Costs and potentials of reducing CO2 emissions in the UK domestic stock from a systems perspective

Despite the fact that contemporary earth construction may open up new avenues to cutting down CO2 emissions, a review of literature reveals that there is sparse research to date identifying reasons behind why there may be resistance to earth construction as a sustainable construction material in the United Kingdom. The aim of this paper is to formulate a conceptual framework that facilitates a clearer understanding of factors affecting the acceptance of earth as a sustainable material in the UK. To achieve this aim, this study adopted a research methodological framework comprising of an extensive review of literature, the Delphi technique, and in-depth interviews. The conceptual framework provides insight into factors related to the UK context specifically including a lack of technological innovation, resources, well-established supply chain networks, training facilities in universities and building codes. These issues may be addressed through the promotion of earthen architecture as a method of cutting CO2 emissions and introducing earth construction modules in relevant degree programs. Keywords: conceptual framework, factors, building material, earth, environmental sustainability

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Revising Emission Responsibilities through Consumption-Based Accounting: A European and Post-Brexit Perspective

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11020488 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 488 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Paola Fezzigna ◽

Simone Borghesi ◽

Dario Caro

Keyword(s):

International Trade ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Trade Flows ◽

Environmental Implications ◽

Traded Goods ◽

The World ◽

Trading Partners ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact ◽

The Eu

International trade shifts production of a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions embodied in traded goods from the importing country to the exporting country. The European Union (EU) plays a prominent role in the flow of international-related emissions as it accounts for the second largest share of global exports and imports of goods. Consumption-based accountings (CBA) emerged as alternative to the traditional emission inventories based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. According to the IPCC criteria, countries where products are consumed take no responsibility for the emissions produced by exporter countries, thus neglecting the emissions embodied in trade. By taking this aspect into account, CBA are considered of great importance in revealing emissions attributed to the final consumer. Using a CBA approach, this paper evaluates the impact of international trade in the EU in terms of CO2 emissions, looking both at the internal trade flows within the EU-28 and at the external trade flows between the EU and the rest of the world during the period 2012–2015. We find that the EU is a net importer of emissions as its emissions due to consumption exceed those due to production. In particular, in 2015 the ratio between import- and export-embodied emissions was more than 3:1 for the EU-28 that imported 1317 Mt CO2 from the rest of the world (mainly from China and Russia) while exporting only 424 Mt CO2. Concerning emissions flows among EU countries, Germany represents the largest importer, followed by the UK. To get a deeper understanding on possible environmental implications of Brexit on UK emission responsibilities, the paper also advances a few hypotheses on how trade flows could change based on the existing trade patterns of the UK. Data analysis shows that a 10% shift of UK imports from EU partners to its main non-EU trading partners (India, China, and US) would increase its emission responsibility by 5%. The increase in UK emission responsibility would more than double (+11%) in case of a 30% shift of UK imports. Similar results would apply if UK replaced its current EU partners with its main Commonwealth trading partners as a result of Brexit.

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95/00943 A response to the UK national programme for CO2 emissions

Fuel and Energy Abstracts ◽

10.1016/0140-6701(95)96198-4 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 55

Keyword(s):

Co2 Emissions ◽

National Programme ◽

The Uk

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A Comparative Assessment of the Light Goods Vehicle Fleet and the Scope to Reduce its CO2 Emissions in the UK and France

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.1478 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 125 ◽

pp. 334-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Michael Browne ◽

Christophe Rizet ◽

Julian Allen

Keyword(s):

Co2 Emissions ◽

Comparative Assessment ◽

Vehicle Fleet ◽

The Uk

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Whole Systems Thinking and Modelling in the UK

10.1007/978-3-030-88455-0_2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 23-47

Author(s):

Antti Silvast ◽

Chris Foulds

Keyword(s):

Systems Thinking ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Computer Modelling ◽

Research Programme ◽

Academic Disciplines ◽

Systems Perspective ◽

The Social ◽

The Uk ◽

Policy And Planning ◽

Whole Systems

AbstractUK academic researchers have been vying for a ‘whole’ systems perspective on energy issues for more than a decade. This research programme has exposed challenges in complex systems thinking and in the dialogue between academic disciplines and epistemic cultures that is needed to mediate the social, technological, and environmental impacts of energy systems. This chapter examines these efforts starting from existing studies that include detailed reports on experiences of interdisciplinary research. By extending these findings via interviews and ethnographic research, this chapter pays particular attention to the role of interdisciplinary computer modelling that was expected to represent complex energy transitions and energy infrastructures of the future. In doing so, this chapter demonstrates how interdisciplinarity has actually worked in three exemplary areas: the diversity of computer models that seek to represent everyday energy demand and how they simplify both demand and other disciplines in so doing; the need for collaborative, cross-cutting research in foresight of future energy scenarios; and how modelling scholars strongly envision their models should become ‘useful’ for imagined policy and planning stakeholders.

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An Evaluation of the Tourism-Induced Environmental Kuznets Curve (T-EKC) Hypothesis: Evidence from G7 Countries

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12219150 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (21) ◽

pp. 9150 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cem Ișik ◽

Munir Ahmad ◽

Uğur Korkut Pata ◽

Serdar Ongan ◽

Magdalena Radulescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Environmental Kuznets Curve ◽

Kuznets Curve ◽

Ekc Hypothesis ◽

Renewable Energy Consumption ◽

G7 Countries ◽

Group Of Seven ◽

The Uk

This paper analyzes the legitimacy of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for a group of seven (G7) countries over the period 1995–2015. In addition to testing the EKC speculation, the authors also would like to understand the ways in which increases in renewable energy consumption and the international tourism receipt affect the CO2 emissions in G7 countries, because the energy and tourism sectors may have considerable direct impacts on CO2 emissions. In this investigation, a panel bootstrap cointegration test and an augmented mean group (AMG) estimator were applied. The empirical findings indicate that the tourism-induced EKC hypothesis is valid only for France. Additionally, it was detected that a rise in renewable energy consumption has a negative (reduction) impact on CO2 emissions in France, Italy, the UK, and the US. However, an increase in the receipt of international touristm has a positive (additional) impact on Italy’s CO2 emissions. Hence, this country’s decision-makers should re-review their tourism policy to adopt a renewable-inclusive one for sustainable tourism and the environment.

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