Environment Quality Management in Green Cities

In the 21st century, where urban life and urban population continue to increase, the longing for green and the desire to return to nature attract people to destinations where nature-based activities is carried out. Eco-agro tourism, which is a type of tourism where eco-tourism and agro-tourism intersect, creates positive effects on the socio-cultural, economic and natural environment. Similarly, in the green economy approach, attention is drawn to the positive effects it creates in terms of economic welfare, quality of life and environmental protection. In addition, today the idea of destinations developing an economy based on environmentally friendly production is increasingly important. The study focused on eco-agro tourism, where the natural environment is placed at the center of the economic system in developing rural areas and sustainability in production and consumption can be achieved. It is thought that it is important to reveal the eco-agro tourism potential of the countryside from the perspective of the local people who know the region best. In addition, local people's ideas on eco-agro tourism for a sustainable "green economy" and "green-oriented development" should be known as it will show both the support they will give to tourism development and their participation in tourism activities. From this point of view, Kızıklı Village, which is connected to the Burhaniye district of Balıkesir, was chosen as the research sample. In the study, in which the qualitative research method was adopted, data were collected from 42 participants. The obtained data were subjected to content analysis, thematic groupings were made and their frequencies and percentages were presented to the reader. According to the data obtained from the field; it has been determined that Kızıklı village has eco-agro tourism potential, that the residents of the village will support eco-agro tourism development at a high level, and that eco-agro tourism can be the locomotive in strengthening the existing economic environment and making the green economy applicable in Kızıklı. Among the other results obtained from the research are that eco-agro tourism development and sustainability will be supported by the local people due to their positive contributions to the economic, natural and socio-cultural environment and that the local people will assume responsibilities as stakeholders.

A green city has ideal and modern urban development with extraordinary harmony of environment, ecology, economy, society, culture, and people. The coordination of human relations and green development has become a new development model for a modern society. Recently, the construction of a green city has aroused wide concern. Despite problems, the priority to coordinate the groups with different needs is needed to maintain the green development of cities. In this study, different levels of factors related to the construction of green cities were classified using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed and the related green city construction standards were established.

Rapid urban growth in Banjarbaru, Indonesia has led to environmental challenges, particularly the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon and reduced carbon sequestration due to declining vegetation cover. This study aims to: (1) analyze spatial patterns of UHI and Thermal Humidity Index (THI) to identify thermally comfortable and uncomfortable areas; (2) assess the relationship between vegetation density (NDVI) and carbon stock potential; and (3) propose spatial strategies to enhance thermal comfort and carbon absorption capacity in support of Low Carbon Green City (LCGC) development. Using a spatial analysis approach, the study utilized Sentinel-2 and Landsat 9 satellite imagery, field measurements via wireless sensor networks (WSN), and GIS-based modeling techniques. Land Surface Temperature (LST), THI, and NDVI were analyzed and correlated with carbon stock data derived from vegetation plot surveys. The results indicate a strong inverse correlation between NDVI and both LST and THI, confirming that vegetation plays a crucial role in regulating microclimate and thermal comfort. Areas with low NDVI exhibited higher surface temperatures and THI values, indicating intense thermal stress. Carbon stock analysis showed that plots with higher NDVI values held significantly greater carbon reserves, with a regression model (R² = 0.850) validating NDVI as a strong predictor for aboveground biomass. Furthermore, high UHI and THI zones overlapped with areas of low carbon stock, highlighting the need for targeted ecological interventions. To address these challenges, the study proposes three spatial strategies: urban farming, green building, and green corridor development. These approaches aim to improve biomass density, reduce surface temperatures, and enhance carbon sequestration potential. Collectively, they support climate adaptation, urban resilience, and participation in carbon trading initiatives. This research contributes a practical framework for integrating ecological and spatial planning toward sustainable urban transformation. Keywords: Urban Heat Island; NDVI; Carbon Stock; Thermal Comfort; Green City Design

