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This is a perspective, about the future climate policy of Pakistan, to improve the harvest of Green Climate Funds (GCF). This paper takes upon the calculation of climate financing potential in the context of the energy sector of Pakistan by estimating the potential of becoming a net-zero sector in Pakistan's Economy. The study has identified several options for the government to reallocate the energy mix and tie the energy demand targets with climate targets for a green future of Pakistan. The study has used basic excel tools to calculate facts from the available data sets in Pakistan. The study found that, if Pakistan chooses to shift from dirty sources of energy production to the use of cleaner inputs for energy production, Pakistan can generate a significant amount of climate finance by reducing the emissions from energy production, which are recordable, traceable, and can be evaluated by any of the third-party evaluating organization. The initial cost for Pakistan will cause some discrepancies in some of the macroeconomic indicators and may also cause budget imbalances it will surely help the economy to achieve the targets of becoming a net-zero economy and be able to harvest Green Climate Funds in long term with much faster rate, which can overpass the investments made or being made in this sector and will create a significant amount jobs in the economy, which will be green jobs, promoting environmental friendly output and sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the climate change background, green manufacturing is a critical path to realizing a low-carbon economy. The role of green products from manufacturing in economy-wide green transition has been discussed in the literature. In contrast, innovation in the industrial process, an important driver of climate change, has seldom been studied. This paper investigates the impact of green production process innovation on green manufacturing production using a fixed-effect SFA model. Furthermore, we discuss whether the impact of green production process innovation is conditioned on the economic development level, using a newly developed partial linear functional model. The results show that green production process innovation benefits green manufacturing, promoting sectoral carbon and energy efficiency. This paper further proposes policy implications, based on the findings that the green production process innovation's marginal effects vary with economic development level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the process of adapting the Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit to develop a course specifically for the archive sector, Carbon Literacy for Archives, Records and Special Collections. This toolkit was launched to the sector in spring 2024. It discusses why carbon literacy (CL) is important, covering the benefits, co-benefits and what CL is. It examines the impact of carbon literacy training (CLT) on greenhouse gas emission and energy use reduction, and why CLT is so effective in generating the transformational behavioural change that is needed to create a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on provincial panel data from 2000 to 2014, this paper measured the total factor energy efficiency by adopting the dynamic slacks-based measure model, and then employed the spatial econometric model to analyze the impact of regional mitigation of carbon dioxide on energy efficiency from both intra-regional and inter-regional perspectives in China. The results show the following: first, the average of total factor energy efficiency presents a rising trend from 2000 to 2014, and it shows a significant difference among regions. Second, the direct effect of carbon productivity on energy efficiency is positive, but the indirect effect is negative. The share ratio of direct and indirect effects is 1: −0.96; the total effect is positive but insignificant. Based on this conclusion, the paper provides some relevant policy suggestions and measures for regionally saving energy resources and relieving environmental constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential energy policies for individual dwellings predominantly provide minimum design standards for thermal performance and energy efficiency on a square metre basis. This paper quantifies predicted dwelling energy use on a national scale to enable evaluation of the effectiveness of this policy model. Utilizing Australia as a case study, analysis of 580,956 thermal energy design certificates for new detached dwellings verifies that, although minimum energy efficiency design standards were achieved, predicted energy use for thermal comfort increased by 10.4% per dwelling and 5.6% nationally in 2022 compared to 2018. The study examines the impact of both the number and floor area of new dwellings on dwelling energy use and highlights the disparate jurisdictional outcomes resulting from inconsistent implementation of national policy across multi-state governance. To deliver reductions in household energy use it is imperative that residential energy policies target household energy use, rather than only energy efficiency, of new dwellings, of which floor area is a key determinant. Furthermore, to achieve global climate change objectives, there is a need for complementary policy mechanisms that consider the collective energy use of the residential dwelling sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper set out to show the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on smallholders through the lens of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ways to keep smallholders on the 2030 agenda. Descriptive statistical analysis of quantitative secondary data is applied to investigate the issues in question across world regions. Increasing energy and food demand have triggered greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with effects on the environment, socio-economic and related sectors. If unchecked, climate change will jeopardize progress towards SDGs' agenda of ending hunger and poverty by 2030. COVID-19 exacerbates the underlying climate change impacts compromising food and water security. The widespread famines of Biblical proportions caused by COVID-19 effects are likely to cause more deaths than the virus. Improvement of water availability and food production is crucial to ending hunger and poverty. There is a need to strengthen smallholders' adaptation and mitigation capacity through cooperatives' platforms thereby reach out to smallholders who are the furthest first. International cooperation is urgent to support smallholders' adaptation of climate-smart agriculture to reduce GHG emissions thereby subdue climate impacts resulting in higher productivity, food security, poverty reduction and sustainable development. Cooperatives need support to facilitate adaptation and mitigation by applying site-specific technology to local needs and possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cuajimalpa campus of the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) is located in the western region of Mexico City. In 2016, its global average population (students, faculty and staff) was around 2750 people. Campus policies include sustainability as one of its main aims. To evaluate and eventually reduce the environmental impact of the campus, its greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory was assessed and the carbon footprint was calculated, using the GHG protocol (GHGP): Scope 1: direct GHG emissions; Scope 2: indirect GHG emissions; and Scope 3: other indirect GHG emissions, on a calendar year basis. Scope 1 includes mobile and stationary sources and leakage of refrigerants; Scope 2 includes electrical energy usage; Scope 3 includes consumption of paper, food, water, gases, cleaning products, solvents, wastewater treatment, municipal and hazardous wastes and academic travel. In 2016, the campus produced around 3000 tons of CO2 equivalent, with Scope 1, 2 and 3 accounting for 4%, 24% and 72%, respectively. Emissions analysis by activity indicated 51% for commuting; 24% for electricity usage; 14% for academic travel; 11% for other activities. The inventory will aid the establishment of policies for reduction and mitigation of GHG, resulting in environmental and potential economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliance on petroleum derivatives and the increasing trend of fuel consumption in the transport sector have brought attention to biofuels as a measure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhance energy security and boost economic development. The incentive for utilizing biofuels is their potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to fossil fuels. Biofuels are considered to be carbon-neutral, regarding the direct CO2 emissions