441 documents were identified related to this topic, which represents more than half of the total elaborated documents existing in the database on the same topic, indexed between 1959 and 2009

The European Union's environmental policy is one of the most complex Community policies, which through horizontal strategies aims to promote sustainable development and create a sustainable and globally competitive European economy. The European Environment Strategy combines the internal dimension of sustainable development with the international one, thus forming the core that will support the continuous increase of the quality of life and will permanently promote environmental protection, cohesion and economic and social prosperity. The general aim of the paper is to highlight the role of the trinomial of sustainable development, consisting of programs, theories and principles, in developing the most appropriate solutions to environmental problems facing countries around the world. In addition, addressing this issue aims to raise public awareness of the importance of knowing this trinomial, as ignoring it can create pressure and negative effects on all economies.

Introduction. The manifestations of globalization are of a different scale and character, due to the ability of individual systems to adapt to change. The development of most countries of the world shows adaptation to the manifestations of globalization in the political, socio-economic and environmental spheres. Purpose. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the priorities of society development, taking into account global ecological challenges, identifying the features of the environmental dimension of environmental impact, and implementing ratified environmental agreements in order to limit the negative manifestations in certain territories. The practical implementation of environmental measures is regulated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratified by the Paris Agreement. Results. The processes occurring in the globalization environment require the combined efforts of world leaders, international organizations, public figures. Only a joint policy of leveling threats, including environmental ones, will ensure the preservation of the environment of states and regions of the world. It is proved that the general policy on the terms of partnership allows us to combine efforts to protect the environment, draw attention to environmental problems, and prioritize the environmental dimensions of the world. It has been substantiated that a coordinated environmental policy, responsibility at different levels of management, the adequacy of financing environmental projects will limit thermal growth and level the global environmental catastrophe. The need to create an Environmental Code, an environmental court has been determined. Conclusions. The basic priority of Ukraine’s environmental policy is the adaptation and implementation of a number of environmental measures in view of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratified by the Paris Agreement. The practical implementation of environmental tasks at the state, regional and local levels should be in line with the ratified Agreement, the implementation of certain EU laws, and the existing transboundary threats. The need to create an Environmental Code, an environmental court has been determined.

The article is aimed at studying the participation of citizens and public organizations in the process of establishing eco-democracy in Ukraine and defining the role of public in governmental decision-making in the ecological sphere. The main forms of interaction between citizens and public ecological organizations with the effective government and municipalities on the issues of preserving natural resources, avoidance of ecological man-made disasters and improvement of the overall ecological situation in the country have been analyzed. The role of conscientious citizens and public organizations in the process of the State decision-making on ecological issues and the achievement of the priority environmental objectives has been substantiated. The main factors that adversely impact the efficiency and reduce the effectiveness of nature protection activities of non-state ecological organizations have been determined. The characteristics of development of the ecological movement in Ukraine and the main directions for improving its effectiveness have been researched.

Pursuant to the growth of society, against the boosting of scientific and technological progress, also arises the negative effect of pollution acceleration. In this context, we relate to risks that imply the growth of pollution, especially against nuisance air pollution increase (CO, SO2, NO etc.) with major implications on the growth of greenhouse effect, the melting of the ice fields, respectively the pollution of the soil with nitrates from fertilizers intensively used in agriculture. Our study is up-to-date, as pursuant to the ONU Conference from Paris (France 2015, Conference on Climate Changes), they reached an agreement and the adopted text admits the menace of climate modifications is far more important than previously acknowledged and engages the participants to reduce their pollutant emissions. The researchers’ current concerns focus on studying the effects of the redistribution of financial resources obtained by practising the ‘green’ fiscal policy on dependent variables. Observing them, we integrate the respective variables into complex models analysed by multiple regression (both standard and robust) and the fixed effects panel on 20 European countries which also reflect the different effects on the environmental policy and the expenses it incurred. The main purpose of the analysis we aim to accomplish is the impact of the policy for environment expenditure tenable within the European framework on against nuisance air pollution attenuation. The statistical analysis aims at identifying these effects by means of regression equations (OLS), robust regression (M method), fixed and random effects, using panel data from 18 EU countries, as well as Switzerland and Turkey due to their position in relation to the community block; we will analyse the period between 1995-2013. Further to the application of multiple regression statistical methods (OLS and robust M), our results show that teimiqgdp expenses played a major role in the reduction of carbon monoxide. These are the total investments made in the mining sector; when these expenses were raised by 1% of the GDP value, there was a decrease of 11 628.3 thousand tons Cot at the level of the European countries analysed, according to the result of the OLS analysis, based on the robust M estimation.

