European Journal of Sustainable Development

EU Green Transition in Times of Geopolitical Pressures: Accelerating or Slowing the Pace Towards Climate Neutrality?

Beatriz Pérez de las Heras — 2024-06-01

The current climate emergency and the war in Ukraine have placed climate action and energy security at the top of the EU’s agenda. The ‘Fit for 55’ legal package and REPowerEU Plan set out short- and medium-term measures to end EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels and address climate change. The new targets and policy instruments have the potential to accelerate decarbonization of the continent. However, from the perspective of the environment and social equity, serious concerns remain as to the sustainability of the transformation. For example, difficulties in achieving immediate independence from Russian fuels has led some EU countries to increase their use of coal. The accelerated roll-out of renewable energies has increased the demand for materials and land, sparking territorial conflicts and impacting biodiversity. Support from the Social Climate Fund will not meet all the demands of the most vulnerable sections of society for assistance with the costs derived from the energy transitions, such as cleaner heating systems and transport. This paper offers an overview of the EU’s new measures to step up the energy transformation and assesses them through the lens of environmental sustainability and fair transition.

Keywords: renewable energy, energy autonomy, REPowerEU, fair transition

Strategies for Sustainable Development of Companies in International Markets in the context of Digitalization

Alona Tanasiichuk — 2024-06-01

The war conditions are forcing Ukrainian wood processing companies to review their strategies and identify new opportunities in international markets. It is important to develop business regardless of the circumstances: to be able to adapt to any conditions, whether it is a lack of resources or limited opportunities. The key aspect now is to create sustainable strategies that will allow Ukrainian companies to be flexible and competitive in international markets, strengthening their position regardless of the circumstances.

Sustainable strategies for wood processing companies in international markets are becoming a key success factor in the conditions of modern globalization. The use of digital tools can help improve the efficiency of Ukrainian wood processing companies and provide them with competitive advantages. Digital tools allow for collecting and analyzing large amounts of data about the audience, competitors, and the market in general, which helps to understand consumer needs better, predict market trends, and adapt strategies accordingly. Digital tools also help to improve communication between wood processing companies and international partners and increase interaction with them.

The study confirmed that collecting and analyzing data on potential customers and their requirements is a key step in entering new international markets. Modern digital tools greatly simplify this process, enabling fast and efficient collection, analysis, and interpretation of large amounts of data. They can provide useful insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and demand for certain goods and services. These digital tools have made it possible to process large amounts of data to prepare Ukrainian forestry enterprises for international markets. International marketing research is crucial for the successful development of an enterprise's strategy at the international level.

The markets of Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Ukraine were analyzed to compare various indicators. The expert evaluation was used to calculate the scores for each market, which allowed us to determine which ones are the most attractive for Ukrainian companies specializing in wood processing and creating added value in the domestic market. The study showed that in the current environment, it is possible to increase exports of product subgroups "4407 Timber", "4408 Cladding sheets" and "4415 Cases, boxes" to the markets of Germany, Austria, and Italy. This will help many Ukrainian enterprises to resume their business activity during the second year of the war and in the post-war period.

Keywords: advanced digital tools, international business operations, plan for sustainable development, a set of metrics measuring the appeal of international markets, networking platforms, international market, businesses

Regional Policies for Sustainable Attractivity of the Euregio

Renate Klotz — 2024-06-01

In the literature, quality of life is increasingly emphasised as a determinant for the location choice of highly qualified individuals. There is no doubt that the Euregio, which is ecologically, economically, and culturally rich, offers great potential for the settlement of highly qualified professionals. Statistical data show an increasing rate of migration from the Trentino-South Tyrol region in the last 10 years. In this research, causal factors are identified that encourage highly qualified professionals to move out of or settle in the Euregio. The importance of sustainable, attractive communities for their decision-making is identified.

Methods of the research mixed methods in exploratory design starting with open interviews with out-migrants, in-migrants, and return migrants.