The article proposes an original typology of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, which makes it possible to formulate methods and criteria for sustainable urban development (SDG-11) via other SDGs. Due to digitalization, all ten branches of the green economy can give breakthrough effects in ensuring the sustainable development of urbanized areas. Although the elements of the green economy are historically organic to Russian urbanization, it is not possible to solve the main problem of sustainable development of Russia’s modern spatial development on the existing technological basis: the growing contradictions between the trends of hyperconcentration of the population and the economy in a small (for Russia’s size) number of megacities and, in parallel, their critical deconcentration on the periphery. The consistent implementation of the capabilities of the technological mode based on integration of the digital and green economies creates opportunities for significantly increased productivity in the infrastructural and industrial sectors of cities and development of the knowledge and experience economies in them, at the same time improving the quality of the urban environment and urban life and ensuring sustainable development. A consistent and balanced multiscale spatiotemporal and functional polarization of urbanized areas is an adequate form for implementing this technological mode, which makes it possible, by deepening the geographical division of labor and coordinating the turnover of material, natural, and human capital, to solve problems of sustainable spatial development for Russia by harmonizing its ecological, economic, and social components. The principles of spatiotemporal, morphological, and functional polarization are manifested at various territorial levels. With the development of the set of indicators and expansion of the statistical base for analyzing the green economy, the dissemination of smart city technologies and management of the life cycle for land use, a constructive-geographical, project-based approach in urban planning and ensuring the sustainable development of cities and urban agglomerations in Russia will become as common as the prevailing research approach.

IMPROVEMENT OF ECONOMIC MECHANISM FOR REGULATION OF ENTERPRISE ACTIVITY IN THE "GREEN ECONOMY" DEVELOPMENT AREA

Background The shipbuilding and ship-repair industries are important contributors to world trade. However, it also generates various types of waste, similar to any other industry, which has a detrimental impact on the environment. This study aims to understand the critical need for effective and appropriate waste management practices in this industry by investigating the factors involved in generating various types of waste. It identifies and ranks the major challenges in waste management in this industry. The study also suggests potential solutions for shipyards and repair yards to address these challenges. Methods The study used the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to prioritize the challenges identified through a literature review and finalized them based on the feedback of experts. Further, a list of solutions for these challenges was prepared based on interviews with experts in this area. Finally, the Best Worst Method (BWM) was used to rank the solutions for each of the identified challenges. Results The findings indicate that the major challenges for the industry are the generation of hazardous waste and the high costs involved in adopting sustainable practices. The results also showed that strict waste segregation and containment are the top solutions to handle the challenge of hazardous waste generation. Further, the leverage on external funding mechanisms and implementation in a phase-wise manner are the top two solutions to deter the challenge of high costs associated with adopting sustainable practices. Conclusions By prioritizing these challenges and solutions, this study provides a road map for shipyards around the world to effectively allocate resources, improve environmental performance, meet regulations, and improve operational performance. This is important for the adoption of an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable shipbuilding and repair industry.

This study aims to examine the relationships between the use of knowledge-based approach in key areas of sustainable city management (urban planning, mobility and transportation management, and environment protection) and city’s position in the global smart cities ranking (the IESE Cities in Motion Index). A case study methodology is adopted to examine and compare the possibilities of implementing knowledge-based approach in sustainable city management, in order to gain a better understanding of this new urban phenomenon. Data and information about knowledge-based smart city initiatives have been collected from secondary sources. The presented case studies were explored through desk research using online resources, such as the web pages of smart city initiatives. Smart Cities were selected based on their rankings in the IESE Cities in Motion Index. In addition, multiple regressions were used to identify the relationship between the independent variables (environment protection, mobility and transportation management, urban planning) and dependent variable-value of city’s ranking in the IESE Cities in Motion Index . The results illustrate that the majority of cities use smart-city solutions in all categories to improve city management, efficiency and achieve sustainability goals. All research hypotheses have been accepted, therefore knowledge-based smart city solutions implemented in all key areas of sustainable city management (urban planning, mobility and transportation management, and environment protection) positively influence performance of achieving sustainability goals. The selection of a limited number of case studies is a limitation of this research. It is therefore important to explore the potential of knowledge-based approach in urban development and city management in more detail by considering more cases. Future research should explore the impacts of other variables related to sustainability, which can determinate performance of sustainable city management. A future study should try to validate the result by using a wider sample. The research combines quantitative and quantitative analysis in order to identify the determinants of effective achievement of sustainable development goals in city management. This study provides a form of grounding for further discussion to debate over of the operational functioning, planning, design, development, and governance of smart sustainable cities in the future.

