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Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management is an essential element for corporate sustainability. However, the effect of ESG management on corporate financial performance (CFP) is inconsistent, and not many studies have been conducted for Asia and developing countries, which are in the early stage of ESG management. In addition, although R&D investment influences ESG management, few studies have focused on the relationship between R&D investment, ESG, and CFP. We analyse the effect of ESG management on CFP using panel data combining ESG rating and financial data of Korean companies and examine moderating effect of R&D investment between ESG and CFP. We find the following results. First, ESG performance has a negative effect on CFP while there is no statistically significant effect in heavily polluting industries (HPI). Second, R&D investment has no significance on CFP, but a positive moderating effect exists between environmental (E) and social (S) performance and CFP. With environmental issues and climate change being a global concern, this study provides theoretical and managerial implications for companies to create synergies in R&D investment and ESG management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the link between fiscal expenditure and green economic development in heavily polluting Asian nations. The conventional wisdom that environmental sustainability and economic progress are incompatible is contested in this research. The study found a strong positive link between green fiscal policy and long-term economic development, offering empirical support for using fiscal policy to promote green growth. With an emphasis on high-pollution sectors like manufacturing and energy, the study used sophisticated econometric approaches, such as panel data regression and Granger causality tests, to evaluate the data from a few Asian nations. The findings supported the idea that increased government investment in environmental protection programs and eco-friendly technology positively impacted green economic development. The results also highlight how governmental actions influence economic trajectories and aid in the shift to a sustainable economy. The report emphasizes the need for cross-level and cross-sector policy coordination, arguing that achieving significant green economic development with comprehensive, well-integrated green fiscal policies would be more straightforward. The study also highlights the need for international collaboration and assistance while acknowledging possible restrictions on fiscal expenditure in emerging nations. Policymakers, environmental economists, and other stakeholders who want to transition to a green economy while pursuing economic growth and development should take these conclusions seriously. The linkages among fiscal investment and green economic development in heavily polluting Asian nations are substantially established in this work, but it also highlights the need for additional study. Future research could benefit from examining these patterns in a broader range of situations and over extended periods, given the intricate interaction of variables driving fiscal policy and green growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial fragility, ICT capital, environmental policy stringency, and education are the main factors that have also gained popularity regarding their impact on green growth. This study examines the impact of financial fragility, ICT capital, environmental policy stringency, and education on green growth. For analyzing the short- and long-run estimates, we have applied the panel QARDL model. The results of the panel QARDL model highlight that the estimates of non-performing bank loans and bank costs are negatively significant in both the short and long run, implying that financial fragility hurts green growth in the short and long run. Similarly, the estimated coefficients of the internet (mobile) and education estimates are positively significant in the short and long run, confirming that ICT capital and education are causing green growth, while environmental policy stringency promotes green growth only in the long run. Regarding the asymmetric effects of all the factors on green growth, the Wald test only confirms asymmetric effects in the long run. The study offers several significant recommendations for sustainable green development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the impact of macroeconomic performance and energy consumption on carbon emissions in Asian developing countries. Although, macroeconomic performance is a critical measure for the determination of development in societies. Thus, the examination of macroeconomic performance variables is a core issue for policymakers. The panel quantile regression model assesses the macroeconomic performance at several quantiles, ranging from 0.05 to 0.95. The effect of macroeconomic performance and energy consumption on CO2 emissions has also been established. The findings indicate that CO2 emissions and macroeconomic performance are negatively associated in all quantiles of macroeconomic performance. Though, fossil fuel energy and population growth positively influence carbon emissions in all low and medium quantiles but this relationship becomes weaker in the upper quantiles. In addition, hydroelectricity consumption and carbon emissions are negatively and significantly associated in the quantile ranges of low and higher. Based on the aforementioned results, the study suggests the formulation of such policies that can improve macroeconomic performance in the region and the promotion of hydel energy instead of fossil fuels to reduce environmental pollution in developing Asian countries. Moreover, the population control program, promotion of renewable energy, and dangers of fossil fuel consumption should be a part of public policies to control environmental issues by reducing carbon emissions at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia has the world's largest population and the largest number of biogas digesters, with implementation across 25 countries. These countries can be categorised into four groups based on their biogas development status. Asia has approximately 45.03 million biogas digesters, of which about 99.72% are