Search Results (69)

Tropical peatlands store approximately 105 gigatons of carbon (GtC), serving as vital long-term carbon sinks, yet remain critically underrepresented in climate policy. Indonesia peatlands contain 57GtC—the largest tropical peatland carbon stock in the Asia–Pacific. However, decades of drainage, fires, and lax enforcement practices have degraded vast peatland areas, turning them from carbon sinks into emission sources—as evidenced by the 1997 and 2015 peatland fires which emitted 2.57 Gt CO₂eq and 1.75 Gt CO₂eq, respectively. Using system theory validated against historical data (1997–2023), we develop a causal loop model revealing three interconnected feedback loops driving irreversible collapse: (1) drainage–desiccation–oxidation, where water table below −40 cm triggers peat oxidation (2–5 cm subsistence) and fires; (2) fire–climate–permafrost, wherein emissions intensify radiative forcing, destabilizing monsoons and accelerating Arctic permafrost thaw (+15% since 2000); and (2) economy–governance failure, perpetuated by palm oil’s economic dominance and slack regulatory oversight. To break these vicious cycles, we propose a precautionary framework featuring IoT-enforced water table (≤40 cm), reducing emissions by 34%, legally protected “Global Climate Stabilization Zones” for peat domes (>3 m depth), safeguarding 57 GtC, and ASEAN transboundary enforcement funded by a 1–3% palm oil levy. Without intervention, annual emissions may reach 2.869 GtCO₂e by 2030 (Nationally Determined Contribution’s business-as-usual scenario). Conversely, rewetting 590 km²/year aligns with Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target (−140 Mt CO₂e) and mitigates 1.4–1.6 MtCO₂ annually. We conclude that integrating peatlands as irreplaceable climate infrastructure into global policy is essential for achieving Paris Agreement goals and SDGs 13–15. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between the business environment and the financial performance of companies engaged in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), with a particular emphasis on how “ease of doing business” (EDB) indicators affect post-merger outcomes, as measured by return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and profit margin (PM). We consider a sample of 230 firms from fifteen European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain) grouped according to COFACE criteria for five years (2015–2019). By applying panel data methods, the research highlights that, three years after the merger in low-risk countries, there is an increase in return on equity, better asset recovery, and economies of scale, largely due to effective government policies. The study highlights the differentiated effects of specific EDB sub-indicators, providing insight into how tailored regulatory frameworks can enhance M&A success across varying economic contexts. The business environment can stimulate the performance of firms after mergers and acquisitions if the regulations are friendly to the firms and are adapted to the state of the country’s economy. Full article

The aim of this research was to clarify the concept of vulnerable micro-enterprises (MEs) and develop a set of indicators for identifying and analyzing developments in vulnerable MEs in “catching up” economies in the context of the regulation on the Social Climate Fund (SCF). The case of Lithuania is studied. A retrospective analysis of business structure research indicators during the period from 2010 to 2023 was carried out. The method of the median was applied to determine thresholds of indicators above (below) which a ME is considered vulnerable. Absolute and relative business structure research indicators were calculated to provide estimates of the number of vulnerable MEs and reveal their role in the economy. The results revealed the number and share of vulnerable MEs which experienced high fuel expenditure (above the median (1M), 1.5M, or 2M). Historically, these MEs created a share of added value and provided employment opportunities. The share was found to vary in accordance with economic activity and the Lithuanian municipality, suggesting that the distribution of financing from the SCF should consider aspects of economic activity and regionality. A number of MEs had an essential share of fuel expenditure in their total operating costs. Vulnerable MEs demonstrate low or negative profitability, and may be insolvent; therefore, they cannot invest in building renovation or environmentally friendly transport. Thus, the research results indicate the need for discussions regarding financing vulnerable MEs in Lithuania. Full article

