• Energy Research

This paper evaluated the environmental effects of socially responsible investments (SRIs) in European countries and analyzed the differentiation between them in terms of SRIs and selected features in the environmental dimension. The first section of the paper discusses contemporary trends in Europe and in certain European countries, whilst the second compares SR environmental investments and environmental factors in selected European countries from a multidimensional perspective. The aim of the study was to identify and evaluate these trends as well as to find similarities and differences between European countries, and subsequently to indicate groups of countries with similar approaches to pro-ecological investments. In order to solve the problem, descriptive and multidimensional statistical methods were used, namely correspondence analysis (CA). Although the research results clearly revealed upward tendencies in the volume of SR environmental investments in the analyzed period, they nonetheless represent a relatively low share in the total number of socially responsible investments. The overall growth in SRIs in Europe may have resulted from the more intense activities of policymakers in some countries as a consequence of concluding agreements reached during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in 2015. The results of the study also revealed no significant correlations between SR environmental investments and environmental variables among the European countries analyzed; hence, there is no substantial evidence that investors’ assets contribute to the improvement of the environment.

 The aim of the study is to identify and examine some key factors crucial to the development of the Polish industry of producers obtaining renewable energy, and to find the market and non-market factors influencing the development of Polish green energy producers. What is essential for the development of renewable energy producers is an adequate public policy, especially the regulations concerning the financial aspects of obtaining energy from renewable sources and the efficiency of available technologies. Pricing mechanisms defining the company’s revenue from various resources are the most important factors, however it is difficult to determine their priority. A better understanding of the conditions of the Polish renewable energy sector will also be useful in the process of public policy modifications and fostering the development of the renewable energy area. It is one of the first attempts to investigate the issues concerning financial performance of renewable energy companies on the Polish market.