household units and 0.28% are industrial digesters. Predominantly located in less developed rural areas, a substantial number of household digesters have ceased operation or been abandoned. Some Asian countries and regions are witnessing a transition from household to industrial digesters, driven by economic growth and favourable environmental policies. However, many industrial digesters smaller than 500 m3 are underperforming, unprofitable, or inactive. Larger digesters are better managed and more sustainable. From 1958 through 2023, 163 biogas safety incidents were recorded in seven Asian countries, resulting in 321 fatalities, 220 injuries, and substantial property damage. This study identifies and discusses seven key factors influencing biogas development in Asia: climate conditions, energy demand, biowaste resources, economic development, government policy, technical service, and biogas programs. These factors range from objective and independent to external dependencies and direct, dynamic influences. Future biogas development in Asia will benefit from favourable technoeconomic growth and increased climate change awareness, supported by societal priorities and government policies. However, it must also confront and address several significant challenges. [Display omitted] • Biogas development activities have been in 25 Asian countries. • Asia has approximately 45.03 million biogas digesters and 99.72% are household units. • From 1958 through 2023, 163 biogas accidents resulted in 321 deaths and 220 injuries. • Seven key factors influence biogas development in Asia. • Future biogas development is optimistic, but challenges must be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sheds light on the diversity of meanings and connotations that tend to be lost or hidden in translations between different conceptualizations of nature in East and South-East Asia. It reviews the idea of "nature" in Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Tagalog, Cebuano, Lumad, Indonesian, Burmese, Nepali, Khmer, and Mongolian. It shows that the conceptual subtleties in the conceptualization of nature often hide wider and deeper cosmological mismatches. It concludes by suggesting that these diverse voices need to be represented in global reports on sustainability, which can be fostered by the direct involvement of experts from diverse traditions of thought who have access and interpretative knowledge of sources in languages other than English. To take into consideration the diversity of conceptualizations of nature can lead to better decisions about sustainability and improve the acceptability and efficiency of environmental policies in each local context, as well as internationally. Solutions and policies on the ground must be designed based on the local conceptual and cultural frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent research on mosquito vector‐borne diseases points to the possibility for a re‐emergence of yellow fever. This study investigated attempts at utilising environmental methods and their efficacy for the control of yellow fever and its main vector, Aedes aegypti. Methods: Potentially eligible studies were searched in Cochrane Library (Reviews and Trials), the Global Index Medicus (encompassing thus the African Index Medicus, the Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Index Medicus for the South‐East Asia Region, the Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences and the Western Pacific Region Index Medicus), Google Scholar, PubMed and Science Direct. Results: Of a total number of 172 eligible studies, 20 met the pre‐defined inclusion criteria. Two of them provided quantitative assessment on the efficacy of the described water management and house screening methods with a reduction of cases of 98%, and of a reduction of larvae of 100%, respectively. The remaining 18 studies described or recommended the elimination of breeding sites (through water or waste management, unspecified, or house destruction), the use of screens for houses and the improvement of air circulation without providing any data to evidence control effectiveness. Conclusion: This systematic review provides evidence on the historical use and the perceived effectiveness of environmental management methods for combatting yellow fever. However, these methods would benefit from further investigation via controlled trials to provide data for efficacy, costs, acceptability and feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has raised a wide range of concerns about its environmental impact. Therefore, from the perspective of environmental impacts, this study used the two-way fixed effect staggered differences in differences (TWFE Staggered DID) method to examine the impact of the BRI on the Environment Goods (EGs) intra-industry trade (IIT) between China and other Belt and Road (B&R) countries, including a sample of 191 countries, covering the period from 2010 to 2019 for eliminating the impact of COVID-19 and the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. Because only 135 countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding between 2010 and 2019, this study treated these B&R countries as the study group, and the other 73 countries (non-B&R countries) as the control group. This study described EGs using the 54 6-digit code Environment Goods in Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System listed in the "APEC LIST OF ENVIRONMENT GOODS" published by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2012, and used the intra-industry trade index proposed by Grubel and Lloyd in 1971 to measuring dependent variable. The research results indicated that the BRI has significantly promoted bilateral EGs IIT. The mechanism test implied that, in addition to direct impacts, the BRI also has indirect impacts by boosting the energy restructuring of B&R countries. These results prove that the BRI has positive impacts on the environment. The heterogeneity test showed that there is a heterogeneous impact depending on the type of IIT, product categorization, B&R countries' income levels, and geographic environment. This study not only gives theoretical and empirical evidence of the positive environmental impacts of the BRI, but also provides practical guidance for the development of EGS IIT between China and B&R