Nighttime light remote sensing imagery is limited by its single band and low spatial resolution, hindering its ability to accurately capture ground information. To address this, a dual-sampling adjustment method is proposed to enhance nighttime light remote sensing imagery by fusing daytime optical images with nighttime light remote sensing imagery, generating high-quality color nighttime light remote sensing imagery. The results are as follows: (1) Compared to traditional nighttime light remote sensing imagery, the spatial resolution of the fusion images is improved from 500 m to 15 m while better retaining the ground features of daytime optical images and the distribution of nighttime light. (2) Quality evaluations confirm that color nighttime light remote sensing imagery enhanced by dual-sampling adjustment can effectively balance optical fidelity and spatial texture features. (3) In Beijing’s central business district, color nighttime light brightness exhibits the strongest correlation with business, especially in Dongcheng District, with r = 0.7221, providing a visual tool for assessing urban economic vitality at night. This study overcomes the limitations of fusing day–night remote sensing imagery, expanding the application field of color nighttime light remote sensing imagery and providing critical decision support for refined urban management. Full article

In Industry 4.0, predictive maintenance (PdM) is key to optimising production processes. While its popularity among companies grows, most studies highlight theoretical benefits, with few providing empirical evidence on its economic impact. This study aims to fill this gap by quantifying the economic performance of manufacturing companies in the Visegrad Group countries through PdM algorithms. The purpose of our research is to assess whether these companies generate higher operational profits and lower sales costs. Using descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, the Hodges–Lehmann median difference estimate, and linear regression, the authors analysed data of 1094 enterprises. Results show that PdM significantly improves economic performance, with variations based on geographic scope. Regression analysis confirmed PdM as an essential predictor of performance, even after considering factors like company size, legal structure, and geographic scope. Enterprises with more effective cost management and lower net sales were more likely to adopt PdM, as revealed by decision tree analysis. Our findings provide empirical evidence of the economic benefits of PdM algorithms and highlight their potential to enhance competitiveness, offering a valuable foundation for business managers to make informed investment decisions and encouraging further research in other industries. Full article

(1) Background: Water scarcity is a pressing global issue, impacting food security, health, and economic stability in many regions. In Yemen, the challenges related to water resources are particularly acute, exacerbated by climate change, overuse, and a lack of sustainable management strategies. (2) Objective: this paper assesses water resources and demands under two shared socioeconomic pathways, SSP3 and SSP5. (3) Methods: remote sensing, the MRI-ESM2-0 climate model, and QGIS 3.28 are used for spatial analysis and climate projections. (4) Results: The 2022 estimation of water supplies comprising renewable surface water, renewable groundwater, and non-conventional water resources are estimated at 208 million m³ (MCM). In contrast, water demands are estimated at 244 MCM, resulting in a total water deficit of 36 MCM. For future projections, two scenarios are assessed: business as usual and the improved scenario considering two climate change scenarios, SSP3 and SSP5. The improved scenario considers using drip irrigation, decreasing population growth rates, and constructing seawater desalination plant. Findings indicate that maintaining land and irrigation practices will exacerbate groundwater depletion and threaten water security, while the improved scenario effectively narrows the supply–demand gap. (5) Conclusions: All scenarios predict severe water shortages in the Lower Region, underscoring the urgent need for additional water resources, including a proposed 50 MCM seawater desalination plant. This study provides critical insights into sustainable water management strategies for Yemen, highlighting the necessity for immediate action. Full article

Wind speed forecasting is an essential part of weather prediction, with significant value in economics, business, and management. Utilizing multiple meteorological variables can improve prediction accuracy, but existing methods face challenges such as mixing and noise due to variable differences, as well as difficulty in capturing complex spatio-temporal dependencies. To address these issues, this study introduces a novel short-term wind speed forecasting model named as MIESTC. The proposed model employs an independent encoder to extract features from each meteorological variable, mitigating the issues of noise that are caused by variable mixing. Then, a multivariate spatio-temporal correlation module is used to capture the global spatio-temporal dependencies between variables and model their interactions. Experimental results on the ERA5-LAND dataset show that, compared to the ConvLSTM, UNET, and SimVP models, the MIESTC model reduces RMSE by 14.60%, 8.64%, and 10.41%, respectively, for a 1 h prediction duration. For a 6 h prediction duration, the corresponding reductions are 13.91%, 8.20%, and 6.95%, validating its superior performance in short-term wind speed forecasting. Furthermore, an analysis of variable impacts reveals that U10, V10, and T2M play dominant roles in wind speed prediction, while TP exhibits a relatively lower impact, aligning with the results of the correlation analysis. These findings underscore the potential of MIESTC as an effective and reliable tool for short-term wind speed prediction. Full article