The adoption by the European Union of environmental and social standards seems to affect trade relations with countries from outside the Union. Most seriously hurt are a great number of developing countries that are highly dependent on the European market for their exports. Complying with the said regulations means higher production costs, which eat into the respective countries’ international competitiveness. However, for all the widespread discontent, many developing countries are taking steps in order to adjust their production and export systems to the new rules. Unfortunately it will probably take a long time until full compliance is achieved. Meanwhile, in the short run, the frequent clashes between developing countries and their partners in the West in respect of environmental and social issues are disrupting the smooth functioning of international trade.

This article brings together environmental problems common to both public (EU, national government, regional or local) and private sector (beneficiaries etc.) of European Structural Funds to finance projects with major relevance in the development of new strategic investments. Article envisages the introduction of theoretical and practical application of models and analysis of a case study, being put into relief the main positive and negative aspects that contribute to the absorption and accessing European structural funds in Romania, for financing of investments for the development and improvement of the environment in Romania. The main objective of this research is to study the theoretical and practical aspects of the mechanism to finance investment projects of European structural funds for the environment.

In this paper we conduct a systematic literature review with the aim of understanding the effectiveness of environmental policy instruments, in particular, command and control, marketbased instruments and voluntary schemes, in promoting eco-innovation. This study analyzes the information presented in selected papers, mainly from peer-reviewed journals, covering the period 2005-2012. The sample is based on 40 papers traced through a keyword search in Scopus database, representing the main academic journals related to the subject. A few more sources were added after reviewing the list of references from the main papers. The literature reviewed adopts different approaches and pursues several objectives to understand the relationship between policy instruments and eco-innovation. We find overall evidence that stringency is a key feature of policies for determining the effects of environmental technological change. It is argued that command and control instrument boosts eco-innovation, but continuity in investments depends more on the expected severity of future regulation. Empirical studies confirm that market-based instruments promote more incremental innovation and diffusion of existing technologies than radical innovation. In general, instruments based on economic incentives need to be complemented with stringent controls to be more effective. We conclude that complementarities between measures focused on developers and demanders are necessary in order to foster eco-innovation

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo presentar un análisis de la práctica de la gestión ambiental en las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (mipymes) del estado de Yucatán, México, así como su relación con la competitividad. Para ello se realizó un estudio con enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo descriptivo y correlacional, mediante la aplicación de un instrumento a los directivos de 399 mipymes del estado de Yucatán. Se encontró que las empresas dirigen sus esfuerzos principalmente a minimizar el consumo de energía, agua y materias primas contaminantes, y se confirmó que existe una relación positiva entre la gestión ambiental y la competitividad en dichas empresas. Abstract This article aims to present an analysis of the practice of environmental management in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) located in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, in terms of their relation to competitiveness. A study was conducted with a quantitative approach, with descriptive and correlational analysis. An instrument to collect data was applied to 399 managers. It was found that companies direct their efforts primarily at minimizing the consumption of energy, water and polluting raw materials. The results confirmed that there is a positive relationship in these companies between environmental management and competitiveness.

The production perspective is actual seeking regarding the CO2 emissions management policy; however, there is a lack of studies taking the latter approach. Thus referring to air emissions accounts, the aim of this analysis is to evaluate changes in CO2 equivalent emissions from the production-based perspective in Lithuania and the EU-27 and their determinants during 2000– 2012. Using the coefficient of elasticity, it was observed that in Lithuanian the economy grew three times faster than emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). Meanwhile in the EU-27, GHG decreased with economic growth. In the EU-27 absolute decoupling was observed for agriculture, forestry and fishing, public administration, defence economic activities, real estate activities, and education. Meanwhile, in Lithuania for these activities a relative or negative decoupling occurred. With regard to technological contributions to changes in CO2 equivalent emissions, the most problematic economic activities in Lithuania are financial and insurance activities, education, post and telecommunications, other service activities. In the EU-27 members the most problematic sectors are mining and quarrying, construction, transport and storage sector. Thus, the successful implementation of GHG emissions management policy is very important in Lithuania and in all the EU countries. First published online: 11 Sep 2015

