78 results
Search Results
2. The Carbon Footprint of Bridges.
- Author
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Collings Dr, Technical Director, David
- Subjects
ECOLOGICAL impact ,VIADUCTS ,CARBON emissions ,CARBON paper ,BRIDGES ,INFRASTRUCTURE (Economics) ,COST estimates ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
Sustainability, climate change issues and carbon emissions have recently become more prominent. To limit carbon emissions and reduce them we need to understand where and how much we use. The bridges and viaducts on major infrastructure projects have a high intensity of carbon compared to the average per kilometre. In this paper the carbon footprint of a range of current bridges and viaducts are outlined relative to cost, length, area, material and traffic type to give a benchmark for future reductions and to outline areas where improvements can be made. Engineers have often kept track of material quantities to estimate cost; the carbon content of a bridge can be calculated from the primary material quantities and construction methods. Information from a database of bridges is used in this research to estimate the capital carbon of 200 bridges. The data show the trends for different bridge loading types, materials and spans. The database can be used to assist with the reduction of carbon in bridges by benchmarking current carbon footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Assessing climate-related disclosures of European banks through text mining
- Author
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Moreno, Angel-Ivan and Caminero, Teresa
- Published
- 2024
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4. Impact factors to reduce carbon emissions. Evidences from Latin America.
- Author
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Panait, Mirela, Janjua, Laeeq Razzak, Apostu, Simona Andreea, and Mihăescu, Constanta
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,CLIMATE change models ,FOREIGN investments ,INTERNATIONAL economic assistance ,GOVERNMENT policy on climate change - Abstract
Purpose: Carbon dioxide emissions affect the environment, presenting major implications for sustainable development and consequently model climate change policies. The main aim of the paper is to highlight the factors leading to CO2 emissions in Latin America. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis was performed using data for 1990–2020 and panel regression and STATA software. Findings: The results highlighted that the variables have significantly influence CO2 emissions in case of the countries in the sample. Originality/value: The novelty of the paper consists in using all financial inflows of together (foreign direct investment, official development assistance and remittences), Latin America heavily in-flowed with remittances from the USA. Since Latin America is enriched with forest areas, the authors also covered this variable in the estimations. Urbanization and transportation are induced by remittance inflows, thus wellbeing was incorporated in the model. The conclusion of the study demonstrates the need for complex measures involving public-private partnerships, public awareness of the need for energy transition and the involvement of foreign-owned companies that must not only pursue their own interests but also generate positive economic, environmental, and social externalities in host countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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5. Disassembly and Reuse of Structural Members in Steel-Framed Buildings: State-of-the-Art Review of Connection Systems and Future Research Trends.
- Author
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Kitayama, Shoma and Iuorio, Ornella
- Subjects
CLIMATE change ,CARBON emissions ,ADAPTIVE reuse of buildings ,BUILDING design & construction - Abstract
Reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector is essential in a period of climate emergency. Disassembly and reuse of structural members are considered to reduce the carbon emissions from the construction and deconstruction of buildings. In this context, it is important to review the current state of the art to provide a framework for the development of future structural systems that can enable the easy disassembly and reuse of steel-framed buildings. This paper (1) presents a review of more than 100 documents to discuss the feasibility of disassembly and reuse of structural members; (2) develops detailed schematic illustrations to explain the design concepts and the underlying mechanics governing the behavior of demountable connections; (3) sheds lights on the technical and design challenges to implement disassembly and reuse of the structural members; and (4) defines future research needs to facilitate the disassembly and reuse of the structural members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Assessing the nexus of gross national expenditure, energy consumption, and information & communications technology toward the sustainable environment: Evidence from advanced economies.
- Author
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Sarfraz, Muddassar, Naseem, Sobia, and Mohsin, Muhammad
- Subjects
ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide ,CARBON emissions ,CLIMATE change ,DEVELOPED countries ,ENERGY consumption ,ECOLOGICAL impact ,SUSTAINABILITY ,ENVIRONMENTAL protection ,ENVIRONMENTAL regulations - Abstract
The quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises yearly because human activities emit more of it than the earth's natural processes can absorb. The overall carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise due to development demands. In a panel setting, this paper investigates the link dynamics between gross national spending, energy consumption, information and communications technology, and CO2 emissions in advanced nations from 2000 to 2020. We employ quantitative sequential approaches, such as DOLS, unit root test, and cointegration techniques, to ensure the coherence and feasibility of the study. Both versions of the estimators show statistically significant effects of gross national expenditure, energy consumption, and Information & Communications Technology on CO2 emissions. The findings of this paper show that there is a long‐run relationship between independent and dependent variables. The study also shows that rising exports of ICT services, energy consumption, and population need environmental protection and highlight the necessity for environmental regulations that can minimize emissions throughout the country's expansion. Even in advanced nations, climate vulnerability is not automatically reduced by development status but is instead reduced by the right sort of growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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7. Transforming small and medium‐sized enterprises to address the climate emergency: The case for values‐based engagement.
- Author
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Hampton, Sam, Blundel, Richard, Wahga, Aqueel, Fawcett, Tina, and Shaw, Christopher
- Subjects
SMALL business ,CARBON emissions ,COMMUNITIES - Abstract
Collectively, small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution to carbon emissions. Transformative changes are needed to achieve Net Zero amongst the SME community, presenting policymakers and practitioners with a complex and largely unresolved set of challenges. In this paper, we investigate the unexploited potential of human values in facilitating these changes, with a particular focus on the role and experiences of specialist intermediaries, such as business advisors, as agents of change. The paper reports on four linked, transdisciplinary research projects, which tested and validated a values‐based intervention in collaboration with businesses and advisors, designed to promote more effective, long‐term journeys towards Net Zero. Our study connects research evidence on SME support with key insights from values literature, including the emerging concepts of values practices and values work. We discuss outcomes from the four projects, and the broader implications for research, policy, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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8. Towards a circular economy: Implications for emission reduction and environmental sustainability.
- Author
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Hailemariam, Abebe and Erdiaw‐Kwasie, Michael Odei
- Subjects
CIRCULAR economy ,SUSTAINABILITY ,GREENHOUSE gas mitigation ,CARBON emissions ,ENVIRONMENTAL quality ,FOSSIL fuels ,WASTE recycling - Abstract
Governments and policymakers worldwide have been setting targets to achieve an ambitious net‐zero emission target by 2050 to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. However, achieving the net‐zero emission target by 2050 depends on the factors determining the transition from traditional fossil fuel energy sources to renewables. In connection with this, policymakers have emphasised the need to transition from a linear to a circular economy. In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of the progress towards a circular economy in reducing CO2 emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. To do so, we use annual historical data for a panel of 29 European countries from 2000 to 2020. Using an identification strategy that adopts heteroscedastic‐based instrumental variables and addresses endogeneity issues, we find that progress towards a circular economy significantly improves environmental quality via reducing CO2 emissions. Our findings suggest that business strategies promoting recycling and circular economy practices play an important role in environmental sustainability by reducing emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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9. Sustainability and corrosion.
- Author
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Atkins, Chris and Lambert, Paul
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,REINFORCED concrete ,SUSTAINABILITY ,ENERGY dissipation - Abstract
As a part of the drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, embodied energy figures are under consideration for construction materials. One aspect that needs to be included is the loss of embodied energy associated with corrosion and degradation throughout the life of a structure. This paper presents a review of corrosion and protection methods from the point of view of whole-life embodied carbon. This paper presents the examples that provide the lowest embodied carbon option for different environments for steel and reinforced concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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10. SF Intra-city 2023 ESG Report: Reducing carbon emissions across multiple steps, further advancing sustainability in the service chain and corporate operations.
