Political and Economic Prerequisites of Legislation and Legal Regulations in the Area of Natural Environment Protection

Author(s): Ewa Kopeć / Language(s): English Issue: 41/2021

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Legislative processes are important due to the fact that little attention is paid by the market as well as market models of economic development to the issues resulting from the exploitation of the natural environment. Currently, the crucial actions to protect the natural environment include setting up legal regulations that would reduce the degradation of nature caused by consumer behavior. The aim of this article is to analyze and evaluate the selected legislative solutions pertaining to the protection of the natural environment in the European Union and Poland. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The analysis of legislation and legal regulations pertaining to the environmental protection in the context of the selected issues spans the timeframe of 2015–2020. The conducted study pertains mainly to legal acts including regulations as well as directives. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The function of the state in the economy was described to explain the role of the policy adopted for the environ mental protection. Further in the considerations, the analysis included selected le gal regulations observed by the EU member states. Evaluation was made in terms of incentives and other solutions in the area of economic instruments and other solutions facilitating the implementation of sustainable development premises. RESEARCH RESULTS: The sources of law of the European Union are an important constituent part of the national system of environmental protection. Domestic regulations are more and more frequently supplementary and executive in nature. The results of research show the selected suggestions and evaluate the legal solutions adopted within the analyzed timeframe. CONCLUSION, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Legislative solutions should yield benefits both to the manufacturers as well as the economy. Ecological awareness is equally important, setting social responsibility for the environment as a model conduct.

Енергетичні трансформації в контексті сучасних світоглядних парадигм

Author(s): Larysa Semeniuk,Andrii Semeniuk / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 8 (41)/2022

The article aims to analyse the worldview theories, which have become the basis for the concept of sustainable energy transformations. A number of ideas explaining the close connection between energy and environmental transformations, economic and technological progress of society and the state of the environment are considered. Energy transformations have become the research object due to the processes such as, on the one hand, the understanding of the future energy resources crisis, and on the other, the awareness of environmental problems that can lead to the real threat to humanity. The purpose of the article is to investigate philosophical concepts that lead to a new paradigm of satisfying human, and community needs in energy in the context of international and national economic strategies. The civilizational importance of the problem mentioned above and the urge to solve it at the global and local levels stimulates the curiosity of scientists and the activity of scientific and practical research in various fields. The object of scientific exploration is the economic and environmental effects of implementing renewable energy sources, the investment attractiveness of such projects; the innovative processes of renewable energy implementation and development are studied; environmental impact of various infrastructure elements is evaluated, in particular - in local systems; possibilities of the efficient architecture of the energy and ecological components of the urban environment, territorial communities, etc. are analysed. The concepts of environmental philosophy regarding the need for a harmonious combination of human and environmental needs are increasingly being taken into account in the development of state economic strategies and programs. The article states that an aspect of environmental consciousness change, building a new, socially responsible thinking of an economically and socially active part of society, and, ideally, most of humanity will remain of high importance for achieving sustainable development goals, in particular, sustainable modes of energy consumption

Non-financial disclosures requirements as a regulation model for promoting and imposing sustainable finance within the European Union

Author(s): Agnieszka Wicha / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

The Author is going to analyse the role of non-financial disclosures in the achieving goals established in the European Green Deal (EGD). There is the presentation of the aims presented in the EGD and created within the EU regulations in the area of sustainable finance. The Author also explained the definition of sustainable finance. In the last part of the Article the Author presented the current state and recommended change in the rules of non-financial reporting. Finally, the Article presented the connection between non-financial reports and sustainable finance and usability of CSRD in the architecture of sustainable finance.

Szczególne rozwiązania prawne w dziedzinie bezpieczeństwa energetycznego w sektorze gazu ziemnego adresowane do odbiorców chronionych paliw gazowych. Wybrane zagadnienia

Author(s): Klaudia Grzebiela / Language(s): Polish Issue: 28/2023

The state’s dependence on the supply of natural gas from external sources requires legislative measures to be taken to protect customers from the negative effects of political and economic events affecting the state’s internal security. In the natural gas sector, ensuring energy security and preventing emerging threats is particularly important. The purpose of this article is to present the legal solutions to protect certain groups of customers in the natural gas market and minimise the negative socio-economic effects in the event of an interruption to gas supply or a sudden increase in gas prices. The introduced legal regulations emphasise the unique specificity of the natural gas market, the essential feature of which is its relationship with imports.