Results of the qualitative data collection: High quality of life is not the primary determinant for staying in the Euregio¹. The economic aspect has no clear primary relevance in the decision to leave, but it does in the decision to migrate and return. Closed mentality and cultural realities have a notable influence on the emigration of highly qualified professionals. A series of sustainable recommendations for action can be presented. Their implementation is necessary on a political and primarily a societal or community level.

Keywords: 'quality of life and migration'; 'Euregio migration data'; 'professional workers in the Euregio'; 'sustainable attractivity in Alpine area'

From Hearts to Carts: Understanding the Impact of Comments, Likes, and Share Functions on Consumer Purchase Intentions in a Social Media Landscape

Nadzirah Rosli — 2024-06-01

In recent years, considerable attention has been devoted to studying how social media engagement, encompassing actions such as likes, comments, and shares, shapes consumer purchasing decisions. While previous research acknowledges the significance of social media engagement, there remains a dearth of thorough analysis regarding the explicit effects of likes, comments, and shares on consumer behaviour, particularly in terms of examining how these engagements affect diverse consumer groups. Thus, this study aims to enhance our comprehension of how activities on social networking platforms, such as comments, likes, and shares, impact consumer purchasing decisions. Employing a cross-sectional approach, the study utilized purposive sampling to collect data from Malaysian university students who had previously made purchases through social media platforms like Instagram. A total of 134 valid responses were analyzed. The research outcomes significantly contribute to the existing literature in several respects. Firstly, the study constructed a research framework based on signalling theory to explore how social network activities, such as comments, likes, and shares, influence consumer purchasing decisions. The findings revealed insightful observations, indicating that likes and shares exert a substantial direct influence on purchase decisions within the Instagram ecosystem. However, contrary to expectations, the study found no significant association between comments and consumers' purchasing decisions on Instagram. These discoveries offer valuable insights into the specific impact of different social media engagement metrics on consumer behaviour, particularly within the context of Instagram.

Keywords: social media, like, share, comment, consumer behaviour, purchase decision, Instagram

Fostering Sustainable Packaging Industry: Global Trends and Challenges

Liudmyla Petrenko — 2024-06-01

The article is focused on the examination of market dynamics of eco-friendly packaging both in Ukraine, the European Union and globally. This involves a comprehensive analysis of companies operating within the eco-friendly packaging sector with a focus on understanding their methodologies and tactics for introducing new products into the market. It investigates the prevailing trends and primary catalysts shaping the regulation, consumption, and production patterns of eco-friendly packaging on a global scale. This considers a broad spectrum of factors, including the rising trend of on-the-go food consumption, concerns environmental sustainability and human health, governmental initiatives, and strategic collaborations across various industries. These factors collectively contribute to the expansion of the eco-friendly packaging industry, enhancing its efficacy and allure for investment. The research provides overview of important trends and main challenges, causing discussions in the context of fostering sustainable packaging industry. In particular, there are discussion about the long-term environmental effect of certain materials and eco technologies. There is a complexity in understanding the diversified legislative basis for sustainable packaging industry development in different countries. There is also an area for discussions on the issue of consumer’s understanding of eco-friendly packaging advantages. Additionally, the research explores shifts in consumer preferences, the integration of novel technologies in packaging material manufacturing, and the establishment of standards and regulations governing eco-friendly packaging. It focuses on evaluating the growth trajectory of the eco-packaging sector and the operational strategies adopted by companies within this domain specifically in Ukraine. This analysis encompasses an assessment of financial metrics, innovative methodologies, market competition dynamics, and other pertinent variables influencing the performance and viability of companies operating in this sector within the Ukrainian market context.

Keywords: sustainable development, sustainable finance, ecological packaging, environmental polution.