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,HELMETS ,CLIMATE change prevention ,SUSTAINABILITY ,GENDER nonconformity - Abstract
Hangzhou SF Intra-city Industrial Co., Ltd., China's largest third-party on-demand delivery service provider, has released its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report (ESG Report). The report highlights the company's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and advance sustainability in the on-demand delivery industry. Key achievements include a significant reduction in packaging materials, the use of electric vehicles for delivery, green packaging initiatives, and the implementation of an e-signature platform to reduce paper usage. The company also prioritizes employee well-being, with investments in training, safety equipment, and rest stations for riders. SF Intra-city is committed to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development within the industry. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
11. Sustainable CRISP-DM Extension for EnergyAware AI Development.
- Author
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Müller, Kristina, Kröckel, Pavlina, and Bodendorf, Freimut
- Subjects
ARTIFICIAL intelligence ,SUSTAINABILITY ,GREEN technology ,CARBON emissions ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
AI-based solutions show great potential in various fields, including the context of sustainability. In light of the great potential, it is often overlooked that advances in performance come at a significant cost to the environment, as training data- and computation-intensive models involves high carbon emissions. Climate change and its increasing awareness are forcing companies to use available resources more efficiently, which for the field of AI means developing accurate models in an energy-aware manner. We conduct a systematic literature review on approaches for sustainable AI development and organize the existing knowledge along the phases of the established CRISP-DM model. In this way, we provide managers and developers with a holistic picture of opportunities for reducing the environmental footprint in all phases of typical enterprise AI projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
12. The science of climate change and the effect of anaesthetic gas emissions.
- Author
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Slingo, J. M. and Slingo, M. E.
- Subjects
- *
CLIMATOLOGY , *CLIMATE change , *CARBON emissions , *ANESTHETICS , *GLOBAL warming - Abstract
Summary: The dedication of the international anaesthetic community to reducing the environmental impact of healthcare is important and to be celebrated. When this is underpinned by robust science, it has the potential to make a real difference. However, volatile anaesthetic agents have been widely promoted in the medical literature as damaging to the climate, leading to a drive to remove them from clinical practice. This is based on notional 'CO2‐equivalent' values created using the simple emission metric known as the global warming potential. Here, we assert that when proper consideration is given to the science of climate change, volatile anaesthetic gas emissions cannot be simply equated to real carbon dioxide emissions, and that their climate impact is vanishingly small. This paper gives anaesthetists a framework to make informed choices founded on climate science and calls for attention to be refocused on the urgent need to reduce the real carbon dioxide emissions associated with healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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13. A time-use approach: high subjective wellbeing, low carbon leisure.
- Author
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Druckman, Angela and Gatersleben, Birgitta
- Subjects
AUTOMOBILE emissions ,BEHAVIOR modification ,CARBON ,CLIMATE change ,EMOTIONS ,HEALTH behavior ,INTERPERSONAL relations ,LEISURE ,POLICY sciences ,SELF-perception ,SOCIAL participation ,TECHNOLOGY ,TIME ,TRAVEL ,FAMILY relations ,WELL-being ,PHYSICAL activity - Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to address the question: which leisure activities are relatively low carbon and conducive to high levels of subjective wellbeing? Underlying this question is the premise that to combat climate change, carbon emissions must be radically reduced. Technological change alone will not be sufficient: lifestyles must also change. Whereas mainstream strategies generally address the challenge of reducing carbon emissions through reviewing consumption, approaching it through the lens of how we use our time, in particular, leisure time, may be a promising complementary avenue. Design/methodology/approach: The paper brings together three areas of research that are hitherto largely unlinked: subjective wellbeing/happiness studies, studies on how we use our time and studies on low-carbon lifestyles. Findings: The paper shows that low-carbon leisure activities conducive to high subjective wellbeing include social activities such as spending time in the home with family and friends, and physical activities that involve challenge such as partaking in sports. However, depending how they are done, some such activities may induce high carbon emissions, especially through travel. Therefore, appropriate local infrastructure, such as local sports and community centres, is required, along with facilities for active travel. Policymaking developed from a time-use perspective would encourage investment to support this. Originality/value: Win–win opportunities for spending leisure time engaged in activities conducive to high subjective wellbeing in low carbon ways are identified. This is done by bringing three research topics together in a novel way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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14. Unlocking circular business model avenues to achieve net-zero emissions: a model-driven approach grounded on inter-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets
- Author
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Agrawal, Somesh, Tyagi, Mohit, Mangla, Sachin Kumar, and Garg, R. K.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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15. Consumer Tax Credits for EVs: Some Quasi-Experimental Evidence on Consumer Demand, Product Substitution, and Carbon Emissions.
- Author
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He, Cheng, Ozturk, O. Cem, Gu, Chris, and Chintagunta, Pradeep K.
- Subjects
CONSUMPTION (Economics) ,CONSUMER credit ,CARBON emissions ,PLUG-in hybrid electric vehicles ,ELECTRIC vehicle industry - Abstract
Governments worldwide have spent billions of dollars on monetary incentives for consumers to encourage the adoption of eco-friendly ("green") products. However, there is little consensus on the effectiveness of delayed monetary incentives with complex structures, such as tax credits in increasing green product adoption and reducing carbon emissions. The literature is also limited on the mechanisms through which monetary incentives work in general. We address these issues by studying the impact of tax credit incentives on green and nongreen vehicle sales in the U.S. auto industry. A tax credit incentive could boost green vehicle sales through cost savings on the vehicle's price. However, the incentive may prove ineffective because of important barriers to adoption (e.g., long charging times for electric cars). To measure the sales and emissions impacts of tax credits, we study incentive changes in South Carolina and Oregon via various quasi-experimental approaches and assess the generalizability of our key findings to Colorado. Unlike recent studies showing an insignificant or negative correlation between tax credits and electric vehicle adoption, our analyses show that unit sales of incentivized plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) increase by an average of 3.7% (up to 52.7% in some counties) following a $2,000 incentive. In contrast, PHEV sales remain unchanged after the incentive's termination, implying a positive net sales effect. We also explore the underlying mechanisms for the incentive's impact by examining various purchase funnel stages. In the awareness stage, the incentive's positive effect on PHEV demand peaks around the consumers' tax-filing period. As for the consideration stage, our analyses of online consumer search indicate that the incentive does not expand the consumer pool considering PHEVs. In the conversion stage, the incentive generates more sales for PHEVs in counties where (i) consumers are more likely to have PHEVs in their consideration sets regardless of the incentive (i.e., Democratic counties) and (ii) consumers value cost-saving more (i.e., counties with lower middle income). Also, the heightened demand for PHEVs following the incentive stems from the substitution from gasoline vehicles with high fuel efficiency. We estimate the average cost of reducing carbon emissions through tax credits to be $109 per ton, which is less expensive than tax rebates for conventional hybrids and subsidies for residential solar panels. This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4781. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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16. Roadmap to a net-zero carbon cement sector: Strategies, innovations and policy imperatives.
- Author
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Barbhuiya, Salim, Bhusan Das, Bibhuti, and Adak, Dibyendu
- Subjects
- *
CEMENT , *RENEWABLE energy transition (Government policy) , *DENTAL cements , *CARBON nanofibers , *CARBON emissions , *CEMENT industries , *GREENHOUSE gas mitigation - Abstract
The cement industry plays a significant role in global carbon emissions, underscoring the urgent need for measures to transition it toward a net-zero carbon footprint. This paper presents a detailed plan to this end, examining the current state of the cement sector, its carbon output, and the imperative for emission reduction. It delves into various low-CO 2 technologies and emerging innovations such as alkali-activated cements, calcium looping, electrification, and bio-inspired materials. Economic and policy factors, including cost assessments and governmental regulations, are considered alongside challenges and potential solutions. Concluding with future prospects, the paper offers recommendations for policymakers, industry players, and researchers, highlighting the roadmap's critical role in achieving a carbon-neutral cement sector. • Cement industry faces urgent need for net-zero transition due to high carbon emissions. • Roadmap spans phases: foundation, acceleration, net-zero, targeting emissions by 2050. • Innovations like alkali-activated cements offer promise for emission reduction. • Collective action and policy crucial for sustainable transformation of cement sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Energy Sector.
