The Impact of Greening Tax Systems on Sustainable Energy Development in the Baltic States

Recently, the approaches of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the renewable energy development have changed with the new global approach to sustainability. Today, CSR is an evolving and dominating business practice that integrates sustainable development into a company’s business model. The main focus of our paper is on the public relations of corporate social responsibility in renewable energy development. We show that a proper approach to public relations and resulting communication and dissemination of products and results should be sustained. This paper assesses the new pathways for executing public relations for CSR with relation to the renewable energy projects. The study analyses the impact of corporate social responsibility on energy companies, which are expected to make a positive contribution to the development of sustainable energy. We use both the overview of the theoretical concepts and literature as well as analyze the case of the “old” and “new” European Union Member countries represented by the Baltic States that yield many similarities but differ in their economic development to show the best practices of promoting CSR in sustainable energy development. Our results demonstrate that the implementation of corporate social responsibility can help to create more ethical and conscious sustainable companies and to build better relationships with the environmentally engaged citizens and loyal customers who are also concerned about the environment, health and well-being of their communities.

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Comparative Review of Corporate Social Responsibility of Energy Utilities and Sustainable Energy Development Trends in the Baltic States

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12183417 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (18) ◽

pp. 3417 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lu ◽

Ren ◽

Yao ◽

Qiao ◽

Strielkowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Sustainable Energy ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sector ◽

Energy Development ◽

Baltic States ◽

Development Trends ◽

Comparative Review ◽

The Baltic ◽

Energy Utilities

This paper aims at developing the theoretical framework for linking the CSR of energy utilities with sustainable energy development achievements and at applying this framework in selected countries. The main issues of CSR relevant to the energy sector are discussed, and a comparative analysis of CSR reports of energy utilities and sustainable energy development trends in the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) is performed based on the developed framework. There are three main interlinked sustainable energy development targets: increase in energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources, and GHG emission reduction. The significance of CSR in the energy sector is underlined based on the literature review, and the state policies to promote CSR in the energy sector are discussed and critically assessed based on the case studies of three Baltic States. The CSR practices of energy utilities of the Baltic States were assessed and compared with sustainable energy development achievements in these countries, based on the analysis of sustainable energy development trends. Estonia achieved the best results in approaching all sustainable energy development targets and was ranked with the highest scores in CSR ranking among the Baltic States, followed by Lithuania. The results of the case studies demonstrate that the Baltic countries have achieved different results in sustainable energy development progress, and the role of energy utilities and their corporate sustainability practices may have huge impacts on the achievement of sustainable energy development targets.

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Corporate Social Responsibility and Corruption: Implications for the Sustainable Energy Sector

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11154128 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (15) ◽

pp. 4128 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jintao Lu ◽

Licheng Ren ◽

Jiayuan Qiao ◽

Siqin Yao ◽

Wadim Strielkowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Risk Mitigation ◽

Sustainable Energy ◽

Energy Sector ◽

Energy Development ◽

Positive Contribution ◽

Socially Responsible ◽

Corporate Social ◽

The Impact

This paper focuses on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its relationship with sustainability. The authors investigate the linkages between CSR and sustainability at both enterprise and country levels. The main focus of this study is the energy sector due to its importance in terms of economic, environmental, and social impacts. There are some doubts as to whether a socially responsible business meets public welfare expectations and fosters the country’s social and economic development, as well as the successful achievement of sustainable development objectives. However, it becomes apparent that the development of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector faces a plethora of challenges. Corruption is one of the most important challenges of sustainable energy development. The study analyzes the main areas of CSR policies where energy companies are expected to make a positive contribution to sustainable energy development: mitigation of environmental impact, economic and social development, and good governance. The authors argue that the corruption risks represent a very important issue that is hampering sustainable energy development, and CSR can be applied to mitigate these risks in the energy sector. In addition, government policies might be necessary to create a favorable environment for corruption risk mitigation. The study analyzes the main tools of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector and addresses the impact of CSR on the sustainability of energy sector and corruption risk mitigation. The study analyzes a corruption risk mitigation model in the energy sector and provides recommendations for strengthening corporate social responsibility and mitigating corruption risk. Our results show that CSR can play a vital role in dealing with corruption in the energy sector at the enterprise level. It becomes apparent that anti-corruption standards represent the main supporting means for achieving other CSR goals and principles. Therefore, mitigation of corruption risks should become a priority for socially responsible companies that are operating in the energy sector.