Luddites of the Twenty-First Century? The Influence of Trade Unions in Hard Coal Mining on Sector Reforms in Poland and the Czech Republic

Author(s): Tomasz Kubin / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2023

There are only two European Union (EU) states where hard coal is still mined: Poland and the Czech Republic. One of the key interest groups in the hard coal mining industry are trade unions. They are particularly strong in this sector, almost entirely controlled by the state, in Poland—without their approval, it is in fact impossible to implement any significant reforms. The main goal of the article is to explain the influence of trade unions operating in the hard coal mining sector in Poland and the Czech Republic on the results of the reforms of this sector carried out in 2015–2019. The framework for empirical analysis is the theoretical output on interest groups and the power resources approach. Measuring the influence of an interest group on the decision-making process is one of the greatest challenges in research on interest groups. However, the empirical analysis allows us to conclude that the purposes of mining trade unions both in Poland and in the Czech Republic were consistent, that the shape of the reforms introduced in 2015–2019 was convergent with these goals, and that the activity of trade unions had a very big impact on these reforms. However, in the long run, hard coal mining in Europe is in decline and trade unions are only trying to stop what is inevitable.

Promovarea investițiilor în energia regenerabilă prin măsuri fiscale

Author(s): Radu-Andrei Dăncău / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 3/2023

In the current global context of transitioning towards renewable energy sources, fiscal policy has become a crucial instrument in promoting and developing this energy sector. We can admit that it plays a pivotal role in encouraging investments by providing fiscal advantages that support renewable energy projects and create a favorable environment for their development. The establishment or enhancement of fiscal incentives, increased transparency, and predictability in the fiscal and regulatory environment can provide a stable and secure framework for successful investment projects in the energy market. Nevertheless, there are challenges that need to be addressed, and public authorities in member states must develop regulatory capacities and appropriate infrastructure to facilitate acces for investors in this sector. A coordinated and coherent approach between member states and the EU is needed to ensure cohesion and harmonisation of tax policies to contribute to the overall goals of climate change and sustainable economic growth.

A Country's Green Brand and the Social Responsibility of Business

Author(s): Yevheniia Ziabina,Mariola Dźwigoł-Barosz / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2022

Recently, the topic of carbon neutrality has been gaining momentum. Such trends are mainly related to the adoption of important global agreements, such as the European Green Deal, as well as the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Such trends have a positive effect on countries, but in such situations, states must quickly respond to the challenges and needs of the world and have an understanding of how to respond to these trends. To date, there are many ratings that can be used to form a portrait of a country (investment, social, environmental, etc.), but currently the rating of the green brand of a country is becoming more relevant. There are problems regarding its improvement and filling, yet this is a new evaluation of a country for this period of time. It is relevant today to study the nature and architecture of the concept of a green brand, as well as the search for the main determinants of its impact. The purpose of the article is to analyse publications in order to identify patterns in the development of the green brand and the social responsibility of business. The article provides a bibliometric analysis of research in the field of green branding and corporate social and environmental responsibility. The authors selected more than 10,000 works published in 2000–2021 indexed by the scientometric databases Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Using VOSviewer, the results of the bibliometric analysis were visualized on the definition map. This made it possible to identify seven clusters that combine 58 terms. As a result of the research, using the constructed bibliographic map, the connection between the terms ‘green brand’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’ was revealed.

LOCUS STANDI OF THE RIGHT TO AN ADEQUATE ENVIRONMENT – UNIVERSAL AND REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Author(s): Marija Mladenov,Nenad Stefanović,Svetlana Marković / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

Despite that the right to an adequate environment is an integral part of international law for more than 50 years, there are still numerous challenges to its effective judicial protection. Among the issues affecting the right is proper entitlement to raise a claim with respect to the right, as well as those relating to justiciability, procedure, interpretation and effective remedies. In light of the aforementioned, the paper will contribute to the ongoing discussion by providing analysis and insights into the main features, admissibility criteria, and compliance procedures related to the right to an adequate environment before international and regional judicial and quasi-judicial entities. The scope of the paper is to clarify how the right to an adequate environment can be assessed in regard to effective judicial protection, legal remedies applied and, consequently, the coherence that the judicial brings to the global legal order.

