The influence of renewable energy and economic freedom aspects on ecological sustainability in the G7 countries

With the exemption of Canada, the G-7 countries have largely flourished at the detriment of their ecological sustainability bearing in mind that these countries' have remained ecologically deficit for several decades. Given the potential effect of environmental degradation associated with the trend of ecological deficit of these countries, this study attempts to understand the contribution of renewable energy dimensions through the measure of renewable energy efficiency and renewable energy use alongside evaluating the role of the four main aspects of economic freedom. By using empirical tools, the findings revealed that renewable energy aspects contribute to environmental sustainability among the countries through a significant mitigation of their ecological footprint. Importantly, the aspects of economic freedom, that is, government size, legal system and property rights, freedom to trade internationally, and regulation hampers environmental sustainability by increasing the countries ecological footprint. The elasticity of impact of this dimension of economic freedom is in the range of 0.19–0.21 at 1% statistically significant level. However,population of these countries does not show a detrimental effect, rather the finding revealed that population improves environmental quality by a statistically significant degree. Given these revelations, there are deducible policy take home from this study.© 2022 The Authors. Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Realising transition pathways for a more electric, low-carbon energy system in the United Kingdom: challenges, insights and opportunities

The United Kingdom has placed itself on a transition towards a low-carbon economy and society, through the imposition of a legally-binding goal aimed at reducing its ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions by 80% by 2050 against a 1990 baseline. A set of three low-carbon, socio-technical transition pathways were developed and analysed via an innovative collaboration between engineers, social scientists and policy analysts. The pathways focus on the power sector, including the potential for increasing use of low-carbon electricity for heating and transport, within the context of critical European Union developments and policies. Their development started from narrative storylines regarding different governance framings, drawing on interviews and workshops with stakeholders and analysis of historical analogies. The quantified UK pathways were named Market Rules, Central Co-ordination and Thousand Flowers; each reflecting a dominant logic of governance arrangements. The aim of the present contribution was to use these pathways to explore what is needed to realise a transition that successfully addresses the so-called energy policy ‘trilemma,’ i.e. the simultaneous delivery of low carbon, secure and affordable energy services. Analytical tools were developed and applied to assess the technical feasibility,social acceptability, and environmental and economic impacts of the pathways. Technological and behavioural developments were examined, alongside appropriate governance structures and regulations for these low-carbon transition pathways, as well as the roles of key energy system ‘actors’ (both large and small). An assessment of the part that could possibly be played by future demand side response was also undertaken in order to understand the factors that drive energy demand and energy-using behaviour, and reflecting growing interest in demand side response for balancing a system with high proportions of renewable generation. A set of interacting and complementary engineering and technoeconomic models or tools were then employed to analyse electricity network infrastructure investment and operational decisions to assist market design and option evaluation. This provided a basis for integrating the analysis within a whole systems framework of electricity system development, together with the evaluation of future economic benefits, costs and uncertainties. Finally, the energy and environmental performance of the different energy mixes were appraised on a‘life-cycle’ basis to determine the greenhouse gas emissions and other ecological or health burdens associated with each of the three transition pathways. Here, the challenges, insights and opportunities that have been identified over the transition towards a low-carbon future in the United Kingdom are described with the purpose of providing a valuable evidence base for developers, policy makers and other stakeholders

