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In the light of European energy-climate package and its measures for increasing security of supply, decreasing the impact on environment and stimulating sustainability, Croatia as a new EU (European Union) member state needs to reconsider and develop new energy policy towards energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Croatian long-term energy demand and its effect on the future national GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are analysed in this paper. For that purpose the NeD model was constructed (National energy demand model). The model is comprised out of six modules, each representing one sector: industry, transport, households, services, agriculture and construction. The model is based on bottom up approach. The analysis has shown that energy policy measures, identified through this paper, can potentially achieve energy savings up to 157 PJ in the year 2050, which presents a 40% decrease to referent (frozen efficiency) scenario. Results obtained in this paper were also compared to the Croatian National Energy Strategy for the years 2020 and 2030. It was shown that if already implemented policies were properly taken into account the actual final energy demand for the year 2030 would be 43% lower than projected by the Croatian National Energy Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lean-Green is a concept that associates value aggregation and efficiency in operational and environmental terms. This concept arises as a corollary effect of companies’ challenges for rethinking their goals and strategies in order to add more value while contributing to social equity and prevent environmental burdens. The eco-efficiency concept translates the idea of “creating more with less”, in order to reduce ecological impacts and resource intensity. Lean is a strategy that encompasses a wide variety of management practices, in an integrated system, to streamline business processes, minimize waste and improve financial performance. When Lean and Green are associated in the so called Lean-Green link, many of those savings also result in environmental benefits. This paper reports the ongoing effort to provide models for the Lean-Green integration. A comparative analysis of the few models identified is provided, and the most frequently used KPI acknowledged. Findings show the existence of a limited number of Lean-Green models, published from 2012, denoting a narrow breadth of dissemination. The fundamental goal of Lean-Green models was mostly found to be related to improve the systems productivity while reducing the environmental impacts. Integrate Lean-Green initiatives constitute a valuable approach to sustain and endure a greener industrial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Energy and climate change is a key priority issue mentioned by the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) which explicitly claims that “Control, reduce or stabilize GhG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions” is a crucial target for Mediterranean countries. This paper uses the integrated assessment model IFs (International Futures) to implement a scenario analysis to investigate the mitigation potential of Mediterranean regions. It analyzes if the Mediterranean regions will be able to reach the MSSD climate change target and recommends amendments of the MSSD to implement with effectiveness climate change policies in the Mediterranean area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on 25 years of involvement in a number of important and representative political decision-making processes in Denmark and other countries, this paper presents the unified learning of some of the institutional barriers one will meet when radical technological changes such as the replacement of fossil fuel with renewable energy are to be implemented, and how to overcome such barriers. On the one hand, the cases reveal the lack of ability of organisations and institutions linked to existing technologies to produce and promote proposals and alternatives based on radical changes in technology. On the other hand, the stabilisation of the Danish primary energy supply over more than three decades shows that the ability to act as a society has been possible despite conflicts with representatives of the old technologies. In Denmark, the description of concrete technological alternatives and alternative energy plans has played an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]