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Background: The aim of this paper is to reconsider the necessity for the green transition and the key preconditions for the implementation of a circular economy in Western Balkan countries. With the objective of the research in mind, the method of analysis and synthesis was applied to determine (1) regulatory and institutional prerequisites for the green transition; (2) the need for the Western Balkan countries to redefine the model of sustainable economic growth towards the green transition; (3) the development opportunities for recovery defined in the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans; and (4) the possibility of implementing the circular economy in the Western Balkans. Main text: The main findings of the research indicate that: (1) the countries of the Western Balkan region, following the example of the EU, should define a national strategic approach to the green transition with an accompanying action plan and regulatory framework; (2) the biggest challenge of the green transition is the reform of the energy sector and the restructuring of the energy-intensive economy; (3) the countries have untapped potential in renewable energy sources and report the improvement of energy efficiency; (4) the circular economy can boost the green transition, because the countries of the region have a five-time lower value of resource productivity than the average of the EU, while the generation of waste (excluding major mineral wastes) per GDP unit is lower compared to the EU; (5) cross-sectoral governance should be more coordinated. Conclusions: The green transition might be a development opportunity for the Western Balkans, which should enable sustainable economic growth as well as energy security and environmental protection. However, the implementation of the Green Agenda is not easy, because the region faces the problem of underdeveloped regulatory and institutional capacities that might provide not only the base for long-term planning but also financial resources for the efficient implementation of projects. In addition, it is essential to understand the principles of the Green Agenda and the interaction of all activities that should enable the achievement of defined goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Protection of the natural environment is one of the most significant global challenges for the international community. World problems arising as a result of the incineration of fossil fuels, excessive CO2 emissions, erosion and soil degradation, as well as air pollution with the accelerating greenhouse effect and changes to the climate condition, make it necessary to take action at many levels. Environmental protection and the protection of natural resources need to follow the principles of sustainable development. Looking for alternative energy sources is appropriate but not sufficient and should be conducted in various areas since natural environmental changes are accelerating with many consequences. Therefore, there is demand for implementation of applications aimed at protecting air, and soil, preventing waste formation and combating the greenhouse effect. Therefore, the multi-directional use of various biocarbon substances for activities related to renewable energy, land reclamation, and carbon dioxide capture from the atmosphere is a promising and significant direction. This paper presents multidirectional analysis related to the use of biocarbon obtained from biomass and MSW waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Ethiopia's efforts, strategies, and programs for sustainable development, with an emphasis on the Oromia regional state. The economy of Ethiopia is growing at one of the fastest rates on the continent, and it has made significant progress towards achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. The country has initiated several policies, agreements, and initiatives to promote sustainable development for the Oromia people. The development of sustainable farming practices, land-use planning, renewable energy sources, and forest preservation are all prioritized in the majority of the government's projects, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resistance to climate change as a result. The initiatives have also been successful in promoting economic growth, improving food security, and reducing poverty. A number of noteworthy projects that have been implemented in the Oromia region. Through the promotion of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, these projects aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the consequences of climate change. In order to ensure the population's general development and well-being, efforts have also been undertaken to increase access to healthcare and education. The Oromia region has many obstacles in the way of achieving sustainable development, despite boasting a diverse population and an abundance of natural resources. This paper examines the initiatives undertaken by the federal government, state and local governments, and other stakeholders to address these problems and promote sustainable development. The research findings enhance comprehension of the challenges faced by the Ethiopian government in defending its long-term objectives for both the country's citizens and the global community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the research paper is to determine environmental sustainability and anthropogenic load in the territories of the united territorial community. Methodological basis of the research are general theoretical methods of scientific cognition, in particular dialectic method, system analysis, fundamental provisions of general economic theory. Methods of comparative and structural analysis, statistic groups were also used to analyze the level of ecologically sustainable development of regions; tabular method - for a visual representation of the dynamics of indicators. The methodology is aprobated on the territory of the Chernivtsi region. It is substantiated that the basis of sustainable development is the combination of economic, social and environmental sustainability. It has been established that the environmental factor is of the greatest concern at the moment. The reform of decentralization, which has been initiated, is partly directed at addressing environmental issues; at the same time, this process is long-term and requires significant resources. Determination of environmental sustainability and anthropogenic load on the territory of united territorial communities is important for ensuring sustainable development of rural territories. The research paper contains the calculations of the summarized values of regional environmental indicators of sustainable development and evaluates the natural and anthropogenic unsustainability of the environment. Ecologically safe, balanced and systematic development of territories is an integral part of spatial development of the region. It is the basis for solving the problem of harmonizing the goals of socio-economic development of certain territories with the principles of ecological safety of