- Author
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Agostini, Giorgio, Berger, Christian, Hall, Delaney, Khan, Salaar, Pennington, Michael, and Awwad, Mohamed
- Subjects
RENEWABLE energy industry ,COVID-19 pandemic ,CARBON emissions ,ENERGY consumption ,ECONOMIC recovery ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the energy sector. With the widespread closures of business and decrease in travels due to the pandemic, there have been significant falls in electricity, coal, gas, and nuclear power consumption. Disruptions in manufacturing facilities and pauses on construction projects bring uncertainty about energy growth in 2021. In the past, similar drops in emissions occurred such as the global financial crisis of 2008 but resulted in a rebound of global CO2 emissions when the market recovered. However, the pandemic brings forth unique risks and uncertainties for industries and governments in having to balance safety with progress. For this COVID-19 related recession, governments have the chance to pivot energy consumption by incentivizing renewable energy sectors like wind, solar, hydrogen, and energy storage that reduce the carbon footprint. Investing in renewables could stimulate economic recovery and aid in the transition to a more sustainable future. However, we see significant declines in such investments. We investigate how the energy industry was affected by and could recover from the challenges set forth by the pandemic and how this recovery could incentivize clean energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
18. A Linear Optimization Model for Reducing CO2 Emission from Power Plants.
- Author
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Bera, Sasadhar
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,COAL-fired power plants ,CARBON sequestration ,SUSTAINABILITY ,GREENHOUSE gas mitigation ,FLUE gases - Abstract
The adverse impact of climate change is possibly decreased by reducing the anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As the coal-fired power plant is the primary source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide generation, our research work focuses on the maximization of capturing of released carbon dioxide from the power plant. This paper proposes capturing carbon dioxide by considering decisions regarding clean technology such as carbon capture technology by linear optimization model. This paper's other contribution is to solve the optimization problem considering the loss of energy due to the implementation of the clean technology, which is compensated by incorporating the coal-fired compensatory plant. With the introduction of compensatory plants, the model becomes nonlinear, which is managed by auxiliary equations. It is observed from analysis results that the proposed model is 35.62% more effective to capture carbon dioxide from the coal-fired power plants of Orissa state in India due to the optimal selection of clean technology. These research works provide one of the paths in reducing the risk of exceeding a global temperature increase of 2 0C compare to the preindustrial period in the context of sustainable operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
19. Visions of cities beyond the Green Deal: From imagination to reality.
- Author
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Maglio, Monica
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,SUSTAINABLE urban development ,CLIMATE change ,CARBON offsetting ,IMAGINATION - Abstract
Cities face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The challenges include the need to tackle phenomena from climate change to population growth, as well as how to bring the European Union (EU) closer to the goal of climate neutrality by reducing carbon emissions. The political-institutional focus to resolve these issues is urgently required. The interventions that are needed in cities to meet the Green Deal objectives are numerous and diverse (including energy, transport, nature and biodiversity, food and agriculture, green finance, as well as with respect to the circular economy [CE]). Diverse approaches are justified, to an extent, as the starting point is not the same for all cities involved in the transition (large, medium and small) and reaction capacities are different. Diversity can cause confusion, however, and this has been found in particular with so-called circular cities; the absence of a defined intervention model has caused some cities to adopt both narrow and wider visions, leading to many 'circular imaginary' cities. The origins of these visions have stemmed from the industrial rather than the urban context, with several adaptations being made. This paper starts by discussing the journey to sustainable cities — in particular the role of circular cities in the Green Deal — and then explores the existence or lack of strategies for circular cities. Amsterdam and Milan are used as case studies to explore whether and when circular cities can be considered cornerstones of the ecological transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
20. MNE responses to carbon pricing regulations: Theory and evidence.
- Author
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Nippa, Michael, Patnaik, Sanjay, and Taussig, Markus
- Subjects
CARBON pricing ,PRICE regulation ,MICROECONOMICS ,INTERNATIONAL business enterprises ,CARBON emissions ,KUZNETS curve - Abstract
Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Addressing carbon inequity: Examining factors driving the path to just transition.
- Author
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Lei, Lei, Liu, Jingjing, and Zhou, Xia
- Subjects
CARBON offsetting ,CARBON emissions ,EQUALITY ,CARBON ,SUSTAINABILITY ,CARBON in soils ,REGIONAL economic disparities - Abstract
The urgent need to address climate change has led to global efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality. However, it is crucial to recognize the existence of carbon inequity, where certain regions or communities bear a disproportionate burden of carbon emissions compared to others. This paper explores the concept of carbon inequity and highlights the importance of considering driving factors in the pursuit of just energy transition. By examining the socioeconomic, environmental, and policy-related factors that contribute to carbon emissions, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causes of carbon inequity is gained. The study emphasizes the need to address systemic issues such as economic development patterns, industrial structures, energy consumption habits, and social inequalities that perpetuate carbon inequity. It further discusses the significance of collaborative and inclusive approaches to carbon reduction, focusing on bridging the gap between regions with high and low carbon emissions. Policy implications are derived to guide decision-makers in formulating effective strategies for achieving carbon neutrality while ensuring equity and fairness. By considering both the overarching goal of carbon neutrality and the distributional aspects of carbon emissions, a more holistic and equitable approach can be adopted to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon future. • It is crucial to recognize the existence of carbon inequity to address climate change. • This paper explores the concept and importance of carbon inequity of just energy transition. • Policy implications are derived to guide decision-makers while ensuring equity and fairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Time100 Climate Powered by TIMECO2.
- Author
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Extavour, Marcius
- Subjects
CLIMATE change mitigation ,SUSTAINABILITY ,CLIMATE change ,ECOLOGICAL impact ,CARBON emissions ,ACTIVISM ,COOPERATION - Abstract
This article discusses the increasing trend of businesses taking direct action to combat climate change. It provides examples of influential leaders in various industries who are making significant strides in reducing carbon emissions and implementing sustainable practices. The article emphasizes the importance of business leadership and mobilizing capital to address climate change, while also highlighting the need for greater awareness and recognition of positive actions taken by businesses. The text features statements from individuals involved in different sectors, all emphasizing the importance of government policies, corporate sustainability efforts, renewable energy investments, and conservation initiatives to address climate change and protect the environment. The individuals stress the significance of collaboration, innovation, and the role of various sectors in achieving a sustainable future. One example is Miguel Torres Riera, CEO of Bodegas Torres, who highlights the importance of collaboration and sharing best practices in the wine industry to accelerate decarbonization efforts. Bodegas Torres is part of the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), a group of 45 wineries worldwide working together to reduce their carbon footprint. Riera believes that cooperation within the industry is crucial to becoming a reference for other sectors in terms of sustainability. The document also includes statements from individuals involved in climate activism and sustainability efforts, including CEOs, government officials, and Indigenous leaders. They emphasize the need for action, investment, and accountability in addressing climate change, and highlight the importance of diverse approaches, such as carbon labeling, renewable energy, adaptation programs, and Indigenous-led solutions. The document also underscores the need for global cooperation [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2023
23. Sustainable urban planning strategies for mitigating climate change in Saudi Arabia.
- Author
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Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi and Dano, Umar Lawal
- Subjects
URBAN planning ,CLIMATE change ,CLIMATE change mitigation ,URBAN heat islands ,ENERGY consumption ,MIXED-use developments ,FRESHWATER ecology ,PER capita - Abstract
There is a growing attention on the role of rapidly growing developing countries in mitigating climate change, especially in curbing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Estimates show that in the year 2011, carbon dioxide (CO
2 ) emissions from developing countries constituted about 63% of the world's total, compared with only 37% for developed countries. Thus, developing countries must be an integral part of global actions toward combating climate change. In Saudi Arabia, the energy use per capita of 6937.23 kg of oil equivalent in 2014 was 3.6 times the global average and the per capita CO2 emission of 19.53 metric tons was the seventh highest. With sensitive ecosystems, limited freshwater resources and substantial coastal developments, the country is vulnerable to climate change. As such, the country has recently initiated some sustainable urban planning strategies in its major urban centers as part of its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. However, few studies have assessed the extent of the implementation of the strategies. Based on secondary data analysis, this article found that the implementation of the strategies is at infancy with urban greening, public transportation, and green building projects gradually gaining prominence. The paper recommends more focus on rising building and population density, mandating mixed land uses, as well as public enlightenment and engagement about climate change impacts and energy choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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24. University student perception of sustainability and environmental issues.
