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Nowadays, most countries of the world are implementing the transition to the low-carbon economy which implies the need to carry out a full-scale eco-modernization of the energy sector. Green energy may be identified as one of the core concerns of energy sector modernization as it allows a considerable decrease in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Therefore, nuclear and renewable energy may become key areas of global energy development in the near future, which is also in agreement with circular economy concepts. However, public opinion (and other controversial visions/aspects) is one of the barriers to their development. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between attitudes towards nuclear and renewable energy in two countries: a EU country (Italy) and a non-EU country (Russia), considering the level of their development. The authors conducted a survey among residents regarding their attitude towards nuclear and renewable energy, as well as their attitude to the present energy policy. The cluster analysis technique was used to analyze the results. The obtained results confirmed the dependence between the level of development of nuclear and renewable energy and the public attitude towards it. The national energy policy also might influence public opinion on the development of nuclear or renewable energy. The authors identified public attitude as one of the key factors in the development of energy and the achievement of environmental and social sustainability.

Over the last few decades, environmental deterioration has accelerated significantly. Environmental degradation has been a subject of research across the world because of its impact on billions of people. However, there has been no international agreement on lowering the utilization of energy and CO2 emissions (CO2), while demand for fossil fuels grows in emerging economies. On the other hand, the recent COP26 summit brought all parties together to accelerate action toward reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Although previous research shows that international trade promotes positive socioeconomic outcomes, other experts argue that it contributes to natural resource shortages and ecological deterioration. Thus, the current research considers the effect of international trade, renewable energy use and technological innovation on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2), coupled with the role of financial development and economic growth in the BRICS economies between 1990 and 2018. Moreover, this research utilizes the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG), augmented mean group (AMG) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality methods to assess these interrelationships. The study findings reveal that renewable energy use, exports and technological innovation mitigate CCO2, whereas economic growth and imports trigger CCO2 in the BRICS economies. The panel causality outcomes also reveal that all the variables except financial development can predict CCO2 emissions. Based on the study findings, we recommend the adoption of policies, regulations and the development of legislative frameworks that promote technological innovation and the shift toward sustainable energy.

The problem of the municipal solid waste (MSW) formation and recycling has been very important for many decades in the Russian Federation. The sustainable development of the Russian Federation subjects and municipalities, their evolution to the status of “smart cities” is not possible without solving this problem. The current situation in the area of SHW treatment leads to the dangerous environmental pollution, improper use of the natural resources, and the significant economic damage and poses a threat to the health of the present and future generations of the country. The authors examine the issues of implementation of the changes in the field of municipal solid waste management legislation. The problems of the comprehensive waste management are also discussed on the example of the Sverdlovsk region (Sverdlovskaya Oblast).

Today, the world is confronted with the issue of environmental pollution as a result of our dependence on fossil fuels for our energy needs. Developed and developing countries are therefore adopting different strategies to curb environmental problems. This work is thus designed to probe the effect of renewable energy (RE), information and communication technologies (ICT), government stability, and GDP on ecological footprints (EF) in G11 nations. We utilized the annual data from 1990–2020 and applied robust methodologies to present the findings. The CS-ARDL method shows that renewable energy, ICT, and government stability are essential factors in lowering environmental pollution in G11 countries. Therefore, in light of the findings, this work suggests an increase in the use of RE sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower in the total energy mix of the various countries. RE usage improves air quality and saves the natural environment from further destruction. The countries also need to enhance their communication technologies in the economic sector. Moreover, policymakers must also introduce the required policies that would promote the use of RE in various countries. This will make people adopt clean energy sources at the domestic and commercial levels.

Abstract Ghana has been facing cyclical erratic power supply in recent years due to increasing population, urbanization and industrialization. The country’s electricity generation is hugely dependent on fossil fuels which makes the cost of electricity generation susceptible to cost of fuel on the international market and other economic factors such as exchange rate, despite the country’s huge renewable energy potentials. This research used the SWOT analytical approach to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the country’s renewable energy sector. Results from the analysis shows that, geographical location, political stability and availability of Renewable Energy Act (Act 832) are the main strengths. However, issues such as complex and bureaucratic procedures in securing licenses and the high initial cost of renewable energy projects are some of the key weaknesses in the sector. The study also identified the existence of a regional integration network in the sub-region and increasing electricity demand as the major opportunities. Insufficient research and development were identified as the greatest threat to the sustainable development of the sector followed by unequal playing field and changing climatic conditions. The research therefore proposed some recommendations to the government to help in the development of the country’s renewable energy sector.