Entrepreneurship Development in European Union - Challenges and Opportunities for Young People

Gabriela Boldureanu — 2024-06-01

At the European Union level, the importance of entrepreneurship and supporting young people's intentions to open and develop new businesses was highlighted. In this context, the purpose of our research is to analyze the challenges of entrepreneurship among young people, in a comparative perspective, relating the perspective of Romanians to that of the citizens of the European Union, in general. The research pursued four objectives: (1) identification of personal and social reasons for entrepreneurial activity; (2) investigation of barriers to entrepreneurial activity; (3) identifying the necessary support resources for starting a business; (4) the analysis of the variables that influence the preference of young people to become entrepreneurs. The analysis of the results was based on data published in 2022, in Euro barometer 513 - Social entrepreneurship and youth. The data were processed combining both descriptive and inferential analysis (binary logistic regression). The results show that, both at the level of Romania and European Union, the most important reason why young people want to be entrepreneurs is the freedom to choose the working conditions (time, location) and to be their own boss. At the same time, the main barriers that block young people in their initiative to become entrepreneurs are the lack of education, financial resources, legal, administrative, and personal aspects. Young people in Romania, like everyone else in the European Union, need to be supported, especially educationally and financially, to open a business. They are prepared, for the necessary initial investment, to call on their own resources (savings or salary), but also on external sources (family, friends, and banking institutions). The results estimate the relationship between the entrepreneurship intention of young people and a set of factors, underlying several differences between Romanian young people and those from EU27.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Young People, European Union, Entrepreneurship, Motivation, Challenges.

Analysis and Challenges of the Formative and Accumulative Process of Industrial Residues

Beibit Korabayev — 2024-06-01

The article examines the problems of waste generation and accumulation in the Republic and by regions. It also examines the dynamics of the number of stationary sources of pollution, the volume of emissions into the atmosphere, including emissions of solid waste, etc. For an accurate study, we have selected indicators from 2005 to 2022 in the Abai region. Regression coefficients and the influencing variables of the number of factors were chosen as the initial data for the regression linearity model. Identify the key issues of the Bay area from the perspective of state ecology. The vast majority of solid waste on the Abad Region's territory is industrial waste, consisting of waste from mining operations, as well as ash and slag. The annual level of waste generation from production and consumption in the region continues to be high. Based on the findings of the regression analysis, we recommend a number of measures for the industry: bringing the waste management sector into line with green principles through careful control, overspending on waste management funding, reducing emissions, reducing energy consumption in the public sector, reducing the amount of clean water used in industry, recycling high-quality waste, and disposing of solid waste properly, modernizing and constructing new landfills for solid waste. These and other gaps in environmental legislation and environmental policy documents need to be eliminated in the near future in order to achieve a significant reduction in the accumulation of production and consumption waste.

Keywords: air pollution, valuation of environmental effects, industrial residues, environment and development, Abad district, Kazakhstan

Financial Development is Supply-Leading or Demand-following? Empirical Investigation on EU Countries

Yasmeen Said — 2024-06-01

This study investigates the complex relationship between economic growth and financial development in 14 European nations from 2002 to 2020. This study compares supply-leading versus demand-following financial evolution assumptions using panel co-integration analysis and vector error correction models. To fully understand financial progress, the research integrates multiple variables. A complex and intricate link is shown by empirical evidence. Short-term supply-leading features include GDP to stock market capitalization and private sector credit. However, monetary liability growth follows demand. The long-term relationship between economic growth and private-sector loans is negative. This study shows that the causal relationship depends on the financial development index used. Additionally, the study distinguishes between transitory changes and lasting equilibrium connections. The study also found a dynamic association between financial development and economic growth as an economy matures. The supply-leading concept states that supply drives the stock market in early development. However, as the economy grows, a demand-following pattern arises, supporting the contradiction. This study offers a deep knowledge of the complex relationship between financial development and economic growth in Europe. The research uses powerful econometric tools and financial development indicators to demonstrate the importance of nuanced understanding for good policy making.