- Author
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Genovese, Elisabetta
- Subjects
COLLEGE students ,CARBON emissions ,ENVIRONMENTAL risk ,SUSTAINABLE development ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
There is a global consensus among scientists that human-caused climate change is threatening the environment and communities worldwide and that major changes must be implemented to reduce the increasing rate of CO
2 emissions. Moreover, environmentally unsustainable practices are both endangering and degrading the quality of life on Earth. One major and often underestimated aspect of this problem is the difference in individual environmental risk perception and evaluation. It is evident that the responsibility for Earth's future lies in the hands of young generations and raising their awareness of environmental issues is a substantial challenge for education institutions. Students need to develop new values, skills and behaviors to foster sustainable development. As institutions of higher education, universities have a major impact on society and play a key role in the development of environmental awareness in young people. The paper describes the results of a survey administered to students in the Cultural Geography B course at the University of Torino. The purpose of the analysis was to determine if there is a relationship between environmental perception, attitude and behavior. The results showed that the students had a good knowledge of and positive attitude to the environment. However, as past studies have already revealed, there is a gap between their awareness and proactive environmental behaviors. Knowledge does not appear to be the only variable needed and other hypotheses should be explored to change the behavior of young generations. This study provides some insights for implementing integrated sustainability processes and engaging students. Moreover, the results will support the structuring of a future Geography course that focuses on sustainable development and environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Process based system models for detecting opportunities and threats – the case of World Cement Production.
- Author
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Isaksson, Raine
- Subjects
CEMENT industries & the environment ,GLOBAL warming ,CARBON dioxide mitigation ,CLIMATE change ,SUSTAINABILITY - Abstract
Purpose Visualising change needs could be complex. One way of sense-making is to use process-based system models. Global warming requires major changes in many fields and especially for cement manufacturing, which represents a growing portion of man-made carbon emissions. The industry has proposed measures for change, but it is difficult to assess how good these are and more sense-making is needed to clarify the situation. The purpose of this paper is to visualise opportunities and threats for global cement manufacturing in the context of global warming, using a process-based system model.Design/methodology/approach Available data for cement manufacturing and for carbon emissions are combined both historically and as predictions based on chosen key performance indicators. These indicators are related to a chosen process-based system model.Findings The results indicate that the global cement industry does not have a viable plan to reduce carbon emissions sufficiently to comply with the objectives of maintaining global warming below 2°C. The application of the process-based system model indicates that it has the ability to visualise important opportunities and threats at the level of global processes.Practical implications The challenges of the world cement industry with reducing carbon emissions are highlighted. This information could be useful as a driver for change.Originality/value The paper provides insights into process-based improvement work related to cement industry carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Debt overhang and carbon emissions.
- Author
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Safiullah, Md, Houqe, Muhammad Nurul, Ali, Muhammad Jahangir, and Azam, Md Saiful
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,SUSTAINABILITY ,SUSTAINABLE investing ,PROPENSITY score matching ,CREDIT analysis ,CARBON taxes ,CREDIT ratings - Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates the association between debt overhang and carbon emissions (both direct and indirect emissions) using a sample of US publicly listed firms. Design/methodology/approach: The study applies generalized least squares (GLS) regression analyses to a sample of 2,043 US firm-year observations over a period of 14 years from 2007 to 2020. The methods include contemporaneous effect, lagged effect, alternative measures of carbon emissions and debt overhang, intensive versus non-intensive analysis, channel analysis, firm fixed effects, change analysis, controlling for credit rating analysis, propensity score matching approach, instrumental variable analysis with industry and year fixed effect. Findings: This study's findings reveal that the debt overhang problem increases carbon emissions. This finding holds when the authors use alternative measures of carbon emissions and debt overhang. The authors find that carbon abatement investment is a channel that is negatively impacted by debt overhang, which in turn increases carbon emissions. This study's results are robust for several endogeneity tests, including firm fixed effects, change analysis, propensity score matching approach and two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variable analysis. Practical implications: The outcome of this research has policy implications for several stakeholders, including investors, firms, market participants and regulators. This study's findings offer insights for investors and firms, helping them allocate resources effectively and make financing decisions aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Regulators and policymakers can also use the findings to formulate policies that promote alternative sustainable finance practices. Originality/value: The outcome of this research is likely to help firms develop their understanding of the debt overhang problem and undertake strategies that yield a significant amount of funding to invest in reducing carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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27. The role of planetary health in urologic oncology.
- Author
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Lawaczeck, Laura, Rudolph, Julia, Norz, Valentina, Tsaur, Igor, and Rausch, Steffen
- Subjects
ONCOLOGY nursing ,CLIMATE change ,GLOBAL warming ,MEDICAL databases ,POLLUTION ,ONCOLOGY ,UROLOGISTS - Abstract
Climate change and global warming are an omnipresent topic in our daily lives. Planetary health and oncology represent two critical domains within the broader spectrum of healthcare, each addressing distinct yet interconnected aspects of human well-being. We are encouraged to do our part in saving our planet. This should include the decisions we make in our professional life, especially in uro-oncology, as the healthcare sector significantly contributes to environmental pollution. There are many aspects that can be addressed in the healthcare sector in general, as there are structural problems in terms of energy consumption, water waste, therapeutic techniques, transportation and drug manufacturing, as well as in uro-oncology specific areas. For example, the use of different surgical techniques, forms of anesthesia and the use of disposable or reusable instruments, each has a different impact on our environment. The literature search was carried out using PubMed, a medical database. We are used to making decisions based on the best outcome for patients without considering the impact that each decision can have on the environment. In the present article, we outline options and choices for a more climate-friendly approach in urologic oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Design optimization and closed-loop operational planning to achieve sustainability goals in buildings.
- Author
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Risbeck, Michael J., Cyrus, Saman, Zhang, Chenlu, and Lee, Young M.
- Subjects
- *
SUSTAINABILITY , *ENERGY consumption , *CARBON emissions , *FOSSIL fuels , *RENEWABLE energy sources , *BUILDING-integrated photovoltaic systems , *CLIMATE change - Abstract
Given the significant energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with buildings, there is increasing interest in improving sustainability of building operations to reduce impact on climate change. A common goal is to operate buildings as "net-zero" energy users in which all energy consumed by the building is balanced against renewable energy purchased from the grid or produced on site. To achieve net-zero status, many buildings will require significant retrofit so as to both reduce energy consumption in the absolute sense and provide the remainder without consuming fossil fuels. Thus, multi-year planning is required to ensure that goals can be met on time. In addition, due to the inherent uncertainty associated with energy consumption and generation, actually achieving net-zero energy use may require discretionary curtailment actions to be taken, and deciding whether such actions are necessary can be challenging. To address these challenges, we propose in this paper a design optimization and operational planning strategy to make the decisions needed to achieve sustainability goals in buildings. The strategy can be applied to schedule design changes over a long horizon to meet annual targets, and it can also be applied in closed loop on a shorter horizon to determine whether curtailment is needed to stay on track. We discuss the formulation of the optimization problem, solution methods, and modeling approaches for key parameters. Application of the strategy is illustrated via examples. Overall, this approach will help automate planning that is often done manually, allowing buildings to take a significant leap forward toward achieving their sustainability goals. • Achieving sustainability goals in buildings requires multi-year planning. • The required design and operational decisions can be made via optimization. • Key problem parameters can be obtained from data-driven modeling. • The strategy allows sustainability goals to be met at minimum cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Political uncertainty and carbon emission trading: Evidence from China.