The paper suggests a methodological approach for assessing the sustainability of the urban transport system. Parameters were selected for assessing the sustainability of the transport system and significant factors affecting sustainability were determined. Parameters of the sustainability of the system when changes in the weather and road conditions affect vehicle operation were estimated on the basis of the simulation modeling. An integral indicator of sustainability was introduced to evaluate the sustainability of the transport flow management subsystem and the methodological approach to its calculation was substantiated. The results from changing the parameters of the traffic flow were demonstrated in the case of a significant amount of precipitation and the constraints put on the movement of vehicles on the road infrastructure unit due to snow-removal operations and road traffic accidents. Also, the parameters of road traffic under the reconstruction of the main street of regulated traffic into a street of uninterrupted traffic were presented.

Reconnaissant les conséquences dévastatrices de la détérioration de l'environnement, les membres méditerranéens se sont engagés à adopter les plans d'action du traité de 2015 de l'Accord de Paris sur le climat (COP21) alors que les émissions de dioxyde de carbone (CO2) augmentent dans la région méditerranéenne, ce qui semble être un grave défi pour l'environnement mondial. À cette fin, notre étude a examiné l'impact des investissements directs étrangers (IDE) sur la dégradation de l'environnement des membres méditerranéens pour la période allant de 1995 à 2016. Cependant, des variables telles que le développement financier, la croissance économique, les énergies renouvelables et les combustibles fossiles ont été examinées plus en détail par la méthodologie de retard réparti auto-régressif groupé par panneaux transversaux, le groupe à moyenne augmentée (AMG) et le test de causalité par panneaux Dumitrescu et Hurlin ont été utilisés pour l'analyse de causalité. Les résultats de la co-intégration de Westerlund (2007) montrent une relation d'équilibre à long terme entre les variables mises en évidence. Le résultat empirique a révélé une relation négative entre les IDE et l'hypothèse Hallo du polluant indicateur de CO2 (PHH). De plus, le revenu et son carré montrent une courbe en forme de U inversé indiquant l'hypothèse de la courbe de Kuznets environnementale (EKC). Tant le développement financier que les énergies renouvelables ont indiqué une association négative avec les émissions de CO2, tandis que les combustibles fossiles avaient une relation positive avec les émissions. Cependant, il y avait une causalité de rétroaction entre le revenu et les émissions de carbone ainsi que le développement financier et les émissions de carbone. En outre, nous observons que les IDE et les émissions de carbone, les énergies renouvelables et les émissions de carbone, ainsi que les émissions de combustibles fossiles et de carbone ont une relation de causalité unidirectionnelle. Dans l'ensemble, l'étude suggère certaines prescriptions politiques, notamment la mise en œuvre d'initiatives de conservation et la mise en place d'une réglementation et de stratégies en matière d'énergie propre pour le bloc étudié. Reconociendo las devastadoras consecuencias del deterioro ambiental, los miembros mediterráneos se comprometen a adoptar los planes de acción del tratado de 2015 del Acuerdo Climático de París (COP21), ya que las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) están aumentando en la región mediterránea, lo que parece ser un grave desafío para el medio ambiente de nuestro mundo. Con este fin, nuestro estudio examinó el impacto de la Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED) en la degradación ambiental de los miembros mediterráneos durante el período comprendido entre 1995 y 2016. Sin embargo, variables como el desarrollo financiero, el crecimiento económico, las energías renovables y los combustibles fósiles se examinaron más a fondo mediante la metodología de retardo distribuido autorregresivo agrupado de panel transversal de uso, el Grupo de media aumentada (AMG) y la prueba de causalidad de panel de Dumitrescu y Hurlin para el análisis de causalidad. Los resultados de la cointegración de Westerlund (2007) muestran una relación de equilibrio a largo plazo entre las variables resaltadas. El resultado empírico reveló una relación negativa entre la IED y el CO2, lo que indica la hipótesis del hallo contaminante (PHH). Además, el ingreso y su cuadrado muestran una curva en forma de U invertida que indica la hipótesis de la curva de Kuznets ambiental (EKC). Tanto el desarrollo financiero como las energías renovables indicaron una asociación adversa con las emisiones de CO2, mientras que los combustibles fósiles tuvieron una relación positiva con las emisiones. Sin embargo, hubo una causalidad de retroalimentación entre los ingresos y las emisiones de carbono, así como el desarrollo financiero y las emisiones de carbono. Además, observamos que la IED y las emisiones de carbono, las energías renovables y las emisiones de carbono, así como los combustibles fósiles y las