countries, thereby contributing to global carbon emissions reduction and environmental governance to some degree., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Zhou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Economic growth in Asia has increased in the past three decades and has heightened energy demand, resulting in rising greenhouse gas emissions and severe air pollution. To tackle these issues, fuel switching and the deployment of renewables are essential. In the present paper, we discuss the environmental regulations, mainly carbon pricing, implemented in Asia and discuss their achievements. Empirical studies using microdata have shown that carbon pricing in Asia can reduce carbon emissions by promoting energy efficiency. At the macro level, we observe some evidence of fuel switching from coal to natural gas among major emitters. However, more carbon pricing is necessary in Asia if we aim for the decarbonization of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The re-examination of the existing economic and environmental policies in the South and Southeast Asian countries seems to be necessary, as these countries are struggling to achieve the goals of sustainable development. For designing a long-term environmental policy, we intended to examine whether the selected economic and demographic indicators have influenced the ecological footprint in the eight developing countries of Asia from 1990 to 2015. The use of pooled mean group (PMG) approach allowed driving the long-run common coefficients, which may facilitate us to develop a common policy framework for fortifying the environmental quality. The computed results confirmed that the selected variables are cointegrated in the long run, and the variables, i.e., per capita income, nonrenewable energy usage, urbanization, fertility rate, and population density are observed as the significant drivers of the environmental pollution. Moreover, the consumption of renewable energy restored the environmental quality in these countries. Based on the results, we recommended the need for the diversification of the energy-basket for enhancement of the use of renewable energy resources. Further, through sensitization of the necessity of environmental conservation, the governments should promote less carbon-intense economic and demographic practices across the industries and sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromobility is perceived worldwide as an ideal means of coping with the adverse effects of greenhouse gas emissions, which is why several countries are implementing measures to accelerate its development. In this context, Latin American countries are lagging behind other countries, mainly Asian and European, yet they are making great efforts to catch up, some faster than others. In this forum we focus specifically on the progress and next steps of the countries that make up the Pacific Alliance: Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thoroughly assessing the owners and distribution of stranded assets in a 2 °C scenario is essential to anticipate climate policy resistance. We employ novel data to analyze owners and incidence of asset stranding in the power sector globally. We show that Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the US are highly exposed to stranded assets, especially coal plants. Stranded assets are highly concentrated in a few asset owners in some countries (e.g., India). Even if owners are more equally exposed (e.g., in the US) they can vary considerably in the asset stranding timing due to differences in plant fleets' age profile. European, US, and Chinese asset owners own large shares of stranded coal plants abroad. Listed owners may face stranded assets of up to 78% of their share price or more than 80% of their equity. Asset stranding exposure positively correlates with ownership of alternative energy assets. India stands out owning many stranded assets but little alternative energy., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Keywords: Q28; Q54; Q58 EN Q28 Q54 Q58 62 64 3 01/30/21 20210101 NES 210101 The International Energy Agency (IEA) (2020) states that "Global energy-related CO SB 2 sb emissions flattened in 2019 at around 33 gigatons, following 2 years of increases. Arimura and Sugino (2021) discuss a variety of cases in different countries, but unfortunately these countries introduced carbon prices or taxes that are far too low or reduction targets that are not ambitious enough to make an effective carbon rate. Rather than discussing the theoretical advantages of carbon pricing forever, applying internal carbon pricing mechanisms for corporate investment decisions may be more realistic and constructive. [Extracted from the article]

Asian dust, blown by winds from the arid deserts of Mongolia and China in springtime, is causing extensive environmental damages in Korea. However, when evaluating any policy or regulation that reduces them, it is necessary to estimate the costs of Asian dust damages. Therefore, this study attempts to apply a choice experiment to quantify the costs of three Asian dust damage attributes (the frequency, the concentration level of particulates, and the range of the damaged district). According to the estimation results, the average annual marginal willingness to pay per household to reduce the frequency of Asian dust for 1 day is 785.61 Korean won (USD 0.75) and that for reducing the level of particulates by 100 μg/m3 is 701.77 Korean won (USD 0.67). These results show that respondents are more concerned about the particulate level than frequency of Asian dust. However, they are less concerned about the range of the damaged district than frequency and particulate level. This study is expected to provide policy makers with useful information for evaluating and planning environmental policies relating specifically Asian dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a review of scholarship found in the pages of The Pacific Review over the last 30 years. It does so in three ways: (1) it highlights issues in the theory and practice of the international relations, strategic studies, political culture and political economy of the Asia Pacific region. (2) It looks at change in the region over time by an analysis of the shifting fortunes of the major regional powers, namely Japan, China and