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The aim of this study is to discuss the issues relevant to the CSR evaluation and to develop a model of CSR assessment by taking into account SDGs. Based on a critical literature review, the advantages and limits of CSR assessment models were analyzed with the SDGs addressed, and the framework of a novel model of CSR assessment was proposed in this study. The main limitations of CSR in addressing SDGs were defined as follows: the selective implementation of SDGs, greenwashing, the lack of the integration of the stakeholders, the lack of incorporation of SMEs, and the difference in CSR practices among countries. The created model includes all SDGs involved. Moreover, the positive and negative effects of CSR on SDGs were addressed. This proposed CSR assessment model can help to solve the major problems described above: selective implementation of SDGs, greenwashing, and the inability to compare CSR among industries or countries.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a prominent subject due to its major implication for the practitioners in the corporate arena. Based on the theory of engagement, theory of social exchange, and theory of social identity, a conceptual framework was established in this study to evaluate the employee engagement (EE), and organizational commitment (OC) as a resultant of CSR initiatives. The study further examined the impact of distributive justice (DJ), procedural justice (PJ), and job satisfaction (JS) as mediating variables, and the influence of collectivism (COL) as a moderating variable between CSR initiatives and OC and EE. Data from 989 employees of the Pakistani pharmaceutical industry was collected and analyzed using the structural equation modeling and exploratory and confirmatory inferential models. Results demonstrate that CSR initiatives have a significant positive impact on OC and EE. Similarly, the mediation of JS, PJ, and DJ was established between the exogenous and the endogenous variables. Finally, the COL has a significant impact as a moderating variable between CSR initiatives, and OC and EE. The conclusions obtained in this study provide significantly practical and theoretical implications for managers of involved firms to improve employee behavior, mold employee attitude, and enhance organizational performance via CSR strategy, especially for firms located in countries along the route of belt and road initiative.

Renewable energy sources (RES) are the main drivers of sustainable energy development. Notwithstanding the substantial expansion of renewables in the past decade, boosted by the various policies and measures, renewable energy sources are still far from full incorporation into the energy markets. It is necessary to overcome the remaining impediments for renewables to realize the energy transition to 100% renewable energy. The aim of this research is to analyze the main barriers of renewables and success of policies dealing with these barriers. The case studies in the Baltic States provide concrete examples of policies and their impacts in terms of overcoming barriers in relevant sectors: heating and cooling, power and transport. The assessment of policies in the Baltic States shows that there are a few measures that are implemented in the transport sector, although this sector encounters many social, economic, technological, and regulatory barriers. The countries have achieved the lowest results in approaching RES targets in transport. New financial incentives and investments in the development of infrastructure for electric vehicles are crucial for the development of markets of electric vehicles. K E Y W O R D S barriers and drivers of renewables, sustainable energy, sustainable energy policies, the Baltic States