Search

Research background: The increasing demand for energy, driven by economic growth and population expansion, is a critical driver of societal progress. However, the predominant reliance on fossil fuels to meet this demand presents significant challenges, particularly in the rapidly developing BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). These countries are faced with a complex interplay of energy security and environmental sustainability issues, stemming from their substantial fossil fuel reserves and the associated environmental consequences. The challenges manifest as inequalities in access to clean energy, environmental degradation, and heightened vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Addressing these multifaceted issues requires a comprehensive approach. Metrics-based strategies, which employ aggregated indices derived from a diverse set of energy and environmental indicators, have the potential to provide valuable insights into these complexities. However, the development of a universally applicable energy sustainability index is complicated by the heterogeneity of metrics, disparities between countries, and methodological challenges, emphasizing the need for an innovative and holistic analytical framework. Purpose of the article: This study aims to develop a tailored Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability Index for BRICS economies to evaluate the robustness of their energy systems and the viability of their ecological practices. The index serves as an instrument to assess the progress of these nations in the Energy and Environment domain and identify areas that require targeted interventions and improvements. Methods: The construction of the composite ESESI involves the selection of relevant parameters and the application of a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework in conjunction with the Weighted Product Method (WPM). To ensure objectivity in the determination of optimal and least favorable weights for each indicator, the study employs the Multiplicative Data Envelopment Analysis (MDEA) model. Findings & value added: The ESESI analysis reveals disparities in the progress made by BRICS nations in enhancing energy security, promoting renewable energy deployment, and mitigating environmental impacts. While some countries demonstrate substantial advancements, others face challenges in improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The study underscores the necessity for tailored policies and targeted infrastructural enhancements that align with the unique challenges and strengths of each nation. Harnessing the abundant renewable energy potential through advanced energy trade mechanisms and fostering cross-border investments are identified as crucial strategies for ensuring environmental sustainability and long-term energy in the BRICS region. The ESESI provides a valuable tool for policymakers and researchers to evaluate the progress of BRICS nations in achieving sustainable energy goals and to inform evidence-based decision-making processes. By offering a comprehensive and scientifically rigorous assessment framework, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable energy transitions and environmental stewardship in the context of rapidly developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hunt for novel antibiotics has become a global public health imperative due to the rise in multidrug-resistant microorganisms, untreatable infection cases, overuse, and inefficacy of modern antibiotics. Polyphenols are getting much attention in research due to their multiple biological effects; their use as antimicrobial agents is attributed to their activity and that microbes have a hard time developing resistance to these natural compounds. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites produced in higher plants. They are known to possess various functional properties in the human body. Polyphenols also exhibit antibacterial activities against foodborne pathogens. Their antibacterial mechanism is based on inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation or inactivating enzymes. This review focused on polyphenol-protein interactions and the creation of this complex as a possible antibacterial agent. Also, different phenolic interactions on bacterial proteins, efflux pump, cell membrane, bacterial adhesion, toxins, and other bacterial proteins will be explored; these interactions can work in a synergic combination with antibiotics or act alone to assure bacterial inhibition. Additionally, our review will focus on polyphenol-protein interaction as a possible strategy to eradicate bacteria because polyphenols have shown a robust enzyme-inhibitory characteristic and a high tendency to complex with proteins, a response that neutralizes any bactericidal potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change, weather unpredictability, and severe events on agricultural production, food loss, and livelihoods. Turkey has long struggled against climate variability and catastrophic climatic events to prevent further declines in agricultural output. This study assessed the risk of climate change in Turkey from the perspective of loss in food grains and food security domain considering exposure to extreme climate events using the data from 1991 to 2019. This paper makes a theoretical contribution to the literature by identifying the relationship between food waste and food import, food prices and economic growth. It also makes an empirical contribution by administering and econometrically analyzing the impact of the loss of food grains on the aforementioned independent variables. Policy implications for the current national agriculture policy were provided using the vector auto-regression (VAR) model and derivative analysis. Food grain loss negatively correlates with food security since it increases reliance on food imports from outside. Moreover, the losses in food supplies contributes greatly to price increases. The GDP growth rate, however, was shown to be a feeble instigator. Climate change threatens food security, and the country's progress toward sustainable development objectives is hampered in general, particularly concerning no poverty and zero hunger goals. In conclusion, climate change and its associated factors harm Turkey's food security and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several economies have acknowledged that environmental degradation poses a serious danger to worldwide sustainable production and consumption. Policy makers concur that the increased use and production of carbon-intensive technologies has intensified the detrimental consequences of carbon dioxide emissions. In response, a number of nations have reacted by enacting stringent regulations and encouraging green technology innovations across corporate and governmental organizations. Evidence that already exists suggests that research and development is a cyclical process; nevertheless, the non-linear influence of shocks in research and development and innovation in green technologies on CO2 emissions in the Nordic nations has not been well investigated. Using panel data from 1995 to 2019, this research explores the asymmetric link between innovation in green technologies and CO2 emissions. The cointegration link between the chosen variables was validated using the Westerlund cointegration test and the Johansen–Fisher panel cointegration test. The findings of both tests confirm the presence of cointegration association between dependent and independent variables. The outcomes of CS-ARDL revealed that negative shocks in creating green technologies contribute to carbon dioxide emissions during recessions. Second, the findings supported the notion that innovation in green technology may reduce carbon dioxide emissions during times of economic expansion. Thirdly, the GDP increases the CO2 emissions, but the usage of renewable energy decreases CO2 emissions. In addition, the robustness analysis validated the consistency and precision of the existing findings. In summary, the findings suggest that the link between advances in environmentally friendly technologies and levels of carbon dioxide emissions were inversely proportional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green energy is a crucial component in addressing expanding energy demands and combating climate change, but the possible negative repercussions of these technologies are frequently disregarded. Green energy's deployment is tied to environmentally sustainable development goals (SDGs). It can only be achieved by scaling up the finance of investment that provides environmental benefits through new financial instruments and new policies, such as green banks, green bonds, community-based green funds, green central banking, etc. In an effort to address the issues with IPAT and ImPACT, this study employed the STIRPAT model approach, which is a proven framework for energy economics analysis. The author gathers yearly data spanning 2002–2018 for six ASEAN member countries with the aim of investigating the relationship between CO2 emissions, green finance, energy efficiency, and the green energy index (GEX). After preliminary tests, the study employed the Westerlund test and Johansen Fisher test for long-term equilibrium and estimated the Granger causal links between variables using the generalized method of moments (GMM). The results indicate that green bonds are an effective technique for promoting green energy projects and considerably reducing CO2 emissions. Therefore, governments should establish supporting policies with a long-term perspective to increase the investment of green energy projects related investment from private participants to ensure sustainable growth and address environmental challenges. This strategy may be appropriate during and after the COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]