Indonesia and the challenges they, and China in particular, post to US regional hegemony. (3) It looks at regional process reflected in the fate and fortunes of the regional integrative project in the key policy domains of trade, finance and the environment. The paper concludes with a reflection on the strains on the regional political and economic orders by the rise in nationalist politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being generally poorly recognized by public authorities, informal recycling remains nevertheless a major component in the waste sector, which questions the legitimacy of the official waste arrangements. A look at the current transformation in Hanoi (Vietnam), Delhi (India) and Surabaya (Indonesia) allows us to understand the socio-technical aspects of infrastructural choices in the management of waste generated in fast-growing Asian cities. The three cases present similar traditional recycling practices yet contrasted (non-) regulation within their waste policies. From the co-existence of a municipal waste management service with a traditional informal recycling sector, to an opposition between both, there is also a possibility of making use of the existing local practices to achieve a more sustainable system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urban populations grow and climate exposure increases, more cities are introducing formal planning processes to adapt to climate change. This paper explains the process applied to eight cities in the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) for developing indicators for planning and monitoring local climate resilience. This process relied on transferring a common conceptual framework for climate resilience, together with a locally led iterative and collaborative process that engaged technical and planning authorities and vulnerable groups. The process varied slightly between cities and generated indicators that were chosen for their contextual fit and availability of data. The main benefit of developing resilience indicators in this way was the local capacity that the process built, in terms of understanding resilience, shared understanding of concepts and measurement and establishment of a common platform for future planning and monitoring of climate adaptation interventions at the city level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comparative case study of three Asian cities (Penghu in Taiwan, Seoul in South Korea and Tianjin in China) elucidates the effects of different national approaches to eco-city development and the antecedents of the building of an eco-city. To better understand the Asian context, the three Asian cities of interest were compared with two European cities – Freiburg (Germany) and Samsö (Denmark). The effects of the approach to the development of an eco-city and the fitting of its business activities to the local context are investigated. The analysis identifies four transforming antecedents of the development of an eco-city in Asia, which are (1) utilization of a national approach and policy, (2) the presence of a dedicated local public authority, (3) the continuous engagement of local citizens, and (4) an infusion of national capability and business activity. The transformational development of an eco-city in Asia seeks to create a new techno-social regime that is based on sustainable solutions, whereas their respective national capabilities must be emphasized with an eye to efficiency, economy, and effectiveness simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies and discusses the five main areas of environmental management public policy that pose serious challenges to Asian governments. The first is the emerging issue of siting environmentally unfriendly facilities that may be necessary for growth, but with the social and environmental costs borne primarily by local host residents and neighbourhood municipalities, more commonly known as the not-in-my-backyard syndrome. The second issue is the critical need for pricing of non-market environmental goods. Third is the issue of waste generation. The fourth challenge is that of transboundary pollution, which has become increasingly important with regard to its effects on health and foreign relations. Lastly, the paper discusses global warming and climate change. Discussions on cost-benefit analysis and the more novel method of establishing damage schedules are also presented. This is particularly relevant to fundamental differences between developed and less developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes and synthesizes the responses of 909 respondents from 20 colleges located in the following states: California, Minnesota, Nebraska (2), Ohio, Oklahoma (2), Texas (3), & Wisconsin and countries: Australia, China, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, & Turkey concerning the extent of the respondents' pro-environmentalism opinions. The study develops a four by three research matrix to probe the set of responses. The four rows include: Anthropocentric (considering the world in terms of human values), Biocentric (considering all life as having inherent equal value), Spiritual (considering the environment as a sacred matter), and Extreme (exaggerated actions that exceed the norm). The three columns include: Traditional, Modern and Postmodern viewpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the negative effects of excessive deforestation for the purpose of new tea cultivation in Sri Lanka over the last 30 years. First, some insights are provided into wider econometric discussions in the context of global academic efforts towards better understanding of the links between environment and development. Later parts of this article focus on Sri Lanka and specific ecological issues of sustainability. The article indicates some statistically supported progress in Sri Lanka’s realisation that export promotion at all costs will have pernicious long-term environmental effects. In light of available data, it is argued that still more can and needs to be done to find an appropriate balance between economic growth and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents an economic valuation of Ulu Temburong National Park, located on the island of Borneo, which has great potential as a repository of biodiversity and an ecotourism