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В последние десятилетия экологическая проблема приняла глобальный характер и требует консолидации мирового сообщества. Возникающие экологические угрозы становятся все более опасными для человечества, поэтому требуются усилия всех государств для предотвращения негативных последствий изменения окружающей среды. В данной статье рассматривается деятельность международных акторов в сфере обеспечения экологической безопасности. Авторами проведен сравнительный анализ правовых основ и национальных особенностей политики экологической безопасности Дании, США и России, рассмотрены примеры использования возобновляемых источников энергии, направленных на минимизацию экологических рисков, выявлены проблемы и определены перспективы реализации экологической политики в условиях перехода к «зеленой энергетике». In recent decades, the environmental problem has become global in nature and requires the consolidation of the world community. Emerging environmental threats are becoming more and more dangerous for humanity, therefore efforts of all states are required to prevent the negative consequences of environmental change. This article examines the activities of international actors in the field of ensuring environmental safety. The authors conducted a comparative analysis of the legal framework and national characteristics of environmental safety policies in Denmark, the USA and Russia, examined examples of the use of renewable energy sources aimed at minimizing environmental risks, identified problems and identified prospects for the implementation of environmental policy in the context of the transition to “green energy”.

This study examined the potential use of macroalgae epiphytic on mangrove aerial roots as indicators of estuarine contamination. The distribution and abundance of macroalgae was investigated in four estuaries in the vicinity of Sydney, Australia, and compared to water and sediment metal concentrations, nutrient concentrations and physicochemical parameters over four seasonal surveys. Macroalgal diversity and distribution appeared to be highly influenced by the ambient contaminant concentrations, while biomass appeared to be linked with nutrient concentrations. The distribution of the Rhodophyta species, Catenella nipae Zanardini significantly decreased as metal concentrations increased among the estuaries during all seasonal surveys. This species showed strong potential for use as a bioindicator of estuarine contamination.

Innovative control method is prosed for the RED WoLF hybrid storage system. The technology is aimed for residential dwellings and allows to reduce the load from the electrical grid during time with high CO emissions. The RED WoLF system consists of a battery, water cylinder, PV array and storage heaters. This technology allows the grid energy to be stored at the “greenest” time, in order to accommodate needs of dwellings with the aid of AI. The original RED WoLF algorithm is considerably improved, following modified progressive threshold approach up to additional 14% savings of CO could be obtained. Intriguingly, savings are only slightly lower than global possible mathematical minimum, for the system barred of predictions errors. However, the computation time of the proposed control method is lower by a few orders of magnitudes, with comparison to standard optimisation techniques. Furthermore, the investigation on 11 months period was performed in order find out if there is significant difference between following a time of use tariff or an environmental signal. Results, suggest that the differences are minor in both cases following any signal improves the used energy quality. Although, the price signal has been affected slightly more to the choice of a target. Finally, the average system composition with 2 kWh battery and 4 kW PV array provides reduction by 55%–60% of both CO emissions and the bill. Such achievement could potentially lead to smooth substitution of carbon intensive residential systems with gas and oil heaters.

Closed-loop supply chain networks are gaining research popularity due to environmental, economic and social concerns. Such networks are primarily designed to overcome carbon footprints and to retrieve end of life products from customers. This study considers a multi echelon closed-loop supply chain in the presence of machine disruption. A multi-objective model is presented to optimize the total cost, the total time and emissions in a closed-loop supply chain network. The aim is to analyze the trade-off between the objectives of cost, time, and emissions and how these decisions are impacted by the selection of different available machines. A number of solution approaches are tested on a case study from the tire industry. The results suggest the improved performance of the hybrid heuristic and the importance of controlling disruption in a closed-loop supply chain network. Furthermore, there is a trade-off between the different objective functions which can help the decision maker to choose a particular solution according to the preference of an organization. Finally, conclusion and future research avenues are provided.