associated with their combustion, on the grounds that the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants through photosynthesis is equivalent to the CO2 released during their combustion. However, a part of the carbon of biofuels may have a fossil origin and therefore, it is responsible for "non-neutral" CO2 emissions. This was recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its guidelines for greenhouse gas inventories. Nevertheless, specific guidance of how to estimate fossil CO2 emissions per each type of biofuel, in order to facilitate the work of emission inventory compilers and practitioners, is neither available in the IPCC guidelines nor in the scientific literature. The purpose of this paper is to define a higher tier method to estimate the associated CO2 emissions with the fossil carbon content of biofuels, aiming to cover all possible biofuel types that are mainly used nowadays to replace diesel and gasoline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency policies can help to reduce energy use and mitigate the effects of climate change. This paper examines the U.S. and Chinese economies by applying HEM to both. Key sectors absorbing more energy from other sectors by purchasing intermediate products from them and, simultaneously, transferring more energy by selling products to the rest of the sectors are identified. This provides insights for decision-making on appropriate energy efficiency policies. It appears that the U.S. economy should focus on the service sector, and the Chinese should focus on the industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for energy in the building sector drives the need for change from fossil fuels to environment-friendly power sources which can also mitigate the effect of global warming and climate change. One of the initiatives to knock down the peak load and energy demand in buildings is stepping toward energy-efficient buildings for a sustainable future. This paper aims to review the fundamental aspects for approaching net zero energy consumption buildings (nZECB) keeping into consideration the effect of building physics and challenges faced in the pathway and its feasibility. Also, it addresses various policies and plans that can dramatically change the future of developing nations like India toward a zero-emissions energy system. Considering all the facts, this study suggests inflating our focus beyond direct energy use and opt for hybridized clean energy sources and enhance the constructional parameters for a better, greener, and cleaner future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current approach to retrofit has failed to deliver the promised reductions in energy use in the built environment, but it has exposed many historic buildings to maladaptation, and is threatening many more. This paper argues that the problem rests in a classic misalignment between the intentions behind retrofitting, and the means being used to assess retrofit options. Underlying issues include a poor understanding of how buildings were designed and operated before the Industrial Revolution radically changed our approaches to materials, construction, and use. This pre-carbon past still has much to teach us, with lessons that can be integrated with the best of the modern tools. But this requires careful planning for the long term, together with a much more flexible approach to modelling and assessment. This paper suggests a simple approach that might be used to unlock whole-life energy or carbon assessment, encouraging feedback and sharing of knowledge to achieve the rapid improvement needed to tackle the climate emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the dynamic causal relationships between carbon emissions, deadweight tonnage (DWT) of the total global shipping fleet, fuel oil consumption, and economic activities for marine transportation using cointegration, error-correction, and Granger causality techniques. The intensity of carbon emissions and energy consumption, in addition to the elasticity of emissions and DWT, is discussed. It is concluded that (1) there exist long-run relationships between these variables for the period of 1980 and 2006; (2) the higher levels of economic activities induce more DWT growth than the growth ofemissions; and (3) the fuel oil consumption is a weak exogenous variable to produce theemissions. This paper also found that the cost of mitigation is increasing, and thus carbon finance is likely to become more common in the future. These results also provide policy recommendations to combat climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Given climate change and rapid global development, buildings must meet increasingly stringent environmental performance goals. Although numerous building simulation software assess energy performance, few inform the early stages of design when critical decisions impacting energy use and carbon footprint are made. Underrepresented early design simulation software could potentially significantly improve the environmental performance of buildings. This paper presents the SEED Framework for multi-objective early design decision-making that utilizes EnergyPlus-based building energy, structural finite element analysis, and Radiance-based daylighting simulations. When furnished with basic inputs, the SEED Framework generates numerous design options ranked by energy use, embodied carbon, construction cost, and daylighting metrics. A case study of a hypothetical mid-sized office building modelled in the Boston, Washington D.C., and Phoenix, USA climates demonstrates how the framework can guide decisions throughout pre- and schematic design phases. This framework aims to assist architects in designing high performance buildings within project and budgetary constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the role of measures oriented to energy savings in residential buildings in the economic development at the regional level. The aim of the paper is to estimate overall socio-economic impact of energy saving renovation measures in the Croatian urban areas. Impact assessment is based on input–output methodology which is able to quantify direct and indirect effects of investment in the energy saving projects on the economic activity and employment. Gross output, gross value added and employment multipliers for building renovation projects are estimated to be in the range 2.5–2.9. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The research and evaluation needs to support radical decarbonisation in the built environment are examined for the UK. Since buildings account for approximately 40% of UK energy demand, energy use in buildings will need to be transformed if ambitious climate policy objectives are to be met. In the context of wider energy system change, the needs are for greater efficiency, greater use of electric technologies such as heat pumps as electricity become cleaner, and the use of renewable heat such as biomass. At the same time, the introduction of smart technology offers new opportunities to measure and evaluate changes in demand patterns and the impact of policy interventions. The paper notes that the technical and social dimensions of radical decarbonisation are intimately intertwined. Therefore, social and economic research has a vital role to play in supporting the design and implementation of effective policy, taking advantage of new data-collection opportunities. Drawing on lessons from other policy domains, the paper explores the role that rigorous policy evaluation techniques, little used in the energy domain, could play. It identifies a range of concerns, relating to the political sphere, policy delivery and consumer acceptance, that would need to be addressed. Il est procédé à l'examen pour le Royaume-Uni des besoins en matière de recherche et d'évaluation pour appuyer une décarbonisation radicale dans le cadre bâti. Etant donné que les bâtiments représentent 40 % environ de la demande énergétique britannique, la consommation d'énergie dans les bâtiments devra être transformée si l'on veut atteindre des objectifs ambitieux en matière de politique climatique. Dans le contexte d'une évolution plus large du système énergétique, les besoins portent sur une efficacité accrue, une plus grande utilisation de technologies électriques telles que les pompes à chaleur au fur et à mesure que l'électricité devient plus propre, et l'utilisation d'une source de chaleur renouvelable telle que la biomasse. Dans le même temps, l'introduction des technologies intelligentes offre de nouvelles possibilités de mesurer et d'évaluer les changements intervenant dans les schémas de la demande et l'impact des interventions de politique. L'article note que les aspects techniques et sociaux d'une décarbonisation radicale sont intimement liés. En conséquence, les travaux de recherche