Globalization and industrialization have significantly impacted the dynamics of waste generation, management, collection, and processing, resulting in increasing amounts of various types of waste and serious environmental challenges. This paper analyzes the treatment and recycling of construction waste through the legislative framework and presents key challenges in the implementation of green policies in the Republic of Croatia. The methodological framework is based on a qualitative analysis of normative acts at the national level. Through statistical analysis and a detailed review of the waste categorization process, including the origin, type, and properties of waste, as well as statistical data on the produced, collected, and utilized amounts of construction waste in 2022, an insight into the current state of the construction waste management sector is provided. The example of the company “Reciklaža Mišić” demonstrates how recovered construction waste can lose its waste status and be used as recycled aggregate if the assessment and verification of the constancy of performance are carried out according to the technical specification aligned with the legal regulations governing construction products. The research results indicate the need for further familiarization of the construction sector with the procedure for removing waste status so that recycled aggregates can become a construction product and ensure market placement of materials, thereby contributing to the circular economy and reducing environmental burden. In conclusion, the research shows that achieving sustainable construction waste management requires further strengthening of the economic sector, better integration of ecological principles, and active involvement of the local community in the waste management process.

From the 1960s to the 1970s, a large number of Western inner cities went through a phase of severe deprivation due to both a relocation of manufacturing jobs that in turn led to a depopulation, a lack of investment and high unemployment and to suburbanisation made possible by the car. From the 1990’s, urban regeneration strategies were introduced to tackle this inner city deprivation. In the United Kingdom, this ‘urban renaissance’ took place within the new economic and political paradigm of neoliberalism which placed a strong emphasis on market forces as the driver of urban regeneration (see national policy document Urban Task Force 1999). The shift to this economic system led to changes in both the process of urban development and its product, the space itself. Local governments endorsed the new economic reality- which included a greater role for private and corporate actors in the development and management of cities - in order to be able to participate in the global inter-urban competition. As a result of declining public budgets and encouraged by national guidance, public authorities began to outsource tasks and responsibilities that had previously been regarded as a governmental concern to private actors and newly developed private public partnerships (urban regeneration vehicles in planning policy terminology). Public authorities themselves also adopted business-like styles of organisation in which productivity, effectivity and efficiency were regarded as the main conditions for serving the public’s financial interest, though other public values such as cultural heritage, equality and democracy were often regarded as of secondary concern. This privatisation of development in urban areas did not just affect the process but also the outcome; the appearance and use of public spaces. Within the urban renaissance agenda, a strong emphasis was put on the aesthetisation of space in order to attract the desired businesses, investors and people with a high disposable income. The objective in private management regimes appears to be on reducing risk by putting a strong focus on surveillance, safety, tidiness and the exclusion of undesirable behaviour, all of which reduces the diversity, vitality and vibrancy of spaces in order to welcome tourists and middle-class visitors, in other words consumers (Low 2006). This privatisation of public space raises valid questions with regard to the publicness of urban open space and a number of authors recognise a ‘decline’ of public space or have even declared ‘the end of public space’ as we have known it (Sorkin 1992; Mitchell 1995; Low and Smith 2006; Madanipour 2003; Iveson 2007 etc.). Other authors argue that we do not experience the death of public space but a change in its form, function and appearance that reflects contemporary economic, societal and cultural narratives (see eg Madden 2010; Carmona et al. 2008, Carmona 2015; De Magalhaes and Freire Tigo 2017). To be able to incorporate these societal shifts, a revised (and wider) definition is needed to describe and analyse publicness in the production of space (Kohn 2004; De Magalhaes 2010; Varna and Tiesdell 2010; Nemeth and Smith 2011; Langstraat and Van Melik 2013; Varna 2016). The premises for this research are based on the above discussion on the different roles that privatisation plays in the production of space, within this shift towards greater involvement of a variety of private partners in the development process and the possible decline in the degree of publicness in both process and space. The apparent need for a wider definition of public space to include current political, economic and societal changes, the relation between the public sphere and public space, the degree of publicness in both the process and space itself, the perception of the user and the role of the urban designer are hereby taken as starting points and lead to the following research question: Does privatisation lead to a decline of publicness in the production of space and space itself, and how does urban design play a role in this?