the country as a whole. Ensuring environmental sustainability and reducing anthropogenic load on the territory of the united territorial community may be due to the development of alternative energy and bioenergy. In the context of the study of this article, the development of environmental safety in a separate region is proposed as a systemic category that combines social, economic and environmental components, whose interaction involves the transition to environmentally sustainable production and consumer structures, increasing the efficiency of nature management, development of ecological infrastructure. The ecological dimension of sustainable development of rural areas is proposed to be determined using the following indicators: air quality, biodiversity, land resources, green zones, provision of the population with water, renewable energy sources, energy resources, atmospheric emissions, load on land resources, load on water resources, state of the system of drainage, radiation and ecological danger, generation of waste, waste management, participation of business entities in the formation of revenues from ecological dues, public participation in environmental protection, greenhouse gas emissions, satisfaction of the population with the state of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green growth is a form of sustainable development and green jobs support this process. EU outlines plan for maximizing employment opportunities in green sectors and relevant staff in order economy to become “greener”. “Green jobs” involves working with information, technology and materials that help the environment to be sustainable. The paper analyzes and evaluates the current conditions of creation of green jobs in Bulgaria. It is proposed analysis of the requirements in Bulgaria about the eligible criteria to apply for funding under the measurement of green jobs. The main aim of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the external environment in which green jobs in Bulgaria are created and functioning. On the assessment of the environment are systematize findings, conclusions and policy recommendations. The publication has the following tasks: 1) Analyze of the theories of factors which influence creation of green jobs; 2) Assessment of factors by PEST methodology into working framework of green job creation which divides external environment into distant and the near surroundings; 3) Based on the aggregated and analyzed information will be offered policy recommendations and general conclusions. Findings and conclusions in the paper are based on the results of university researched project Green jobs - tool of ecologization of Bulgarian Economy. The survey was conducted in 2015. Information is summarized on the basis of meetings with experts from municipal and regional structures and stakeholders involved in the implementation of green jobs in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socioeconomic development of any region requires electricity for operating the various sectors of the economy. Sometimes energy is scarce, not only because of the lack of energy resources, but also because energy policy is inadequate or non-existent. This paper examines the situation in the province of Namibe, Angola, characterising the energy sector, and proposing an energy mix for the security of electricity supply, environmental protection and sustainable economic development. Using the Long-range Energy Alternative and Planning System, energy scenarios were simulated and the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) for the period 2014 -2040 calculated and analysed. The most sustainable scenario, in terms of energy mix diversification and GHG reduction, as well as the least costly (considering electricity production and carbon costs), has an increase of hydro capacity and the insertion of wind, solar photovoltaic, thermoelectric sources and natural gas. Given the intermittency of photovoltaic and wind systems, natural gas appears in this scenario as a way to avoid interruptions in the electricity supply. This scenario is the one with the largest production reserve margin of 24.47 %, and emissions are avoided at 386 550 tCO2eq compared to the base scenario in 2040. Energy policymakers can take this scenario as a model to assist in making decisions on how power capacities can be installed over the planned time for the desired energy output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy microfinance is a promising asset for ensuring access to finance and electricity for the poor and women living in rural areas. Targeting vulnerable categories, renewable energy microfinance tools aim to promote sustainability and resilience policies to foster sustainable energy and ecological transitions. This research note explores the role of energy microfinance policies in facilitating virtuous loops for empowering the vulnerable, enhancing entrepreneurship, fighting poverty, and promoting social inclusion and environmental protection - as prescribed by the sustainable development mandate. Examining the microfinance-renewable energy-vulnerable nexus, the paper proposes a conceptual contribution and fungible development policy recommendations, sketching the main drivers of this linkage. To this end, a critical review of existing publications and successful world experiences is proposed. The analysis finds out a relevant potential for energy microfinance, whereby renewable energy expansion can be a strong player in shaping fresh microfinance strategies and prospects, providing ecological, social, economic and governance benefits and new research, policy, and practical agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent worldwide growing awareness of the global climate changes stressed the importance of developing and supporting the renewable energy sources (RES). However, the public support for RES varies across various countries and regions, especially those abundant in traditional fossil fuels. This paper presents the analysis of the public views of the economics of the renewable energy using the results of the online survey (N = 750) conducted in several regions of the Russian Federation, a country abundant in natural gas and oil. Our results indicate that there is a mixed opinion on trust in RES as opposed to the traditional energy sources. Even though we found some support for the renewable energy technologies, it appears that it is correlated with the respondents' concerns about the environmental protection and sustainable development as well as with some demographic variables. The outcomes of the regression analysis confirmed that positive attitudes towards climate protection predetermined the support for various types of RES, while the financial or political gains did not come through as significant. The results indicate that public views on the renewable energy sources could and should be shaped by the information campaigns and presentations in mass media conducted by relevant policymakers and public authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to investigate how green certificates markets have developed in the European