Climate Policy in the Commercial Sector: A Survey of Commercial Buildings in Japan

Abstract In Japan, the government has set a target for a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26% from 2013 levels by 2030. The commercial sector has the highest reduction target—39.8%—among all Japanese sectors. This chapter first presents the current GHG situation in Japan and Japanese climate policy in the commercial sector. Second, we introduce a nationwide survey that we conducted on the implementation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) in office buildings with large-scale emissions in Japan. The survey results show that energy-saving technology adoption is more advanced in Tokyo than in other prefectures and that there is more space for the adoption of energy-efficient technologies nationwide. To accelerate EEM adoption to achieve the 2030 target, regulatory agencies must improve the way they promote energy audits and subsidies and provide information on energy savings.

Download Full-text

Carbon Handprint: Potential Climate Benefits of a Novel Liquid-Cooled Base Station with Waste Heat Reuse

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12234452 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (23) ◽

pp. 4452

Author(s):

Heli Kasurinen ◽

Saija Vatanen ◽

Kaisa Grönman ◽

Tiina Pajula ◽

Laura Lakanen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Waste Heat ◽

Research Question ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Base Station ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Electrical Heating ◽

Waste Heat Reuse ◽

And Function

The novel life cycle assessment (LCA)-based carbon handprint indicator represents a potential carbon footprint reduction that producers/products create for customers who use the(ir) product instead of a baseline product. The research question is how to consider a situation in which multiple customers use a product for different purposes to provide a carbon handprint quantification and the associated communication. The study further provides new insight into the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential within the mobile telecommunications and energy sectors. The carbon handprint of a novel Finnish liquid-cooled base station technology is quantified. The liquid-cooled base station provides a telecommunications service and waste heat that is recoverable through the cooling liquid for heating purposes. The baseline solutions are an air-cooled base station, and district and electrical heating. The liquid-cooled base station creates a carbon handprint, both through energy savings in telecommunications and additional waste heat reuse, replacing other energy production methods. A large-scale climate change mitigation potential through a liquid-cooled base station expansion could be significant. Different supply chain operators’ contributions to the total carbon handprint could be terminologically distinguished in communications to emphasize their roles in a shared handprint. The handprint should be transparently communicated for each customer and function.

Download Full-text

Low-carbon innovation policy with the use of biorenewables in the transport sector until 2030

Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce ◽

10.19041/apstract/2015/4/6 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 45-52

Author(s):

Csaba Fogarassy ◽

Bálint Horváth ◽

Linda Szőke ◽

Attila Kovács

Keyword(s):

Climate Policy ◽

Large Scale ◽

Innovation Policy ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Road Transport ◽

Transport Systems ◽

Transport Sector ◽

Pollution Indices ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Planning Period

The topic of the present study deals with the changes and future trends of the European Union’s climate policy. In addition, it studies the manner in which Hungary’s transport sector contributes to the success of the above. The general opinion of Hungarian climate policy is that the country has no need of any substantial climate policy measures, since it will be able to reach its emission reduction targets anyway. This is mostly true, because the basis year for the long term goals is around the middle/end of the 1980’s, when Hungary’s pollution indices were entirely different than today due to former large-scale industrial production. With the termination of these inefficient energy systems, Hungary has basically been “performing well” since the change in political system without taking any specific steps in the interest of doing so. The analysis of the commitments for the 2020-2030 climate policy planning period, which defined emissions commitments compared to 2005 GHG emissions levels, has also garnered similar political reactions in recent years. Thus, it is not the issue of decreasing GHG emissions but the degree to which possible emissions can be increased stemming from the conditions and characteristics of economic growth that is important from the aspect of economic policy. In 2005, the Hungarian transport sector’s emissions amounted to 11 million tons, which is equal to 1.2% of total EU emissions, meaning it does not significantly influence total transport emissions. However, the stakes are still high for developing a low GHG emission transport system, since that will decide whether Hungary can avoid those negative development tendencies that have plagued the majority of Western European transport systems. Can Budapest avoid the scourge of perpetual smog and traffic jams? Can it avert the immeasurable accumulation of externalities on the capital city’s public bypass roads caused by having road transport conduct goods shipping? JEL classification: Q58

Download Full-text

"I Will Write a Letter and Change the World". The Knowledge Base Kick-Starting Norway’s Rainforest Initiative

Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies ◽

10.5324/njsts.v3i2.2164 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Erlend Andre Tveiten Hermansen