dans le domaine social et économique ont un rôle essentiel à jouer dans l'appui à apporter à la conception et à la mise en oeuvre d'une politique efficace, en tirant parti des nouvelles possibilités de collecte de données. Tirant les enseignements des autres domaines d'intervention politique, l'article examine le rôle que pourraient jouer les techniques rigoureuses d'évaluation des politiques, peu utilisées dans le domaine de l'énergie. Il identifie un éventail de préoccupations, en rapport avec la sphère politique, la mise en oeuvre des politiques et leur acceptation par les consommateurs, auxquelles il conviendrait d'apporter des réponses. Mots clés: bâtiments, changement climatique, efficacité énergétique, énergie, mesures politiques, chaleur renouvelable, recherche et évaluation, programme de recherche [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the issue of energy use and climate change is at the forefront of many national and international agendas, and also an issue central to children's lives and well-being. This paper examines how children are both affected by and contribute to the problems associated with unsustainable energy use as it relates to the growth of car dependent lives. The paper presents the findings of a study of travel as it relates to the everyday lives of children in the city of Dunedin in New Zealand. The study found that children currently lead complex car dependent lives. This extensive car reliance presents a serious and largely unrecognised challenge to the sustainable planning and management of the urban environment. The move towards more sustainable transportation can bring benefits for both the environment and for children's lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues raised by the papers in the Building Research & Information special issue titled 'Climate Change: National Building Stocks' (2007) include the need for an explicitly engineering vision of low-energy and low-carbon futures, the need to develop detailed, dynamic models of the interactions between building stocks and energy supply systems, the importance of data in supporting both the development and the implementation of roadmaps to low-carbon futures, the likely role of micro-generation in low-carbon futures, and the phenomenon of rebound and its implications for energy-efficiency technologies. There appears to be consensus on all but the last two. This paper proposes three alternatives to Saunders' formulation of the Khazzoom-Brookes postulate, based on the view that rebound is only likely to be a problem if energy-efficiency improvements are implemented in the absence of a carbon cap. The paper ends by reviewing the interactions between regulatory and economic environment, culture and technology, and their potential impacts on energy use and carbon emissions. Les questions soulevees par les articles du numero special de Building Research & Information intitule « Changement Climatique: le Parc Bati National » (2007) comprennent la necessite d'une vision permettant de concevoir explicitement un avenir a faible consommation d'energie et a faible emission de carbone, la necessite de developper des modeles dynamiques detailles des interactions entre le parc bati et les systemes d'approvisionnement en energie, l'importance de donnees permettant d'appuyer a la fois le developpement et la mise en œuvre de feuilles de route conduisant a un avenir a faible emission de carbone, le role probable de la micro-generation dans un avenir a faible emission de carbone, ainsi que le phenomene de rebond et ses implications pour les technologies a haut rendement energetique. Un consensus semble exister sur toutes ces questions, sauf les deux dernieres. Cet article propose trois alternatives a la formulation par Saunders du postulat de Khazzoom-Brookes, basees sur le point de vue selon lequel ce rebond n'est susceptible de poser probleme que si les ameliorations en matiere de rendement energetique sont mises en œuvre en l'absence d'un plafonnement du carbone. L'article se termine par l'examen des interactions entre l'environnement reglementaire et economique, la culture et la technologie, et leurs impacts potentiels sur l'utilisation d'energie et les emissions de carbone. Mots cles: parc bati, changement climatique, demolitions, consommation d'energie, rendement energetique, faible emission de carbone, mesures politiques, effet de rebond [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adds to the body of evidence demonstrating the efficacy of action learning to achieve measurable progress toward sustainability goals. It supports prior assertions that action and reflection develop the conditions of awareness, agency and association required to develop the circular economy. The early outcomes of a Business Resource Efficiency Program delivered in Tasmania, Australia, are presented and prompt us to revisit the true place of Questioning in Revans' Learning Equation. The findings add new insights to observations on the capabilities required for radical innovation to meet the challenges of disruptive times, and compel us to question the legitimacy of higher education as the solution to the really big problems of our age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reduction in the CO2 emission intensity (ton per gross domestic product) from a base year to a target year with different rates of reduction in each individual year can yield different cumulative CO2 emissions over time, which could have different effects on the climate. In this paper, an indicator is proposed to measure the extent to which the cumulative CO2 emissions are generated by a specific reduction trajectory of CO2 emission intensity, especially for emerging economies with a relatively higher economic growth rate. The proposed indicator is important for less-developed countries and regions in which economic growth is heavily reliant on energy and in which significant potential exists for improvement of energy efficiency. The indicator is applied to evaluate the CO2 emission reduction performance in China's 12th Five-Year Plan period, and the result is not encouraging, especially when the likely gap between the energy conservation goals and temperature goals is further examined. Mitigation goals should be set by considering not only the performance in the final year, but also the reduction in cumulative emissions over the evaluation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how societies change is core business for the social sciences and there is no shortage of theories about how transitions come about. Despite this reservoir of ideas, efforts to promote more sustainable patterns of consumer behaviour draw upon a remarkably narrow range of conceptual resources. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the potential and the relevance of paradigms that lie outside the dominant discourses and traditions of economics and psychology. The method is to detail the implications of a handful of key propositions anchored in a ‘strong’ interpretation of practice theory. By organising this discussion around an invented conversation between a fictional policy-maker and an equally fictional social scientist, the paper explores further questions regarding the role of social theory and evidence in contemporary policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, district heat networks have emerged as a key strategy for the UK government to achieve its 2050 decarbonization targets. Reports and analyses have focused on the technical and economic challenges of introducing networked heat provision in a country where this is a relatively novel energy service. Meanwhile, there has been little emphasis on the spatial and physical aspects of heat provision and their influence on the spatial development of cities. In this paper, we contribute to current debates on urban energy transitions with insights on the implications of heat networks to cities including scale, density, mixed-use, and materiality. The study reveals the embeddedness of energy services and the emergence of new forms of local governance that combine spatial and energy planning to realize new urban energy landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the Tokyo Metropolitan Emissions Trading Scheme (Tokyo ETS), Japan’s first emissions trading scheme with mandatory cap initiated by the government of Tokyo. Unlike trading schemes in other countries, the Tokyo ETS covers indirect emissions from the commercial sector. It is well known that a variety of market barriers impede full realization of energy efficiency opportunities, especially in the commercial sector. Experiences with the Tokyo ETS should therefore provide important lessons for the design of climate change mitigation policies, especially when targeting the commercial sector. The emissions from covered entities have been