This study investigates the relationship between financial risk management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainable development within the petrochemical industry. The research aims to explore the impact of financial risk management practices on CSR initiatives and to assess how these factors collectively contribute to the long-term sustainability of petrochemical companies. A key focus of the study is the role that CSR plays in advancing sustainable development, particularly in sectors facing significant financial and operational risks. The research is applied in nature, offering practical insights for improving risk management strategies in petrochemical corporations. The study sample consisted of 130 experienced managers from the petrochemical industry, selected based on the number of items in the survey questionnaire. The measurement tool used was a researcher-developed questionnaire, which was designed following an extensive review of relevant literature and consultations with subject matter experts. To ensure the validity of the instrument, content validity was assessed, and reliability was confirmed through the calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) software, which revealed significant findings regarding the influence of financial risk management on CSR and sustainable development. The results underscore the crucial role of effective financial risk management in facilitating CSR initiatives and enhancing the sustainability of petrochemical companies. Additionally, CSR was found to positively affect sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on the integration of social activities, product and service innovation, and human resource management practices. It is concluded that prioritizing CSR, along with strategic financial risk management, is essential for achieving long-term sustainability in the petrochemical sector. These findings offer valuable insights for both academic research and industry practice, contributing to the development of more effective risk management frameworks in the context of sustainable development.
Manufacturing industry clusters contribute to the optimization of regional industrial structures and the improvement of economic growth efficiency. The role of inter-county carriers can further enhance the cluster effects of the manufacturing industry in Sichuan Province, promoting coordinated development across industries and accelerating the transformation of new productive forces. This study evaluates the degree of industrial agglomeration of the manufacturing industry in 183 counties in Sichuan Province. The results indicate that Sichuan's manufacturing industry exhibits a clear clustering effect, with a particularly pronounced structural agglomeration centered around Chengdu. However, economic development across counties in the province remains unbalanced. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) regression analysis confirms that total factor productivity (TFP) and industrial interlinkages exert a significant positive influence on the agglomeration of the manufacturing industry.
With the growing prominence of environmental issues, sustainable development has become a global consensus. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors have emerged as key focal points for companies and their stakeholders. Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2022, a comprehensive indicator of attention was constructed from a stakeholder perspective to examine the interactions and mechanisms among ESG quality, attention, and enterprise value. Findings indicate that enhanced ESG performance significantly contributes to increased enterprise value, with attention serving as a critical mediating factor in the relationship between ESG performance and enterprise value. Furthermore, notable differences were observed in this process based on firm ownership, with ESG performance exerting a more substantial impact on enterprise value within state-owned enterprises. These insights offer valuable perspectives for companies on how to leverage improved ESG performance to enhance enterprise value.
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the intersections between environmental issues, poverty, and the role of new media, including social media, over the period from 2016 to 2022. By conducting a systematic literature review combined with a bibliometric analysis of keyword co-occurrence, insights into the thematic focus and development trends within these domains were offered. Data were extracted from 46 articles indexed in the Scopus database, identified through the search criteria “environment” AND “poverty” OR in titles, abstracts, and keywords that contain the terms “news” AND “media.” Analysis was conducted using VOSviewer v.1.6.18, revealing four prominent research streams within this multidisciplinary intersection: (1) the relationships among population dynamics, poverty, and environmental degradation; (2) examination of factors influencing environmental degradation and the areas most affected; (3) environmental policy frameworks and the processes involved in policy decision-making; and (4) risk mitigation in environmental policy, with a focus on inclusive economic development. This bibliometric analysis contributes to a refined categorization of existing literature and provides a framework for future research trajectories. By tracking the evolution of publications within each identified research stream over the past seven years, four key research questions were proposed to further explore these critical intersections. The findings aim to enhance scholarly understanding of the complex interdependencies among environmental challenges, poverty alleviation, and the transformative impact of media in the digital era.