destination. The paper employed the contingent valuation (CV) method to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of Bruneians for conserving the national park for ecotourism and biodiversity protection purposes, and developed econometric models to analyse the preferences of respondents. According to the results, some dependent variables have a significant impact on the respondents' WTP and the probability of respondents visiting the national park. The WTP values are low, reflecting a view that the park's natural wealth should be managed through government funding. Though public support for conservation is strong up to now, there is a need for change to cope with economic challenges associated with depletion of the country's oil and natural gas resources. The study concludes that policy makers should enhance public awareness, promote forest-based small and medium enterprises, and involve indigenous and local communities in decision-making processes. The government should also consider setting up a research centre for the study of conservation of parks in the entire Borneo region in addition to Ulu Temburong National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] SEA policy trends in Asia indicate a proliferation of SEA legislation. [•] Primary SEA problem is its limited integration in strategic decision making. [•] Notable SEA progress is the emerging awareness on the need for SEA. [•] Main SEA prospects is in international regional cooperation on SEA. [•] SEA paradigm shift requires linkages of structural and non-structural policy instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid growing alarm over the rising atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, increasing attention is being given to ‘geo-engineering’ technologies that could counteract some of the impacts of global warming by either reducing absorption of solar energy (solar radiation management (SRM)) or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Geo-engineering has the potential to dramatically alter the dynamics of global climate change negotiations because it might cool the climate without constraining fossil fuel use. Some scholars have expressed concern that certain states may be tempted to act unilaterally. This paper assesses the approach that China is likely to adopt towards governance of SRM and the implications this holds for broader international climate negotiations. We survey Chinese public discourse, examine the policy factors that will influence China's position, and assess the likelihood of certain future scenarios. While Chinese climate scientists are keenly aware of the potential benefits of geo-engineering as well as its risks, we find that no significant constituency is currently promoting unilateral implementation of SRM. China will probably play a broadly cooperative role in negotiations toward a multilaterally governed geo-engineering programme but will seek to promote a distinctive developing world perspective that reflects concerns over sovereignty, Western imperialism and maintenance of a strict interpretation of the norm of common but differentiated responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the significance of supporting countries to strengthen their system to attract, manage and finance the adoption of climate change to meet the challenges of climatic changes in Asia. It discusses the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) developed by the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the partnerships of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with United Nations Environment Programme, and the need for countries to take purposeful measures.

This paper explores the phenomena of environmental coordination within Northeast Asia. I initially frame the discussion around claims that China is a pollution haven for its neighboring countries, and I look for evidence in the domestic and regional environmental institutions which challenge China's pollution haven status. I find that that there is a science and technology-based epistemic community in Northeast Asia which provides an important theoretical response to counter the pollution haven hypothesis. As well, given its strong science and technological output, Japan is poised to assume leadership of the Northeast Asian environmental regime for at least the short- to medium-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The growing cities in developing Asia require a massive provision of infrastructure, public transportation, housing and jobs for their population, as well as a healthy environment. On the other hand, urban Asia contributes increasingly to climate change, and suffers its impacts. The climate co-benefits approach in this paper refers to the development and implementation of policies and strategies that simultaneously contribute to addressing climate change and solving local environmental problems, which also have other development impacts. The co-benefits approach is important especially for developing countries, which have to overcome many challenges simultaneously with limited capacities and resources. Thus, the objective of this paper is to examine the main obstacles, opportunities and challenges to implementation of environmental co-benefit related policies in urban areas. The paper focuses primarily upon sub-national processes, particularly in cities in developing countries, but the research also looked into the links of sub-national processes to national and international processes. The paper relies on the results of research done in China, Indonesia and India. It offers a series of lessons for understanding initiatives that generated co-benefits and the factors that influence them. This paper provides insight on successful ways to promote, design and implement the urban co-benefits approach in urban areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article takes the proposition that cooperation in the area of non-traditional security (NTS) can provide the essential window of opportunity for Northeast Asians to move beyond history. To demonstrate, it explores the development of NTS cooperation in Northeast Asia, paying particular attention to Sino–Japanese cooperation in the environmental and disaster areas. It then examines the relationship between NTS cooperation and the construction of a regional international society in Northeast Asia. It argues that the importance of NTS cooperation is twofold. First, in a region where historical animosities remain high, NTS issues can avoid sensitive areas and find common ground for cooperation that traditional security approaches would be unable to envisage. Second, NTS cooperation has turned people-to-people relations in a more prominent and conciliatory direction, and enhanced human security consideration, thus taking things further than the indirect consequences of functionalism. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Keywords: Q28; Q54; O58 EN Q28 Q54 O58 65 66 2 01/30/21 20210101 NES 210101 Arimura and Sugino (2020) (hereafter AS) review the literature about carbon price environmental regulations used to contain carbon dioxide (and equivalent) emissions and air pollution in Asia. The carbon emissions cap and trade scheme has reduced carbon emissions in the commercial building and manufacturing sectors. AS summarize the carbon emission reduction pathways under the 2-Degree Celsius, 1.5-Degree Celsius, and the International Energy Agency's (IEA's) "Sustainable Development Scenario.". [Extracted from the article]

The prospects of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and for carbon income, up to and beyond 2012, in the industrial sectors of Iran and five other Asian countries are investigated. The attractiveness and suitability of each host country, the status of their industrial sectors (based on four post-2012 scenarios), and the post-2012 potential of the CDM (or similar carbon projects) in these sectors are all examined. A multi-criteria analysis of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, China, and India, based on seven sets of criteria (institutional, regulatory, economic, political, social, CDM experience, and energy production/consumption), is conducted, and the post-2012 potential carbon incomes of each country – based on CO2e emissions of industrial processes – are calculated. Finally, the Iranian industrial sector and the impact of deregulation of energy prices are examined. The post-2012 potential savings in the Iranian industrial sector are calculated based on energy savings, carbon income, and environmental savings. The results indicate that there is strong demand for investment and new technology in this sector to combat several-fold energy price increases. Moreover, high-priced carbon credits could play a meaningful role in post-2012 energy policies in this sector. Policy relevance This research is the first study to quantify the carbon market potentials in the industrial sectors of the selected Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members. The Kyoto Protocol is considered by most OPEC countries to be a mixed bag of threats and opportunities and they have shown ambivalence towards it, mainly due to the threat a reduction of fossil fuel consumption poses to their economies. On the other hand, energy efficiency is a desirable goal for their industrial sectors. Iran, as an OPEC member country with vast energy resources, has mostly ignored the CDM during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and has performed poorly on CDM implementation. However, the current deregulation of energy prices in Iran, with profound cuts in energy subsidies, would definitely alter the perspective of its industrial decision makers on the post-2012 carbon potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The role of environmental regulation is to ensure the management and use of environmental resources in a way that supports continued improvements in prosperity and wellbeing, for current and future generations. The impact of environmental regulation on the current level of production depends on the long-run technology and equipment changes. So, the answer of how a restrictive environmental regulation influences the prospects of economic growth is not obvious. In this paper, we try to examine how environmental policy affects economic growth in East Asia. Also, we test the validity of Porter and industrial flight hypothesis. The results show that improved environmental policy helps to increase the region's economic growth and the Porter and industrial flight hypothesis is valid in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores what the academic literature tells us about environmental conservation challenges in Myanmar, and what types of domestic and international mechanisms are suited to address those challenges. It begins by providing background information on rural energy use, environmental legislation, forestry, agriculture and the country's network of protected areas. It notes, for example, that the country's protected areas face environmental degradation caused by poverty, corruption, the expansion of agricultural land and population growth. It goes on to argue that planners in Myanmar can, however, utilize a variety of mechanisms to overcome these challenges. Policy-makers can enhance community involvement in protected areas and management schemes through ownership and engagement. They could integrate conservation efforts with income generation, provide education and awareness campaigns for those living near wildlife areas and expand the number and size of protected areas. They could, furthermore, increase penalties against illegal activities within protected areas, offer accelerated staff training and education programmes and similarly consolidate regulatory authority for environmental conservation. Even those outside of Myanmar can prevent environmental destruction. International planners could implement ecosystem payments schemes, involve Myanmar more concretely in the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) process, an international agreement launched in 2012, and expand Myanmar's participation in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Lastly, they could advocate international bans on exports of illegal products and strengthen capacity building efforts in the areas of forestry, land use and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a mixed activity-based costing decision (MABCD) model for green airline fleet planning under the constraints of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), in which activity-based costing (ABC) model is incorporated with a modified product-mix