drastically reduced from those at the scheme’s outset, with an average 14% reduction as of the end of the first commitment period of five years (2010-2014) compared with 2009 levels. This paper shows that the Tokyo ETS alone did not cause these reductions; there were other drivers. Among them, the energy savings triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 were crucial. The contribution of credit trading, in contrast, was limited since most of the covered entities reduced emissions by themselves. Through an investigation of official reports, an assessment of the emissions data from the covered entities compared to those of uncovered entities and in-depth interviews with firms covered by the scheme, this paper confirms that the main drivers of emissions reductions by covered entities were separate from the ETS. In fact, the advisory aspect of the scheme seems to be much more important in encouraging energy-saving actions. Key policy insights Most of the observed emission reductions were not caused by the Tokyo ETS alone. An advisory instrument was crucial to the effectiveness of the Tokyo ETS. The experience of the Tokyo ETS suggests that making full use of the advantages of emissions trading is difficult in the case of the commercial sector. Price signals have not provided a stimulus to climate change mitigation actions, which implies that establishing a cap to yield effective carbon prices poses a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about municipal planning for energy reduction and climate change in conservative areas of the United States, where opposition to environmentalism is often vocal and persistent. This paper analyzes the experience of 31 municipalities in the Dallas-Fort Worth region of Texas implementing the federal energy efficiency and conservation block grant. A qualitative case study approach and extensive interviews with municipal staff yield a detailed description of the political discourse of energy issues and climate change planning. Many municipalities used the grant funds for necessary maintenance projects and had little impact on long-term energy independence or climate change leadership. A subset of municipalities expressed fear of citizen disapproval and some experienced significant opposition that changed or halted their efforts. Based on effective initiatives and common challenges, recommendations are made to foster energy and climate planning in conservative regions and improve implementation of national policies on the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current leisure mobility patterns are not sustainable. Because energy efficiency measures appear insufficient to accommodate predicted future volume growth, changes in transportation modes and volume are needed. Short-haul should be the preferred distance, public transportation the preferred mode and length of stay should increase rather than trip frequency. However, tourists are unwilling to adopt these changes. This paper proposes a new conceptual “three-gear model” demonstrating how happiness, travel motivations and perception of distance set barriers for desirable behavioral change. The model improves understanding of the gap between awareness of, and attitudes to, tourism mobility and the gap between environmentally friendly everyday behaviors and unsustainable vacation behaviors. The paper shows that happiness is integral to all stages of the tourist experience. Understanding happiness enhances the understanding of tourist behavior, and how it drives, via the speed–distance–demand loop, the three-stage model presented here. Key practical implications include the need for effective policies to break the speed–distance–demand loop, changes to transport infrastructure policies, and recognition of the role of happiness in sustainable tourism strategies. Theoretical contributions include a synthesis of theories to interrogate key behavioral gaps and a theoretical basis for future empirical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In recent years, there has been growing global recognition of the need to reduce carbon emissions in response to climate change concerns. It is generally acknowledged that the energy efficiency of existing homes can be improved, but there are significant barriers to its uptake. In particular improving the energy efficiency of private rental housing presents unique policy challenges due to a split-incentive problem. This has prompted some governments to introduce programmes that encourage landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. While landlords are responsible for the purchase of many energy-consuming household appliances, tenants are responsible for energy bills. Since the landlord does not reap the immediate benefits of investment in energy-efficient equipment, the incentives motivating such investment are weaker than for homeowners. This paper aims to quantify the magnitude of the split-incentive problem in the Australian private rental housing market by invoking a modelling approach where energy expenditure is estimated as a function of housing tenure, dwelling type, location, climate and other socio-demographic variables. We find no evidence in support of the split-incentive hypothesis in Australia. The paper concludes that differences in housing policy arrangements could be critical to the presence and importance of split incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and environmental issues have been increasingly in the forefront of the media and government agendas. However, despite much discussion and fanfare, little has been done in the way of serious commitment and clear course of actions since the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 to bring carbon emissions to sustainable levels. To tackle the immensity of the climate change challenge, a paradigm shift in understanding is necessary to balance the course of global human development with energy demand and consumption patterns. Accounting for over 40% of global energy demand and more than 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, the building sector offers the greatest mitigation potential for reducing carbon emissions in both the short and long term, with positive implications for a range of associated sectors and industries. Promoting behavioral change among end-users for reduced energy consumption as well as encouraging the building industry to embrace sustainable design, low-carbon construction practices and materials, and renewable technologies, is fundamental to mitigating the impact of the built environment on planetary biospheres and preserving quality of life for generations to come. This paper starts by drawing attention to the building sector and related EU policy, outlining the challenges and opportunities for reducing energy consumption and carbon emission levels. Such policy provides the essential framework to engage stakeholders and allow supporting factors to foster progress in the sector. The paper contends that information on climate change has not led to significant improvements in meeting global targets and that what is needed is behavioral change among individuals and society as a whole. On the basis of research project experiences and literature review, it puts forth and explores five key elements contributing to behavioral change for reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions in the building sector, focused on: information and education; financial incentives and energy services; modern technologies and sustainable design; social and community norms; and biophilia (contact with the natural environment). The paper suggests opportunities for further research and concludes with recommendations for policy-makers and related stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial and increasing amounts of funding are available for countries to undertake climate change interventions. This article argues that to ensure effective allocation of these resources, the selection and design of climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions should be based on evidence of what works, what doesn't work, under what circumstances and at what cost. Currently the evidence base on the impact of climate change interventions is minimal and there is a need for wider application of rigorous impact evaluation (IE) in the field. Climate change interventions have much to learn from experiences in related fields, notably international development and conservation. The paper highlights some of the challenges faced when conducting IEs of climate change interventions and discusses how these can be tackled. Moreover, it discusses some of the key areas of mitigation and adaptation interventions and suggests how IEs could be implemented, using IEs from other policy fields as examples. It argues that despite the limited experience so far there