This study aims to analyze publications on financial development between 1986 and 2023 using bibliometric analysis methods. The analysis, based on data obtained from the Web of Science database, utilizes bibliometric tools such as keyword analysis, author collaboration networks, citation analysis, and bibliographic coupling to identify trends, key authors, influential journals, and emerging research topics in the field. The results indicate that financial development research is predominantly concentrated in the fields of economics, environmental sciences, and business finance, with economics having the highest number of publications. A significant increase in publications is observed after 2014, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. VOSviewer and R Studio programs were chosen in the study due to their strengths in terms of functionality. According to the results, the countries with the most citations were China, the USA, and Pakistan. The most cited authors are Shahbaz M. with 3926 citations, Zingales I. with 3252 citations, and Oztürk I. with 2710 citations. The authors in the top two are also in the top two in terms of total link strength. The analysis shows that key themes such as economic growth, energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and renewable energy have increasingly intersected with financial development, highlighting the growing focus on sustainability. China, Pakistan, and the USA are the most active countries in financial development research, with China leading both in terms of publication count and citations. Full article

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the use of logging residues in manufacturing briquettes, and to demonstrate their potential as a renewable energy source. Technical aspects of briquetting are examined, including wood properties, particle size, moisture content, and process temperature. Forest residues, such as branches and treetops, have a high energy potential with calorific values reaching up to 20 MJ∙kg⁻¹ after briquetting. Densifying these residues increases their energy density (achieving up to 1120 kg∙m⁻³) and reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Briquetting processes were analyzed economically and environmentally, with studies showing that production costs can be reduced by 25% when using locally sourced residues. This review recommends optimizing production processes to improve briquette durability and quality. Future research directions focused on developing cost-effective briquetting technologies tailored for small- and medium-sized businesses are identified in the study. Rural and economically disadvantaged regions could benefit from these advancements in briquetting. This paper advocates improved collaboration with international organizations to standardize briquette quality, promoting market acceptance and trade. Technology such as briquetting has the potential to advance renewable energy systems and achieve global climate goals. Full article

Enterprises face significant growth and survival challenges in highly competitive markets. Many companies fail to meet their tax obligations, which deprives society of essential resources and often results in tax penalties. This article examines whether companies that receive tax fines for evasion have a longer or shorter life expectancy compared to those that consistently comply with tax regulations. To analyze survival rates, the Kaplan–Meier estimator and Cox regression model were applied, considering factors such company size, sector, location, and tax evasion fines. The study included data from 11,297 firms established in 2017, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The findings indicate that companies fined for tax evasion had a higher survival rate (69%) compared to those without fines (38%) by 2023. This suggests that fines might serve as a corrective measure, helping companies realign and improve their chances of survival. Additionally, the study shows that medium-sized enterprises face significant challenges, possibly due to exceeding the limits of a simplified tax regime. This study highlights the importance of continued research across different regions and countries to validate these findings and enhance tax administration strategies. Full article

Water yield (WY) service is the cornerstone of ecosystem functionality. Predicting and assessing the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on WY is imperative for a nation’s food security, regional economic development, and ecological environmental protection. This study aimed to evaluate the water yield (WY) service in Henan Province, China, using high-resolution (30 m) remote sensing land use monitoring data from four study years: 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. It also utilized the PLUS model to predict the characteristics of LULC evolution and the future trends of WY service under four different development scenarios (for 2030 and 2050). The study’s results indicated the following: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the Henan Province’s WY first increased and then decreased, ranging from 398.56 × 10⁸ m³ to 482.95 × 10⁸ m³. The southern and southeastern parts of Henan Province were high-value WY areas, while most of its other regions were deemed low-value WY areas. (2) The different land use types were ranked in terms of their WY capacity, from strongest to weakest, as follows: unused land, cultivated land, grassland, construction land, woodland, and water. (3) The four abovementioned scenarios were ranked, from highest to lowest, based on the Henan’s total WY (in 2050) in each of them: high-quality development scenario (HDS), business-as-usual scenario (BAU), cultivated land protection scenario (CPS), and ecological protection scenario (ES). This study contributes to the advancement of ecosystem services research. Its results can provide scientific support for water resource management, sustainable regional development, and comprehensive land-use planning in Henan Province. Full article

