European Research Center for Social Development

Tag: European Union

  • Sustainable Energy Development and Sustainable Economic Development in EU Countries

    Sustainable Energy Development and Sustainable Economic Development in EU Countries

    Is it possible to have a sustainable economy without first having a sustainable energy system?

    This research addresses a critical gap in economic theory by mapping the direct correlation between energy and economic development across the EU.

    Using data from 2014 to 2021, the study demonstrates that energy is not just a commodity, but the foundational mechanism that enables sustainable growth.

    The findings explicitly show that while the EU is moving toward its climate goals, there is a deep disparity in how different countries integrate energy sustainability into their economic plans.

    By using advanced statistical methods to track these trends, the authors provide practical conclusions for policymakers: to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the focus must remain on the production and supply of energy as the primary driver of modern economic life.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071775

    Reference

    Jędrzejczak-Gas, J., Wyrwa, J., & Barska, A. (2024). Sustainable Energy Development and Sustainable Economic Development in EU Countries. Energies, 17(7), 1775.

  • Green Deal, Green Growth and Green Economy as a Means of Support for Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals

    Green Deal, Green Growth and Green Economy as a Means of Support for Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals

    Is a “Green Economy” just a buzzword, or a viable roadmap for our future? This research peels back the layers of contemporary environmental economics to define what it truly means to “green” our global processes.

    By synthesizing indicators from the world’s leading economic institutions—from the World Bank to the European Union—the study provides a toolkit for measuring real progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

    The paper concludes by focusing on the European Green Deal, viewing it as the most ambitious regional attempt to align economic growth with planetary boundaries.

    However, it issues a vital caution: while the green transformation offers immense opportunities for innovation and resilience, we must remain wary of “excessive confidence” in technology alone. True sustainability, the research suggests, requires a critical look at the weaknesses of our current models as much as an embrace of new, greener concepts.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105901

    Reference

    Adamowicz, M. (2022). Green Deal, Green Growth and Green Economy as a Means of Support for Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability, 14(10), 5901

  • Economic Development of the European Union in the Relation of Sustainable Development—Taxonomic Analysis

    Economic Development of the European Union in the Relation of Sustainable Development—Taxonomic Analysis

    Is the European Union becoming more unified or more divided in its quest for sustainability?

    This research utilizes advanced taxonomic methods to analyze the economic development of 27 EU member states through the lens of the Sustainable Development concept.

    By comparing data from 2014 and 2019, the study reveals that spatial disproportions—the differences in wealth and sustainability between regions—are more pronounced today than ever before.

    The findings explicitly argue that while energy plays a central role in driving growth, the benefits are not being distributed evenly across the Union. The researchers utilized the Hellwig and TOPSIS methods to rank and cluster countries, ultimately proving that current efforts are insufficient to bridge the gap between Member States.

    The study concludes with a call for urgent, “pro-development” actions at both the national and EU levels to ensure that sustainable growth becomes a reality for every region, not just the front-runners.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227488

    Reference

    Jędrzejczak-Gas, J., Barska, A., & Wyrwa, J. (2021). Economic Development of the European Union in the Relation of Sustainable Development—Taxonomic Analysis. Energies, 14(22), 7488