Is it true that a nuclear technology approach to generate electric energy offers a clean, safe, reliable and affordable, i.e., sustainable option? In principle yes, however a technology impact on the environment strongly depends on the actual implementation bearing residual risks due to technical failures, human factors, or natural catastrophes. A full response is thus difficult and can be given first when the wicked multi-disciplinary issues get well formulated and “resolved”. These problems are lying at the interface between: the necessary R&D effort, the industrial deployment and the technology impact in view of the environmental sustainability including the management of produced hazardous waste. As such, this problem is clearly of multi-dimensional nature. This enormous complexity indicates that just a description of the problem might cause a dilemma. The paper proposes a novel holistic approach applying Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to assess the potential of nuclear energy systems with respect to a sustainable performance. It shows how to establish a multi-level criteria structure tree and examines the trading-off techniques for scoring and ranking of options. The presented framework allows multi-criteria and multi-group treatment. The methodology can be applied to support any pre-decisional process launched in a country to find the best nuclear and/or non-nuclear option according to national preferences and priorities. The approach addresses major aspects of the environmental footprint of nuclear energy systems. As a case study, advanced nuclear fuel cycles are analyzed, which were previously investigated by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA/OECD) expert group WASTEMAN. Sustainability facets of waste management, resource utilization and economics are in focus.

Purpose: The aim of this work is the operational electrophysical method of the control for contamination and purification of soil from oil products and the identification of changes in the soil properties in electrochemical processing to determine rational modes of processing.Methods: Investigations are performed on the laboratory setup including the two -electrode scheme of electric treatment of the artificially polluted soil .The setup is equipped with a system of micro sensors of specific electrical resistance. Traditional laboratory tests are used to determine the physical and mechanical properties of soils. The possibility of control for soil purification by electrochemical method using a system of continuous operational geophysical monitoring is considered.Results: Changes in the physical properties of contaminated soils are experimentally confirmed when exposed to the electric current. A physical model is created for coagulation of oil products in pores during the electrical processing. It increases the amount of sand and clay components with changes in the electrical resistance of soil. The physical processes in the clean and polluted soil are compared. It is shown that when electric current passes through contaminated soils, oil products in pores transfer to a solid, less toxic state, which leads to a change in the specific electrical soil resistance throughout the zone processed. This pattern should be used to control soil decontamination.

The object of the study is the water supply and sanitation system of an industrial enterprise. Currently, many enterprises do not use the treated industrial waste water in the water supply cycle. Therefore, the use of treated wastewater is of practical importance. The scheme of thermal treatment of waste water for obtaining pure condensate by evaporation is proposed. The main results of the study are the technical solution for the development of the enterprise's wastewater treatment complex. Pure condensate is obtained in an instant boiling evaporator. The research method is based on the calculation of energy costs in wastewater treatment for different types of waste water. The results of the study allow us to determine the optimal set of energy equipment for obtaining pure condensate and its further use. The specific practical significance lies in the development of a technical solution that helps the treatment of wastewater and the reduction of emissions into the water basin.

The aim of the study - identification of factors that ensure the vital activity of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North in the Arctic, as well as the analysis of their impact on the preservation and development of the ethnic group. Identifying problems and assessing the prospects for the development of indigenous people consists of 3 stages: analysis of foreign and domestic sources, the results of scientific research teams; systematization of statistical data, including information on the dynamics of the development of indigenous people (number, employment in traditional activities); the impact assessing of legal, economic and social factors on the preservation and development of indigenous people. A comprehensive analysis of a wide range of legal, economic and social problems of ensuring the traditional life of indigenous people within the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) has shown the need to improve legislative, financial and managerial actions to preserve them as a specific community, adapted to the extremely severe conditions of permanent residence beyond the Arctic Circle and as a unique phenogenotype, whose activity is closely conjugated with the environmental state of the macroregion and in fact is entirely dependent on it. The exclusive role of indigenous peoples in preserving the natural complexes of the Arctic in the 21st century for future generations was emphasized. Under the conditions of proliferation of technogenic and anthropogenic burden on the natural complexes of the macroregion, associated with the intensive development of fuel and power resources, deposits of rare and precious metals, development of coastal transport infrastructure and a multiple increase in the population in the Russian Arctic with a creation of "stronghold areas" the threat of the indigenous peoples' disappearance appeared (Enets - about 200 people remain and less than 100 people - the Votes). Under the conditions of a large-scale, integral impact of man-made, anthropogenic and climatic factors on indigenous communities in the Arctic, their life environment and traditional management the need for urgent adoption of a complex of specific and targeted legal, economic and social measures aimed at ensuring and preserving their livelihoods is obvious.