The rise of advanced digital technologies (ADT) within Industry 4.0 has transformed modern industrial operations, with select industry leaders emerging as pioneers in the integration of these technologies. This has positioned them as benchmarks for companies with limited digital capabilities. The vulnerabilities of Industry 4.0 to external disruptions, including natural disasters such as the earthquakes in Japan and Turkey, the COVID-19 pandemic, and especially the ongoing energy crises, exemplified by the war in Ukraine and sanctions on the Russian Federation, have necessitated a shift in business continuity management (BCM) strategies. Traditionally focused on safeguarding information technologies, BCM now places greater emphasis on ensuring energy independence and reducing reliance on state-controlled critical infrastructure. In response to these risks, enterprises are increasingly adopting resilient production models designed to restore functionality after cyberattacks, solar flares, extended power outages, and internet disruptions. The journey toward energy independence spans from initial recognition of the need for action to the implementation of robust solutions, such as Faraday cages for server protection and off-grid energy systems. While rare a decade ago, energy-independent enterprises are becoming more common, as illustrated by the copper smelter in Sevojno, a pioneering example. The acceleration of energy independence among companies has been driven by a series of crises, prompting significant BCM advancements. Early responses to these threats primarily focused on information technology (IT) disaster management methodologies, but Industry 4.0 discussions have evolved toward risk-resilient production systems. This study explores theoretical approaches to enhancing enterprise resilience to modern energy challenges, offering insight into emerging strategies aimed at safeguarding continuity in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
To accelerate the exchange of water rights between regions and address the uneven costs of water resource ecological protection among different districts in urban areas, it is essential to make an analysis of regional water resource ecological compensation responsibilities. Establishing a rational standard for ecological compensation based on water resources remains a key method for quantifying the ecological value of water resources. In this study, all districts within a national central city in southwestern China were divided into four functional zones as the research subjects. The water resource ecological footprint method was employed to calculate the water ecological footprint of each zone. The ecological carrying capacity was utilized as the benchmark to determine the water resource ecological deficit or surplus, and the corresponding ecological monetary value of water resources was estimated. The results indicated that the city, as a whole, exhibited a water resource ecological surplus, with a monetary value of 5.088 billion CNY. The western zone, a key urban development area, recorded the highest water resource ecological footprint and the largest ecological deficit. In contrast, the northeastern zone, abundant in water resources, presented the highest water resource ecological surplus, with a monetary value of 9.196 billion CNY. Compensation amounts for the central-eastern and western zones were calculated as 4.169 billion and 7.661 billion CNY, respectively. These findings align with the local water resources' sustainable utilization conditions. The relationship between regional economic development, water conservation, and sustainable development was further analyzed in this study, proposing a water resource ecological compensation model with certain districts and counties as beneficiaries.
Water is regarded as the most critical natural resource in Idaho, with drinking water identified as its most essential aspect. To assess public perceptions and evaluations of drinking water quality, a survey instrument was developed and distributed to Idaho residents over the past 35 years. Key areas of focus included the safety of home drinking water, the use of in-home water filters, consumption of bottled water, frequency of water testing, and concerns about potential pollutants. Surveys were administered in 1988, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2022, with findings indicating a gradual decline in perceived drinking water safety, from 90.2% in 1988 to 80.2% in 2022. The use of in-home water filtration systems increased significantly, rising from 16.2% in 1988 to 29.7% in 2022, potentially driven by extensive advertising campaigns rather than increased contamination concerns. Bottled water usage peaked at 33% in 2010 but has since declined to less than 11% in 2022, a trend attributed to heightened public awareness of tap water safety and environmental concerns related to plastic waste. No significant long-term patterns in water testing were observed, although rural residents, who rely on private wells, were more likely to test their water due to the absence of regular testing requirements. Hard water (with a high content of Ca and/or Mg) emerged as the primary contaminant identified by respondents, with no other significant pollutants widely reported. These findings offer valuable insights into shifting public perceptions of water quality and the factors influencing household water consumption practices in Idaho over the last three decades.
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of critical bibliometric methods, including trend analysis, correlation analysis, rainfall-runoff modeling, multivariate statistical approaches, and flood frequency analysis, to assess the impact of climate change on hydrology and flood risks. Climate change significantly threatens global water security by altering the hydrological cycle and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The review underscores the necessity for multidisciplinary, context-specific approaches that integrate knowledge from fields such as policy studies, ecology, hydrology, climatology, and social sciences. These collaborative efforts are essential for enhancing the understanding of dynamic sectoral vulnerabilities, adaptation strategies, cascade effects, and ecological responses to water-related challenges induced by climate change. A significant obstacle identified is the integration of multidisciplinary impact assessments with climate models, crucial for comprehending the complex interactions between water scarcity and climate change. This review also highlights the importance of sustained research projects and financial support from various institutions, including government agencies, international organizations, and national science foundations. To promote sustainable water management practices and enhance resilience, it is imperative that researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders collaborate to develop viable solutions. This can be achieved by recognizing the limitations of current approaches and adopting innovative strategies. The value of continued financial and institutional support is emphasized to ensure ongoing progress in addressing these critical issues.
Amid growing concerns over global climate change and the need for sustainable infrastructure development, remote communities such as Rigolet in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), which primarily rely on diesel generators, face unique challenges and opportunities. This study proposes a transition to a hybrid energy system (HES) that integrates wind and solar energy with battery storage and diesel generator backups. The feasibility and implications of this transformation in Rigolet were assessed using HOMER Pro software, contrasting it with the current diesel-centric model. The feasibility, environmental impact, and economic implications of implementing a HES in Rigolet were thoroughly examined. The methodology employed includes a detailed simulation and optimization of the HES configuration suitable for 125 households with a population of 327. The findings reveal that integrating wind and solar electricity with the existing diesel infrastructure, coupled with battery storage, reduced diesel consumption by 352 tons per year and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by 929 tons per year. Additionally, other pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Nitrogen Oxide (NO) were significantly reduced. The proposed system demonstrates a reasonable Net Present Cost (NPC) of \$5.17 million with a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) of \$0.22/kWh. This shift towards a HES not only illustrates significant environmental advantages and an increase in the percentage of renewable energy but also provides economic benefits through cost reductions over the long term compared to the existing diesel-dependent configuration. The proposed system provides a reliable and sustainable energy solution for Rigolet, presenting a replicable and innovative model for other similar remote locations aiming for a greener future.