Novel approach for integrated biomass supply chain synthesis and optimisation

Despite looming energy crises, fossil resources are still widely used for energy and chemical production. Growing awareness of the environmental impact from fossil fuels has made sustainability one of the main focuses in research and development. Towards that end, biomass is identified as a promising renewable source of carbon that can potentially replace fossil resources in energy and chemical productions. Although many researches on converting biomass to value-added product have been done, biomass is still considered underutilised in the industry. This is mainly due to challenges in the logistic and processing network of biomass. An integrated biomass supply chain synthesis and optimisation are therefore important. Thus, the ultimate goal of this thesis is to develop a novel approach for an integrated biomass supply chain. Firstly, a multiple biomass corridor (MBC) concept is presented to integrate various biomass and processing technologies into existing biomass supply chain system in urban and developed regions. Based on this approach, a framework is developed for the synthesis of a more diversified and economical biomass supply chain system. The work is then extended to consider the centralisation and decentralisation of supply chain structure. In this manner, P-graph-aided decomposition approach (PADA) is proposed, whereby it divides the complex supply chain problem into two smaller sub-problems – the processing network is solved via mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, whereas the binaries-intensive logistic network configuration is determined through P-graph framework. As existing works often focus on supply chain synthesis in urban regions with well-developed infrastructure, resources integrated network (RIN) – a novel approach for the synthesis of integrated biomass supply chain in rural and remote regions is introduced to enhance rural economies. This approach incorporates multiple resources (i.e. bioresources, food commodities, rural communities’ daily needs) into the value chain and utilises inland water system as the mode of transport, making the system more economically feasible. It extends the MBC approach for technology selection and adopts vehicle routing problem (VRP) for inland water supply and delivery network. To evaluate the performance of the proposed integrated biomass supply chain system, a FANP-based (fuzzy analytical network process) sustainability assessment tool is established. A framework is proposed to derive sustainability index (SI) from pairwise comparison done by supply chain stakeholders to assess the sustainability of a system. Fuzzy limits are introduced to reduce uncertainties in human judgment while conducting the pairwise comparison. To design a sustainable integrated biomass supply chain, a FANP-aided, a novel multiple objectives optimisation framework is proposed. This approach transforms multiple objective functions into single objective function by prioritising each of the objective through the FANP framework. The multiple objectives are then normalised via max-min aggregation to ensure the trade-off between objectives is performed on the same scale. At the end of this thesis, viable future works of the whole programme is presented for consideration

Energy-aware manufacturing operations

This editorial introduces the special issue on energy-aware manufacturing operations in the International Journal of Production Research. The 12 papers in this special issue were selected because of their high quality and also because they deal with topics related to energy-aware manufacturing operations. Three broad challenges are collectively addressed by the papers in this special issue: energy-efficiency vs. manufacturing-system effectiveness in optimisation; the volatility in energy availability, supply and cost; modelling energy consumption in varying scales and across different sub-systems. Previous global discussions about the state of the art in energy-aware manufacturing operations are provided, as well as exploratory guidelines for future research in this area

Paving the way to net-zero : identifying environmental sustainability factors for business model innovation through carbon disclosure project data

Net-zero emission targets are crucial, given the environmental impact of the food and beverage industries. Our study proposes an environmentally focused Sustainable Business Model (SBM) using data from 252 food, beverage, and tobacco companies that reported to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). We investigated the risks, opportunities, business strategies, emission reduction initiatives, and supply chain interactions associated with climate change by analyzing their qualitative answers using the NVivo software. Following the grounded theory approach, we identified the Environmental Sustainability Factors (ESFs) that support businesses in meeting pollution reduction targets. The ESFs were integrated with Osterwalder’s business model canvas to create an archetype focused on delivering “net-zero” or “carbon neutral” value to customers. The model’s efficacy is enhanced by the advantages and motivations of environmental collaborations. The paper provides critical support for sustainability theories and assists Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop strategic business models for net-zero emission targets

Towards harmonizing natural resources as an area of protection in life cycle impact assessment

Purpose. In this paper, we summarize the discussion and present the findings of an expert group effort under the umbrella of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative proposing natural resources as an Area of Protection (AoP) in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). Methods: As a first step, natural resources have been defined for the LCA context with reference to the overall UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) framework. Second, existing LCIA methods have been reviewed and discussed. The reviewed methods have been evaluated according to the considered type of natural resources and their underlying principles followed (use-to-availability ratios, backup technology approaches, or thermodynamic accounting methods). Results and discussion. There is currently no single LCIA method available that addresses impacts for all natural resource categories, nor do existing methods and models addressing different natural resource categories do so in a consistent way across categories. Exceptions are exergy and solar energy-related methods, which cover the widest range of resource categories. However, these methods do not link exergy consumption to changes in availability or provisioning capacity of a specific natural resource (e.g., mineral, water, land etc.). So far, there is no agreement in the scientific community on the most relevant type of future resource indicators (depletion, increased energy use or cost due to resource extraction, etc.). To address this challenge, a framework based on the concept of stock/fund/flow resources is proposed to identify, across natural resource categories, whether depletion/dissipation (of stocks and funds) or competition (for flows) is the main relevant aspect. Conclusions. An LCIA method—or a set of methods—that consistently address all natural resource categories is needed in order to avoid burden shifting from the impact associated with one resource to the impact associated with another resource. This paper is an important basis for a step forward in the direction of consistently integrating the various natural resources as an Area of Protection into LCA

