The main subject of research involves the characteristics and assessment of the already ongoing process of maritime shipping radical decarbonization. There were identified and analyzed international legal and administrative regulatory measures as well as a package of technical, technological, operational and economic solutions, including the possibility of choosing alternative low-emission fuels that are necessary to achieve the already set targets by 2050. This research aimed to indicate and assess the most promising types of measure which are to be applied to achieve the required reduction of CO2 emissions in global shipping as well as developing a potential roadmap leading to their implementation. In the conducted research work, mainly qualitative analyses were applied, i.e., factor analysis (FA), comparative analysis (CA), and a series of consultations with representatives of the maritime industry were carried out, following the procedure typical for the Delphi technique. The main result of the research work is the development of a scenario for potential supply and distribution of fuels to the maritime shipping market by 2050. The basic conclusion is that shortages in manufacturing, commercialization, and supply of low and zero-emission fuels to the shipping market may be the main obstacle hampering the reaching of the targets of shipping industry decarbonization. Such a scenario could significantly slow down the stepping up process of greening the global supply chains.

Purpose:The aim of the article is to identify and determine the contemporary role of a sea freight forwarder in the face of changing global supply chains. To this end, the article refers to the results of literature studies as well as to previous research and observations derived from business practice in the area of integrated reporting. Design/methodology/approach: The article presents a statistical analysis of reported demand figures for freight services in Poland. In addition, a SWOT analysis was performed to determine the changing role of freight forwarders. The methodology is supplemented by a case study of the global logistics operator A.P. Møller-Maersk active in the freightforwarding market. Findings: The increasing demand for transport services has prompted the freightforwarding sector to evolve. Currently, the freight forwarder is no longer a contractor of just one service, but is involved across a comprehensive supply chain, while the industry is already seeing dynamic changes in how it brings together clients and suppliers. The current transformations pose a threat to freight forwarders, as leading shipping operators such as Maersk are expanding the scope of their activities to include freight forwarding. Practical Implications: The research findings point to the topicality of the problem, where ship owners are choosing to deal with clients directly, therefore bypassing sea freight forwarders. This is evidenced by Maersk's 2021 initiative to launch an online platform integrating supply chains where the mediation of a sea freight forwarder would become irrelevant. Originality/Value: The research presented in the article contributes to the current literature output on integrated reporting by using the novel data about the forwarding services market.

The aim of this article is to show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on electricity consumption and, consequently, on decisions regarding the installation of photovoltaic panels using the example of a selected local authority in Poland—the Szemud Municipality. The analysis was conducted in 2022 and covered the years 2019–2021. An attempt was made to explore the factors that may have triggered an increase in the use of solar energy in households and identify the determinants of installing photovoltaic panels in the period under analysis. Previous analyses of the PV market (and the impact of the pandemic on it) have so far focused on the market as a whole, either in macro or global terms, while studies on smaller municipalities have been limited to examining changes in electricity consumption levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and during lockdown. Therefore, a research gap was identified in that there are no studies analyzing the reasons for the shift from conventional to PV-assisted energy in households, with the COVID-19 pandemic as the background of these changes. The literature research showed that there are currently no studies attempting to establish a link between the increased interest in this type of energy by local authorities and the COVID-19 pandemic. The research confirmed the hypothesis of increased interest in household PV during the pandemic. The main conclusions of the study boil down to the need for further support as well as promotion of the use of solar energy. In addition, the results derived from the empirical research indicate the need to take action at a policy level to counter adverse trends regarding undesirable social behavior.