The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a reflection on our need for contact with nature. It was the result of suddenly imposed limitations of the everyday functioning of many people and confining them to the space of their own house or apartment. This paper presents the results of a study on the preferences of Polish city dwellers in terms of their need for contact with nature at their place of residence before the COVID-19 outbreak and after the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study was to identify any relationship between preferences regarding access to nature at the place of residence prior to and during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and variables such as gender, age, background, and distance between the place of residence and any natural or urban green spaces. An online survey was used to examine urban residents’ need for access to nature. Significant gender differences in preferences, both prior to and during the pandemic, were found. Preferences also varied depending on the distance between the place of residence and natural and urban green spaces and depending on the origin of the interviewee (urban or rural). The origin was found to have a significant impact on preferences. The need for contact with nature at the place of residence, both before and after the pandemic, was found to be greater among respondents from rural areas.

An important question in the literature on climate change and sustainable development is the relationship between countries’ economic growth, household electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related economic restrictions, sustainable economic growth remains at the forefront of the global development agenda. However, given the strong relationship between the ever increasing electricity consumption and greenhouse gas CO2 emissions, an increasing number of scientists have been questioning the feasibility of the planned emission reduction. In my research, I strove to determine whether there exists a relationship between the change in the structure of electricity consumption of households in selected EU Member States (15 countries), the impact of innovation, changes in electricity prices and economic growth, and CO2 emissions in 2007–2019, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and following its third wave (2021). The aim of the article is to propose a synthetic index to assess the degree/level? of sustainable energy development (SISED) in selected EU countries. Multiobjective decision analysis (MODA) was applied in order to assess the sustainable energy development of the selected European countries. Research findings may contribute to both literature and practice if they are applied by individual EU countries in the process of formulating directions aimed at achieving sustainable energy development.

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Urban e-mobility, seen as a part of complex and multidimensional European Green Deal plan, is essential for cities. However, it cannot be implemented without a common social commitment accompanied by a shared, strong belief in its advantages. Even if urban authorities and central governments would encourage their citizens to buy or share an electric vehicle (EV), the shift to EV will not be significant without people convinced that the idea of becoming zero-emission is economically viable and rational to them privately. This is especially true and important in countries like Poland—which is classified as an “EV readiness straggler”. The main purpose of this study is to develop a robust forecasting model with the aid of advanced machine learning methods. Based on the survey conducted, we identified factors useful for predicting consumer behaviour in terms of willingness to purchase an EV. The proposed machine-learning tool (specifically, the Random Forest algorithm) will allow automotive companies to more effectively target factors supporting the promulgation of urban individual e-mobility.

Purpose: Sustainability is an idea that has contributed to a shift in thinking about energy markets. It is already known that one of the ways of achieving development is introducing new technological solutions/innovations. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present the results of a study of energy enterprises in Poland -DSOs and TSOs in terms of their innovativeness. Design/Methodology/Approach: Following the documentary research, the main tool used in this research is index analysis, diagnosis of the current state, and detailed analysis of development trends. Descriptive statistics and single attribute value function (SAVF) were used to assess the relationship between energy production and innovation expenditures. Findings: The results show that in Poland the relationship between innovation expenditures and energy production is non-existent. This may be due to the structure of energy production, which in Poland is based on coal. The evaluation of innovativeness of energy companies indicates that the dynamics of innovativeness in energy companies is still unsatisfactory. Practical Implications: Current expenditures on innovation are still insufficient for an efficient energy transformation of Poland. The presented research results can be used to create new policies and development strategies on the dynamics of innovation in energy companies in Poland.Originality/value: Presented research results have both research and practical value in relation to the current level of expenditures on innovation in the power sector, comparing strategic documents and policies with practical actions taken in electric power enterprises in Poland in terms of innovation and discussing the next steps necessary to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal to be the first climate-neutral continent in 2050.