are ample opportunities to conduct IE of climate change interventions. If calls for increasing financing of climate change mitigation and adaptation by hundreds of billions of dollars a year are to remain credible and gain support, evidence of the effectiveness of current spending is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Methods for the environmental assessment and certification of ‘green’ buildings are increasingly being adopted by local governments and other entities as a means of meeting environmental, and often energy-related, goals. Literature on building environmental assessment has examined how these tools are interpreted by stakeholders in design and construction, but less attention has been paid to their interpretation and usage as objects of policy – despite this being a channel through which they have a potentially huge impact. Based on a case study of the emergence of green building in Israel, and drawing on socio-technical literatures, this paper explores the meanings attributed to building environmental assessment in the policy context. It finds that these meanings include a platform for divergent environmental goals and a proxy measure for greenhouse gas abatement. The analysis suggests that for policy-makers, the significance of green building lies not in its constituting a set of environmental benchmarks but as a standard that gains currency as a black-boxed policy object. An open discussion is needed on the various logics driving the use of green building tools in public policy, and what they hope to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and energy security are global challenges requiring concerted attention and action by all of the world’s countries. Under these conditions, energy supplier and exporter countries in the Middle East region are experiencing further challenges, such as increasing domestic energy demand while energy exports have to concurrently be kept at high levels. Middle East countries process the largest proven oil and gas reserves in the world and contribute a large fraction of the world’s CO2emissions from the use of these as fuels both domestically and internationally. This paper addresses different policies that could dramatically change the future course of the Middle East region toward a zero CO2emission energy system. To this aim, an integrated energy supply–demand model has been developed to analyze required commitments including renewable energy and energy efficiency targets and the potential of nuclear power, all of which should need to be considered in order to reduce CO2emissions by 2100. The results indicate that nearly 43% of the global energy of the Middle East region can be supplied from non-fossil fuel resources in 2100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating long-term vehicle ownership and energy use is essential for national transportation planning, especially for addressing policies regarding climate change. In this paper, long-term vehicle ownership and energy use in Korea is estimated according to income and fuel price scenarios. A modified form of a quasi-logistic growth function is employed to consider the causalities between vehicle ownership and independent variables. Vehicle ownership has been identified to be more sensitive to income change than to fuel price expectations. The likely fuel price increase evaluated in this research would not deter people from buying cars. This implies that future transportation energy conservation policies should be based more on transportation demand management (TDM)–type policies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Most policy instruments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have focused on producers, and on the energy efficiency of buildings, vehicles and other products. Behavioural changes related to climate change also impact 'in-use' emissions, and potentially, emissions both 'upstream' (including from imported goods) and 'downstream' (eg disposal). Consumption-oriented policies may provide avenues to additional and cost-effective emission reductions, but are less prevalent, in part because of political sensitivities around government efforts to shape individual-level mitigation behaviour. In this paper, we explore policy instruments for encouraging low carbon behaviour in the EU context. Drawing on a literature survey and interviews, as part of the EU Carbon-CAP project, we develop a list of 33 potential instruments, present a systematic methodology for assessing their potential impact and feasibility, and apply this to rank instruments of most interest. Most instruments involve a clear trade-off between their potential impact and feasibility; about half feature in the top three scoring categories, many being voluntary approaches, which may be easier to implement, but with limited or highly uncertain impact. However, we identify a handful of top-scoring instruments that deserve far more policy attention. The complexity of consumer and corporate motivations and behaviours suggests that instruments should be trialled and monitored (e.g. in regions / individual States) before widespread introduction. Most would also be most effective when nested within wider policy packages, to address the varied behavioural motivations and stages of supply chains. Key policy insights Influencing consumer behaviour has been little used in climate policy and is politically sensitive and complex, but can address emissions that have largely escaped influence to date. A few instruments stand out as particularly promising, including: technology lists; supply chain procurement by leading retail companies; a carbon-intensive materials consumption charge; and key infrastructure improvements. A common trade-off between potential impact and likely feasibility points to the importance of government-business collaboration to secure support and impact. More ambitious transformation would require a mix of production and consumption-oriented policy instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National security agencies of four major powers—the United States, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom—see their militaries taking on additional roles in domestic disaster relief because of the effects of global climate change. Otherwise, national security actors show drastically different responses to climate change. The US and Russian militaries are planning for a thawing of the Arctic; but outside the Arctic, Russia seems not to regard climate change as a serious national security issue. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China are studying the effect of rising sea levels on coastal military installations; Russia apparently is not. The United States and the United Kingdom have begun significant efforts to cut energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, but because of low domestic energy prices, the Russian military has few incentives to reduce energy consumption or increase alternative energy use. And out of deference to the government’s official position that climate change is a development rather than security issue, China’s military has largely limited its climate-related activities to mass tree planting and disaster relief. Regardless of their positions on climate change, national security entities in these four countries are not expressing much urgency or taking aggressive stands, in part due to the paucity of established knowledge about the connection between a warming climate and national security. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Population growth and the pressures spawned by increasing demands for energy and resource-intensive goods, foods, and services are driving unsustainable growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent GHG emission trends are consistent with worst-case scenarios of the previous decade. Dramatic and near-term emission reductions likely will be needed to ameliorate the potential deleterious impacts of climate change. To achieve such reductions, fundamental changes are required in the way that energy is generated and used. New technologies must be developed and deployed at a rapid rate. Advances in carbon capture and storage, renewable, nuclear, and transportation technologies are particularly important; however, global research and development efforts related to these technologies currently appear to fall short relative to needs. Even with a proactive and international mitigation effort, humanity will need to adapt to climate change, but the adaptation needs and damages will be far greater if mitigation activities are not pursued in earnest. In this review, research is highlighted that indicates increasing global and regional temperatures and ties climate changes to increasing GHG emissions. GHG mitigation targets necessary for limiting future global temperature increases are