Supply-leading,Keywords: Economic Growth, Financial Development, Demand-following, Panel Cointegration, Vector Error Correction Model, Panel Causality

Mind the Gap: An Evaluation of Indicator Discrepancies between Sustainability Standards and Certifications in the Built Asset Industry

Meisam Jaberi — 2024-06-01

The built asset industry impacts our global environment significantly, contributing notably to environmental degradation. Various sustainability standards and certifications, such as LEED, DGNB, BREEAM, ISO 14001, and GRI 200 series, have been established to guide the industry toward sustainable practices. Despite their intended purpose, the diversity of these systems has led to a complex and inconsistent landscape. This paper undertakes a review of 25 certifications and 26 standards in the built asset industry, identifying and analyzing gaps and discrepancies in their measuring indicators. Using a rigorous process, we consolidated the diverse measuring indicators from each scheme into a list of 189 specific indicators, for comparative analysis. This analysis revealed notable gaps and inconsistencies within these schemes, illuminating differences in their emphasis and coverage of sustainability indicators. These findings highlight the need for increased standardization and inclusiveness in sustainability assessments within the industry. This study contributes to the discourse on industry standardization, policy decisions, sector transparency, and further research, marking a crucial step towards a more integrated approach to sustainability in the built asset industry.

Keywords: Sustainability, built asset industry, Sustainability standards, Green Building Certification

Navigating Precarity: Political Struggles and the Impact on the Shadow Economy

Mykhailo Ishchuk — 2024-06-01

This research study comprehends the phenomenon of the precariat and emphasizes the core issues surrounding multicontextual discourse. It examines the distinction between the precariat and the underclass, substantiates the use of the concept of “precariat” to describe a social group experiencing anomie. The study delves into the main forms of political struggle undertaken by the precariat, with particular attention to the alternative forms of political group organization and the latest means of protest employed. Furthermore, the authors highlight the potential impact of the precariat on the shadow economy or informal sector within the country. The research explores how the dynamic and diverse work situations of the precariat, often outside traditional labor laws and regulations, could contribute to the growth of informal work arrangements and activities. This consideration adds an important dimension to understanding the precariat’s role in contemporary society. The research explores the role of cities in addressing precariat vulnerabilities through formalization incentives, social security access, localized policies to uplift marginalized groups. Successful municipal programs can prevent growth of the shadow economy while promoting sustainable and inclusive development. Moreover, the research study addresses the futurological prospects of the precariat issue in society at large. It also proposes directions for further investigation aimed at overcoming the negative trends associated with the precariatization of modern society, offering valuable insights into potential policy measures to address the concerns and vulnerabilities of the precariat in today’s rapidly changing world.

Keywords: precariat, shadow economy, sustainable development, labor law, anomie, underclass, protest, uncertainty, risk, inequality

Threats and Benefits of AI in the context of targeting SDGs: A Youth Perception Approach

Mariam Isoieva — 2024-06-01

This paper surveys the opinions of the young people on the potential of AI, namely in the context of targeting Sustainable Development Goals. The goal is to research how young people understand the threats and benefits of AI and what can be done to eliminate risks related to it. Survey results show that young people are concerned about the negative impacts AI can have on democracy, quality of education, spread of misinformation, etc. On the other hand, participants mention numerous positive opportunities coming from AI. Need for regulations for sustainable AI development is also discussed. Most of the respondents say that AI should be regulated by the government to ensure safe and ethical usage of it. Connections between the AI and Sustainable Development Goals from the perspective of the youth are drawn to tackle challenges and highlight opportunities.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, youth perspective, sustainable development goals, technologies development

Driving Employee Engagement: Examining the Synergy of Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity-Enhancing Practices

Elaina Rose Johar — 2024-06-01

This study investigates how human resource practices, specifically focusing on ability, motivation, and opportunity practices, effect employee engagement in the Malaysian context. The research involved surveying 154 employees in the service sector in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Structural equation modelling was utilized for data analysis. Drawing from the Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity (AMO) theory, the results indicate that intrinsic motivation and opportunity practices significantly enhance employee engagement. However, practices related to ability and extrinsic motivation show no effect. The findings suggest that leaders should prioritize offering skill development opportunities and attractive rewards to encourage active employee engagement. Moreover, human resource policies and procedures should align with these objectives to enhance the value of human capital, achieve organizational objectives, and enhance employee well-being. This study emphasizes the critical importance of AMO practices in significantly boosting employee engagement levels.