Union, with a view to producing consistent recommendations that could be used in future environmental strategies and policies to improve existing schemes for renewable energy promotion and support. Design/methodology/approach - The study was conducted by combining a wide variety of sources, such as regulations, position papers, road-maps, as well as articles and research reports. European experiences in using green certificates to support renewable energies were compared from the point-of-view of the legislative framework and national support systems. Findings -- The findings reveal that improvements in three major areas (legislative framework, national support systems, and cost reduction) are needed in order to achieve a better support for renewable energy generation. Practical implications - The conclusions justify the effort invested in developing green certificates markets and are relevant for policy makers in a very sensitive sector to accomplish sustainability goals - the use of renewable energy. The study may represent a starting-point for further research into renewable energy support systems, environmental issues and economic implications. Originality/value - The paper provides a rational and comparative approach for finding solutions to the problems of green certificates markets in the European Union. The methodology and the results reported in this research could be used for exploring green certificates markets opportunities in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into the electric power system poses significant challenges to grid operation and planning due to the potential constraints on the power system. To minimize grid congestion, the best option is to increase the production of photovoltaic (PV) energy for domestic use and EV charging stations. This paper addresses the nexus of technical, financial, and environmental effects of customer involvement in economic development and load management. In this paper, a new model design of solar-powered EV charging stations is proposed and implemented in HOMER Grid, and a case study has explored how economic, technical, and energy management benefits can be achieved through customer energy involvement and the integration of PV-based charging stations. The proposed PV-based charging stations contribute toward the energy management of the region, and the study observes the real-time optimal charging and discharging strategy of PV-based grid-connected charging stations. The case study results show that the investigated area can produce 1,070,804.096 MWh/year of energy through maximum customer involvement, consequently reducing overall energy costs. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the selected region can produce 86,961,688 kWh/year through the PV system, achieving 363,899 charging sessions per year, offering maximum advantages and facilitation for EV charging. The proposed model applicability shows that large-scale customer involvement can bring significant techno-economic benefits and attract regional investments. • This paper proposes a new design of a grid-tied renewable energy system. • It investigates the energy economics and environmental effects for a practical location. • The research examines energy management including PV systems and electric vehicles. • The results of proposed model are compared with other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioenergy could have deep effects on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Thus, the present research aims to review the potential risks and benefits of bioenergy production and consumption. For this purpose, we follow the approach of a systematic review and collect the 105 studies on bioenergy from the Scopus database. The literature suggests that bioenergy is the largest source of replacement of fossil fuels compared to other renewable energy sources and helps to conserve the environment. However, bioenergy production targeted at forest land could have environmental problems as forests are a big source of carbon sinks and biodiversity. Nevertheless, bioenergy consumption is environmentally friendly and releases the least emissions compared to all types of fossil fuels. Moreover, the installation and operational costs of bioenergy are lesser compared to other renewable energy sources. Thus, bioenergy is a cost-effective solution to replace fossil fuels compared to other renewable energy sources. However, bioenergy production replacing the existing crops could reduce the availability of land and water for other agricultural products, which can be responsible for food shortages and rising food prices. Thus, bioenergy production could cause food insecurity with the rapidly growing population worldwide. However, bioenergy could have many other benefits from economic and social dimensions. Thus, the literature has suggested government intervention to achieve net positive benefits from bioenergy production and consumption. Particularly, the literature has suggested public and private spending on R&D activities to find better sources and technologies for bioenergy production and to improve biomass and overall agriculture productivity. Moreover, literature has suggested using marginal lands, other unutilized lands, crop and forest residues, and wastes for biomass production to reduce the pressure on forests and croplands to ensure both food security and environmental conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, a worldwide economic slump has reduced the depletion of natural resources, lowering their costs. The loss of renewable energy profitability might hinder the attainment of specified goals of sustainable development goals. By using Chinese provinces data from 1995 to 2020, this research examined the relationships between renewable energy investment (REI), green finance (GFI), growth of the economy (GDP), renewable energy production (REP), and private sector participation (PSP) in China. According to this analysis, REI, REP, and GFI are more variable throughout the given period than GDP. And PSP. A bidirectional substantial causal correlation between REI and REP was identified using the Generalized method of moments (GMM). Still, the regression coefficient between GDP and REI and REI. and GFI has a one-way causal relationship. There was no evidence that the PSP directly impacted the REI. Based on the empirical findings of this research, we propose that policies be designed to reduce volatility in REI GFI, and REP and increase support to improve sustainable economic development and environmental and renewable energy production. Examine between green financing and environmental conservation for long-term environmental quality. • There is a dire need to measure the examined the relationships between renewable energy investment (REI), green finance (GFi). • Bidirectional substantial causal correlation between REI and REP was identified using the Generalized method of moments (GMM). • There was no evidence that the PSP had a direct impact on the REI. • This paper improve sustainable economic development as well as environmental and renewable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, emphasis