ASIA CENTRALĂ - FRONT AL CIOCNIRILOR GEOSTRATEGICE

Author(s): Gheorghe Matei / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 2/2023

Central Asia is situated in the proxy vicinity of two large states: the Russian Federation and China, both looking for uncontested global actor status. The mode the two states relate to Central Asia differs because of the way each projects its power. The Russian Federation has a multidomain cooperation with the Central Asian states, mainly focused on the security aspect, while China, on the other hand, is betting on the economic force through which it could influence Central Asian politics in her favor. USSR’s implosion and Kremlin’s revisionist and imperialist intentions of influence sphere reconfirmation corroborated with China’s accelerated economic development strengthens mainly competition, not cooperation, between the two actors who are also strategic partners. Turkey, through its foreign affairs’ pragmatic and opportunistic policies, supports the Turkish-speaking communities in Central Asia and it aims for mentoring their policies. The USA, the EU, India and Iran are, foremost, interested in the energy resources of the region, because of economic reasons, as an alternative to the Russian gas or as a resource for their own development.

QUALITY COSTS FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE: THE CASE OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON

Author(s): Ali KESTANE,Süleyman Yükçü / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

When we look at the past of human history, it is known that numerous events that cause loss of life and property have occurred. The negativities experienced arise due to both the human hand and the reactions of nature. The accident doesn't say I'm coming, but it can give a signal! Because when looking at the cause of many events, it is possible to see that some messages are actually hidden. For example, the decrease in the diversity of living species comes from the fact that humans are killing nature. Considering the losses here, it is not possible not to mention the concept of cost. It is clear that every positive or negative event or situation experienced has a cost in one's life. At this point, what is needed to manage costs and maintain human life on a higher quality ground? Just as nature prefers to receive in return for what it offers, human beings will want to receive in return for their attitudes and behaviors. Then, two key tools emerge, on which man must concentrate in the nature he lives in; quality and cost. Because, in the face of the concept of quality, which consists of living to the standards that should be, the costs, which are the cost of the relevant life, show themselves. Therefore, the issue of quality costs is very important in the continuation of human life. This study, it is aimed to examine the Deepwater Horizon oil platform accident in terms of quality costs and to make suggestions in terms of quality costs to prevent its recurrence. The aforementioned disaster has been evaluated over its quality costs, and a predictable cost table has been presented to avoid the repetition of its consequences. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the disaster in question killed sustainability. To avoid similar cases in the future, suggestions have been made for the costs of failure.

EU RESTRICTIONS ON INTENTIONALLY ADDED MICROPLASTICS – SMALL PLASTIC, LOW AMBITION

Author(s): Amna Hrustić / Language(s): English Issue: 31/2022

The paper discusses the need for an EU wide ban of microplastics. The focus is on the announced EU regulation on the ban of intentionally added microplastics. The paper firstly presents published results from research in natural science on the widespread of microplastic pollution and its influence on human health and life of animals and plants. These findings are used to analyse from a legal perspective to what extent there is a need for an EU ban on microplastics, what should be the scope of such regulation and what are the potential economic and regulatory impacts. The increase of plastic pollution caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is in this paper analysed as an important factor for a stricter EU approach towards microplastics. The EU for now decided to ban only the use of microplastics in rinse-off products and not in leave-on products. The EU did not show the ambition to be a front-runner on this matter, despite the economic benefits and its front-runner status in recycling. The comparative analysis confirms that the EU so far only reacts to already enacted legislation in other parts of the globe.

AN ECOSYSTEM FOR SMART CITIES BASED ON BLOCKCHAIN

Author(s): Branka Rodić,Aleksandra Labus,Marijana Despotović-Zrakić,Petar Lukovac,Milica Simić / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2023

This paper analyses the impact of the digital transformation of cities affected by rapid urbanization that tend to endanger their environmental and economic sustainability. Such a transformation is possible through the concept of a smart city. We investigate the opportunities of using blockchain technologies in the realm of smart cities. The paper’s main goal is to propose a new business model for blockchain use in the smart city ecosystem that will provide a solution for a sustainable urban environment and improve citizens’ life. Smart city ecosystem consists of building blocks: infrastructure, development and self-sustainability, stakeholders and their relationships. Stakeholders can be different subjects, but most often they are government authorities, service providers, blockchain technology providers, IoT device manufacturers, and citizens. Blockchain-based systems facilitate increased citizen engagement and participation. Citizens can provide feedback, contribute data, and interact with smart city services through decentralized applications. The ecosystem operates in an iterative and adaptive manner continuously learning and improving based on the data and feedback received. Insights gained from the blockchain data and citizen interactions drive ongoing enhancements to the smart city infrastructure and applications. The proposed model will, on the other hand, show sustainability by citizens through a reward system using a digital wallet. Citizens actively engaged in energy management or ridesharing platforms can be rewarded with tokens to use for discounts or health check-up services. The proposed ecosystem could serve as a ground for the adoption of blockchain in smart city ecosystems in different countries.