Keywords: employee engagement, AMO practices, PLS-SEM

System Design for Solid Waste Reuse: Fostering Sustainable Urbanism through the ReUseLink system

Ori Kedar — 2024-06-01

This paper identifies three levels at which urban solid waste is generated: individual disposal of old objects, home renovations, and urban renewal projects. The increasing solid waste stream contributes to landfill use in rural and metropolitan areas, diminishing their ability to provide crucial ecosystem services to the city. To address this issue, qualitative research was conducted using project-based and design-thinking research and development methods. The paper presents solid waste generation and treatment research and develops a systemic behavioral, logistic, and digital solution. An online system connects municipal authorities, residents, and those interested in reuse, managing waste-producing processes, identifying the point of waste generation, and enabling logistical solutions for reuse. Emphasizing time management and object mapping, the system operates under the circular economy concept, generating financial and environmental profit. Furthermore, the system integrates waste management into the planning stages of renovation or renewal projects, allowing for proactive waste management considerations.

Keywords: Sustainable system design, Sustainable Development, Twin Transition, New Urban Agenda

Promoting Sustainable Education through Academic Integrity: The Habitus and Socialization Nexus

Vira Dodonova — 2024-06-01

The article explores the methodological foundations of academic integrity formation. It analyzes the connection between academic integrity and the goals of sustainable development of education and science. The essence of academic integrity is described in unity with academic culture. It is proved that the methodological basis for the formation of academic integrity is three approaches: ethical, normative-legal, and instrumentalist. The essence of the ethical approach lies in adhering to the basic virtues for the formation of academic integrity among students, namely: adherence to the principle of fairness and ethics of responsibility for their academic activities. The normative-legal approach to the formation of academic integrity lies in the formation of legal culture and the ability to distinguish academic plagiarism and copyright infringement as a type of intellectual property right. An important methodological aspect of the formation of academic integrity is the popularization of the legal framework and the cultivation of responsibility for violations of legal and moral norms, understanding legal liability for dishonest acts in the academic environment. The instrumentalist approach aims at studying the essence of the socialization process, including educational methods, pedagogical technologies for the formation of academic integrity among higher education students. A correlation is made between the concepts of habitus and socialization, habitus and upbringing. Habitus, as a source of objective practices, includes ethical principles and is associated with an understanding of the concepts of justice and injustice. Academic integrity should be woven into a person's habitual practices, perceived as a cultural habit that is cultivated in society and constantly maintained. The article analyzes value-oriented education, where values are defining for personal growth and self-realization. It emphasizes the need to guide students during the educational process towards the right value direction.

Key words: academic integrity, academic culture, sustainable development, ethical approach, normative-legal approach, educational habitual practices, value approach in education.

Personnel Career Advancement Factors: Evidence from Educational Institutions

Valentyna Litynska — 2024-06-01

The article offers an up-to-date interpretation of the concept ‘personnel career advancement factors’. It also defines different approaches to the distribution of factors that greatly affect the career growth of personnel in educational institutions. The analysis of the factors of personnel career advancement in the educational institution is proposed to be carried out according to the developed step-by-step scheme of analysis of factors that have the greatest impact on the career advancement of employees in educational institutions. It is suggested to use cluster and discriminant analysis to establish the regularities of the relationship between these factors and to determine the relevant factors. To construct discriminant functions, the method of step-by-step inclusion is used, which involves the step-by-step addition of various combinations of factors to the calculations. As a result, a model has been developed that reflects the relationship between the factors that have the greatest impact on the career growth of employees in the educational institution. With the help of cluster analysis, the factors that influence the career growth of personnel in the educational institution are determined and, accordingly, clusters are built.

Keywords: factors, career advancement, personnel, educational institutions, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis.

Legal Support for Sustainable Agroecological Development: Evidence from Ukraine

Tamara Novak — 2024-06-01

This article is dedicated to characterizing laws regarding Ukrainian agroecological development. Researched existing approaches to the interpretation of the concepts of "agroecology", "ecologization of agricultural production", "agroecological law", "sustainable development". Definition of the category of "agroecological development" is formulated. It is determined that in modern Ukrainian realities the weight of international acts in the implementation of agroecological development has significantly increased. This stems from the European integration prospects of our country. The need to account for best international practices in regulating the functioning of both modern and post-war agriculture.