is being placed on the role of indigenous or locally crafted natural resources management systems in sustainable natural resources management. While it is generally agreed that their potential to sustain and protect natural ecosystems exists in large measure, such systems are increasingly facing diverse internal and external pressures that threaten their viability. These pressures include demographic and economic change, land privatisation policies, renewable energy investment projects and large-donor-driven livelihood projects. Such pressures and their complexity raise the need to understand how local communities organise to protect resources they collectively value in the face of both internal and external pressures. Based on empirical data collected through interviews, participant observations, focus group discussions and a questionnaire survey conducted with local level actors in Shisholeka village of Central Zambia, this paper shows how local actors, in the absence of state support, react to internal and external pressures to develop robust and locally suited governance and institutional arrangements that best suit their interests in order to sustain their resource base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose In response to increasing energy demand and financial constraints to invest in green infrastructure, behaviour change energy-saving interventions are increasingly being considered as a tool for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour in campus residences. This paper aims to report on a pilot programme aimed at reducing energy consumption via behaviour change interventions, variably applied in residences at Rhodes University, South Africa.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via structured questionnaires, energy consumption records and post-intervention programme focus group discussions.Findings Participant residences that received a mix of different interventions in the forms of pamphlets, face-to-face discussions, incentives and feedback recorded more energy reductions of up to 9 per cent than residences that received a single or no intervention. In post-experiment discussions, students cited personal, institutional and structural barriers to pro-environmental energy-use behaviour.Practical implications Overall, the results of this study suggest that information provision of energy-saving tips combined with regular feedback and incentives can result in energy-use reductions in university residences, which may yield environmental and economic benefits for universities, but addressing barriers to pro-environmental behaviour might maximise the results.Originality/value Given the lack of literature on energy conservation in the global South universities, this study provides the basis for discussing the potential for using behavioural interventions in universities for stirring pathways towards sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource efficiency, including cleaner production and energy efficiency (CP/EE), is an important strategy for developing countries to grow their economies in a sustainable manner. However, informational, technical and economic barriers often limit the implementation of such strategies in the private sector, particularly among smaller enterprises. Since the 1990s, international aid agencies, governments, banks and non-governmental organizations have supplied financial incentives to encourage enterprises to adopt resource efficient practices in Latin America. 'Pathways to Cleaner Production in the Americas' (PCPA) was a 3-year multinational project focused on promoting cleaner production practices in micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs) through collaboration with academia. In this paper, we examine the availability and utilization of different types of financing instruments for CP/EE in MSMEs in Central America. We survey nineteen programs across five countries to examine how effectively these instruments are utilized, barriers that hinder their adoption, and best practices for increasing their uptake. We also incorporate the experience of 39 MSMEs that participated in PCPA, with respect to their demand for CP/EE and external financing options. We find a mismatch between MSMEs' demands and expectations with the supply and interest of financing programs, leading to the underutilization of the funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the inevitable shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources, emphasizing the economic challenges faced by workers in declining industries and the need for robust regulatory protections in the clean energy sector. It also discusses historical conflicts and recent efforts to unite labor and environmental movements, highlighting legislative initiatives like the Green New Deal aimed at balancing environmental sustainability with job security and equity.

The world has experienced increased impacts of anthropogenic global warming due to increased emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which include carbon dioxide (CO2). Anthropogenic activities that contribute to CO2 emissions include deforestation, usage of fertilizers, and activities related to mining and energy production. The main objective of this paper was to assess the impacts of agriculture and energy production on CO2 emissions in Zambia. This research used econometric analysis, specifically the Autoregressive-Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds Test, to analyze the relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP, electricity consumption, agricultural production, and industry value added. The results showed the presence of cointegration, where the variables of CO2 emissions, GDP, electricity, and agriculture converge to a long-run equilibrium at the rate of 74%. Further, there was a short-run causality towards CO2 emissions running from agriculture and the consumption of energy as indicated by the Wald test. This is the first study of its kind that empirically shows the impact of agricultural activities and energy consumption on the Zambian environment through their contribution to CO2 emissions at a macro (country) level. This paper also presents recommendations that are pertinent to mitigate these effects. To deescalate environmental degradation, we propose increasing the number of access points for multiple renewable energy sources across the country; discouraging deforestation, the usage of conventional fertilizers, and the burning of vegetation for fertilizers; encouraging afforestation and reforestation, in addition to providing subsidies, training, and financial support to farmers and entrepreneurs who decide to use environmentally friendly agricultural methods and renewable energy. This research highlights the serious impacts of anthropogenic activities on CO2 emissions. The study was intended to assist Zambian policymakers in formulating and implementing environmentally friendly policy measures or systems that will contribute towards environmental protection commitments and sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the PVSYST simulator is the most well-known