Dear Colleagues,

Global climate change has long ceased to be an exclusively scientific or environmental subject. It also has gained importance in the internal affairs and foreign policy of different countries, transnational corporations, and global financial conglomerates. Environmental concerns have been a topical issue for a relatively long time, but only today are we moving into the phase of direct actions to transform the philosophy of conducting business itself.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, due to the constant increase in the production–consumption cycle, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased significantly: from 270 ppm to 419 ppm, i.e., increased by 55%, the largest increase recorded in the entire history of the last 400 thousand years. According to the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), changes in atmospheric chemistry and an increase in the share of greenhouse gas (GHG) are the main factors behind climate change. The increase in the temperature of the Earth has been about 1.1 °C over the past 150 years.

Such a drastic climate change provokes fundamental changes not only in natural ecosystems, but also in human life, and will have serious consequences for the environment, and therefore for us and our future generations. As the planet warms, it is highly likely that there will be an increase in environmental risks: in the frequency and severity of floods, hurricanes, droughts, and fires in many regions.

However, the present state of technology does not allow us to avoid the use of traditional energy sources: coal, oil, and natural gas. Despite all that, it is now possible to optimize its use in order to decarbonize the global economy and reduce the carbon footprint.

This Special Issue would like to encourage original contributions regarding the latest developments and ideas relating to decarbonizing the global economy, sources of financing green transformation, including transition to sustainable economic growth, and formation of a new culture for responsible business. This will noticeably reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which in the long run will reduce the burden on the environment and allow time for the transition to the next generation of energy resources.

Prof. Dr. Zhanna Pisarenko
Guest Editor

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• Green economy
• Decarbonization
• Sustainable development
• Energy efficiency
• Environment
• Green technologies
• Renewable energy
• Financial ecosystems
• Green finances
• Responsible investing
• Greenhouse gases
• Climate risks
• CO2