discussed, including how factors such as population growth and the growing energy intensity of the developing world will make these reduction targets more challenging. Potential technological pathways for meeting emission reduction targets are examined, barriers are discussed, and global and U.S. modeling results are presented that suggest that the necessary pathways will require radically transformed electric and mobile sectors. While geoengineering options have been proposed to allow more time for serious emission reductions, these measures are at the conceptual stage with many unanswered cost, environmental, and political issues. Implications: This paper lays out the case that mitigating the potential for catastrophic climate change will be a monumental challenge, requiring the global community to transform its energy system in an aggressive, coordinated, and timely manner. If this challenge is to be met, new technologies will have to be developed and deployed at a rapid rate. Advances in carbon capture and storage, renewable, nuclear, and transportation technologies are particularly important. Even with an aggressive international mitigation effort, humanity will still need to adapt to significant climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased political attention towards the built environment and its relationship to climate change has resulted in stricter building codes and mandatory energy labelling of dwellings. How is this issue reflected in the marketing process? Based on a study of online housing advertisements in Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, respectively, an analysis examines which qualities dwelling advertisements emphasize, and how energy issues are addressed. Informed by theories of markets and the performativity of economics, insights are generated on how advertisements frame dwellings as objects of transaction and to what extent energy is made a subject of concern. The analysis demonstrates that the housing advertisements represent ‘qualculation devices’ specifically inviting consumers to engage in quality-based considerations about the dwelling. Dominant ‘modes of qualculation’ are: ‘aesthetics’, ‘comfort’ and ‘convenience’. Energy is only visible as comfort and convenience, while issues concerning energy conservation or low energy performance are omitted as qualculation possibilities. By analysing advertisements through the concepts of ‘framing’ and ‘qualculation’, this paper provides insights into the performativity of advertisements and the challenges of making energy saving or low energy performance visible in the marketing process. L'attention accrue des politiques à l'égard du cadre bâti et de ses relations avec le changement climatique a entraîné des codes de la construction plus stricts et un étiquetage énergie obligatoire des habitations. Comment cette question est-elle représentée dans le processus de commercialisation ? Sur la base d'une étude des annonces immobilières en ligne respectivement en Norvège, en Suède et au Royaume-Uni, une analyse examine les qualités mises en avant par ces annonces immobilières, et la manière dont les questions énergétiques sont traitées. Grâce à l'éclairage apporté par les théories des marchés et de la performativité de l'économie, il est généré de nouvelles perspectives, qu'il s'agisse de la manière dont les logements se trouvent cadrés en tant qu'objets de transaction par les annonces ou de la mesure dans laquelle il est fait de l'énergie un sujet de préoccupation. L'analyse démontre que les annonces immobilières représentent des « dispositifs de qualculation » invitant spécifiquement les consommateurs à entrer dans des considérations d'ordre qualitatif sur le logement. Les « modes de qualculation » dominants sont : l' « esthétique », le « confort » et la « commodité ». L'énergie n'est visible qu'en termes de confort et de commodité, alors que les questions relatives à la conservation de l'énergie ou aux performances basse consommation sont omises en tant que possibilités de « qualculation ». En analysant les annonces à travers les concepts de « cadrage » et de « qualculation», cet article apporte des perspectives nouvelles concernant la performativité des annonces et les enjeux liés à la nécessité de rendre les économies d'énergie ou les performances basse consommation visibles dans le processus de commercialisation. Mots clés: information du consommateur, consommation énergétique, logement, annonces immobilières, informations sur le marché, performativité, marchés immobiliers, dispositifs de « qualculation » [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat demand reduction mitigates the negative consequences of energy use. Recent reduction potential analyses have focused on city or country levels, yet European rural areas also show considerable heat consumption, although they have rarely been investigated. This paper locates the major residential heat consumers in rural areas and identifies the related building types. The case of the rural, pre-alpine Swiss canton (state) of Appenzell Ausserrhoden with 20 municipalities is used for analysis. Its current demand patterns are examined with respect to buildings' construction periods, heating system types and energy carriers. Spatial differences, especially between nucleated (densely settled) villages and dispersed settlements, are observed. Specific final heat demand per heated area and occupant is similar in both settlement types, equalling 0.5 GJ/m2/year and 32 GJ/cap/year. In terms of specific useful heat demand, buildings in nucleated villages consume one-tenth more than in dispersed settlements, and in nucleated villages up to 86% of that heat stems from fossil fuels. Thus, to increase import independence and demand equality, and mitigate climate change, these buildings should be primary targets. The results provide a foundation for creating efficient, evidence-based policy for heat demand reduction in rural municipalities but should be coupled with investigating socio-economic, epistemic and cultural aspects of heat demand. La réduction de la demande de chauffage atténue les conséquences négatives de l'utilisation de l'énergie. Les analyses récentes sur le potentiel de réduction ont surtout porté sur la consommation de chauffage au niveau des villes ou au niveau des pays. Les zones rurales européennes représentent pourtant également une consommation de chauffage considérable, bien qu'elles aient rarement été étudiées. Cet article localise les principaux consommateurs résidentiels de chauffage des zones rurales et identifie les types de bâtiments concernés. Le cas du canton suisse rural préalpin d'Appenzell Rhodes-Extérieures [Appenzell Ausserrhoden], qui comprend 20 municipalités, est utilisé pour l'analyse. Ses schémas actuels en matière de demande sont examinés sous l'angle des périodes de construction, des types de systèmes de chauffage et des vecteurs énergétiques des bâtiments. Des différences spatiales sont observées, en particulier entre les villages à habitat groupé (densément peuplés) et les habitats dispersés. La demande de chauffage spécifique finale par superficie chauffée et par occupant est similaire dans les deux types d'habitat, équivalant à 0,5 GJ/m2/an et à 32 GJ/habitant/an. En termes de demande de chauffage utile spécifique, les bâtiments des villages à habitat groupé consomment un dixième de plus que ceux des habitats dispersés, et dans les villages à habitat groupé jusqu'à 86 % de ce chauffage provient de combustibles fossiles. Par conséquent, pour accroître l'indépendance à l'égard des importations et l'égalité de la demande, et pour atténuer le changement climatique, ces bâtiments devraient être les cibles principales. Les résultats obtenus posent les bases d'une politique efficace, fondée sur des données probantes, de réduction de la demande de chauffage dans les municipalités rurales, mais devraient êtres combinés avec une analyse des aspects socio-économiques, épistémologiques et culturels de la demande de chauffage. parcs bâtis habitats dispersés réduction de la consommation d'énergie des ménages réduction de la demande de chauffage parc de logements zone rurale villages à habitat groupé [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a three-pronged multidisciplinary framework for current and future study on building stock in India. It highlights the significance of international research collaborations to find solutions to to the energy and climate change challenges in the country. It refers to the role of data in developing a knowledge base for policy and research.