software among researchers and PV experts, we chose to compare its results to those of the manual method. Thus, the objective of the article was to obtain the degree of similarity between the results of the PVSYST simulation and the manual calculation of the same parameters, based on the study of the photovoltaic systems of the University Ibn Tofail. Those installations are installed in the Faculty of Letters, Science, the Presidency and CFC. The later used in our study, have different parameters. Hence, to collect these parameters and their distinct data we used multiple sources. The datasheets of each components of the PV system contains the parameters that distinguish the devices therefore it was mandatory to look for that information, since it will facilitate our study. The meteorological database PVGIS, was our reference for the temperature and irradiation data. What's more is the PVSYST software that helps in the simulation of the PV system and thus having a detailed report with massive information. All this collection of data was aiming to help us comparing the results of yields and other parameters by manual calculation versus simulation in PVSYST. Morocco has demonstrated a strong commitment to combat climate change by embracing renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic systems. In this pursuit, universities like Ibn Tofail University (UIT) play a crucial role in addressing climate challenges and developing research solutions for mitigation. UIT actively participates in projects related to environmental protection and sustainable development, contributing to Morocco's growth and higher education advancement. As part of its efforts, UIT has been involved in implementing sustainable green projects and promoting renewable energy technologies. A specific study at UIT aimed to compare PVSYST simulation results with manual calculations for four PV systems on campus, considering parameters such as orientation, electrical installation, and panel types. The International Energy Agency (IEA) Photovoltaic Systems Program has established standards and a key concept, the yield factor, measuring the net energy production over a facility's lifetime compared to the energy used for construction, operation, and supply. By evaluating the accuracy and efficiency of PVSYST, researchers sought to advance the use of PV systems and contribute to Morocco's renewable energy goals. Such research not only aids in the progression of renewable energy technology but also aligns with Morocco's vision for sustainable development and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG) is the requirement of the entire globe and needs the attention of recent researchers and regulators. Thus, the current research also investigates the impact of human capital and environmental protection on the SDG of the developed economy like China. The researchers have explored the secondary data sources and collected the data from 1986 to 2019, and used the world development indicators (WDI) for this purpose. The current article also used the augmented dickey-fuller test (ADF) to check the stationarity and autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) to test the nexus among variables. The results indicated that all the predictors such as human capital index (human capital), renewable energy consumption and renewable energy production (environmental protection) have a negative association with carbon emission and a positive association with SDG. The outcomes also indicated that control variables such as economic growth and population growth have a positive association with carbon emission. These outcomes provide the guidelines to the regulators while developing policies related to sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst resource loss and environmental protection constraints, achieving green development necessitates enhancing green total factor productivity (GTFP) as a means of promoting rational and efficient resource allocation, thereby balancing economic growth and environmental preservation. Meanwhile, literature on the subject matter of GTFP from a sustainability viewpoint is minimal. As a result, this study employs the panel dataset from 30 provinces of China spanning the period 2005 to 2020 and utilizes the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) developed by Machado and Santos Silva (2019) to analyze the heterogeneous role of green innovation, environmental regulations, and fiscal expenditure on GTFP. Moreover, the controlling variable for this study includes renewable energy and economic growth. Furthermore, this study investigates the heterogeneous combined impact of green innovation and fiscal expenditure (GTE*FSE) on GTFP. The findings of the MMQR reveal that green innovation has a positive impact on GTFP, while fiscal expenditure, environmental regulations, and renewable energy consumption have a negative impact. GTE*FSE has a positive and significant effect on GTFP, indicating that FSE can reinforce and increase the positive impact of GTE on GTFP in the long run. The study also reveals that economic growth has a mixed effect on GTFP, depending on the quantiles. Furthermore, environmental regulation has a significant and negative impact on GTFP, contradicting the Porter hypothesis. Likewise, the robustness of the findings is confirmed by the results of the fully modified OLS (FMOLS) and dynamic OLS (DOLS) estimations, which indicate a similar impact of the determinants on GTFP as observed in the MMQR analysis. This reinforces the validity of the findings and suggests that the observed relationships are robust to different estimation techniques. Furthermore, the findings of the Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D-H) panel causality test reveal significant bidirectional causality between renewable energy consumption and GTFP and fiscal expenditure and GTFP. Policy-makers need to channel a large chuck of their fiscal spending into green innovation so as to boost sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturers claim they are becoming more green but new research shows that many are only scratching the surface of sustainability and are failing to reap the business benefits of it. Everyone is talking about sustainability, climate change, renewable energy, recycling, the depletion of natural resources - so it was no surprise when a recent survey revealed that the vast majority of manufacturing companies in the UK are taking steps to become more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada has a huge wind power potential of more than 28,000 MW, which represents a significant environmentally benign sustainable energy source. A small-capacity (below 10kW) straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine can compete with conventional sources in niche markets. It converts wind energy to useful energy vectors or carriers, such as heat, electricity, and mechanical power. This paper discusses the applications of this turbine, so promising for the sustainable development of Canada. Furthermore, human health, natural environmental and national economic benefits of these applications in