Integrated Reporting & the Future of Auditing

Disruptive technologies and innovations have caused dramatic changes throughout numerous industries, most notably in the expectations and requirements of businesses operating on a global scale. Additionally, requirements from both financial and non-financial stakeholders continue to increase in both complexity and time sensitivity; users of organizational data require that it be produced and distributed in a timely and cost-efficient manner. In order to produce and report the information required by increasingly important non-traditional stakeholders, accounting and financial professionals must evolve and adapt to a rapidly changing and evolving marketplace. Systems and processes associated with auditing and forensics must be improved upon and integrated into the real time requirements of the market. In essence, accounting and finance must evolve into a more strategic function, and embrace a role as a strategic business partner

Building Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Management Tool for ABB Oy IEC LV Motors

Industrial companies such as ABB Oy IEC LV Motors must manage the requirements set by the European Union's Carbon Limit Mechanism (CBAM) in the face of changing environmental regulations. This work addresses the inclusion of CBAM compliance as part of the case company's procurement operations and focuses on responding to environmental regulation and carbon emissions control through a planned management tool. The study aims to find out, first-hand, what CBAM goods the case company has imported and what kind of management tool should be created for reporting. The theoretical foundations of this study com-bine data-driven sustainability reporting, carbon pricing, and CBAM concepts. Previous studies have largely ignored the empirical analysis of management tools designed to comply with environmental requirements, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. This research gap highlights the topicality of the thesis and the need to find practical answers to theoretical observations in the form of a management tool. The study uses an information system design research methodology and makes use of emissions data from raw material supplier and purchase order data gathered from case company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. As a result of the design method, the Power BI tool and CBAM management process is developed to finally analyze the quantitative CBAM emission and imports data. The results of the study show that the management tool can be used to collect, analyze and report carbon emissions data related to the company's CBAM materials during the CBAM transition, as well as during the operational phase. The first use case of the tool shows its practical usefulness and efficiency by focusing on emissions data related to imports of raw steel supplier Q1/2024 from Asia. According to the findings, the CBAM management tool not only facilitates regulatory compliance, but also supports strategic material acquisition decision-making and increases the organization's knowledge of CBAM's ramifications. This shows how the tool can be used as a model for benchmark compliance and reporting issues that other EU regulated companies may face. Finally, it can be concluded that the findings have a broader significance for the case company than simply following compliance. The results show how the combination of modern data management and reporting capabilities can play a major role in responding to regulatory is-sues and sustainability goals. By focusing on the real impact of carbon pricing and emissions trading systems on industrial competitiveness and compliance with EU regulations, this study will increase the debate on corporate environmental responsibility.ABB Oy IEC LV Motorsin kaltaisten teollisuusyritysten on hallittava Euroopan unionin Hiilira-jamekanismin (CBAM) asettamia vaatimuksia muuttuvien ympäristösäädösten edessä. Tässä työssä käsitellään CBAM-vaatimustenmukaisuuden sisällyttämistä osaksi case-yrityksen hankintaoperaatioita ja keskitytään vastaamaan ympäristösääntelyyn ja hiilipäästöjen kontrolloimiseen