This paper addresses the influence of the climate change scenarios predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) for Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region on the energy efficiency of light-weight steel residential buildings. A performance-based approach is adopted to carry out this assessment using advanced dynamic simulation of the operational energy performance. Based on a typical Portuguese cold-formed steel residential building, a representative numerical model is calibrated against normative requirements for dynamic simulation of thermal behaviour and sophisticated computational fluid dynamics models. Considering climate change scenarios predicted by the IPCC, a parametric study is carried out to assess the influence of climate change on the energy efficiency of light-weight steel residential buildings representative of a warm temperate summer dry climatic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change mitigation action is hampered by systematic under-assessment of national ‘fair shares’, largely on the basis of perceived national interests. This paper aims to inform discussions centred on South Africa’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) by estimating (1) emissions reduction pathways for the country using the Climate Equity Reference Calculator (CERC) assuming a maximum 2°C aggregate warming target and (2) the likely economy-wide net mitigation costs or savings associated with reaching these pathways if known lower-cost mitigation measures, identified through the national mitigation potential analysis, are prioritised. The cumulative net savings associated with achieving the CERC ‘fair share’ emissions pathway, assuming the moderate use of low carbon power generation measures, would reach $5.3 billion by 2030. Net savings could be substantially greater reaching $46.8 billion by 2030 assuming power generation focuses on moving towards full decarbonisation. An unconditional commitment to the mitigation action implied by the ‘fair share’ emissions pathway therefore seems reasonable and prudent purely from the point of view of net country-wide savings. Only if power generation moves towards full decarbonisation would there be a reasonable chance of achieving the more ambitious CERC domestic emissions pathway. However, the significant additional cost associated with achieving the domestic emissions pathway should be conditional on international assistance. Key policy insights South Africa can only achieve its ‘fair share’ of the global mitigation effort if greater use is made of renewable energy options, and can realise significant net savings if it does so. Further emissions reductions would incur costs and require significant upscaling of the share of renewable energy and full implementation of all non-power generation mitigation measures available. Committing to this further mitigation action contingent on international finance would both strengthen the nation’s position in climate negotiations and support the provision of finance for those vulnerable developing nations that bear little or no responsibility for climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the most obvious measure to combat greenhouse gas emissions is to remove the vast subsidies that promote higher energy consumption in more than half of the countries in the world, and that this measure should take precedence over many others. The article discusses also why removing energy subsidies is so difficult, and which type of state may succeed. This question is examined with reference to China, India and Russia, all major contributors to global warming. Non-democratic governments and energy importers might be expected to be more likely to halt subsidies. In fact, energy trade imbalances do not seem to significantly affect the capacity to reduce subsidies. The risk of social unrest is a political restraint in all three countries. Perhaps surprisingly, democratic states may be better positioned to remove subsidies than non-democratic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Building Research & Information special issue titled 'Climate Change: National Building Stocks' (2007) focused attention on the potential that the national building stock has in reducing CO2 emissions. However, can this potential be realized? To do so requires faith in energy models that suggest that demolition, new build, and the refurbishing of existing homes with insulation measures can deliver massive energy savings by 2050. But why, in the future, can there be increased efficiency and reduced consumption, when this has never occurred in the past? It is argued that the central weakness in the special issue papers is the neglect of the relationship between energy consumption and energy efficiency, and of the 'rebound effect'. The primary goal, should after all, be to reduce carbon emissions rather than energy use. Hence, emphasis should be placed on decarbonizing the centralized energy-supply systems. However, there will be a role here for micro-generation, building on the favourable image that energy efficiency has amongst the public. In 2050, we may be a low-carbon society, but I doubt we will be a low-energy one. Le numero special de Building Research & Information intitule « Changement Climatique: le Parc Bati National » (2007) a attire l'attention sur le potentiel de reduction des emissions de CO2 que possede le parc bati national. Cependant, ce potentiel peut-il etre realise? Pour y parvenir, il faut se fier a des modeles energetiques qui suggerent que les demolitions, les constructions neuves et une renovation des logements existants s'accompagnant de mesures d'isolation peuvent assurer des economies d'energie massives d'ici a 2050. Mais pourquoi y aurait-il a l'avenir un accroissement du rendement energetique et une reduction de la consommation, alors que cela ne s'est jamais produit par le passe? Il est argumente que le point faible central des articles de ce numero special reside dans le fait qu'il n'est tenu compte ni de la relation entre consommation d'energie et rendement energetique, ni de « l'effet de rebond». Le but premier devrait etre, apres tout, de reduire les emissions de carbone plutot que d'utiliser de l'energie. De sorte que l'accent devrait etre mis sur la decarbonisation des systemes centralises d'approvisionnement energetique. Neanmoins, il y aura la un role a jouer pour la micro-generation, en tirant parti de l'image favorable que possede le rendement energetique aupres du public. En 2050, nous serons peut-etre une societe a faible emission de carbone, mais je doute que nous devenions une societe a faible consommation d'energie. Mots cles: parc bati, changement climatique, demolitions, consommation d'energie, rendement energetique, faible emission de carbone, mesures politiques, effet de rebond [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of climate change political goals concern a reduction in total energy consumption and to use energy more efficiently. To achieve this, users need to transform their behaviour and start reflecting on their energy use. This paper discusses three different methods for visualising energy use, namely information tools, keeping time-diaries and using the 'Power-Aware Cord'. Each method has its pros and cons, but combining different methods could prove a useful way to draw attention to household energy use and the possibilities for energy reduction. By combining the data gained from the different methods, it will be more likely that strategies will be found that are better suited to people's behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International concern about the environmental implications of climate change coupled with increasing demand for energy to fuel modern society has lead to growing interest in using renewable energy sources as alternatives to conventional sources. The work presented in this paper compares two types of solar collector integrated into louvred shading devices. In addition to protecting glazed spaces in buildings from excessive solar gain, the collector would provide the flexibility to produce systems customized for collecting heat over a temperature-range appropriate to particular building services applications at various climates/locations. This would allow considerable savings to be made in primary energy consumption and lead to a reduction in global warming impact. Two solar absorbers, based on different techniques of heat exchange, were tested experimentally. The first was based on a direct heat exchange technique, and the second used heat pipe technology. Various comparisons were made and it was concluded that the heat pipe solar louvre collector was the preferred device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the world, with potentially about two thirds of total Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) for Asia on the world carbon market (Gruetter, 2002). Since 68% of its primary energy is from coal, China's average energy intensity is 7.5 times higher than the EU and 4.3 times higher than the US (EU, 2003). Therefore, introducing advanced clean technologies