Canadian perspective are also described. It has been demonstrated that all these environmentally benign applications can contribute significantly toward Canada's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacing the use of conventional fossil fuels, and take an essential step toward sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new concept for sustainable development is proposed. Unlike the usual present value maximizing approach, the discount rates are determined endogenously. For a standard model of renewable natural resources it is shown that a solution can be found by solving an appropriate system of equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a spatial approach to the analysis of the relationship between air pollution, economic growth, and renewable energy consumption. The economic growth of every country is based on the energy consumption that leads to an increase in national productivity. Using renewable energy is very important for the environmental protection and security of the earth's resources. Promoting environmentally friendly operations increases awareness of sustainable development, which is currently a major concern of state governments. In this study, we explored the influence of economic growth and the share of renewable energy out of total energy consumption on CO2 emissions. The study was based on the classical environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and enriched with the spatial dependencies. In particular, we determined the spatial spillovers in the form of the indirect effects of changes in renewable energy consumption of a specific country on the CO2 emissions of neighboring countries. A neighborhood in this study was defined by ecological development similarity. The neighborhood matrix was constructed based on the values of the ecological footprint measure. We used the spatio-temporal Durbin model, with which the indirect effects were determined in relation to the spatially lagged renewable energy consumption. The results of our study also show the strength of the effects caused by imitating actions from the states with high levels of environmental protection. The study was conducted using data for 75 selected countries from the period of 2013–2019. Cumulative spatial and spatio-temporal effects allowed us to determine (1) the countries with the greatest impact on others and (2) the countries that follow the leading ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development can be achieved when economic development does not produce environmental deterioration. In this context, the aim of the paper is to evaluate the effects of economic development on GHG emissions in the Baltic States (Latvia, Letonia, and Lithuania), and in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland (the Visegrád Group or V4 countries) in the period of 1996–2019. The study introduces dynamic ARDL panels in the context of the traditional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and renewable Kuznets curve (RKC). The results indicated an inverse-N-shaped and a U-shaped pattern. Energy consumption and labour productivity enhanced pollution, while domestic credit to the private sector, as a share of GDP, and renewable energy consumption supported environmental protection. The implications of these results might help these countries to achieve the targets of the European Green Deal related to the reduction of pollution and the attainment of net zero emissions by 2050. However, national regulations should further promote the use of renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive design strategies are important for achieving building sustainability given their proved influences over the building performance in both energy and indoor environmental aspects. The building layout, envelope thermophysics, building geometry and infiltration & air-tightness are major passive architectural parameters to improve the building energy efficiency. In this paper, a comprehensive literature review on simulation-based approaches to optimize passively designed buildings is conducted and corresponding research gaps are identified. Based on existing research methods, modelling experiments on a generic building are conducted to integrate robust variance-based sensitivity analyses with an early-stage design optimization process. Proposed mixed-mode ventilation and lighting dimming control algorithms are applied to the EnergyPlus model to simulate the total lighting and cooling energy demands by incorporating the related design criteria in a local green building assessment scheme. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is then coupled with the modelling experiment to obtain the Pareto frontier as well as the final optimum solution. Different settings of NSGA-II are also investigated to improve the computational efficiency without jeopardizing the optimization productivity. Furthermore, the sensitivity of optimum design solutions to external environmental parameters in hot and humid areas are explored. Findings from this study will guide decision-makers through a holistic optimization process to fulfill energy-saving targets in a passively designed green building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As fossil energy is increasingly depleted, promoting the integration of renewable energy into the grid and improving its utilization rate has become an irresistible development trend in China's power industry. However, the volatility of wind power increases the difficulty of economic dispatch in power systems. With the rising participation of wind power in the system, the complexity of traditional microgrid dynamic scheduling problems has increased, transforming into a dynamic economic scheduling problem for wind power thermal power hybrid microgrids. Starting from the concept and research significance of economic dispatch, this article analyzes the current research status of microgrid economic dispatch as well as the impact and influencing factors of wind energy grid connection on it. It summarizes the research performed by scholars in two aspects: scheduling models and solving algorithms in static dispatch, as well as how to deal with wind power randomness in dynamic dispatch and how to balance environmental protection while ensuring economic maximization. Finally, the existing problems in current research were summarized and future development directions were prospected. This research has important application prospects in improving the economy of the system and protecting the ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper acknowledges the political nature of environmental protection and climate change in the United States and the grassroots demand for environmental protection as a phase of economic development. It argues that grassroots support is more reliable than top-down authority in ensuring a clean environment as it reflects the desire for local control and the utilization of local human resources. Young people play a vital role in finding grassroots solutions in their respective communities. For instance, implementing a topdown policy of legally-binding carbon