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Base ◽

Climate Policy ◽

Media Coverage ◽

Large Scale ◽

Close Contact ◽

Forest Degradation ◽

Climate Mitigation ◽

Rapid Progression ◽

Political Climate ◽

The Government

<div><p>In September 2007 two Norwegian NGOs wrote a letter to leading Norwegian politicians urging them to establish a climate initiative for protecting rainforests. Two months later, at the United Nations climate summit in Bali, Norway committed to donate three billion NOK annually to prevent tropical deforestation, making Norway the leading global donor in what has become the REDD+ mechanism (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). This article provides a detailed analysis of the making of the rainforest initiative, placing particular emphasis on the knowledge base of the initiative, most notably a decisive letter. Close contact with policy makers in the process ensured legitimacy and credibility for the proposal. Important for the initiative’s rapid progression was that it came in the middle of the run-up to the negotiations of a cross-political climate settlement in the Norwegian Parliament. The rainforest initiative became one of the hottest proposals in the climate policy ‘bidding war’ between the government and the opposition. All these events must be seen against the background of 2007 being a year when public concern and media coverage about climate issues peaked. Politicians were under pressure to act, and the rainforest proposal’s perfect fit with the Norwegian climate mitigation main approach of pursuing large-scale cost-effective emission cutbacks abroad made it pass swiftly through the governmental machinery. In conclusion, the article suggests the metaphor of the perfect storm to explain how the NGOs exploited a situation which made the rainforest initiative an indispensable part of Norway’s climate policy.</p><div> </div></div>

Download Full-text

Obligatory versus voluntary energy audits: are there differences in quality?

Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence ◽

10.2478/picbe-2018-0047 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 522-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michael C. Krutwig ◽

Adrian Tanțău

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Research Work ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Quality Level ◽

Energy Efficiency Measures ◽

Eu Member States ◽

Efficiency Measures ◽

Energy Audits ◽

Energy Balances

Abstract Directive 2012/27/UE of the European Parliament has created a new motivation for energy audits: the avoidance of penalties. According to this directive, large companies in all EU member states must carry out energy audits at least every four years. Does this obligation affect the quality of energy audits? We hypothesize that voluntary audits, in comparison to mandatory audits, have a higher quality level in terms of a higher investment in energy efficiency measures. While mandatory audits must always take the entire company into account, voluntary energy audits allow companies to focus on the most promising business or process areas. The energy balance limits can also be drawn more focused. The auditor can also be selected according to specific professional qualifications. As a methodology, we first define quality criteria for energy audits based on the energy efficiency measures determined. Important factors are the adoption rate, the calculated energy savings and the consideration of non-energy benefits in the calculation. The validation of the collected quality criteria is carried out by a comparison with the results of already existing research work. In an empirical study, we then compare data from audits of both types that have already been carried out with regard to the quality characteristics found. Via a database with 1,692 energy audits conducted in Germany in the years 2014-2016, we can draw up detailed comparisons of the energy balances and, in particular, of the measures calculated. This enables clear conclusions to be drawn about the differences in quality between the different program types.

Download Full-text

How To Help Restaurants Survive during COVID-19?

Studies of Applied Economics ◽

10.25115/eea.v39i12.5998 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Bayu Ilham Pradana ◽

Pusvita Yuana ◽

Risca Fitri Ayuni ◽

Annisa Maharani Amir ◽

Aisha Karunia Kartika

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Word Of Mouth ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Food Services ◽

Perceived Safety ◽

Practical Standpoint ◽

Survey Results ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact

COVID-19 occurred in early 2020 which led to social restrictions, physical distancing, and even large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Malang City. This impact has massively shattered the social and economic foundations of Indonesia. This research is aimed to investigate the impact of health surveillance trust, perceived safety and restaurant brand, solidarity with the food services towards revisiting intention, intention to visit other restaurants, and word of mouth through satisfaction in Malang restaurants. Two hundred and fifty respondents participated in this study. To achieve the aim of this study, SmartPLS3 software was used. The research method used is a survey through the distribution of questionnaires. Survey results through questionnaires were inputted, tabulated, and processed for later analysis using SmartPLS3 software. As predicted, health surveillance trust, perceived safety and restaurant brand, solidarity with the food services had a significant effect on satisfaction. In addition, the effect of satisfaction on revisit intention, intention to visit other restaurants, and word of mouth has been proven in this study. From a practical standpoint, it is obvious that to help restaurants survive, the government and the community can work together to build empathy and solidarity with the restaurants as well as comply with health and safety protocols.