and management to China represents opportunities for Annex I countries to obtain low-cost CERs through CDM projects, and access to one of the largest potential energy conservation markets in the world. CDM can provide a win-win solution for both China and Annex I countries, and the Chinese government considers that the introduction of CDM projects can bring advanced energy technologies and foreign investment to China, thereby helping China's sustainable economy and generating CERs. As energy efficiency is generally low and carbon intensity is high in both China's energy supply and demand sectors, numerous options exist for cost-effective energy conservation and GHG mitigation with CDM. This paper reviews current Chinese policies and administrative and institutional settings for CDM cooperation, and discusses existing policy, institutional and other barriers in the energy market by drawing on observations and experience from previous initiatives such as Cleaner Production and energy efficiency. Some options to remove these barriers are addressed. In order to make CDM projects feasible, China's government needs to promote awareness, streamline administrative systems, and be more active in building a competitive edge in the world carbon market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of schemes to increase household energy efficiency have operated in the UK over the last 5-10 years. This paper evaluates their effectiveness in terms of reducing household energy use, carbon emissions and fuel poverty. It then draws on the quantitative results of these schemes, and published plans for their continuation, to model an extended and expanded Household Energy Efficiency Scenario to 2020, using an integrated economy-energy-environment model of the UK. The results suggest that while such schemes can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions from households, much more ambitious schemes than those currently implemented will be necessary to offset the underlying growth in these emissions. Finally, the results are compared with the UK government's own estimates, in its Climate Change Programme, of carbon emission reductions from such schemes to 2010. The paper concludes that the government's estimates are somewhat optimistic, and that it will need substantial new policy measures beyond those already announced if its carbon reduction targets in this area are to be met. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the status of policy studies on Global Climate Change and how renewable and high-efficiency generation technology can be part of the solution. It considers critical technologies and solutions toward realizing the targets set in the Kyoto treaty. Discussed is energy effi ciency in power generation, environmental benefits of high-effi ciency gas turbines in competitive energy markets which display less NOx and CO[sub 2] emissions per unit of power produced while providing power generators with the most competitive electricity, and experience in India in mitigating climate change with renewable energy as seen by the UN and an advisor to the Indian government in nonconventional energy sources. Also discussed is stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere that will present dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system as called for under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the intertemporal substitution effect, the high inflation expectations can stimulate agents to consume now rather than in the future. However, under the background of global climate policy changes, how inflation expectations affect energy consumption? Using the bootstrap Granger full-sample causality test and sub-sample rolling window tests, this study examines the intertemporal substitution effect of energy consumption in the U.S. The results based on the full-sample data indicate no causality between inflation expectations and energy consumption, which suggests that the intertemporal substitution effect of energy consumption does not exist. Nevertheless, the rolling window method which estimates a time-varying causality identifies a short-lived positive effects of inflation expectations on energy consumption in a distinct sub-period before the global Paris agreement, but disappears since then. Therefore, the intertemporal substitution effect regarding energy consumption does not exist under the background of pressing carbon targets. The effects of energy consumption on inflation expectations can be positive or negative, which tells a cautionary tale about climate policies aiming at engineering lower carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of environmental taxes can encourage a shift toward eco-friendly choices. When used in conjunction with other policy tools available, environmental taxes can help bring about the adjustments needed in order to address our current environmental and climate challenges. Therefore the objective of this study was to examine the impact of environmental taxes on energy consumption and energy intensity using panel data covering the period 1995–2014 from 35 OECD countries. I employed environmental tax to total tax ratio, total energy consumption, and total energy intensity to estimate the relation between energy consumption and environmental taxes. Using the fully modified and dynamic OLS techniques and I showed that environmental taxes have a negative effect on energy consumption and energy intensity in the long run. Furthermore, using the Dumitrescu and Hurlin's panel granger causality test I found a bi-directional long-run causality between environmental taxes and energy consumption and intensity. With regards to the disaggregated effect of environmental taxes, this study found that energy taxes (including CO2 taxes) have a larger effect on energy consumption and energy intensity than pollution and transport taxes. To test for the robustness and sensitivity of my model, I resorted to the total environmental tax to GDP ratio and employed both GMM and quantile regressions. Thus, I concluded that environmental taxes have a significant impact on energy consumption and energy intensity among OECD member countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the last four decades, energy demand has been reached to the utmost level, which also leads to emissions and causes environmental degradation, global warming and climate change all over the world. In this sense, policy makers have suggested various measures including renewable adoption and energy efficiency. Current study aims to investigate the influence of economic growth, energy consumption, renewable electricity output, and energy efficiency on the energy related emissions. A panel of 12 RCEP economies are examined covering the period 1990-2020. Since the data follows irregular path, therefore a novel method of moment panel quantile regression is employed along with the Granger causality test. The empirical results indicate that economic growth and energy consumption significantly enhances energy related emissions, where the magnitude and significance level is found strengthening from lower to upper quantiles (Q0.25, Q0.50, Q0.75 and Q0.90). Conversely, renewable electricity and energy efficiency are the significant tools for lowering energy related emissions in the region. Additionally, a unidirectional causality is found from energy consumption and renewable electricity output to energy related emissions. However, a feedback effect is validated between economic growth, energy efficiency, and energy related emissions. Based on the empirical findings, this study suggests enhancement of renewable electricity output and adoption of energy efficient technologies to reduce environmental degradation and emission level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following mounting concerns about climate change induced by commercial flights, the aviation industry has reacted with narratives that emphasize the increase in fuel efficiency (fuel/passenger-km) of its operations. However, climate change is due to absolute fuel burnt. In this regard, this article compares trends in fuel efficiency with absolute fuel burnt considering passenger flights from nine European airports in 2018 versus 1996. Within this sample, this article found that fuel/seat-km over this period decreased by about 30%, while the absolute fuel burnt increased 2.5 times. An exploration of the drivers of this increase revealed that it occurred in the provision of air services on preexisting and new routes mostly longer than 1,000 km. Low-cost carriers were a significant contributor to this growth if one considers relative terms and smaller airports, but not absolute terms. These results question the ability of high-speed rail to significantly offset the impacts of aviation on climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]