- Author
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Tang, Tony He and Bao, Helen X.H.
- Subjects
- *
GREENHOUSE gas mitigation , *CARBON offsetting , *CARBON emissions , *EMISSIONS trading , *SUSTAINABLE urban development , *CARBON taxes , *SUSTAINABLE development , *CHILD consumers - Abstract
This study explores the impact of political uncertainty on sustainable urban development by examining carbon emission trading systems (ETS) in four major markets in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hubei) from 2014 to 2022. As an alternative to carbon taxes, carbon ETS markets have become increasingly popular due to their success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, their effectiveness is often hindered by political instability and uncertainty. Utilising logistic regression and AR(1)-GARCH estimations, we identify a negative relationship between political uncertainty and carbon trading volume. Our study also reveals significant variations in the responses of these markets to political uncertainty. The paper contributes to the understanding of how ETS markets operate in a complex and constantly changing political environment. We suggest that policymakers need to consider the impact of political uncertainty on carbon trading when designing and implementing urban policies that promote sustainable development. Additionally, our research contributes to the development of urban policies that can be effectively implemented in both developed and developing regions. • Local government official turnovers are used as the measurement of political uncertainty. • Daily transaction data from four carbon ETS markets (Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei and Guangdong) in China • Considered the probability and proportion of zero transaction day • Logistic regression and AR(1)-GARCH estimations • A negative relationship between political uncertainty and carbon transaction volume [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Exploring anaesthetists' views on the carbon footprint of anaesthesia and identifying opportunities and challenges for reducing its impact on the environment.
- Author
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Breth-Petersen, Matilde, Barratt, Alexandra L, McGain, Forbes, Skowno, Justin J, Zhong, George, Weatherall, Andrew D, Bell, Katy JL, and Pickles, Kristen M
- Subjects
ECOLOGICAL impact ,ANESTHESIOLOGISTS ,ANESTHESIA ,CARBON emissions ,MEDICAL audit ,RIGHT to education - Abstract
A shift in practice by anaesthetists away from anaesthetic gases with high global warming potential towards lower emission techniques (e.g. total intravenous anaesthesia) could result in significant carbon savings for the health system. The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to understand anaesthetists' perspectives on the carbon footprint of anaesthesia, and views on shifting practice towards more environmentally sustainable options. Anaesthetists were recruited from four hospitals in Western Sydney, Australia. Data were organised according to the capability–opportunity–motivation model of behaviour change. Twenty-eight anaesthetists were interviewed (July−September 2021). Participants' age ranged from 29 to 62 years (mean 43 years), 39% were female, and half had completed their anaesthesia training between 2010 and 2019. Challenges to the wider use of greener anaesthetic agents were identified across all components of the capability–opportunity–motivation model: capability (gaps in clinician skills and experience, uncertainty regarding research evidence); opportunity (norms, time, and resource pressures); and motivation (beliefs, habits, responsibility and guilt). Suggestions for encouraging a shift to more environmentally friendly anaesthesia included access to education and training, implementing guidelines and audit/feedback models, environmental restructuring, improving resource availability, reducing low value care, and building the research evidence base on the safety of alternative agents and their impacts on patient outcomes. We identified opportunities and challenges to reducing the carbon footprint of anaesthesia in Australian hospitals by way of system-level and individual behavioural change. Our findings will be used to inform the development of communication and behavioural interventions aiming to mitigate carbon emissions of healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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- View/download PDF
31. The Impact of Corporate Characteristics on Climate Governance Disclosure.
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Dilling, Petra F. A., Harris, Peter, and Caykoylu, Sinan
- Abstract
This study examines the impact of corporate characteristics on climate change governance among 100 of the world's largest companies, with 1400 observations in the fiscal year 2020. We consider variables such as company location, size, profitability, female board representation, years of reporting using Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) guidelines, the inclusion of UN Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) information, Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) membership, MSCI ESG ratings, and the presence of a climate transition plan, a sustainability executive, and a sustainability board committee. Applying a multi-theoretical framework, we employ correlation analysis and univariate and multiple linear regressions to assess the relationships. Our findings reveal positive correlations between climate governance and the presence of a climate transition plan, MSCI ratings, DJSI membership, and the existence of a sustainability executive. Additionally, companies located in developed countries exhibit significantly higher levels of climate change governance. These results hold across various scenarios, offering valuable insights for researchers, academics, business leaders, practitioners, and regulators. With the growing importance of climate change reporting, understanding the key contributing factors for effective climate governance is crucial for organizations seeking to address this critical issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Financial inclusion and carbon emissions in Asia: Implications for environmental sustainability.
- Author
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Hussain, Shahzad, Ahmad, Tanveer, Ullah, Sabeeh, Rehman, Ajid Ur, and Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,SUSTAINABILITY ,PRINCIPAL components analysis ,PANEL analysis ,DEVELOPED countries - Abstract
This study explores how carbon emissions are affected by financial inclusion. Using a balanced panel data set of 26 Asian countries, we compute a composite index, through the principal component analysis (PCA) technique, of financial inclusion based on a set of attributes related to financial inclusion. Our main analysis also delineates the subsamples of developed and developing Asian economies. The results reveal a long (short)-run positive (negative) impact of financial inclusion on carbon emissions across the Asian countries. This finding is also true for the developed country subsample, implying nonlinearity in short- and long-run relationships. For the developing countries, a more pronounced long-run positive impact compared to developed countries is found. Furthermore, the pairwise causality test results indicate the existence of bi-directional causality between financial inclusion and carbon emissions. These findings have important policy implications, especially in the context of the strategic integration of financial inclusion and climate change strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Railways: Systematic Review of Research Progress.
- Author
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da Fonseca-Soares, Diogo, Eliziário, Sayonara Andrade, Galvincio, Josicleda Domiciano, and Ramos-Ridao, Angel Fermin
- Subjects
GREENHOUSE gases ,URBAN transportation ,CLIMATE change mitigation ,CARBON emissions ,FREIGHT & freightage ,URBAN transit systems - Abstract
Rail transportation plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation system, making a significant contribution to environmental impact mitigation due to the efficiency of passenger and freight rail transportation. Accurate assessment of carbon emissions resulting from rail transit is essential to quantify the positive impact of this mode of transportation on overall urban transport emission reduction. Given that measuring carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of rail transportation involves a wide array of factors, adopting a systematic framework for analyzing these aspects is crucial. This study conducts a comprehensive review of existing research related to carbon emissions in rail transportation and its mitigation. Initially, the distinct characteristics of carbon emissions associated with rail transportation are identified, along with the complexity involved in accurately measuring these emissions. Subsequently, a comparison and analysis are conducted regarding various models for measuring carbon emissions in rail transportation. Finally, the study examines some greenhouse gas emission measurement research within the railway system. Redirecting research efforts toward measuring carbon emissions in the rail transportation system is essential to help the development of robust and effective public policies. This measure will play a crucial role in emission reduction, climate change mitigation, and the promotion of more sustainable transportation. Furthermore, the identified results propose which LCA methodology offers a valuable framework improving the quality of railway transportation emissions for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Sustainability and EU Road Transport Carbon Emissions from Consumption of Diesel and Gasoline in 2000 and 2018 †.