decision model for total operating costs of individual flights under EU ETS constraints. A numerical example for comparing cost-effectiveness between the B747-400 airline and the A380 airline in one of the busiest route between Asia and Europe is demonstrated. It is shown that subject to different changes of revenue tone kilometers (RTK), the cost trends of carbon emissions and the changes in profits of different flight routes appear to be similar. Moreover, it is also shown that when the RTK are higher, a choice of a wider-bodied aircraft could lead to higher profits. Finally, it is shown that without the pre-assumptions of considering more complicated routes and financing methods, a self-purchased aircraft appears to contribute more profits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper considers how to make pro-poor climate change adaptation more effective in the city of Chittagong. Drawing on discussions with residents in informal settlements and interviews with staff from government agencies, NGOs and donors, it shows the lack of connection between the formal institutional structure for disaster preparedness and the groups most at risk from extreme weather disasters and their community level actions. There is no clear definition of roles among local government agencies with regard to climate change adaptation. Although there is a donor-funded programme to reduce poverty and disaster risks, this is not being implemented in the settlements most at risk from landslides. Neither are there any measures underway to address the needs of the residents in these high risk settlements, in part because of the financial weakness of local government. Nor is there much support for this from national government – since national climate change adaptation policy does not consider urban adaptation and strengthening urban government capacity to reduce the vulnerability of the extreme poor as a priority. NGOs undertake programmes for community-based disaster risk reduction but their scale and scope are limited by not being integrated into local government. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Climate change has become a focal point in recent environmental debates and policymaking. Latest polls show rising consensus among the global public on the urgency of the problem. Home to the fastest growing economies as well as to four of the ten largest greenhouse gas emitters, Asia holds key to successful global coordination on climate change policy. This essay draws a contour of Asian public opinion on climate change issues based on multiple cross-national polls. While generally aware of climate change and seriously concerned about its effects, Asians turn out to be the least willing to bear the costs of climate change mitigation as compared to the residents of other regions of the world. This portends a great hurdle to devising and implementing proactive policies to address the challenges of climate change in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study outlines potential futures for the global economy through the 2050 with a specific focus on the countries of Asia. With underlying assumptions about population and output growth, a baseline scenario assesses the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and the ensuing impacts on the climate. Under the baseline scenario, Asia's high growth leads to a strong rotation in global output and emissions by the year 2050. The analytical framework traces back the changes in temperature to economic damages – limited to the agricultural sectors. Parts of Asia are likely to see much higher dependence on food imports as a consequence of these damages. Various carbon tax scenarios are implemented to assess the potential for reducing carbon emissions. Because of the structure of their economies, Asian countries are likely to bear the greatest burden in reducing emissions in an efficient global tax scheme, but there is significant scope to ease this burden through financial transfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing theoretical insights offered by the Copenhagen School, in conjunction with a critical assessment of environmental security, the intention of this paper is to examine the ways in which Australia's 're-engagement with Asia' is getting increasingly securitized through both speech acts and practices relating to climate change and energy security. These acts and practices are dictated and driven by the state-centric 'national security' discourses on the one hand, and by the geo-economic imperatives of fossil fuel-driven models of economic growth and energy security on the other hand. The key question, in our view, then becomes: What are the actual or potential linkages (and contradictions) between Australia's self-image as an energy superpower, alongside its increasingly embraced normative role as a responsible international (and even Asian) citizen committed to effectively mitigating climate change? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1990s, many regional and subregional environmental frameworks and programs have been created in Northeast Asia. In this article, the author assesses the extent to which these schemes have translated into a higher level of environmental governance. He argues that despite remarkable institutional development, regional environmental governance is at an embryonic stage. Its weakness stems from three factors in particular: (1) the primacy of national governments and the limited role of nonstate actors, (2) the lack of a coordinating mechanism among overlapping environmental initiatives, and (3) the lack of tangible outcomes in terms of mitigating environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By 2020 our world will have changed and with it the shape and role of education and of educational research. One cannot predict the future, but in this paper three possible scenarios are outlined reflecting alternative approaches of government to the economic, political, social and environmental challenges facing the Asia Pacific region. For each scenario (loosely-labelled: conservative-hierarchical, pragmatic-competitive, utopian-co-operative), the goals, structure, policy and practice of education and educational research are outlined, and the implications for the development of educational research and for the Asia