Russia plans to enter global hydrogen market

Significance Interest in hydrogen stems mainly from a recognition that global markets and regulation will change, rather than domestic pressure for climate change mitigation. Natural gas producer Gazprom, liquified natural gas (LNG) specialist Novatek and government-controlled nuclear and hydroelectric companies Rosatom and Rusgidro are expected to play leading roles, but ambitions are modest. Impacts Hydrogen development will be led by firms with interests in natural gas or electricity, both key inputs. The German-Russian Chamber of Commerce will push hydrogen development as a way of marrying bilateral expertise and capacity. There is talk of using the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to carry a hydrogen-methane mix, or even of a dedicated third pipeline.

Author(s):  
John Tzilivakis ◽  
Kathleen Lewis ◽  
Andrew Green ◽  
Douglas Warner

Purpose – In order to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is essential that all industry sectors have the appropriate knowledge and tools to contribute. This includes agriculture, which is considered to contribute about a third of emissions globally. This paper reports on one such tool: IMPACCT: Integrated Management oPtions for Agricultural Climate Change miTigation. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – IMPACCT focuses on GHGs, carbon sequestration and associated mitigation options. However, it also attempts to include information on economic and other environmental impacts in order to provide a more holistic perspective. The model identifies mitigation options, likely economic impacts and any synergies and trade-offs with other environmental objectives. The model has been applied on 22 case study farms in seven Member States. Findings – The tool presents some useful concepts for developing carbon calculators in the future. It has highlighted that calculators need to evolve from simply calculating emissions to identifying cost-effective and integrated emissions reduction options. Practical implications – IMPACCT has potential to become an effective means of provided targeted guidance, as part of a broader knowledge transfer programme based on an integrated suite of guidance, tools and advice delivered via different media. Originality/value – IMPACCT is a new model that demonstrates how to take a more integrated approach to mitigating GHGs on farms across Europe. It is a holistic carbon calculator that presents mitigation options in the context other environmental and economic objectives in the search for more sustainable methods of food production.


Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob A. Miller

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain the US society’s insignificant mitigation of climate change using Niklas Luhmann’s (1989) autopoietic social systems theory in ecological communication. Specifically, the author’s analysis falls within the context of Luhmann re-moralized while focusing on particular function systems’ binary codes and their repellence of substantive US climate change mitigation policy across systems. Design/methodology/approach The author achieves this purpose by resituating Luhmann’s conception of evolution to forgo systems teleology and better contextualize the spatial-temporal scale of climate change; reinforcing complexity reduction and differentiation by integrating communication and media scholar John D. Peters’s (1999) “communication chasm” concept as one mechanism through which codes sustain over time; and applying these integrated concepts to prominent the US climate change mitigation attempts. Findings The author concludes that climate change mitigation efforts are the amalgamation of the systems’ moral communications. Mitigation efforts have relegated themselves to subsystems of the ten major systems given the polarizing nature of their predominant care/harm moral binary. Communication chasms persist because these moral communications cannot both adhere to the systems’ binary codes and communicate the climate crisis’s urgency. The more time that passes, the more codes force mitigation organizations, activist efforts and their moral communications to adapt and sacrifice their actions to align with the encircling systems’ code. Social implications In addition to the conceptual contribution, the social implication is that by identifying how and why climate change mitigation efforts are subsumed by the larger systems and their codes, climate change activists and practitioners can better tool their tactics to change the codes at the heart of the systems if serious and substantive climate change mitigation is to prevail. Originality/value To the author’s knowledge, there has not been an integration of a historical communication concept into, and sociological application of, ecological communication in the context of climate change mitigation.


Significance The most important climate summit since the 1997 Kyoto gathering will open in Paris at end-November, with the goal of producing the first universal binding climate treaty ever drafted. Preparatory talks are progressing slowly on the core document negotiated among countries. However, the recent announcement of the first-ever official climate commitment from China and the growing push for carbon pricing are positive signals that the Paris summit could result not only in an agreement, but in a significant one. Impacts French organisers will accelerate negotiations, set to be intensive, as the first Bonn meeting did not produce the expected result. China's official commitment to climate change mitigation could pave the way for a strong agreement in Paris. Carbon pricing will be discussed and progress in harmonising carbon markets is not excluded anymore.


Significance While the latest draft by Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe is a significant improvement on its predecessor, it still requires extensive clarification and modification if it is to attract growth-inducing investment and placate communities’ concerns. Impacts Growing mineworker deaths will increase tensions with miners over safety issues and working conditions. The coal industry will decline as Eskom’s finances deteriorate, climate change mitigation pressures start and global export markets wane. Further ahead, declining ore grades will be offset by digitalisation efficiencies and new demand for metals (notably, chrome and manganese).


Significance In Amazonia, deforestation increased by 25% year-on-year in the first half of 2020. The situation has led large institutional investors, corporations and foreign governments to press Brazil to change its environmental policy. Domestic companies, including the country’s largest banks, have also increased calls for more environmental protection. Impacts Climate change mitigation internationally will be severely affected by fires in Amazonia. Environmental neglect will increasingly erode Brazil’s diplomatic influence. Lack of a clear commitment to environmental conservation in the coming years will undermine efforts to boost the economy.