- Author
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Bhat, Arshad and Ordóñez Garcia, Javier
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,GASOLINE ,SUSTAINABILITY ,CLIMATE change ,ENERGY consumption ,TRANSPORTATION industry ,DIESEL fuels - Abstract
To accomplish the 1.5 °C and 2 °C climate change targets, the European Union (EU) has set up several policy initiatives. Within the EU, the carbon emissions of the road transport sector from the consumption of diesel and gasoline are constantly rising. (1) Background: due to road transport policies, diesel and gasoline use within the EU is increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and adding to climate risks. (2) Methods: sustainability analysis used was based on the method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (3) Results: to meet its road transport requirements, the EU produces an estimated 0.237–0.245 billion tonnes of carbon per year from its total consumption of diesel and gasoline. (4) Conclusion: if there is no significant reduction in diesel and gasoline carbon emissions, there is a real risk that the EU's carbon budget commitment could lapse and that climate change targets will not be met. Sustainability analysis of energy consumption in road transport sector shows the optimum solution is the direct electrification of road transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Moderation of competitiveness in determining environmental sustainability: economic growth and transport sector carbon emissions in global perspective.
- Author
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Sardar, Muhammad Shahzad, Asghar, Nabila, and Rehman, Hafeez ur
- Subjects
SUSTAINABLE development ,CARBON emissions ,ECONOMIC expansion ,TRANSPORTATION industry ,SUSTAINABILITY ,QUANTILE regression - Abstract
The rising GHG emissions and climate change have resulted in number of catastrophes such as floods, droughts and heat waves. Accordingly, researchers are interested in exploring the nexus between GHG emissions and economic growth. This research study is motivated to explore the moderation of transportation competitiveness for economic growth and carbon emissions of transport sector in global perspective. The annual time series data for study variables are used for time period from 2008 to 2018 for 121 countries. The panel quantile regression (PQR) estimation technique is used for analysis of results. The study results validated inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for quantile group-1 and 2, while U-shaped EKC was validated for quantile group-3 and 4. The moderation of transport competitiveness significantly tends to achieve environmental sustainability for economic growth and carbon emissions of transport sector for quantile group-1 and 2. However, the moderation of transport competitiveness increases carbon emissions of transport sector in quantile group-4. The study results implicated that process of economic growth resulted in expansion of transport sector in quantile group-3 and 4 beyond sustainable level. The various policy recommendations are advocated to improve the quality of transport sector to mitigate carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Reducing Environmental Impacts at a Midwestern Academic Medical Center: Making Carbon Emissions Reduction a Reality.
- Author
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Bjorgaard, Johannah and Potter, Teddie
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,BASELINE emissions ,GREENHOUSE gas mitigation ,ACADEMIC medical centers ,GREENHOUSE gases ,CLIMATE change mitigation - Abstract
(1) Background: Human-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the largest contributor to climate change worldwide. Climate change negatively impacts human and planetary health, threatening the existence of life on earth. The healthcare industry is responsible for approximately 8.5% of carbon emissions in the United States. Measuring baseline GHG emissions is the first step in emissions reduction. However, very few models of measurement exist for health care organizations. This project aimed to develop and implement a program to measure and track GHG emissions at a midwestern academic medical center (MAMC) and to educate staff on how to manage the process. (2) Methods: A Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle and Quality Improvement methodology were used to develop, implement, and assess a standardized GHG emission inventory process to measure Scope 1 and Scope 2 baseline emissions and provide virtual training and education to the accountable staff. A pre- and post-survey design was used to measure the knowledge and readiness of the staff after the implementation of the GHG inventory training. (3) Results: The GHG inventory process was validated through an external verification process, and the measurement of Scope 1 and Scope 2 baseline GHG emissions was completed and verified for accuracy through a data comparison review. The pre-post-training survey showed an increase in the knowledge and readiness of staff to maintain a GHG inventory. (4) Conclusions: This work shows the feasibility of obtaining baseline GHG emissions data at large medical centers. It represents the initial phase of the overarching goal to develop site-wide and system-wide carbon reduction strategies and a climate action plan within this health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Climate change, health and sustainability: A brief survey of primary care trusts in the south west of England.
- Author
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Nichols, Andrew and Richardson, Janet
- Abstract
With climate change threatening to present real challenges to public health, the relevant UK organizations, such as the NHS, have produced guidelines and action plans to encourage primary care trusts (PCTs) to reduce their carbon emissions and generally function in a more sustainable way. This paper presents the results of a survey designed to assess how successful this initiative has been in one part of the UK, the south west of England. While the results are promising, the PCTs surveyed are aware that commitment and leadership must come from a higher level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
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38. Co-managing carbon and air quality: pros and cons of local sustainability initiatives.
- Author
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Tiwary, Abhishek, Chatterton, Tim, and Namdeo, Anil
- Subjects
AIR quality ,SUSTAINABILITY ,CARBON dioxide ,CLIMATE change ,ENVIRONMENTAL impact analysis ,CLIMATOLOGY - Abstract
This paper reports the pros and cons of co-management (i.e. concerted actions towards climate change and air quality management) through local sustainability initiatives using three case studies, each encompassing the planning and management issues at local government levels. Case study I is policy-based and reports the outcome of a consultation exercise while case studies II and III have greater scientific bearing. These case studies pave the way for development of a more integrated Climate Change Strategy Action Plan at local scales, specifically regarding policies on emissions sources from transportation and decentralised energy. They highlight the merits and the trade-offs of implementing local scale co-management practices, using a more integrated planning framework than what is currently under offer. We recognise that delivery of such ambitious, cross-cutting agenda may be impeded, primarily owing to limited expertise in assessing the synergies and the expected outcomes from cross-fertility between these two arenas. This calls for a step-change through more cohesive, cross-disciplinary policy frameworks, going beyond the local administrative spheres to maximise the co-management potentials while mitigating the wider environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Artificial intelligence-based solutions for climate change: a review.
- Author
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Chen, Lin, Chen, Zhonghao, Zhang, Yubing, Liu, Yunfei, Osman, Ahmed I., Farghali, Mohamed, Hua, Jianmin, Al-Fatesh, Ahmed, Ihara, Ikko, Rooney, David W., and Yap, Pow-Seng
- Subjects
ARTIFICIAL intelligence ,ENERGY consumption of buildings ,NATURAL resources management ,CARBON emissions ,INTELLIGENT transportation systems ,WEATHER forecasting ,CLIMATE change ,GRIDS (Cartography) - Abstract
Climate change is a major threat already causing system damage to urban and natural systems, and inducing global economic losses of over $500 billion. These issues may be partly solved by artificial intelligence because artificial intelligence integrates internet resources to make prompt suggestions based on accurate climate change predictions. Here we review recent research and applications of artificial intelligence in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, with a focus on energy efficiency, carbon sequestration and storage, weather and renewable energy forecasting, grid management, building design, transportation, precision agriculture, industrial processes, reducing deforestation, and resilient cities. We found that enhancing energy efficiency can significantly contribute to reducing the impact of climate change. Smart manufacturing can reduce energy consumption, waste, and carbon emissions by 30–50% and, in particular, can reduce energy consumption in buildings by 30–50%. About 70% of the global natural gas industry utilizes artificial intelligence technologies to enhance the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts. Combining smart grids with artificial intelligence can optimize the efficiency of power systems, thereby reducing electricity bills by 10–20%. Intelligent transportation systems can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 60%. Moreover, the management of natural resources and the design of resilient cities through the application of artificial intelligence can further promote sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Revisiting the impact of trade openness on environmental sustainability in Belt and Road countries: a heterogeneous panel approach.