Pacific Educational Research Association (APERA) are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most economists examining the question of 'pollution havens' have concluded that the level of environmental regulation and activism in different states is not generally a significant determinant of international patterns of trade and foreign direct investment. This paper argues on the basis of extensive primary research that with respect to Japan's foreign direct investment during the 1970s, at any rate, this conclusion needs to be rethought. In the early 1970s, Japanese actors were remarkably forthright in ascribing their investment decisions to a desire to move polluting industry overseas. These statements allow us to examine 'pollution export' as a state strategy, a project advocated by industry organizations, and a response of individual firms to high levels of protest and regulation. The paper also traces the development of the Japanese debate over pollution export through the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast growth of the manufacturing sector in Indonesia during the 1970s and 1980s and its relatively steady growth during the 1990s and early 2000s were argued to be the result of the kind of industrial policy reforms that were implemented. However, another important development since the early 1970s has been the rapidly deteriorating quality of environmental conditions in the country. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how industrial policy reforms have impacted on the environmental performance of industry, as well as to describe whether the introduction of industrial environmental policies has reduced industries' environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses policy that has been enacted regarding the fishing areas of the Lower Mekong Basin, located in Southeast Asia. The impact which this policy has had on the basin and the people who live near it is mentioned. Divisions which exists between the capture and aquaculture fisheries in this areas are discussed. The involvement that different governmental and non-governmental organizations often play in establishing policies relating to natural resources is mentioned. The impact that environmental regulations have had on aquatic animals in the area is discussed.

We examine the role of domestic nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in environmental policy reform in Asia. Standard accounts treat NGOs as critical players in the policy process, responding to local environmental degradation and pressing states for environmental reforms. We argue, by contrast, that environmental policy changes are borne largely of the global environmental regime, and that domestic environmental NGOs in Asia are better seen as products of world society than as independent actors driving policy change. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses support our view. In event-history analyses of policy reform, we find that both ties to world society and linkages to the global environmental regime are stronger predictors of policy adoption rates than domestic environmental NGOs or local degradation. We suggest that the rhetorical centrality of 'grassroots' NGOs results not from any direct impact such associations have on political change but rather from their roles in the theater of democracy, which is staged in a post-Second World War liberal world culture that celebrates bottom-up voluntary organizing and participation, even when such associational activity is only loosely connected to domestic political change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental policymakers in developing countries, including those of the Asia-Pacific region, often face a tough dilemma. They realize that formulating good policy requires careful consideration of various options to arrive at policies that are well suited to the particular circumstances of their country or area, but can still achieve the desired end. At the same time, they are subject to significant pressure, both domestic and international, to define and implement policies quickly. The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) has been gathering and analyzing case studies of good environmental policy practices, with a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific region, in order to help policymakers make better policy decisions based on the experiences of others facing similar challenges. This paper completes the series of eight linked papers presented in this special issue of the International Review for Environmental Strategies. Based on the analyses in the preceding papers and on a textual pattern-matching exercise carried out on the whole database of good practice case studies gathered under the Research on Innovative and Strategic Policy Options (RISPO) project, this paper makes recommendations and draws lessons and conclusions for environmental policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the transfer and diffusion of sustainable transport policies around the world and reviews the implications for policy-making in the Asia-Pacific region. Through a focus on a range of good practice case studies, this paper investigates why there are significant differences in the major factors involved in the transfer of sustainable transport policies depending on the geographical direction of transfer. Pattern matching analysis and comparative case study revealed that: there are significant transfers of sustainable transport policies from developing countries to both developing and developed countries; international organizations play a crucial role in policy transfers towards the South; the role of political leadership is important in transfers from the South; and the speed at which redistributive policies were diffused was slower than other kinds of policies. The case studies used in the analysis were collected by the project Research on Innovative and Strategic Policy Options (RISPO), which was led by the Institute for Global Environmental Studies, Hayama, Japan. It is part of a series of eight linked papers in this special issue of the International Review for Environmental Strategies (IRES). This study draws on the RISPO Good Practices Inventory to provide useful lessons for environmental policymakers in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]