Existoval chartistický environmentalismus?

Author(s): Kristina Andělová / Language(s): Czech Issue: 2/2023

The question of ecological critique is an important research area in the study of Czechoslovak dissent and Charter 77, yet it has not received any systematic research attention. Scholarly literature has privileged research on (semi)official ecological movements or expert forms of ecological criticism and reflection on the state of the environment in the so-called grey zone, which became increasingly visible in communist Czechoslovakia during the period of normalization. The author raises the question of how Charter 77 related to environmental issues, and shows that the primary emphasis on human and civil rights initially side-lined their reception within the Charter. As environmental issues resonated more in society and among experts, Charter 77 also addressed them in its documents, albeit within a broader human rights framework. The author draws attention to the importance of mutual cooperation and personal connections between emerging ecological initiatives and parts of the Charter 77 community it this effort. This perspective relativizes the notion of sharp boundaries between dissent and “mainstream society”. At the same time, by analysing texts from the Charter milieu, she concludes that from the beginning a distinctive philosophical and political ideological current was formed, influenced by existentialism, phenomenology, and especially the ideas of the philosopher Jan Patočka (1907–1977), which she calls Chartist environmentalism. In this context, the criticism of the communist regime was part of a more general critique of modern rationality, industrial civilization and human alienation. Ecology, the plundering of natural resources and environmental degradation were thus seen as one aspect of a complex structural problem that could not be solved by mere legislative regulations of man’s relationship to nature, but only by a profound change in thinking based on an existential shattering that challenged the principles of modern objectivism. The study traces how the efforts to democratize the internal work of the Charter, the birth of a number of new independent initiatives, and their generational transformation in the second half of the 1980s spurred the articulation of an environmental platform within the Charter, which resulted in the founding of the samizdat "Ecological Bulletin" (Ekologický bulletin) and the establishment of the independent Ecological Society (Ekologická společnost). However, “Chartist environmentalism” developed ideologically and personally to a large extent separately from ecological activism. An exception was represented by the dissident and later Minister of Environment Ivan Dejmal (1946–2008), who attempted to combine “small ecology” with the Charter 77 critique of modern rationality and to formulate a position of philosophically grounded political ecology within Czechoslovak dissident movement.

KONSEKWENCJE WOJNY NA UKRAINIE W WYMIARZE ŻYWNOŚCIOWYM, EKONOMICZNYM I ENERGETYCZNYM

Author(s): Piotr Krzykowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine was a turning point for world security, the interna- tional economy and the global energy architecture. In a globalized world that is interdependent, it is impossible to narrow a war like this to one region. We cannot keep its impact within one country or eliminate one country from fragility in supply chains. This new type of hybrid war, including a major humanitarian crisis, economic hardship, as well as disinformation and propaganda campaigns, geopolitical tensions over energy supplies, and the threat of a nuclear war, will have far-reaching implications. The article is an attempt to indicate that the Russian invasion of Ukraine will have far-reaching consequences in various areas: the situation has turned into a humanitarian crisis, has created instability in food and energy security, and raises the question of the architecture of global security. According to the author, these challenges will not be limited only to Ukraine, but due to the globalized world in which we live, they will pose challenges all over the world.

Circular economy practices as a tool for sustainable development in the context of renewable energy: What are the opportunities for the EU?

Author(s): Ugnius Jakubelskas,Viktorija Skvarciany / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

Research background: In order to tackle climate change and ensure Paris agreements are met, countries are forced to look for alternative ways of producing, consuming, and wasting and adopt a circular economy. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions becomes one of the key elements. The demand for electricity is increasing, and most greenhouse gas emissions derive from the energy sector. Because of that, it is crucial to ensure the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Renewable energy, as a part of the circular economy, also contributes to sustainable development. Only the efficient implementation of circular economy and renewable energy practices can ensure that sustainable development goals are achieved.Purpose of the article: The study aims at determining the efficiency of European Union countries implementing circular economy practices through renewable energy to attain SDGs. The study focuses on the significance of renewable energy as a tool for the circular economy to achieve sustainable development and highlights the progress achieved in SDG through renewable energy in the EU.Methods: For efficiency assessment of the circular economy represented by the renewable energy indicators, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was performed.Findings & value added: This study presents a relation analysis of the circular economy and renewable energy and the importance of efficiency in achieving SDGs through a circular economy. The study helps to understand the circular economy represented by renewable energy and how it transforms into sustainable development and contributes to necessary actions needed for countries to improve. Based on the results, Sweden, Luxembourg, Ireland, Latvia, Estonia, Malta, the Netherlands and Bulgaria are considered the most efficient countries, while Austria is the least efficient. Unused solar and wind power potential can slow down sustainable development; however, EU programs and renewable energy strategies help countries move towards clean energy and ensure efficient implementation of sustainable development goals.