- Author
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Ahakwa, Isaac, Tackie, Evelyn Agba, Sarpong, Francis Atta, Korankye, Benard, Ofori, Elvis Kwame, Odai, Leslie Afotey, and Musah, Mohammed
- Subjects
BELT & Road Initiative ,SUSTAINABILITY ,CARBON emissions ,FOREIGN investments ,CLIMATE change ,ENERGY consumption - Abstract
The nations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are particularly vulnerable to the challenges posed by climate change due to their extensive trading activities. The need to protect the environment and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change in these countries is of utmost importance. Therefore, this study contributes to the scientific understanding of this issue by examining the relationship between trade openness and environmental sustainability in 89 BRI countries from 1990 to 2020. Additionally, control variables, including economic growth, energy consumption, urbanization, industrialization, and foreign direct investment, are considered to address omitted variable bias issues. The study utilizes the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG) regression estimators, and the findings reveal that trade openness improves environmental sustainability. However, economic growth, energy consumption, urbanization, and industrialization degrade environmental sustainability. Interestingly, the results affirm foreign direct investment as a trivial determinant of environmental sustainability. Regarding causal relationships, reciprocal causalities are observed between trade openness and carbon emissions, energy consumption and carbon emissions, and urbanization and carbon emissions. Furthermore, one-way causalities exist from economic growth to carbon emissions and from carbon emissions to foreign direct investment. Nevertheless, no causal relationship is identified between industrialization and carbon emissions. Based on these significant findings, it is recommended that China, as a prominent player in the BRI, takes further steps to enhance and promote energy-efficient practices in BRI countries. One practical approach is the establishment of energy efficiency standards for the goods and services traded with these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. A Strategy-Based Model for Low Carbon Cities.
- Author
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Hasyimi, Valid and Azizalrahman, Hossny
- Abstract
Low carbon cities are increasingly forming a distinct strand of sustainability literature. Models have been developed to measure the performance of low carbon cities. The purpose of this paper is to formulate a strategy-based model to evaluate current performance and predict future conditions of low carbon cities. It examines the dynamic interrelationships between key performance indicators (KPIs), induces changes to city plan targets, and then instantly predicts the outcome of these changes. Designed to be generic and flexible, the proposed model shows how low carbon targets could be used to guide the transformation of low carbon cities under four strategies: (1) Passive intervention, (2) problem solving, (3) trend modifying, and (4) opportunity seeking. Further, the model has been applied to 17 cities and then tested on five cities: London, New York, Barcelona, Dubai, and Istanbul. The paper concludes with policy implications to realign city plans and support low carbon innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. USING LEAN PRACTICES TO IMPROVE CURRENT CARBON LABELLING SCHEMES FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS--A GENERAL FRAMEWORK.
- Author
-
Peng Wu and Yingbin Feng
- Subjects
LEAN management ,CONSTRUCTION materials ,CARBON dioxide mitigation ,CLIMATE change ,SUSTAINABLE development ,PRECAST concrete ,SUSTAINABILITY ,ENVIRONMENTAL impact analysis - Abstract
The construction industry has considerable environmental impacts through the process of manufacturing building materials and building construction. Many environmental labelling programs have been introduced to the construction industry to measure the environmental impacts, including building up the environmental profiles for building materials. Although absolute measurements of the environmental impacts can be obtained by these labelling programs through detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, relative measurements should not be overlooked to indicate the gap between the current and the "leanest" performance. The term "lean" is often used to describe a process with less wastes, materials, human effort, time, etc. The lean concept originates from the Toyota Production System and has been applied in the automobile industry for decades. This paper therefore aims to investigate the applicability of a relative measurement of the environmental impacts for building materials by introducing the concept of "lean score". The research aim is narrowed down by choosing the carbon labelling program and the precast concrete products as research objectives. The results indicate that a "lean" benchmark can be built to offer relative measurements of carbon emissions for precast concrete products. The lean score obtained from the benchmarking process provides the improving potential that can help the construction industry move towards sustainability. The results are also useful for regulatory bodies to establish national standards to measure the environmental impacts for building materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. A visualized overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on low-carbon built environments: An evidence review map.
- Author
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Samarasinghe, Gihan, Lagisz, Malgorzata, Santamouris, Mattheos, Yenneti, Komali, Upadhyay, Anir Kumar, De La Peña Suarez, Faustino, Taunk, Bhavesh, and Nakagawa, Shinichi
- Subjects
- *
SUSTAINABLE urban development , *ONLINE databases , *ECOLOGICAL impact , *INFORMATION technology , *CLIMATE change - Abstract
• Evidence syntheses for sustainable urban development are of increasing importance. • An evidence map of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic is presented. • The map contains 131 reviews examining numerous aspects of built environment. • The paper is supplemented by a free online database and interactive visual summaries. Sharing of key evidence on strategies for reducing resources consumption and lowering carbon footprint is essential to alleviating risks of increasing urbanization, population growth and looming climate change impacts. However, finding scientifically robust research and distilling knowledge to draw confident conclusions in a reasonable timeframe is challenging due to the sheer volume of rapidly accumulating research evidence. Primary evidence is aggregated in secondary studies, i.e. various types of reviews, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, the number of secondary studies is also growing rapidly and their quality varies. This work presents the first systematic review of secondary studies which were claimed to be systematic reviews or meta-analyses of literature relevant to reducing carbon footprint of the built environment or its co-benefits (e.g., health and well-being). The resulting searchable and updatable database contains 131 reviews published between 2001 and early 2018. Importantly, the quality of the included reviews was assessed and categorized. The database is available via a dedicated website which includes interactive visualizations and filtering tools. In its current form, the interactive map and database can help discovery and appraisal of secondary evidence for decision-making and research use, supporting transition to low carbon future. This overview aimed to reveal trends and patterns, including gaps, in the publications of research syntheses relevant to sustainable built environment. The results showed that the number of reviews claiming to by systematic reviews or meta-analyses is rapidly increasing in recent years. However, the exact methodology used and the standard of adherence to methodological and reporting guidelines varies widely among reviews. The included reviews span different disciplines, such as environmental sciences, engineering, urban planning, public health, and social sciences. The first authors from USA, UK and Australia contributed the most relevant reviews. Health and well-being, along with closely related environment and nature, are currently the best synthesized subject areas, while there are still very few included reviews related to policy, economy or information technology, indicating synthesis gaps in these areas. Our analysis reveals the lack of standardized definitions of different types of research syntheses across disciplines, as well as poor reporting quality of research syntheses. We encourage detailed descriptions of methods, providing datasets and interactive visualizations as integral components of the future systematic reviews and evidence maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: 2015 CLIMATE CHANGE AGREEMENT AND NIGERIA'S COMMITMENT TO ITS NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS.
- Author
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O., OKA NOSAYABA
- Subjects
CLIMATE change ,SUSTAINABLE development ,NATURAL resources ,ARABLE land ,ENVIRONMENTAL degradation ,CLIMATE change prevention - Abstract
Nigeria's per capital emission figures and aggregated greenhouse gases concentration are projected to grow exponentially under the normal economic growth scenario. Climate system interference and declining productive arable land questions the capability of existing natural resource stock to support a projected population in excess of 300 million by 2050. Stabilizing greenhouse gases emission and preserving the ecosystem sustainability requires confronting every scale of environmental degradation through robust and resilient green-growth strategies. Formulating adaptation and mitigations strategies for deploying innovative low carbon policies, yet institutional framework with legislative backing and non-governmental actors are germane in mobilising wholescale solutions to overcome bottlenecks affecting immediate and long-term transition to low-carbon climate change resilient society. With the desirability of attaining its voluntary NDC, the feasibility of navigating pathways centred on the political thrust, inclusive diplomacy and proven policies to address developmental challenges, submission/attainments can be skewed to interpretations linked to partisan manifestos if independent third-party assessments are lacking. Synthesizing this paper will reveal Nigeria performance through a broad systematic data evaluation to accentuate contextual interpretations, national milestones, gaps and how impacts are localized on the subnational structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Researchers at Tarim University Release New Data on Sustainable Food and Agriculture (Assessing green total factor productivity and spatial spillover effect in China's maize industry for sustainable food production: a carbon emissions...).