Climate change and land degradation menace ecosystem sustainability. This study assessed the effectiveness of integrating nature-based solutions (NBSs); soil and water conservation techniques, agroforestry, and reforestation, to mitigate these impacts. Focusing on carbon storage and sediment retention at the watershed level (Sidi Barrak), the InVEST model quantified changes from 1990 to 2050 under the Business as Usual (BAU) and management scenarios. The results showed a significant decrease in sediment retention and carbon storage from 19.25 to 15.5 t ha⁻¹year⁻¹ and from 1.72 to 1.61 t ha⁻¹year⁻¹, respectively, between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, BAU scenario projections demonstrate a 28% decrease in sediment retention and a 16% drop in carbon storage under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5. The Management scenarios indicate substantial improvements, with carbon storage increasing by 77% and sediment retention by 87% when all strategies were combined. The economic valuation, performed through the application of the cost–benefit analysis, shows positive net benefit values (NPVs) for the different NBS management scenarios. The combined management scenario, which includes soil and water conservation techniques, agroforestry, and reforestation under the same scenario, presents the highest total NPV with 11.4 M€ (2%, 2050), an average of 130 €/ha (2%, 2050), and an opportunity cost of 1.7 M€ compared to BAU. Such results may orient decision-making by providing solid arguments toward ecosystem resilience and climate change mitigation. Full article

With increasing urbanization and industrialization, soil and forest resources are facing considerable pressure, as well as the demand for water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities. Therefore, it is essential to conduct regular assessments of water quality and ensure that water is consistently maintained in the context of ecosystem services (ESs). Our objective was to apply the driving forces–pressures–state–impacts–responses (DPSIR) model to understand the cause–effect relationships and interactions with anthropogenic pressures on deforestation and water quality in the Talgua River watershed and associated valley and plain areas in central-eastern Honduras. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were conducted to determine the water quality index (NSF–WQI) and other contamination indexes. The results identified high contamination by coliforms, up to 920.00 NPM/100 mL, and high levels of contamination by organic matter (ICOMO, 0.65), solids (ICOSUS, 0.79), mineralization (ICOMI, 0.99), and the presence of bacteria (BPI, 8.50), as well as the development of eutrophication processes (ICOTRO), resulting in generally low water quality. These problems were caused by the socio-demographic and economic growth of the area, as well as the high demand for water, vulnerability to climate change, and intense agro-livestock and industrial activity, which led to deforestation processes, changes in land use, and contamination of natural water bodies that impacted the overexploitation of aquifers. After applying the DPSIR model, strategies are proposed for the management and administration of the watershed aimed at preserving the water, soils, and forest resources, while promoting stakeholder, business, education sector, and public administration participation. Full article

Solar-based home PV systems are the most amazing eco-friendly energy innovations in the world, which are not only climate-friendly but also cost-effective solutions. The tropical environment of Malaysia makes it difficult to adopt photovoltaic (PV) systems because of the protracted rainy monsoon season, which makes PV systems useless without backup batteries. Large quantities of lithium-ion battery (LIB) trash are being produced by the electric vehicle (EV) sector. A total of 75% of the highest capacity levels have been discarded. By 2035, it is predicted that the wasted LIBs held as a result of expensive recycling and difficult material separation would carry up to 1200 GWh. An economical and sustainable option is offered by our study, which prototypes a replicated LIB pack that is incorporated into a PV home system. This study investigates the transformational power of second-life electric vehicle batteries (SLEVBs) when incorporated into home photovoltaic (PV) systems. The concept entails reusing existing electric vehicle batteries for stationary applications, offering a unique approach to extending the life of these batteries while meeting the growing need for sustainable domestic energy storage. The study looks at the technological feasibility, economic viability, and environmental effect of introducing SLEVBs into household PV systems, giving vital insight into their role in revolutionizing energy storage techniques and promoting sustainability. In comparison to the Lead–Acid Battery (LAB) system, the SLEVB system has a cheaper total cost of ownership, with savings of 12.62% compared with new LABs. A CO₂ emission reduction of at least 20% is achieved by using the SLEVB system compared with LABs. Electricity can be provided in houses in rural areas where there is no electricity. As a result, the security and superiority of the life of rural residents will improve. It is anticipated that the suggested strategy will lower EV pricing, enabling EV adoption for M40 and B40 groups. Consequently, the Malaysian and worldwide EV business will remain viable. Full article