It is established that Ukraine has already developed a fairly solid legal framework that establishes environmental requirements for agricultural production. Further effective application of these requirements depends on the formation of the state agrarian policy and the planning and implementation of agro-ecological measures at the local and regional levels. Therefore, an update of documents regarding development of Ukrainian economy and agricultural sector for the period up to 2030. Key measures for agroecological development at the regional level have been identified, which is recommended to be included in local programs of economic development.

Keywords: agriculture, agricultural production, legal support, sustainable development, greening of agricultural production, agroecology, agrarian policy.

Understanding Intercultural Communication as a Condition for Sustainable Development

Olena Aleksandrova — 2024-06-01

Intercultural communication plays a significant role in promoting the principles of sustainable development by fostering global interactions, resolving conflicts, and facilitating cultural exchange. In this study, diverse aspects of intercultural communication are investigated, with the highlight of its significance in shaping fresh social dynamics across various cultural landscapes. The phenomenon of ‘communicative space’ is depicted as a vibrant arena where individuals from different cultures share their perspectives, influencing both the potential for interaction and the obstacles to cross-cultural understanding. Language, as the socio-cultural space of speech activity, plays a central role in facilitating communication, alongside strategic communication practices tailored to intercultural contexts. Additionally, the study highlights the significance of sustainable development goals in guiding the formulation of practical communication models, with an emphasis on preserving cultural diversity as a key aspect. Insights from a survey examining the relationship between sustainable values and interpersonal communication are integrated, offering practical implications for promoting effective intercultural dialogue. In conclusion, this research contributes theoretical insights and pragmatic strategies to advance intercultural communication for sustainable development, underscoring the imperative of cultural diversity preservation on a global scale.

Keywords: intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, sustainable development, cultural context, communicative space, language strategies, sustainable value perception, global communication dynamics

International Business Strategy: Ensuring Enterprise Stability Amidst Turmoil

Alona Tanasiichuk — 2024-06-01

The study determined stages of the formation of international marketing strategies in modern conditions of globalization were considered, and the classification of the goals of entering international markets by Ukrainian enterprises in the conditions of war was carried out. Approaches to forming international marketing strategies for Ukrainian enterprises, which carry out economic activities in war conditions, have been developed. The advantages and disadvantages of various international marketing strategies, which should be taken into account by domestic enterprises when choosing strategic directions for the development of international activities, are determined. The procedure for choosing an international marketing strategy for the business development of domestic enterprises is substantiated, and a graph-analytical model of the process of making a management decision on choosing a strategic direction for the development of international activities of Ukrainian enterprises is proposed. To demonstrate approaches to the selection of international markets for assessing their convergence, the following indicators have been defined: GDP per capita, purchasing power parity, inflation rate, corruption rate, rule of law index, carbon dioxide emissions, natural resource income, agricultural value added, food production index, business freedom index, and industrial value added. The results of a comprehensive study have led to the conclusion that the markets of Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, and France have favorable conditions for the strategic development of international activities of Ukrainian enterprises in them. It has been determined that the markets of Slovenia, Malta, Czech Republic, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, Cyprus, and Spain may become promising for the strategic development of international activities of Ukrainian enterprises, provided that a significant gap in their main indicators is overcome, namely: "Control of Corruption" and "Rule of Law Index".

Keywords: strategic directions of international activity development, business sustainability, international marketing strategies, model of the management decision-making process, new offers in world markets, integration into the world economy, assessment of market convergence, business freedom index, industrial value added

Insolvency Proceedings in Post-Pandemic Period, Through the Governance Sustainability Prism

Valdis Savickis — 2024-06-01

Nevertheless, COVID-19 Pandemic situation calm down in Latvia and in whole world, diffracted, common legal order and procedural norms came back in so called “normal functioning”. Authors aim is to examine the legal regime in post-pandemic period and conclude the impact of specific legal regulation on the procedural and material legal norms. The study uses analytical and descriptive methods, evaluating normative acts and political decisions. Comparative method is used to compare the scope of legal instruments of national level, in the sphere of civil procedures and insolvency proceedings. Historical method is used to compare and analyze legal norms. As a result of the study, author concluded, that: 1) scope of applicable legal instruments used during the emergency situation there not even prolonged, but remained unchanged in legal norms of the special normative acts, regulating suppression of consequences of the spread and management of the spread of COVID-19 Infection; 2) state, in order to reach governance sustainability aims, invented digital and technological solutions, in order to reach the improvement of the economic situation of society and to promote the stability of the national economy.