Effective waste management poses a significant challenge for transitional countries, particularly in the context of limited financial and material resources. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the inefficiency of the waste management system at both the entity and national levels exacerbates the difficulty of establishing an integrated system resilient to natural and other hazards. This study introduces a theoretical model of comprehensive waste management (CWM) tailored for crisis situations, aiming to advance the development of a unified system across BiH. Key measures proposed include the involvement of key stakeholders, optimization of material resources, and continuous education to address irresponsible waste disposal practices and non-compliance with regulations. These issues contribute to the proliferation of illegal landfills and heighten the risk of large-scale environmental catastrophes. Specifically, in the Republic of Srpska, one of BiH's two entities, 400,000 tons of municipal waste were generated in 2020, averaging 0.95 kg per person per day, with approximately 40% being organic waste and another 40% packaging waste. Regrettably, only about 5% of this waste is recycled, largely due to an inadequate strategy and systemic approach to waste management, with about 30% of the population still lacking access to waste collection services. The proposed CWM model and the associated measures are crucial for mitigating the impacts of natural hazards, such as floods, on waste management systems.
Based on five dimensions, a green finance evaluation indicator system for the Yangtze River Economic Belt was constructed. The Criteria Importance Though Intercrieria Correlation (CRITIC)-entropy weight method was employed to measure the green finance development level across 107 prefecture-level cities and above in the Economic Belt during 2007-2020. Moreover, the Dagum Gini coefficient and kernel density estimation were utilized to reveal the regional disparities and dynamic evolution trends in the development level of green finance. It was discovered that: (i) During the sample inspection period, the development level of green finance in the Economic Belt exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, with the annual growth rates of the three major regions decreasing from downstream to upstream. Provincial capitals such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Chengdu were found to have notably higher levels of green finance development. (ii) The overall disparity in the development level of green finance in the Economic Belt showed a widening trend, with transvariation density as the primary source of overall disparity, followed by intra-regional differences, and the smallest contribution coming from inter-regional disparities. (iii) The absolute disparity in the development level of green finance within the Yangtze River Economic Belt was observed to be expanding, with the overall basin and the three major regions experiencing diverse evolutionary paths. A clear polarization trend in the downstream area was identified, accompanied by a "better-get-better" phenomenon.
Utilizing the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis within an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model framework, this study investigates the implications of trade openness (TO), renewable energy consumption (REC), and non-REC on environmental quality in Azerbaijan for the period 1996-2022. The LCC hypothesis, which employs the load capacity factor (LCF) as an environmental quality indicator, facilitates a comprehensive evaluation of pollution across air, water, and soil domains. It was found that the LCC hypothesis does not hold for Azerbaijan. Specifically, fossil fuel consumption (FEC) was observed to exacerbate environmental degradation, whereas the influence of REC and TO on the LCF was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that Azerbaijan’s strategy for using renewable energy does not effectively enhance environmental quality. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that economic expansion alone does not suffice to mitigate environmental challenges. To foster sustainable environmental improvement, it is recommended that the Azerbaijani government devises a more robust energy mix strategy that transcends the current reliance on renewable sources and adopts a holistic green growth model for the economy.
This study explores the spatial accessibility of high-tech health services across municipalities on the Spanish Iberian Peninsula, focusing on the adequacy of service provision by haemodynamic facilities relative to potential demand. A comprehensive analysis utilising a Geographic Information System (GIS) was conducted to evaluate the spatial distribution of high-tech health services, employing the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method within a gravity model framework. Findings reveal a disparity in health service coverage, with peripheral municipalities in the larger Autonomous Communities exhibiting low to very low access to high-tech health services. Despite this, the majority of the population benefits from satisfactory health coverage. The study underscores the importance of improving health service accessibility in underserved areas through infrastructural enhancements or the establishment of new facilities, advocating for equitable health service distribution in line with principles of social justice. The methodology proposed herein serves as a valuable tool for health policymakers in addressing spatial inequities in health service provision. Through the lens of territorial accessibility and spatial planning, the research highlights the critical role of high-tech health infrastructure in ensuring comprehensive health coverage. The results advocate for targeted interventions to enhance health service accessibility, particularly in sparsely populated areas at the periphery of large communities, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on health equity and spatial justice in healthcare planning.
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