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Changing the shoreline is an element of great interest for the coastal communities. The multitude of social, economic and environmental activities that take place in the Romanian coastal area requires a strategic approach. In the present paper, we are discussing strategic options for human intervention in the Romanian coastal zone. Engineering works to protect coasts from coastal erosion must be closely linked to human activities that take place in the coastal area, even though we are talking about tourism, transport, urbanization or industrial activities. We will choose the optimal approach that aims to analyze and evaluate these options by addressing economic, social and environmental factors. The multifactorial approach must take into account a careful analysis of stakeholders in a coastal area, bearing in mind that each area has its peculiarities and needs to be treated separately. When developing the approach to analyzing and evaluating strategic options, we will take into account the sectoral plans made in the coastal area as well as the local, regional and national development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main conditions for developing qualitative forecasts of energy consumption, as well as identifying the potential for energy conservation, is data on the energy intensity of production in industries. A regional analysis of energy consumption in the economy will help develop a comprehensive, long-term regional energy efficiency program balanced in terms of resources and costs. For Russia, this task is particularly relevant for two reasons. The first is due to the fact that the length of the territory of Russia is approaching 10000 km and its economic space is extremely uneven in terms of the availability and use of available resources. The second reason is determined by the fact that the Russian economy is one of the most energy-intensive in the world, the level of energy consumption is twice that of China and 2.5-3.5 times higher than in the US and European countries. Reducing the energy intensity of production is one of the priority tasks for the qualitative development of the Russian economy and its territories. In this regard, the purpose of our study is to determine the energy intensity of production in the regions of Russia, as well as to identify real reasons for reducing the energy intensity of the Russian economy. That is, we will try to determine whether the decrease in energy intensity is related to the activities of the state program and the increase in the efficiency of technologies or the reduction of energy intensity is provided by industrial energy consumption and a decline in the real sector of the economy. The analysis is carried out at the regional level for the period from 2005 to 2016. In the framework of this analysis, a methodology was used to assess the influence of various factors on the change in energy intensity. The obtained results make a significant contribution to the theory of spatial development, in part of the study of the reasons for the reduction of energy intensity in the resource and non-resource types, and can be used to review and adjust regional programs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the outlines of work, based on foreign and Russian experience, the urgency of introducing small-scale generations into the real sector of the economy, including minithermoelectric plant (mini-TEPs) is stipulated. The main indicators that characterize the efficiency of power plants are provided. The basic techno-economic parameters of power plants, such as specific capital investments for the construction, the cost of electricity and heat, specific estimated operating costs and others, are analysed. Separated by their significant factor attribute number assesses the appropriateness of investments by the resulting indicator - the "efficiency of investments". Considering that the significant factorial attribute is consist of a linear regression equation monitoring the mini-TEP of the Custom Union states. Proposing and justifying the author's methodology of forming a multifactorial model for the efficiency of investments in the construction of a mini-TEP with gas engine fuel. The main barriers in the form of the practical impossibility of selling excess energy generated and the capacity of Russian mini-TEPs in centralized distribution networks have been identified. Formulating the main conclusion concerning the effectiveness of investments in modern small-scale generation facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research study is to perform an analysis of the eco-innovation trends and to identify the development opportunities in Latvia. The research methodology applied for this research study involves the theoretical concepts of eco-innovation trends and collects examples of existing and emerging eco-innovative practices in Latvia. The results of the research indicated that the eco-innovation trends in Latvia led to positive results and gave an impulse to increasing economic activities. For evaluation of Latvia's current situation of eco-innovation trends and development, different sources of literature, e.g. scholars' articles, research papers and reports of foreign and Latvian researchers and institutions, as well as data from the database of the Eco-Innovation Observatory were used. The research findings contribute to existing research on the trends and possibilities of development of eco-innovative enterprises in Latvia and advance the present understanding of the main problems in the creation of new ecoinnovative start-ups that should be linked with the growth-oriented new technology, globalization and global market with a focus on eco-innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In connection with the implementation of European Union's directives is necessary to make use of renewable energy sources (RES). The use of these energy sources is associated with the obligation to act in accordance with the sustainable development concept. In Poland, this concept is provided in Art. 5 of the Constitution of Polish Republic. In the paper, the overall structure of primary energy production in