- Subjects
INDUSTRIAL productivity ,SUSTAINABLE agriculture ,SUSTAINABILITY ,CARBON emissions ,FOOD production - Abstract
Agricultural, Agriculture, Asia, China, Climate Change, Food, Global Warming, Greenhouse Gases, Investment and Finance, Sustainability Research, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Food, Sustainable Food and Agriculture, Technology Keywords: Agricultural; Agriculture; Asia; China; Climate Change; Food; Global Warming; Greenhouse Gases; Investment and Finance; Sustainability Research; Sustainable Development; Sustainable Food; Sustainable Food and Agriculture; Technology EN Agricultural Agriculture Asia China Climate Change Food Global Warming Greenhouse Gases Investment and Finance Sustainability Research Sustainable Development Sustainable Food Sustainable Food and Agriculture Technology 178 178 1 08/28/23 20230831 NES 230831 2023 AUG 31 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Food Weekly News -- Investigators publish new report on sustainable food and agriculture. Therefore, to ensure food security, it is imperative to actively advocate for green development within the maize industry to Enhancing green total factor productivity (GTFP) in agriculture is crucial for agriculture to promote sustainable development. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2023
46. Modelling the impacts of climate change on cereal crop production in East Africa: evidence from heterogeneous panel cointegration analysis.
- Author
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Abdi, Abdikafi Hassan, Warsame, Abdimalik Ali, and Sheik-Ali, Ibrahim Abdukadir
- Subjects
CLIMATE change models ,AGRICULTURAL productivity ,SUSTAINABLE agriculture ,SUSTAINABILITY ,TILLAGE ,CROP yields ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
Climate change has become an issue of concern for sustainable agriculture production. East African nations are heavily reliant on the agriculture sector, which accounts for a substantial amount of their gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. Due to climatic fluctuations, the output of the sector became very unpredictable. Hence, this study investigates the effects of climate change on cereal crop production in nine East African nations between 1990 and 2018. The study implemented pooled mean group (PMG) approach to examine the long-run and short-run dynamic impacts of the varying climatic circumstances on the output of cereal crops. The results reveal that rainfall and carbon emissions have favourable and significant long-run effects on cereal crop output, even though their short-run impacts are negligible. Additionally, cultivated land area and rural population have a constructive role in enhancing agricultural output both in the long-run and short-run. However, average temperatures have negative repercussions on cereal crop production in the long-run and short-run, even though the magnitude of sensitivity is greater in the short-run. Dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) validated the robustness of the long-run findings of the PMG technique. Besides, the Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel causality outcomes indicate that cereal crop output has a bidirectional causality with temperature, carbon emissions, and cropped area. The study further demonstrated unidirectional causation from rural population to cereal crop yield. The study recommends that East African policymakers improve the quality of farm inputs, the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices, the development of water retention facilities and the establishment of crop diversification initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Addressing OR sustainability: How we can decrease waste and emissions: Studies have shown that carbon emissions from hysterectomy procedures can be reduced by 80%. The authors detail how, and recommend a 30-day climate challenge.
- Author
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Wright, Kelly N. and Schwartz, Kaia M.
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,HYSTERECTOMY ,SUSTAINABILITY ,WASTE minimization ,CLIMATE change - Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. The "Energy Transition": myth or reality?
- Author
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Craig, Jonathan
- Subjects
SUSTAINABILITY ,NATURAL resources ,CLIMATE change ,CARBON emissions ,EDUCATIONAL programs - Abstract
Rapid technological advances across a variety of industries are enabling society's quest for sustainability. The resulting "Energy Transition" is causing an unprecedented shift in how the world's population consumes energy and natural resources, driven by a range of factors including decarbonisation, economics, access to energy, societal expectations around environment and climate, energy efficiency, political and regulatory forces and emerging technologies. The "Energy Transition" will occur at different speeds and shapes in different geographies, depending on local economic and societal pressures. World energy demand is continuing to rise, mainly in the emerging economies of India, China and Africa, driven by population growth and economic development. Many countries are trying to do the "right thing" for their population and their economy and are not necessarily driven by a desire to "save the planet". Maximising income to fund important social and education programmes is often higher in the priorities of some governments than reducing carbon emissions. The energy transition is not as simple as doing what is right for the planet. Governments, businesses and people in fossil fuel producing regions have shown that they will protect their economies despite the threat of environmental harm. The fossil fuel era will not be over soon. Despite the rapid growth in the use of renewable energy resources, in all reasonable scenarios there will still be a need for oil, gas and coal for the foreseeable future —if we are to meet the social and economic expectations of the world's growing population. The energy mix will certainly change as we try to reduce carbon emissions, but the speed and magnitude of that change will depend heavily on national economic priorities, political will and public opinion. How fast can we realistically move towards a low carbon future and still meet the world's growing demand for energy? What are the key constraints on the rate of change? —and what role will geoscientist play in driving and delivering the new energy solutions? The "Energy Transition" is a huge responsibility, but also a huge opportunity, one in which we all have our part to play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. The perceived value of environmental sustainability for consumers in the air travel industry: A choice-based conjoint analysis.
- Author
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Núñez Alfaro, Valeria and Chankov, Stanislav
- Subjects
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AIR travel , *SUSTAINABILITY , *CONSUMER behavior , *VALUE (Economics) , *TOURISM , *CARBON emissions , *CONSUMERS - Abstract
By 2050, aviation emissions are forecasted to account for 25% of the global carbon budget. Thus, in addition to airlines' sustainability efforts, individual consumer action is needed in order to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent consumers value environmental sustainability when selecting flights in terms of the trade-off between cost, time, comfort, and CO 2 emissions. Hence, a choice-based conjoint survey was conducted to understand the monetary, temporal, and comfort trade-offs consumers are willing to make for a reduction in CO 2 emissions in both short-haul and long-haul flights. The 426 collected responses were analysed using conditional logistic regressions. The results indicate that air travellers are willing to pay more (6.7–21.2 €/100 kg) or travel longer (13–41 minutes/100 kg) to reduce the environmental impact of their trip. Moreover, displaying CO 2 emissions as a percentage of an individual's annual carbon budget increased air travellers' perceived monetary and temporal value of environmental sustainability, to 11.8–26.3 €/100 kg and 22–65 minutes/100 kg respectively. • Displaying flights' environmental impact affects stated consumer behaviour. • Air travellers indicate they are willing to pay more for an eco-friendlier flight. • Flyers indicate they are willing to travel longer to reduce flight emissions. • Displaying CO 2 emissions as % of person's annual carbon budget shows better results. • Transparent information on emissions can lead to more sustainable flying behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Catalytic Processes to Accelerate Decarbonization in a Net‐Zero Carbon World.
- Author
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Wang, Yixiao, Tian, Yuan, Pan, Shu‐Yuan, and Snyder, Seth W.
- Subjects
CARBON sequestration ,CARBON dioxide mitigation ,CARBON emissions ,CLIMATE change ,PLASTIC recycling ,PLASTIC scrap recycling - Abstract
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is one of the critical challenges to mitigate global climate change, which is having detrimental impacts on society and the environment. Fossil fuel combustion in transportation, power generation, and industrial processes is the dominant contributor to carbon emissions. Over the past decades, sustainable solutions and strategies have been investigated and developed to enable decarbonization. Catalysis plays an essential role to address this global challenge by increasing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, capturing carbon dioxide, and utilizing clean energy sources to displace fossil fuels. In this Review, the role of catalysis in reducing energy demand was discussed, enhancing process efficiency, displacing carbon‐intensive feedstocks and products, and therefore, reducing carbon emissions. Recent advances in catalyst development were summarized, focusing on applications to enhance industrial processes efficiency and enable utilization of clean energy sources. Emerging approaches in catalysis were reviewed, including the manufacture of iron and steel, direct air capture of CO2, production of ethylene, ammonia, and sustainable aviation fuels, plastic recycling, and the synthesis of biobased plastics. The Review was concluded with suggested research directions to achieve a carbon net‐zero world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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