Keywords: Insolvency proceedings, civil procedures, business environment, governance sustainability, legal entities.

SADC Multilateral Approach for Sustainable Development in Cabo Delgado

Mmakoena Mpshane-Nkosi — 2024-06-01

This article investigates the political stability of Cabo Delgado’s insurgency in Mozambique and the regional multilateral efforts of the South African Development Community (SADC) and international organisations. Since establishing the United Nations’ seventeen Sustainable Development Goals five years ago, recent studies have shown that governance sustainability is essential for peace and security. According to Meadowcroft (2007), sustainable governance refers to the socio-political governance systems established to achieve sustainable growth. Thus, sustainable governance is a foundation for ensuring the achievement of long-term governmental goals managed and operated by multiple actors within a system. Sustainable development promotes methodical and constructive planning of current and future usage of resources. Governance refers to how government manage and exercises the country’s economic and social resources for growth. While many scholars in the last two years, such as Bosman and Gruzd (2022), Sithole (2022), and Okunade et al. (2021), have indicated the conflict vulnerability to the Southern African region, the government and bloc’s slow response, particularly in dealing with the armed conflict; this study argues that the multilaterally the region responded on time and is ensuring sustainable development and peace and security. The article details the multilateral approach used for counterterrorism, mainly the use of military intervention and continuous discourse within political spaces. The qualitative method extrapolates how stability, safety and security were achieved and the sustainable development plans.

Keywords: Insurgency, Cabo Delgado, SADC, Mozambique, Multilateralism, Good Governance Theory

A Review of the Sustainability Crisis and an Appraisal of Sustainable Prosperity

Lawrence Whitmore — 2024-06-01

Statistical data taken from the literature is reviewed to revisit and re-examine the impact of global humanity upon the biosphere and to provide a broad bibliography of issues relating to sustainability. The data shows the continuing decline of animal and plant populations and forest area, while at the same time human population, resource usage and pollution continue to increase. Analysis of forest area data shows that with the current human population growth rate and resource consumption, combined with increasing forest fires due to global warming, forests will be eradicated within 85 years. Using the same data, the carrying capacity of the planet is estimated to be 2.5 billion with current resource usage and 8 billion with one third of current resource usage. Plantation to rebuild forests, moderation of consumption, and family management to reduce and stabilize population, are identified as the main factors required for achieving sustainability. Views of what leads to prosperity is at the root of the sustainability crisis, and this is examined in relation to alternative values and economic models. The ideology of consumerism is discussed as accelerating the decline of natural resources. The teachings of Saint Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of the environment, and the ideals of indigenous cultures are considered as a source of values that can be adopted to transform the modern world into a more sustainable, eco-friendly world in which humans and the biosphere can thrive.

Keywords: sustainability, environment, prosperity, economy, biosphere, population, morality

Ex-situ Conservation of Woody Plants within the Framework of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership in Georgia

Tsira Mikatadze-Pantsulaia — 2024-06-01

Georgian flora comprises of the vascular plants grown in wild conditions on the territory of country, comprising 185 families, 1,048 genera and 4,275 species. High endemism level of Georgian flora reflects its richness - 21% of the local flora is endemic.

Nearly 10% of Georgian flora comprises of around 400 tree and shrub species. About 40 per cent of them are included in the Red List of Caucasus Endemics.

Within the framework of the Millennium Seed Bank partnership, 144 populations of 131 species of trees and shrubs common in Georgia were collected at the place of natural distribution and deposited in the National Seed Bank of Georgia (NSBG) under the Global Tree Seed Bank Project (Georgia) with the funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation (2015-2019).