ROMANIA'S ENERGY SECURITY, REGIONAL AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC STABILITY FACTOR

Author(s): Cristina Oneţ,Ciprian Florea / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The liberalization of energy markets in the European Union, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were events that equally emphasized the challenges the European Union faced in procuring its energy and fuels consistently and at affordable prices. In such a profoundly unfavorable context, the European Union was compelled to adopt crisis measures both in the short term and, more importantly, medium to long-term solutions to free itself from dependency on Russian fuels.This study highlights Romania's relatively stable energy situation in this complicated context, as well as the positive prospects it can offer in the region. This can be achieved either through the adoption of proposed measures at the European level or through the solutions that Romania can provide to its partners within the European Union.In this regard, the paper provides a synthesis of the most significant public policies and specific projects that Romania has established for the coming years to truly become a stabilizing factor in the energy field, both at the regional and European levels.

Recenzja książki Anny Barczak, Ochrona środowiska. Organizacja i kontrola (przed egzaminem), Wydawnictwo Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2023, ss. 220

Author(s): Paulina Jachimowicz-Jankowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 18/2023

Leadership, competitive intelligence and Robert Oppenheimer’s pivotal role in the dawn of the nuclear age

Author(s): Rodica-Cristina BĂLAN Liseanu / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2023

In an era of globalization, innovation, and competitive intelligence, the nuclear supply chain is continually evolving and increasing its capabilities. The top-secret operation ALSOS plays a key role in the (re)evolution of atomic energy as the energy of the future, with a constant focus on the responsible use of atomic energy. The US, a nuclear hegemon, has harnessed its leaders to their full potential, with J. Robert Oppenheimer being one of the leading names in charismatic, competitive, and transformational leadership. Through qualitative and content analysis, this article proposes a reflection on the origins and evolution of change in the nuclear field, in a continuous struggle for supremacy, connecting with current desiderata in the sphere of innovation, built on different leadership styles. The interest in leadership is recurrent, and the model of Operation ALSOS, in line with the iconic figure of J. Robert Oppenheimer, is representative of motivating the harnessing of new promises to inspire and revolutionize the world.

Energy Policy in Contemporary Foreign Policy of Russian Federation

Author(s): Martin Horemuž / Language(s): English Issue: 3-4/2016

Energy policy is considered as an integral part as well as one of the key tools of the contemporary foreign policy of the Russian Federation. This is due to the fact that Russia owns one of the largest stores and sources of the key energy raw materials in the world (oil and gas), as well as the well-built technical and transport infrastructure for their export. An important factor is also the historically constant geopolitical, foreign political and powerimperial ambitions, especially in the post-Soviet area, in which the energy policy has or rather is reaching a more and more important role and position. The aim of the article is to point out the position and place of power in Russia's foreign policy and their close inter-dependence in terms of objectives, geopolitical (geographical) direction of effect, but especially in terms of the tool usage. The structure of the article reflects the review of the fundamental policy documents from foreign, energy as well as security policy in the last 5 years.

GREEN PARTY ILI GREED PARTY – MOGU LI ZELENE STRANKE PROMIJENITI DOMINANTNI POLITIČKI NARATIV?

Author(s): Samir Lemeš / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 37-38/2023

Područje bivše Jugoslavije, još od raspada te države gubi se u beskrajnim političkim previranjima, ratnim sukobima, korupciji, ekonomskoj stagnaciji i masovnom odlasku stanovništva. S druge strane, bogatstvo prirodnim resursima, prije svega vodom, šumom i rudama, ovaj prostor čini privlačnim plijenom za međunarodne korporacije i lokalne tajkune. Logičan odgovor na takve izazove bilo bi formiranje i jačanje političkog pokreta koji bi se okupio oko ideje zaštite tih prirodnih resursa, međutim, do toga nije došlo. Ovaj tekst je lični osvrt na "zeleni" politički spektar, na području koje se moderno zove Zapadni Balkan, s posebnim naglaskom na Bosnu i Hercegovinu kao centralni dio tog teritorija.