This paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of how banks apply artificial intelligence (AI) in digital and mobile banking to implement and communicate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies, with particular emphasis on environmental dimensions of sustainable finance. The study adopts a mixed methodological approach combining desk research, encompassing a synthesis of academic studies, industry reports, and European regulatory frameworks on AI and ESG, and case study analysis of selected banks implementing AI-based sustainability solutions. The findings reveal that AI supports ESG strategy implementation primarily through green investment recommendations, carbon footprint analytics, automated sustainability reporting, and ethical communication with clients. AI-driven tools enhance the operational efficiency, transparency, and customer engagement of financial institutions while simultaneously fostering low-carbon financial behaviors. However, the study also highlights ethical and governance challenges related to algorithmic transparency, data bias, and responsible AI oversight. The paper contributes to the growing body of literature on AI-driven digital transformation and sustainable finance by identifying research gaps and outlining future directions for exploring the role of AI in accelerating the transition of the banking sector.

The study aimed to evaluate whether the regional funds allocated for energy efficiency and renewable energy are related to the quantity of air pollutants discharged and the stage of regional development, and whether the evidence of convergence of regional levels of renewable energy electricity generation can be provided. A comparative analysis of financial instrument implementation within regional programmes was conducted, with a particular focus on instruments dedicated to enhancing energy efficiency and utilising renewable energy. To verify the research hypotheses, statistical coefficients of correlation and concentration, along with trend and econometric models were applied. The findings have confirmed the rise in regional funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy, along with the growing importance of financial instruments in transforming the energy sector. The hypotheses that air pollutant emissions per unit of GDP generated are decreasing, there exists a regional convergence of renewable energy production per capita, and the spatial accumulation of renewable energy production is declining, have been confirmed. No correlation was found between the regional economic development and the level of funds allocated to energy efficiency and renewable energy. The lack of such relationships provides a convincing argument for appropriate state regulation.

Measures taken to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy involved spending public funds in a different way than was planned in the budgets of public sector units. National and local governments around the world introduced measures to limit the spread of the virus, translating, among other things, into restrictions on the activities of economic entities. This situation has resulted, on the one hand, in a reduction of both tax and fee revenues and other public and legal charges not only to the state budget, but also to the various levels of territorial sector units, and, on the other hand, in increased spending by these institutions. It has become a common opinion that the pandemic has affected the financial condition of local government units, but there is a lack of analysis in the literature at the level of provinces, which are financed differently than the municipal level in Poland. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial condition of local government provinces in Poland as depicted by fundamental budget indicators. The analysis showed that based on indicators that, according to theory, should describe the financial situation of territorial sector units, in emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, do not reflect the actual picture. Our considerations indicate that certain theoretical assumptions are not suitable for “difficult times”. If one were to base only on numbers and theory, one would be led to the erroneous conclusion that the pandemic did not financially affect territorial sector units at the regional (provincial) level. Działania podejmowane poprzez każdą jednostkę samorządu terytorialnego (JST) w celu minimalizowania wpływu pandemii COVID-19 na gospodarkę wiązały się z koniecznością wydatkowania środków publicznych w inny sposób niż było to zaplanowane w budżetach tych jednostek. Powszechna stała się opinia, że pandemia wpłynęła na kondycję finansową JST, brak jednak analiz na poziomie województw, które są finansowane inaczej niż gminy. Za cel pracy przyjęto ocenę wpływu pandemii COVID-19 na kondycję finansową województw samorządowych w Polsce obrazowaną przez podstawowe wskaźniki budżetowe. Analiza pokazała, że opieranie się na wskaźnikach, które według teorii powinny obrazować sytuację finansową JST, w sytuacjach nadzwyczajnych, jak pandemia COVID-19, nie oddaje faktycznego obrazu sytuacji.

The Use of Microfinance to Mitigate Financial Exclusion

Diverse measures related to the electrification of transport fleets have been implemented in many countries due to the increasing consumption of fossil fuels and their negative impact on the climate and human health. Such transformation is effective if electric energy is sourced from renewable sources. The rate of transport electrification is determined mainly by legislative and financial incentives, charging infrastructure density, and fuel price. The main aims of the study are to present financial support for investments in low-emission transport infrastructure and to provide forecasts of the fleet of urban electric buses and the expected demand for electricity consumed by them in Poland. The main source of data was statistical reports published by Statistics Poland. Because the available sample was short, basic statistical models were used. The results obtained indicate the stable growth of investments in regional low-emission transport infrastructure, characterized by strong heterogeneity. The foreseen number of electric buses in urban public transport in the realistic variants ranges between 1486 and 1626. In the optimistic variants, the forecast values are significantly higher. However, they can only be achieved if there is a significant increase in investment. The electricity demand forecast for the realistic variant shows a demand of 341,266.50 MWh.

The key factor in the process of innovativeness development is competences. In order to even out the development level which differs from region to region, and to stimulate the European economy as a whole, experts emphasise the need to intensify actions taken by academics and recommend that the concept of lifelong learning (LLL) should be implemented to the widest possible extent, indicating which of the competences should be considered as the key ones. At the same time, the technological leap will convert the labour market and the occupational inclusion of society. The desired employee is a knowledge-based employee, also an e-leader, who combines business, analytical and IT competences. Slightly surreptitiously, in the context of competence management under the LLL concept the authors of the study bring to the foreground education of children and youths – which is a “short” version of long-life learning. In this way, they want to underline the role of education that takes place outside school (or in cooperation with the school), in the special form of non-formal education, i.e. at children’s universities. They present the research findings in the area of economic, financial and managerial education based on the example of the programme implemented at the University of Szczecin. The study also describes the innovative case of young project managers as an example of learning by playing, competences appreciated also in the world of adults.