PurposeThe advances in green city growth are widely discussed in extant literature. The benefits of green cities to urban development in recent discussions of sustainability and sustainable development are well documented and cannot be overemphasised. Although a growing study on green building development in developing countries has been advanced in literature, there is a paucity of studies that explore green cities in developing countries. Moreover, evidence of studies that have focussed on green cities development in Ghana is lacking. Because of this identified knowledge gap, the purpose of this study is to establish the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. This study has adopted the pragmatism as its undergirding research philosophy and the deductive research approach. In terms of methodological choice, quantitative research strategy was used to collect data from experts in sustainable urban development. The primary data retrieved from this study was analysed using descriptive statistics, relative importance index and one-sample t-test. The reliability and validity of this study were measured with the Cronbach’s alpha test.FindingsThis study established eight indicators for measuring green city development: air quality, water, sanitation, land use, health and safety, transportation, energy and building and construction. It was discovered that the development of green cities should enhance air quality, improve water production and supply, improve management in sanitation, promote mixed and integrative land use, maintain the health and safety of city dwellers, reduce the demand for transportation and formalise public transport, adopt renewable and efficient energy technologies and promote sustainable construction and green buildings. These indicators are key to policymaking and implementation of green cities development.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focusses primarily on Ghana; however, the findings of this study do not limit the generalisability, as it can be used as an example for other developing countries.Practical implicationsTheoretically, this study adopted quantitative indicators that are reproducible in another geographical context. This study contributively adds to the discourse on sustainability, especially in Ghana, and can be a source of reference to motivate others to conduct further research in related areas. The outcomes of this study will help the local government, policymakers, city stakeholders and industry expertise to gain insights of the overall indicators that underpin green city development.Originality/valueThis paper attempts to posit in literature the foremost appraisal of green city indicators adaptive in Ghana, which could motivate other developing countries to develop their own green cities.

Celem artykułu jest dokonanie analizy porównawczej stolic Europy Środkowej, powyżej jednego miliona mieszkańców, tj. Warszawy, Pragi i Budapesztu, w zakresie stopnia rozwoju idei miasta zielonego (green city). W tym celu przeprowadzono analizę treści dokumentów strategicznych i baz danych miast Unii Europejskiej. Dzięki analizie statystycznej umożliwione zostanie przedstawienie stopnia rozwoju realizacji idei green city w miastach postsocjalistycznych. Miasta zostaną poddane ocenie, w ramach których wykazane zostaną ich walory i niedoskonałości względem wzorca miasta zielonego. Aby określić stopień rozwoju badanych miast, podjęto próbę uzupełnienia definicji samego miasta zielonego, poprzez określenie faz jego rozwoju. Artykuł ma zatem charakter aplikacyjny, a jego celem szczegółowym jest możliwość ukierunkowania miast Europy Środkowej w implementacji koncepcji green city. The concept of a green city: a comparative analysis of Central European cities (Warsaw, Prague and Budapest) The main aim of the article is to compare the implementation of the green city concept in capital cities above 1 million population in Central Europe, i.e. Warsaw, Prague and Budapest in order to evaluate the degree to which each of these cities implement the assumptions of the abovementioned concept to achieve urban sustainability. An analysis of strategic documents on urban planning as well as data bases of the three cities was carried out. The results allowed for measuring the progress and effectiveness of the environmental policies of these cities and determining their achievements and shortcomings when it comes to realizing the green city model. Additionally, for the purpose of this research, an attempt at elaborating the definition of a ‘green city,’through determining four phases of its development, was made. Thus, the article is solution-specific, in that it points at possibilities of the development of Central European cities as regards the implementation of the green city concept.

Chapter 18 - Cities management and sustainable development: monitoring and assessment approach

This study examines how FinTech is influencing modern urban governance and how these technologies are helping to address global urban challenges.It was found that in the modern city, FinTech is used to optimize the provision of public services, and mobile applications and online platforms allow city residents to easily pay bills for these services and monitor costs. FinTech is also an important catalyst for reforms in the field of urban transport systems, through mobile applications today you can order a taxi, monitor the movement of urban transport, pay for fares, manage traffic flows, which makes public transport more accessible and convenient for city dwellers. All this allows you to avoid traffic jams and improve public safety.The functional determinacy between modern financial technologies and city management is established, the opportunities provided by FinTech for optimizing city infrastructure management processes are revealed. Cases of how cities can use financial technologies to solve their problems and improve the quality of communal services are analyzed. The problem of implementing FinTech solutions for effective management decision-making with an analysis of public opinion is revealed. The importance of taking into account the financial stability of cities when using innovative financial solutions for the development of modern cities is emphasized. Attention is focused on the development of innovations and new financial opportunities for cities and their residents when using technologies to improve the quality of life of citizens and the development of the local economy.