The created genetic bank includes rare, endemic, relict, endangered and economically important species, they have food, medicine, fuel, construction, paint and other properties.

This collection also comprises relict species of Colchic forests important for the study of the history of the Caucasus flora from the following genera: Rhododendron, Betula, Ruscus, Ilex, Daphne, Hedera, Laurocerasus, amongst others;

The National Seed Bank is established for long-term storage of the wild plant species of Georgia.

Seed duplicates from different populations of all target species of the above mentioned project are kept in the Millennium Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.

In addition to the seed bank, a collection of seedlings of some of these species has been created in the collection plot of the Plant Conservation Department.

Key words: ex-situ conservation, tree and shrub species, seed bank, seedlings collection.

The Effect of Managerial Ability on Firm Investment Decisions: Evidence from Egyptian Stock Market

Yasmeen Said — 2024-06-01

The research aims to present the idea of managerial ability and how to measure it, as well as to investigate the relationship between the managerial ability of managers and its influence on investment decisions in the company in terms of the availability of opportunities, the effectiveness of choosing investments, and the change in the volume of investments. The three key assumptions that will be tested in this study are as follows: (1) No significant statistical relationship between managerial abilities and the availability of investment opportunities. (2) No statistically significant correlation between the volume of investments and managerial ability. (3) The efficacy of investment decisions does not exhibit a statistically significant correlation with managerial ability. Both inductive and deductive methods are used in this study. The statistical analysis was carried out between 2013 and 2022 using annual financial statement data from the sample companies, which included 24 companies from the EGX 30 index of the Egyptian Stock Exchange. Data envelope analysis and Tobit regression were employed to estimate the three research models and test the hypotheses because the dependent variable had a range of values from 0 to 1. The study found that managerial ability has a positive association with investment decision efficacy, investment volume, and investment opportunities.

Keywords: Managerial ability, Demirjian model, Tobit regression, Investment prospects.

Do young sustainable tourists build better relationships with destinations?

Mitsuru Sato — 2024-06-01

Sustainable tourists play a crucial role in achieving sustainable tourism in destinations. Previous studies have identified a segment of sustainability-friendly tourists. In recent years, some studies have focused on the youth generation as sustainable tourists. It is a useful strategy for destinations to build better relationships with sustainable youth tourists in order to construct a competitive advantage in the long term. However, it remains unclear that the characteristics and behaviors of young sustainable tourists and how they relate to destinations. The aim of this study is to examine sustainable young generation tourists who contribute to a destination’s sustainability. The study was based on data from a web-based survey of Japanese respondents aged between 20 and 39 years, who had experienced domestic travel. We conducted exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis and identified a segment of sustainable youth tourists. The intention to build relationships with destinations was analyzed using the chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The results confirmed that young sustainable tourists were highly loyal to the destinations they visited and intended to involve the destination after their trip. They are actors who actively seek to increase the sustainability of their destinations.

Keywords: sustainable tourism, destination management, sustainable tourist, youth tourism, tourist loyalty

Decision Making and Behaviour Patterns in Network Relations

Julianna Fejes-Nádai — 2024-06-01

The present study offers an insight into a specific tendency emerging in the young generations, that is, development of specific characteristics of relations and self-images in the world of interrelatedness by being connected via internet. Individuals as social beings need to develop new characteristic features due to living in a world of network systems and hubs. Thus, they feel a kind of force on themselves of contacting to prevent themselves from being deprived of information vital to being visible in the society. Their purpose is to be familiar with the context of the network by adapting existing behaviour patterns, often ignoring their negative effects and consequences. The study tries to find proper answers to the following questions: What are individuals involved in networks really interested in when checking others’ profiles? What behaviour patterns do they acquire and imitate? How does the network system motivate, honour or sanction the involved individuals? The research method is based on semi-structured interviews involving university students who attempt to reveal what images young people living in the world of internet have about themselves and their special world. The research results can contribute both to making everyday communication and education in academic institutions more efficient. The present cross-sectional study presents current state of a long-term research into the drafted topic.

Key words: network, hubs, self-esteem, interviews, values