suunnitellun hallintatyökalun avulla. Tutkimuksessa pyritään selvittämään, ensinnäkin selvittämään mitä CBAM-tavaroita case-yritys on maahantuonut ja millainen hallintatyökalu tulee luoda raportointia varten. Tämän tutkimuksen teoreettiset perusteet yhdistävät datavetoisen vastuullisuusraportoinnin, hiilen hinnoittelun ja CBAM-käsitteet. Aiemmat tutkimukset ovat pääosin jättäneet huomiotta ympäristövaatimusten noudattamiseen suunniteltujen hallintavälineiden empiirisen analyysin erityisesti hiilipäästöjen osalta. Tämä tutkimusaukko korostaa opinnäytetyön ajankohtaisuutta ja tarvetta löytää teoreettisille havainnoille käytännön vastauksia hallintatyökalun muodossa. Tutkimuksessa hyödynnetään tietojärjestelmäsuunnittelun tutkimusmetodia sekä raaka-ainetoimittajan jakamia päästötietoja ja materiaalidataa ostotilauksilta, jotka on kerätty case-yrityksen toiminnanohjausjärjestelmästä. Suunnittelumenetelmän tuloksena kehitetään Power BI työkalu ja CBAM-hallintaprosessi, joiden avulla voidaan analysoida kvantitatiivista CBAM- päästö- sekä maahantuontidataa. Tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat, että hallintatyökalua voidaan käyttää yrityksen CBAM-materiaalien tuontiin liittyvien hiilipäästötietojen keräämiseen, analysointiin ja raportointiin CBAM:in siirtymävaiheen, että operatiivisen vaiheen aikana. Työkalun ensimmäinen käyttötapaus osoittaa sen käytännön hyödyllisyyden ja tehokkuuden keskittymällä päästötietoihin, jotka liittyvät raakateräksen toimittajan Q1/2024 maahantuonteihin Aasiasta. Löydösten mukaan CBAM hallintatyökalu ei ainoastaan helpota säännösten noudattamista, vaan se myös tukee strategisen materiaalihankinnan päätöksentekoa ja lisää organisaation tietämystä CBAM:in seuraamuksista. Tämä osoittaa, miten työkalua voidaan käyttää mallina vertailukelpoisille vaatimustenmukaisuus- ja raportointikysymyksille, joita muut EU:n sääntelyn alaiset yritykset saattavat kohdata. Lopuksi johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, että havainnoilla on laajempi merkitys case-yritykselle kuin pelkän vaatimustenmukaisuuden seuraamisen näkökulmasta. Tulokset osoittavat, kuinka nykyaikaisen tiedonhallinnan ja raportointiominaisuuksien yhdistämisellä voi olla suuri merkitys sääntelykysymyksiin ja kestävyystavoitteisiin vastaamisessa. Keskittymällä hiilen hinnoittelun ja päästökauppajärjestelmien todellisiin vaikutuksiin liittyen teollisuuden kilpailukykyyn sekä EU-sääntelyn noudattamiseen, tämä tutkimus lisää keskustelua yritysten ympäristövastuullisuudesta

Rethinking the sustainable development goals : learning with and from community-led initiatives

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MAjuts: we are grateful to Frank Biermann and Tim O'Riordan for their stimulating critical comments on a previous version of this manuscript. Work on this paper was partially supported by various awards from the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, whose support is gratefully acknowledged: Bolsa IF/00940/2015 (Penha-Lopes, Henfrey), Bolsa SFRH/BPD/94495/2013 (Esteves) and project grant PTDC/SOC-SOC/2061/2020 (Esteves, Henfrey).This paper explores the actual and potential contributions of community-led initiatives (CLIs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As examples of self-determined practical action for sustainability and social justice, CLIs prefigure many of the intended outcomes of the SDGs. Existing evidence shows that CLIs are already contributing, at local scale, to almost all of the SDGs, and achieving particular success in bringing different goals into synergy. However, these achievements are based on ethics, guiding philosophies, issue framings, practical goals and ways of organising that differ significantly from those behind the formulation and delivery of the SDGs. Embracing those differences, and with them greater plurality and ongoing critical self-reflection, would allow the SDGs to transcend certain self-limiting contradictions, particularly concerning the role of economic growth. Such a shift in orientation is essential if the SDGs are to move from reinforcing to challenging the root causes of unsustainability and injustice