Environmental policy has become an object for description and analysis. A global environmental mechanism intents to promote collective action at the international scale and to build an integrated environmental policymaking and management framework concerning the tasks of a shared global ecosystem. Governments use a number of different types of environmental policy instruments to implement their environmental policies: legislative, technical and economic-financial instruments. The encounter is to combine the environmental protection with continuing economic growth in an over the long term sustainable way. This paper tries to underline that there is an under appreciation of the adaptability of social structures even within economics of environmental policy, to the extent that it is necessary to fully acknowledge and highlight the inborn trade-off between economy and environment.

The study is the result of scientific research carried out in co-operation with the European Business Club. Tke issue presented in eariler study and it is a continuation of the research conducted among companies which use insurance as an instrument of financing ecological risks. The structure of the study has been subordinated to the thesis according to which insurance can be an important instrument for financing ecological risks, including risks in mining. According to the subject of discussion, the following were applied: elemental analysis – if the object of study requires the distribution of the elements without looking for mutual dependence between them; casual analysis – when there was a need of looking for the cause–effect relationships between the elements of the object of the study; logical analysis – consisting of breaking down the object of study, taking into account the existing one in logical relations.

Políticas públicas envolvem a construção de significado através de discursos, que caracterizam redes semânticas complexas, articulando diferentes pressupostos, conceitos e hipóteses. O objetivo deste artigo é contribuir para o debate sobre a evolução recente da política ambiental, indagando em que medida os debates que marcaram a Rio +20 caracterizam uma ruptura com os quatro discursos predominantes na política ambiental ao longo dos últimos 40 anos. São eles: sobrevivencialismo, resolução de problemas, sustentabilidade e radicalismo verde. Esses discursos são diferentes em seus pressupostos ontológicos (mais realista ou mais nominalista); nas suposições sobre a natureza dos relacionamentos com o meio ambiente (baseados em competição ou em cooperação); na perspectiva que assumem sobre os atores (individualistas ou coletivistas; fortes ou fracos); e nas metáforas que utilizam para defender seus pontos de vista (DRYZEK, 1997). Algumas perguntas também são colocadas para avaliar o impacto e plausibilidade do discurso: que política é associada a ele; seu efeito nas políticas públicas e nas instituições; os argumentos dos críticos; e as falhas reveladas pelas evidências e argumentos. A análise do discurso da Rio +20 foi baseada no documento final da conferência "The Future We Want". Concluímos que os debates da conferência agregam dois grandes discursos: resolução de problemas e sustentabilidade. Alguns efeitos antecipados da Rio +20 são: a melhoria das estatísticas ambientais; aumento de empregos ligados à economia verde; e adoção de políticas regulatórias que modifiquem os preços relativos do uso dos recursos e internalizem os custos das externalidades ambientais.

A Constituição de 1988 ampliou a esfera de competência do Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU), assegurando-lhe maior poder de atuação, inclusive na área ambiental. A partir de 1998, com a definição de sua estratégia de atuação nessa área, e de forma crescente, o TCU vem desempenhando um importante papel na avaliação das políticas ambientais públicas do governo federal. A realização de diversas auditorias operacionais em instituições e programas governamentais têm resultado em minuciosos diagnósticos e relevantes recomendações, no sentido de tornar mais efetivas as políticas públicas ambientais. Este estudo descreve e comenta a evolução da fiscalização do TCU sobre a gestão ambiental brasileira nos últimos anos. Também é lembrada a atuação de entidades de fiscalização superiores de outros países na área ambiental. São analisados os critérios da estratégia de atuação ambiental do Tribuna de Contas, bem como as determinações e recomendações de algumas recentes deliberações envolvendo a gestão de recursos hídricos, o licenciamento ambiental e a avaliação ambiental estratégica. Este artigo procura relacionar a atuação do TCU na área ambiental com a busca por um controle preventivo, pedagógico e orientador da gestão pública, em substituição ao tradicional modelo de controle formalista e a posteriori. O artigo conclui que a atuação do tribunal é positiva para a sociedade, recomendando que seja ampliada.