taxes worldwide might be desirable in theory, but in reality, leads to political stalemate. The more realistic and efficient solution is to substitute pollution-prone technology that is currently in use with renewable and sustainable technology. Technological change brings about economic change, in turn fostering social change in perceptions and values, strengthening political support at the local level for environmental protection. This is more durable than top-down authoritarian support for environmental protection that vests decision-making power in a single political leader or in-crowd of government officials. Without grassroots support, the transition to a renewable resource-based economy that has a sustainable relationship with the environment cannot take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the concepts of supremum and infimum of bounded Fuzzy integer set are given, their existence is proved, and their expressions formula in level set form are set up. Then some fixed point theorems for Fuzzy integer value mapping are obtained, and a balance problem is proposed. And then, using the new theories established by us about Fuzzy integers and Fuzzy integer value mappings, we give two examples (one is about the protection of some animal species whose surviving numbers are declining year by year, and the other one is about sustainable production problems to some kind of renewable energy) to show the optimal management method for the proposed balance problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development and environmental protection are key concepts in the European energy policy. The Europe 2020 Strategy establishes the necessity of reducing environmental pressure and resource consumption to increase sustainable development in the EU. In this context, the aim of this paper is to develop an Environmental and Resource Pressure Aggregated Index that considers these two dimensions. This index provides information about the achievement of the targets in the member states as well as the achieved effects of the environmental policies on energy policy and sustainable development. Therefore, it would help policy-makers to plan future policy actions. The results show that, among EU countries, Portugal, Latvia, Italy, Austria and France have low environmental and resource pressure. Recommendations are made for member states with the worst results (Estonia, Poland, Cyprus, Czech Republic and Luxembourg) in order to improve their actions in climate change and energy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU targets for sustainable development call for strong changes in the current energy systems as well as committed protection of environmental resources. This target conflicts if a policy is not going to promote the compatible solutions to both the issues. This is the case of the additional renewable energy sources to be exploited for increasing the share in the electricity mix and in the gross final energy consumption. Solar energy is, currently, the cheapest solution in Southern European Countries, like Italy. In this paper, thanks to the availability of three open databases provided by National Institutions, the authors compared the historic trends and policy scenarios for soil consumption, electricity consumption, and renewable electricity production to check correlations. The provincial scale was chosen as resolution of the analysis. The deviations from the policy scenarios was then addressed to identify the demand for policy recommendations and pathways to promote in order to achieve the target for renewable electricity share as well as the reduction in soli consumption trend in 2030. The role of renewables integrated in the existing contexts, such as building integrated photovoltaics, is considered a key driver for solving this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the International Solar Cities Initiative that promotes sustainable development in the urban energy sector worldwide. The initiative is a partnership between concerned cities and researchers in climate research, renewable energy and urban design who are exploring the challenges of sustainability. The initiative aims to support energy and climate-sensitive policies by stimulating the interest of municipalities to become benchmark communities committed to emission reduction goals. Moreover, the interest in the initiative was larger, attracting a number of research papers that provided the selections for the special issue of the journal.

Abstract: Currently, around 90% of Malaysia's electricity generation depends on fossil fuels. This reliance, in a long run, is not a secure option. However, renewable energy sources can contribute to a sustainable electricity generation system; but diversifying fuel supply chain is a complex process. Therefore, the aim of this paper is two folds. Firstly, various renewable resources potential are reviewed, and secondly an assessment model is developed for prioritizing renewable options. Four major resources, hydropower, solar, wind, biomass (including biogas and municipal solid waste) are considered. Their electricity generation potential, along with any likely shortcoming is also discussed. Moreover, using a multi-perspective approach based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP), an assessment model is developed. AHP model employs four main criteria, technical, economical, social and environmental aspects, and twelve sub-criteria. From the review it was found that renewable resources seem to have a sufficient potential to develop a sustainable electricity system. Furthermore, AHP model prioritize those resources, revealing that solar is the most favorable resource followed by biomass. Hydropower and wind however, are ranked third and fourth, respectively. The model also shows that each resource is inclined towards a particular criterion; solar towards economical, biomass towards social, hydropower towards technical, and wind towards environmental aspect. Besides reporting AHP model for the first time in Malaysian context, the assessment performed in this study, can serve decision makers to formulate long-term energy policy aiming for sustainability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: While the emergy evaluation method has been used successfully in recycling processes, this area of application still requires further development. One of such is developing emergy ratios or indices that reflect changes depending on the number of times a material is recycled. Some of these materials may either have been recycled or reused continuously as inputs to a building, for example, and thus could have various impacts on the emergy evaluation of the building. The paper focuses on reuse building materials in the context of environmental protection and sustainable development. It presents the results of an emergy evaluation of a low-energy building (LEB) in which a percentage of input materials are from recycled sources. The corresponding impacts on the emergy yield ratio (EYR B ) and the environmental loading ratio (ELR B ) are studied. The EYR which is the total emergy used up per unit of emergy