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The impact of EU Cohesion policy on environmental sector sustainability in the Baltic states

Baltic Journal of Economics ◽

10.1080/1406099x.2010.10840469 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 23-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sirje Pädam ◽

Üllas Ehrlich ◽

Koidu Tenno

Keyword(s):

Cohesion Policy ◽

Baltic States ◽

The Baltic ◽

The Impact

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Western policies and the impact of tradition at critical junctures: the Baltic states after the First World War and the Cold War

Ajalooline Ajakiri The Estonian Historical Journal ◽

10.12697/aa.2016.3-4.01 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 337

Author(s):

Kaarel Piirimäe ◽

Maria Mälksoo

Keyword(s):

Cold War ◽

First World War ◽

World War ◽

Baltic States ◽

Critical Junctures ◽

The First World War ◽

The Baltic ◽

The Cold War ◽

The Impact ◽

First World

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COVID-19 and Sustainable Energy Development: Agendas for Future Research

Journal of Asian Energy Studies ◽

10.24112/jaes.040003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 20-25

Author(s):

Kevin Lo

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Energy ◽

Energy Development ◽

Future Research ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

Development Agendas ◽

The Impact ◽

Key Questions

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a massive impact on and may fundamentally change the pathways and trajectories of sustainable energy development. This article examines the impact of COVID-19 on Asia’s sustainable energy development and proposes agendas for future energy research in response to the pandemic. The review and research agendas are oriented towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The following three key questions need to be addressed by researchers: (1) In what ways does COVID-19 make sustainable energy development more important than ever? (2) What are the short- and long-term effects of COVID-19 on sustainable energy development? (3) How can responses to COVID-19 meet the objectives of sustainable energy development?

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Prices of conventional and renewable energy as determinants of sustainable and secure energy development: regression model analysis

Energy Sustainability and Society ◽

10.1186/s13705-022-00333-9 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sandi Knez ◽

Goran Šimić ◽

Anica Milovanović ◽

Sofia Starikova ◽

Franc Željko Županič

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Sustainable Energy ◽

Panel Data Analysis ◽

Random Effect ◽

Random Effect Model ◽

Energy Development ◽

Energy Product ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The prices of energy resources are important determinants of sustainable energy development, yet associated with significant unknowns. The estimates of the impact of prices of energy products in the domestic market (for domestic consumers) are rare—hence the importance and novelty of this research. Therefore, the main goal of the paper is to assess the impact of domestic prices of gasoline, gas, coal, and solar energy on sustainable and secure energy future. Methods The research includes 14 countries (of which 7 are developed and 7 are developing countries) and a period of 5 years (2014–2018). The model also includes discrete variables: level of development (developing or developed), and the fact as to whether the country is an energy exporter or not. For the purposes of analysis, the following elements were used: Panel Data Analysis, Linear regression (with random and fixed effects), Durbin–Wu–Hausman test, and Honda test, with the use of R-studio software for statistical computing. Results The research showed that the biggest negative impact on energy sustainability was recorded by an increase in the price of coal and the smallest one by an increase in the price of solar energy. An increase in the price of gasoline has a positive impact, while an increase in the price of gas has no impact. The basic methodological result showed that the fixed effects linear model is more accurate than the random effect model. Conclusions The results of the paper, important as a sustainable energy policy recommendation, showed that the impact of changes in energy product prices is significantly greater in developing countries, but that the status of the country as an energy exporter has no significance. In addition, the paper points to the need to intensify the research on the assessment of the impact of energy product prices for domestic consumers on their ability to pay that price, because with a certain (so far undefined) increase in energy product prices, a certain group of domestic consumers moves into a category that is not in line with sustainable energy development and is extremely undesirable in every respect—energy poverty.

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