emisiones de carbono, tenían una relación causal unidireccional. En general, el estudio sugiere algunas prescripciones de políticas, incluida la implementación de iniciativas de conservación y el establecimiento de regulaciones y estrategias de energía limpia para el bloque investigado. In acknowledgment of the devastating consequences of environmental deterioration, the Mediterranean members are committed to adopt the 2015 treaty action plans of the Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) as carbon dioxide emission (CO2) are on the rise in the Mediterranean region, which seems to be a serious challenge to our world's environment. To this end, our study examined the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on environmental degradation for the Mediterranean members for the period between 1995 to 2016. However, variables such as, financial development, economic growth, renewable energy and fossil fuel were further examined by the use cross-sectional-Panel pooled Auto Regressive Distributed Lag methodology, Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test was used for causality analysis. The co-integration results from Westerlund (2007) shows a long-run equilibrium relationship between highlighted variables. The empirical result revealed a negative relation between FDI and CO2 indicating pollutant Hallo Hypothesis (PHH). Moreover, income and its square show an inverted U-Shaped curve indicating environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Both financial development and renewable energy indicated an adverse association with CO2 emission whereas fossil fuel had a positive relationship with emissions. However, there was a feedback causality among income and carbon emission as well as financial development and carbon emission. Furthermore, we observe that FDI and carbon emission, renewable energy and carbon emission, as well as fossil fuel and carbon emission were found to have one-way causal relationship. Overall, the study suggests some policy prescriptions including the implementation of conservation initiatives and the establishment of clean energy regulation and strategies for the investigated bloc. اعترافاً بالعواقب المدمرة للتدهور البيئي، يلتزم أعضاء البحر الأبيض المتوسط باعتماد خطط عمل اتفاقية باريس للمناخ لعام 2015 (COP21) مع ارتفاع انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون (CO2) في منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط، والتي يبدو أنها تشكل تحدياً خطيراً لبيئة عالمنا. ولتحقيق هذه الغاية، درست دراستنا تأثير الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر على التدهور البيئي لأعضاء منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط للفترة من 1995 إلى 2016. ومع ذلك، تم فحص متغيرات مثل التنمية المالية والنمو الاقتصادي والطاقة المتجددة والوقود الأحفوري بشكل أكبر من خلال استخدام منهجية التأخر الموزع الانحداري التلقائي المجمعة باللوحة المقطعية، وتم استخدام مجموعة المتوسط المعزز (AMG) واختبار سببية لوحة دوميتريسكو وهيرلين لتحليل السببية. تُظهر نتائج التكامل المشترك من ويسترلوند (2007) علاقة توازن طويلة المدى بين المتغيرات البارزة. كشفت النتيجة التجريبية عن وجود علاقة سلبية بين الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر وثاني أكسيد الكربون مما يشير إلى فرضية هالو الملوثة (PHH). علاوة على ذلك، يُظهر الدخل ومربعه منحنى مقلوب على شكل حرف U يشير إلى فرضية منحنى كوزنتس البيئي (EKC). وأشار كل من التطور المالي والطاقة المتجددة إلى وجود ارتباط سلبي بانبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون في حين أن الوقود الأحفوري له علاقة إيجابية بالانبعاثات. ومع ذلك، كانت هناك علاقة ارتجاعية بين الدخل وانبعاثات الكربون وكذلك التنمية المالية وانبعاثات الكربون. علاوة على ذلك، نلاحظ أن الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر وانبعاثات الكربون والطاقة المتجددة وانبعاثات الكربون، وكذلك الوقود الأحفوري وانبعاثات الكربون، لها علاقة سببية أحادية الاتجاه. بشكل عام، تقترح الدراسة بعض الوصفات السياسية بما في ذلك تنفيذ مبادرات الحفظ ووضع لوائح واستراتيجيات للطاقة النظيفة للكتلة التي تم التحقيق فيها.

Despite the drive for increased environmental protection and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coal, oil, and natural gas use continues to dominate Japan’s energy mix. In light of this issue, this research assessed the position of natural gas, oil, and coal energy use in Japan’s environmental mitigation efforts from the perspective of sustainable development with respect to economic growth between 1965 and 2019. In this regard, the study employs Bayer and Hanck cointegration, fully modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) to investigate these interconnections. The empirical findings from this study revealed that the utilization of natural gas, oil, and coal energy reduces the sustainability of the environment with oil consumption having the most significant impact. Furthermore, the study validates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Japan. The outcomes of the Gradual shift causality showed that CO2 emissions can predict economic growth, while oil, coal, and energy consumption can predict CO2 emissions in Japan. Given Japan’s ongoing energy crisis, this innovative analysis provides valuable policy insights to stakeholders and authorities in the nation’s energy sector.