Polish economy in comparison to the European Union was presented in period 2011-2015. The production of renewable energy by source was analysed. An increasing share of the RES in energy production was noted. This trend is in line with European Union directives. At the same time, the analysis of energy production from renewable production sources, i.e. solid biofuels, liquid biofuels, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower and biogas, was conducted. The survey results of energy consumers regarding the use of RES were presented. On one hand high awareness of respondents in the field of environmental protection however and on the other hand low in the field of economics of energy production from renewable sources had been proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the system principles of stability of the coastal infrastructure in the point of view of marine spatial planning and development of marine facilities of coastal and marine territorial systems of the Russian Arctic showed that at present there is no unified approach to determining the assessment of the stability of coastal infrastructure and environmental impacts caused by several factors. To account for medium- and long-term climate, environmental, economic, legal and geopolitical changes in the Arctic in assessing the stability of the coastal infrastructure, it is proposed to use a comprehensive indicator system consisting of five factor subsystems. Because of the analysis of the possibilities of accounting for medium- and long-term complex changes, a dynamic model of strategic marine spatial planning in the regions of the Russian Arctic based on a comprehensive analysis of the stability of coastal infrastructure. For each Subject of the Russian Arctic were calculated: • values of the indicator for each of the factor groups; • values of complex integral index of stability of coastal infrastructure for 2016; • retrospective values of complex integral index of stability of coastal infrastructure for 2006 and 2011. For the purposes of marine spatial planning and integrated assessment of sustainability of marine and coastal infrastructure of the Russian Arctic designed the regional GIS "Coast of the Russian Arctic", which is a special information system for collecting, processing, storage, display and dissemination of spatial data, specified as the content of factor groups assessing the sustainability of coastal infrastructure, and also calculation and visualization of data of regional components of marine economic activity in the Russian Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern economy competitiveness is put forward as one of the conditions for economic recovery. In order a sector to be competitive and viable in the long term, and to significantly succeed in its activity over time, it has to be ensured with financial stability. The aim of the research is to assess the financial stability in the Latvian fisheries sector. On the ground of the assessment methodology offered by the author and guiding by the available data and their quality, the author analyzes the financial stability of the Latvian fisheries sector from the aspect of liquidity, solvency, efficiency and profitability and provides the insight into the need in structural reforms. In the framework of the research the author found out the skills of the companies operating in the fisheries sector to establish capital structure and allocation of financial resources. The research reflects the information that may help the institutions, entrepreneurs and researchers involved in establishment of fisheries policy to develop and improve the common policy in the sector more successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Poland, there has long been a statutory obligation for economic entities to report minimum information on the natural environment, usually of a non-financial nature. After the implementation of Directive 2014/95/EU on the disclosure of nonfinancial and diversity information to the Polish regulations (Accounting Act), there were changes in the scope of environmental disclosures and the group of enterprises covered by this reporting obligation increased. The implementation of the new directive into Polish law caused that the largest enterprises in Poland, being large public interest entities, including energy sector companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, are required to provide more detailed and extensive reporting of non-financial information as part of the activity report or in the form of a separate report. The aim of the paper is to analyze and assess the type and scope of environmental information disclosure in financial and non-financial reports in the period of 2014-2016, which were prepared in the light of Directive 2014/95/EU by energy sector companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (Index 30). Methods: The research team used the method of meta-analysis of the literature and the method of qualitative and comparative analysis of information contained in the financial and non-financial reports of energy sector companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange for the years 2014-2016. The companies listed on the WIG 30 index were selected for the analysis. In order to formulate conclusions, the methods of synthesis and deduction were used. Results: The authors have analyzed and assessed the state of environmental reporting by the largest companies from the energy sector in Poland in the context of Directive 2014/95/EU implementation. The authors noted an increase in the importance of environmental disclosures in non-financial reports over the analyzed period, although Directive 2014/95/EU was not yet in force. In the last two years of the period under investigation, far more disclosures appeared, usually grouped thematically and problematically. At the same time, the authors noted companies' discretion regarding the scope and form of these disclosures. In some investigated companies, the activity report was extensive and in some a separate report was prepared. At the same time, the authors indicated a deficit of environmental information disclosures in financial reports in each analyzed period. Conclusions: The authors positively assess the changes introduced to financial and nonfinancial reporting in the field of environmental reporting in connection with the Directive 2014/95/EU implementation into Polish legal regulations and their effect on Polish public companies from the energy sector. However, according to the authors of the paper, it is necessary to introduce more detailed rules of environmental disclosures in the regulatory framework in force in order to eliminate the differences in the entities' environmental reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Façade, as an external finishing of a building, gives the building its original character, obtained due to the choice from variety of forms and freedom in shaping. The decision to use a particular façade system depends on the type of the object, the investor's requirements and financial possibilities, and the designer's creativity. This paper's aim is to present the procedure of analysis that leads to a choice of the fa façade system for a public building, including criteria such as: cost, technical parameters, aesthetics, availability of technology on the market and service as well as environmental impact of the applied solution. In order to prioritize solutions, multi-criteria comparative analysis based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process method has been applied. The method is based on hierarchical analysis and supports decision making process. Implementation of the method includes presentation of a decision problem in the form of hierarchical structure. The authors performed the analysis as well as a simulation of the criteria importance, with a special consideration given to increasing impact of the idea of sustainability on construction industry and growing popularity of ecological solutions. Other assumption for the research was that BIM models are supposed to deliver the geometrical and nongeometrical information for analysis. The research showed that a slight reduction in the importance of the cost criterion may affect the hierarchy of the analyzed variants in favor of modern ecological solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the problems of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Mari El, which are necessary to ensure sustainable economic development of the region in the future. In recent decades, the agro-industrial complex has been identified as the main, priority direction of development, stimulating growth. Nevertheless, the situation with the innovative activity of agricultural producers in the region continues to deteriorate. Therefore, modernization, based on the digitization of production and sales processes, will lead the economy of the region to a higher level. One of the most interesting examples is the use of Mercury in a meat-packing plant in the region. Here we can see a really practical orientation in solving problems. Today, we really come to realize the need for a digital modernization program for this industry, the formation of high-tech agricultural business in the region through increased productivity and cost reduction, which are the main elements of modern digital agriculture. As the main strategic targets of digitization in agriculture, it is necessary to highlight the creation of conditions for increasing the transparency of agricultural markets for farmers and consumers, providing farmers with new IT opportunities to increase additional costs, providing open data to developers, creating conditions for reducing the cost of the product due to " digitization "of business processes on farms, transition to management based on planning and forecasting risks today. The authors of the article try to find the optimal variants of transformations in the agricultural sector of the region, showing on the results that the introduction of digital economy technologies provides positive economic effects and allows reducing costs by at least 20% when implementing an integrated approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One tenth of the European population lives in distressed areas where physical and economic plight is aggravated by social problems. In urban renewal, two emerging problems require attention: a) the inclusion of the local communities in making choices for land administration; b) the complex nature of the interventions due to the multiplicity, diversity and conflict of the elements involved. With the aim of providing an evaluation procedure able to aid public choice, to involve the community and to reach a shared choice, the paper proposes a multi-criteria, social and inclusive evaluation procedure that reinterprets the multi-dimensional process from the top-down to a bottom-up approach. The procedure was tested in an experimental case regarding a group of Roman urban distressed areas, applied in order to generate unidimensional and multidimensional ranking of criticality level of the areas based on the direct participation of stakeholders and community. After explaining the evaluation procedure, the paper shows the results of the experimental application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes how the main factors influence the competitiveness of the economy. In constructing the model, three assumptions are introduced: a) there is a prehistory of the process, i.e. the variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the economy at the time t, also affect the values of previous periods; b) there is a mutual influence (interdependence) between the variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the economy; c) the variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the economy are influenced by internal and external factors. The national economy competitiveness model is a system of four interconnected econometric equations. The article selects the following endogenous variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the national economy: the volume of GDP per capita; the volume of industrial production; the volume of exports by national companies; the index of human development. The article describes the method of finding the coefficients of interconnected econometric equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]