Introduction. The high-tech market is changing dynamically, driven by both domestic economic transformations and global technological trends. Active digitalization, the development of the IT sector, and growing demand for innovative solutions in industry, medicine, and energy are contributing to a competitive environment. At the same time, the challenges faced by Ukraine due to the full-scale war, strengthening of European integration trends, attraction of investments and strengthening of export potential require intensification of the development of high-tech production to meet the needs of the domestic market and integration into global value chains. The article analyses the main trends affecting this market and outlines the ways to stimulate its development in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the article includes the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists, methods of general scientific methods: abstract and logical, induction and deduction, systematic approach, analysis and synthesis, as well as special research methods: statistical comparisons, grouping, expert assessments in substantiating the directions of promoting the development of high-tech products markets. The purpose of the article is determining methodological approaches to assessing the level of technological sophistication of economic activity, identifying trends in the development of the high-tech market in Ukraine and justifying regulatory decisions to support and stimulate it. Results and discussion. The article considers methodological approaches developed by international economic organizations to determine the level of technological sophistication of economic activity, in particular, the Eurostat methodology (sectoral, product and patent); the OECD industry classification; the NAICS methodology, which allowed to define a high-tech industry list. Based on the analysis of leading international rankings, comparative analysis of the dynamics of high-tech exports in different countries of the world, it is determined that Ukraine is lagging behind the technological leaders and European neighboring countries in terms of technological exports. The author substantiates the factors that limit the ability of the Ukrainian economy to fully realize the potential of the high-tech market, namely military risks; low competitiveness of high-tech products; limited access to investment; reduced export potential; low investment attractiveness; lack of highly qualified personnel, etc. Conclusions. The development of high-tech markets is a key factor in increasing the competitiveness of Ukraine's economy and its integration into the global market. Despite the growing demand for high-tech products and active digital transformation in the global world, the Ukrainian economy has limited capacity to fully realize the opportunities of these markets. This requires the development and implementation of effective management and regulatory solutions to support and stimulate high-tech production in Ukraine, which include: creating conditions for the development of innovation infrastructure (research centers, incubators, accelerators, scientific, industrial and innovation parks); effective management of public institutions and implementation of international corporate governance principles in their management system; institutional support for the implementation of innovative projects and development of critical technologies, in particular, through public-private partnership mechanisms; support for small and medium-sized enterprises by promoting their development in terms of development and creation of innovative technologies; expansion of soft loans through the government programs “Affordable Loans 5-7-9” and “Affordable Finance”. Implementation of these measures will contribute to the development of high-tech production, creation of new jobs, increase in exports, and ensure the country's defense capability.

The article substantiates the importance of the synergy of innovation, digitalization and entrepreneurship as an integration resource for the sustainable development of territorial communities. It is shown that innovation is the driving force for the modernization of local economic systems, digitalization ensures the transformation of management and socio-economic processes, and entrepreneurship is the main factor in the economic activity and sustainability of communities. The purpose of the study is to theoretically substantiate and practically analyze the synergy of innovation, digitalization and entrepreneurship as an integration resource for the sustainable development of territorial communities, as well as to identify barriers and tools for its implementation to achieve sustainable development of local economies. The object of the study is the process of synergy of innovation, digitalization and entrepreneurship in the context of the sustainable development of territorial communities. Methods used in the study: mathematical methods, models and information and innovation technologies for nonlinear dynamics of socio-economic systems. Research hypothesis: their combination creates a synergistic effect that creates new opportunities for development, increased competitiveness and social integration. Presentation of the main material. Three key dimensions of synergy are identified: economic (development of small and medium-sized businesses, diversification of the local economy, attraction of investments), social (creation of jobs, spread of digital services, increased trust in the authorities), environmental (use of renewable energy sources, spread of "green" technologies, digital monitoring of the state of the environment). At the same time, risks and barriers that hinder the realization of the synergy potential are identified, in particular, digital inequality, limited financial resources, weak innovation infrastructure and personnel shortage. Originality and practical significance of the results obtained. The need to use a complex of organizational and economic instruments is substantiated, which include tax incentives, public-private partnership mechanisms, innovation hubs, business incubators, grant programs and digital development platforms. The emphasis is on the importance of the partnership "business - government - community - science" as a prerequisite for the effective implementation of a synergistic approach. Research conclusions. It is concluded that the integration of innovations, digital technologies and entrepreneurship is a determining factor in the sustainability and competitiveness of territorial communities, and its practical implementation requires systematicity, adaptability to local conditions and active involvement of all stakeholders