Analytical Models to Characterize Trade-Offs between Technological Upgrading and Innovation

We propose two analytical models to characterize the relationship between technological upgrading and innovation in the oil & gas industry. The first one is an “optimization model” which focuses on the trade-offs between profit maximization and environmental compliance cost. The other has been developed based on “predator-prey” model which captures the dynamics of biological systems. Our study contributes to the strategic planning process for sustainable development by providing the insight that optimal allocation process is determined by multiple operational factors, including a firm’s competitive ranking among its industrial competitors, industrial consent on the concurrent rate of return on capital investment, the projected demand of oil & gas in future, and a change in environmental compliance cost. Further, we add to the robustness of the optimal allocation process by providing binding conditions of the set of solutions.

Stage 3a environmental compliance of the 6-cylinder tractor engine

The development strategy of the Minsk Motor Plant, implemented within the framework of plant and state scientific and technical programs, is aimed at producing competitive products that meet modern technical requirements of international standards and quality. The mandatory requirement for the successful promotion of diesel engines on the off-road vehicle market is to ensure the required environmental performance, with low fuel consumption and low engine cost. The well-known technical solutions aimed to achieve environmental indicators of the Stage 3A level significantly increase the cost of diesel engines, therefore, the achievement of the required environmental standards without a significant increase in the cost of engines can be considered an urgent task. Purpose. Stage3A Environmental Compliance for 6 Cylinder Tractor Diesel. Methodology. Experimental studies were carried out for diesel engines equipped with: a Common Rail BOSCH accumulator fuel supply system with an injection pressure of 140 MPa, injectors with 7 nozzle holes; a direct-action fuel supply system with a MOTORPAL fuel pump providing a maximum injection pressure of 100 MPa, MOTORPAL injectors and AZPI with five nozzle holes; combustion chambers of two types with bowl diameters of 55 and 67.5 mm; cylinder heads providing swirl ratios 3–4 and 3.5–4.5; high pressure exhaust gas recirculation system. The tests were carried out at characteristic points of the NRSC cycle at three crankshaft speeds: minimum idle speed 800 min-1, maximum torque 1600 min-1, and maximum power 2100 min-1. Results. It turned out that it is possible to achieve Stage3A emissions standards on 116 kW diesel engines using direct fuel equipment and a semi-open combustion chamber, on 156 kW diesel engines using a Low Cost Common Rail fuel supply system and an open combustion chamber. Originality. The results of the combustion chamber shape choice, the parameters of the fuel-injection equipment, the swirl ratio of the inlet channels, valve timings and parameters of the exhaust gas recirculation system made it possible to organize diesel engine workflow of the Stage 3A ecological level. Practical significance. Construction elements of the six-cylinder diesel engines have been developed and introduced at the Minsk Motor Plant.

Defining Material Compliance—A Comprehensive Analysis

The increase in the number of environmental regulations has resulted in great challenges for corporations in the manufacturing industry, especially within the electronic and electrical and the mechanical engineering sector. To address these compliance requirements, specialized management fields such as environmental compliance, substructures and management approaches have been implemented in industry. Recently, adherence to requirements concerning the composition of products and the use of materials and substances within products has become increasingly important and is referred to as material compliance (MC). Although the topic is of increasing importance, there is no generally accepted definition for MC nor a management framework. Corporations are thus unable to systematically address MC, and compliance violations occur frequently. We derived a definition for MC based on extensive literature research, which we subsequently evaluated in a quantitative survey. Our results indicate that MC is commonly understood as the adherence to requirements concerning the composition of a product and the use of substances and materials within products. By proposing a definition for MC, we aim to introduce a common understanding, enable future research to systematically address the topic and develop a framework for the management of MC.

The future of Russia. National projects. Problems and prospects

The report of the president of the RAACS concerning the scientific activities of the RAACS was presented online at the General meeting of the RAACS members in June 2021. The report contains the review and analysis of the most urgent problems faced in architecture and town planning in a time of transition to the post-industrial historical space: creating a comfortable urban environment, a large-scale solution for housing problems, implementation of digitalization, environmental compliance and scientific support for the breakthrough in the socio-economic evolution of Russia, which falls under the competence of the RAACS.

Advanced Introduction to Environmental Compliance and Enforcement

This Advanced Introduction provides a clear and accessible guide to the essential elements of environmental compliance and enforcement programs. It examines compliance programs designed to assist regulated entities in meeting their obligations, as well as enforcement tools designed to address non-compliance - such as administrative, civil judicial, and criminal enforcement. Offering an insightful overview of this important area, LeRoy C. Paddock highlights recent developments that are changing the way compliance and enforcement work is practiced.

The EU in multilateral environmental compliance mechanisms: an outside view

With reference to its unique characteristics, the European Union (EU) regularly requests a special position in treaty cooperation or external judicial control mechanisms. Recurrently, these requests are successful and lead to the EU being treated differently from other treaty parties. These situations have been captured by the concept of ‘European exceptionalism’. EU requests for special treatment can also be witnessed in the supportive and facilitative procedures of compliance mechanisms in international environmental law. In those mechanisms, however, EU requests for special treatment are subject to careful scrutiny, and are even met with strong opposition by treaty institutions and treaty partners. Taking a closer look at the EU’s participation in compliance mechanisms, the present article discusses how certain unique EU characteristics may prompt an EU request for special treatment under compliance mechanisms and explores how compliance institutions and treaty partners have treated existing requests so far. With this outside perspective of non-EU actors, it is possible to understand where such requests can be successful and where they fail to be. In this way, the insights gained permit reflection upon the EU’s participation in compliance mechanisms and whether it truly constitutes a further phenomenon of ‘European exceptionalism’.