Download Full-text

Land Use Change and Commodity Frontiers

Case Studies in the Environment ◽

10.1525/cse.2020.1223610 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel M. Cáceres ◽

Esteban Tapella ◽

Diego A. Cabrol ◽

Lucrecia Estigarribia

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Field Work ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Social Actors ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Fast Pace ◽

Forest Use ◽

The Government ◽

Social Environmental ◽

Management Recommendations

Argentina is experiencing an expansion of soya and maize cultivation that is pushing the agricultural frontier over areas formerly occupied by native Chaco forest. Subsistance farmers use this dry forest to raise goats and cattle and to obtain a broad range of goods and services. Thus, two very different and non-compatible land uses are in dispute. On the one hand subsistance farmers fostering an extensive and diversified forest use, on the other hand, large-scale producers who need to clear out the forest to sow annual crops in order to appropriate soil fertility. First, the paper looks at how these social actors perceive Chaco forest, what their interests are, and what kind of values they attach to it. Second, we analyze the social-environmental conflicts that arise among actors in order to appropriate forest’s benefits. Special attention is paid to the role played by the government in relation to: (a) how does it respond to the demands of the different sectors; and (b) how it deals with the management recommendations produced by scientists carrying out social and ecological research. To put these ideas at test we focus on a case study located in Western Córdoba (Argentina), where industrial agriculture is expanding at a fast pace, and where social actors’ interests are generating a series of disputes and conflicts. Drawing upon field work, the paper shows how power alliances between economic and political powers, use the institutional framework of the State in their own benefit, disregarding wider environmental and social costs.

Download Full-text

Financial and Economic Support of Innovation Processes in the Russian Fuel and Energy Complex

Economics taxes & law ◽

10.26794/1999-849x-2019-12-3-77-85 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 77-85

Author(s):

L. D. Kapranova ◽

T. V. Pogodina

Keyword(s):

Oil Recovery ◽

Large Scale ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

New Technologies ◽

Innovative Development ◽

Oil Reserves ◽

Energy Complex ◽

Innovation Activities ◽

Substantial Investment ◽

The Government

The subject of the research is the current state of the fuel and energy complex (FEC) that ensures generation of a significant part of the budget and the innovative development of the economy.The purpose of the research was to establish priority directions for the development of the FEC sectors based on a comprehensive analysis of their innovative and investment activities. The dynamics of investment in the fuel and energy sector are considered. It is noted that large-scale modernization of the fuel and energy complex requires substantial investment and support from the government. The results of the government programs of corporate innovative development are analyzed. The results of the research identified innovative development priorities in the power, oil, gas and coal sectors of the fuel and energy complex. The most promising areas of innovative development in the oil and gas sector are the technologies of enhanced oil recovery; the development of hard-to-recover oil reserves; the production of liquefied natural gas and its transportation. In the power sector, the prospective areas are activities aimed at improving the performance reliability of the national energy systems and the introduction of digital technologies. Based on the research findings, it is concluded that the innovation activities in the fuel and energy complex primarily include the development of new technologies, modernization of the FEC technical base; adoption of state-of-the-art methods of coal mining and oil recovery; creating favorable economic conditions for industrial extraction of hard-to-recover reserves; transition to carbon-free fuel sources and energy carriers that can reduce energy consumption and cost as well as reducing the negative FEC impact on the environment.

Download Full-text

TO THE PROBLEMS OF COMBATING CORRUPTION IN MODERN RUSSIA AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ANTI-CORRUPTION

Current problems of jurisprudence ◽

10.29039/02032-6/064-074 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Angela Dranishnikova

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

The State ◽

Point Of View ◽

Modern Life ◽

Existing Problems ◽

Moral Point ◽

Material Goods ◽

The Russian Federation ◽

The Difference ◽

The Government

In the article, the author reflects the existing problems of the fight against corruption in the Russian Federation. He focuses on the opacity of the work of state bodies, leading to an increase in bribery and corruption. The topic we have chosen is socially exciting in our days, since its significance is growing on a large scale at all levels of the investigated aspect of our modern life. Democratic institutions are being jeopardized, the difference in the position of social strata of society in society’s access to material goods is growing, and the state of society is suffering from the moral point of view, citizens are losing confidence in the government, and in the top officials of the state.

Download Full-text

Meta-Governance

10.1093/oso/9780198825074.003.0008 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Morten Egeberg ◽

Jarle Trondal

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Central Government ◽

Focal Point ◽

Reform Process ◽

Government Agencies ◽

Reform Processes ◽

The Government ◽

Central Government Agencies ◽

Instrumental Control

Chapter 8 draws attention to meta-governance and how the governing of reforms is affected by how reform processes are organized. The chapter asks how reformers can ensure support for large-scale reforms that are likely to attract profound resistance. The focal point of the chapter is a study of geographical decentralization of central government agencies. The chapter argues that successful meta-governance can be provided for by careful organization of the reform process. The empirical case studied is a large-scale relocation of government agencies in Norway during the early 2000s. In carrying out this reform, the government succeeded against the odds. Most importantly, research has revealed huge constraints on the instrumental control of large-scale reforms in general and of geographical relocation of organizations in particular. Yet, this chapter shows that large-scale reforms can be successfully achieved through careful crafting of the reform organization.

Download Full-text