invested, is a measure of how much an investment enables a process to exploit local resources in order to further contribute to the economy. The ELR however, is the total nonrenewable and imported emergy used up per unit of local renewable resource and indicates the stress a process exhibits on the environment. The evaluation provides values for the selected ratios based on different recycle times. Results show that values of the emergy indices vary, even more, when greater amounts of material is recycled with higher amount of additional emergy required for recycling. This provides relevant information prioritizing the selection of materials for recycling or reuse in a building, and the optimum number of reuse or recycle times of a specific material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Talking about the concept of “environment” means treating a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary theme which revives a simultaneous consideration of multiple data social, economic, natural. To date, the protection of the environment as a whole becomes a challenge for many countries, policies for the preservation, education and scientific research strategies are aimed at the environment and sustainable development. It remains an idea of its young problem, still current. It is development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In the field of architecture and urban planning, environmental protection is an important place. With the growth experienced by this area, several environmental procedures have been invented to improve the quality of construction and use of buildings, a view mainly environmental but without neglecting the economic and social aspects. The environmental protection has long existed, it is found in the experiences of ancient cities such as Ksours. This legacy is an inspiration and an asset for the sustainable development of our cities today. According to Hassan Fathy only in the tradition, we respect and we continue the work of previous generation that new generation can really move and solve the problem. The materials used the distribution of space, protection of natural resources such as water and palm trees, recycling, are the strategies of the company of Ksours to live in a healthy and comfortable space. The objectives of this paper are: To highlight the history of environmental policy in architecture and urbanism in the world, in this case Ksours. Renewable energy and strategies of the preservation of the environment in the Ksours Sustainable development in Ksours: a notion that has long existed. Establish strategies to protect the environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the largest population living in rural areas, the lack of clean energy supply is an important problem in China, and the utilization of renewable energy not only meets the demand of energy, but also provides a basis for environmental protection and sustainable development. This paper reviews use of clean energy in a resource-rich region, including the basic principle of the development of recycling agriculture, the potential, the present status and the future of renewable energy in the region rural areas. If the project will be finished, there will be 300,000 families benefiting from it and it can bring at least 2.2×108 US dollars revenue increase directly, the indirect revenue increase will be 0.15billion US dollars, the environment will be improved and the living standard in Jincheng''s rural areas is also be greatly improved because of developing biogas project. Based on the developing status and constraint conditions, the solutions to further promote renewable energy projects in this region are also proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article examines sustainability of animal production systems. It notes that sustainability of livestock grazing has to meet the criterion of an offtake of product without disruption to the functioning of the ecosystem. It notes that forage could simply be a monoculture of an introduced grass and no remnant of the natural system need remain.

Sustainable solid waste management can provide pathways for renewable energy generation. The Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed burgeoning municipal solid waste (MSW) generation rate due to socio-economic development. The authorities of this Small Island Developing State, which is located in arid environment, plan to produce 5% of the total electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2025 and then double it to 10% by 2035. The US Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Gas Emission Model software was used to estimate the generation of biogas from MSW at the Askar Landfill site. Results envisaged that maximum landfill gas (LFG) emission rates will be in 2020 following landfill closure by the end of 2019, as an intentional scenario, with a maximum electricity generation potential of 57.4 GWh that could provide power to 488 households. Revenues from carbon credits and electricity sales were US$97.8 million and US$64.8 million, respectively, for the period 2020–2035. The internal combustion engine exhibited the most viable option based on economic analysis of the cost of alternative LFG energy recovery technologies. Our work highlights the potential to use LFG-to-energy technologies to reduce the carbon footprint in arid climates for developing countries with substantial electricity subsidization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mankind is struggling with so many problems related to an environment like pollution, energy demand and supply, soil security, availability of food etc. The pollution caused because of the improper management of natural resources is raising serious concerns towards environment safety and sustainability. Chemistry plays a fundamental role in the sustainability of environment by promoting green technologies and advances in new and less or nonhazardous materials for industries, generating and promoting sources for renewable energy, environmental protection. Keeping in mind the demand of energy for all the developmental processes, it is very much necessary to promote the production and consumption of sustainable energy, in turn, boosting green economy. For encouraging a green economy it is necessary to find new ways of producing green energy by using nanoparticles. This review will focus on the evaluation of the green nanochemistry for sustainable development and will highlight new advances in the green economy by using nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, the European Geosciences Union (EGU) brings together experts from all over the world at its General Assembly, covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. The EGU Division on Energy, Resources and the Environment (ERE) is concerned with one of the humankind's most challenging goals - providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy and other georesources. A collection of contributions from the ERE Division at the EGU General Assembly 2018 is assembled within the present special issue in Advances in Geosciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]