Author(s):  
Faith Ngum ◽  
Dieudonne Alemagi ◽  
Lalisa Duguma ◽  
Peter A. Minang ◽  
Anderson Kehbila ◽  
...  

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the policy environments, institutional arrangements and practical implementation of some initiatives undertaken by the Government of Cameroon, together with some relevant stakeholders, in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation at various levels in the country, which are prerequisites to promote synergistic ways of addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach to data collection, the paper draws upon information collected from relevant literature and interviews with 18 key country resource personnel.FindingsResults revealed that most reviewed policies/programs/strategies do not mention “climate change” explicitly but propose some activities which indirectly address it. Interaction is fair within the government ministries but weak between these ministries and other institutions. Inadequate financial resources are being opined as the most important challenge stakeholders are (and would continue) facing as a result of adopting integrated approaches to climate change. Other challenges include inadequate coordination, insufficient sensitization and capacity building, ineffective implementation, inadequate compliance, lack of proper transparency and inadequate public participation. To redress the aforementioned constraints and challenges, the paper concludes by outlining a number of recommendations for policy design.Originality/valueThe following recommendations were made: create a national technical committee to oversee and provide scientific guidance to the government on synergistic approaches; promote private sector investment and sponsorship on synergistic approaches; create local awareness, etc. It is important to underscore that minimal studies have been conducted to analyze multi-stakeholder perspectives on synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation in Cameroon. This study attempts to bridge this major gap.


Author(s):  
Dimitra Spyridi ◽  
Christos Vlachokostas ◽  
Alexandra V. Michailidou ◽  
Constantinos Sioutas ◽  
Nicolas Moussiopoulos

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to put forward a methodological framework to provide a comparative assessment of available mitigation and adaptation strategies against climate change. Mitigation options aim at minimizing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, in an effort to reduce the rate of increase in global temperature. On the other hand, adaptation options relate to the ability of the natural or human systems to handle the impact of the climate change and to adjust to its effects, seeking to eliminate the adverse consequences and take advantage of any beneficial outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology focuses on specific parameters, leading to the most efficient package of alternatives for the area of Greece. The selection of the “optimal” ranking of alternatives in a defined strategy is a sophisticated procedure, and a multi-criteria decision-making process was established. A questionnaire was designed and used as input to the overall framework, based on specific decision criteria. Climate change experts gave their feedback via a face-to-face interview. ELECTRE III multi-criteria decision analysis was adopted for the comparative evaluation, as it fits best to complex environmental problems. An “optimal” sequence of mitigation and adaptation strategies was provided for Greece. Findings – The use of renewable energy sources, increase of energy efficiency and improved forest management – tree planting and rational water management – are among the most promising options to strategically plan climate change mitigation and adaptation for Greece. Originality/value – The presented study provides an insight into alternative mitigation and adaptation strategies against climate change. The use of the multi-criteria analysis is an innovative approach to outline the optimal bundle of strategies. The methodology focuses on specific parameters, leading to the most efficient package of measures for the area of Greece. Such an approach is implemented for the first time in Greece, at least up to the authors’ knowledge, and provides a basis for strategic governance and policy modeling for the area under consideration.


Author(s):  
Paola Lassandro ◽  
Teresa Cosola

Purpose This paper aims to increase the resilience of building systems, especially roofs, in relation to climate changes. The focus is on Mediterranean cities, where, often, there is no regulation about these issues. Therefore, it is necessary to define resilience indicators through comparative studies of adaptive roof solutions to mitigate overheating in summer. Design/methodology/approach Through software simulations and data comparison, a specific methodological approach is used to analyze the resilience levels of different roof solutions (phase change materials, aerogel, green and cool roof), starting from energy efficiency as a prerequisite of resilience. Moreover, a case study of a historic existing building in a southern Italian town is examined. Findings The findings show the best strategies for building systems, especially for roofs, to decrease urban heat island effects according to the defined resilience indicators against overheating mitigation. Research limitations/implications Other building systems, such as facades, also have to be investigated in relation to climate change mitigation. Practical implications The implementation of resilient solutions that can also affect neighborhood for urban heat island mitigation. Social implications Because of resilience indicators definition, it is easier to introduce economic incentives according to reference thresholds and to increase community involvement. Originality/value The paper provides a new approach for the evaluation of technological solutions for a building from a resilience point of view, which has energy efficiency as pre-condition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharun Dolla ◽  
Boeing Singh Laishram

Purpose The Low carbon (LC) agenda has captured interest across governments and research communities. But such focus is not addressed so far in the operation of municipal solid waste (MSW) infrastructure in India. The purpose of this paper is to draw focus on the promotion of low carbon infrastructure by improving the procurement process of the public–private partnership (PPP) approach. Design/methodology/approach The current study employed a case study methodology. This paper develops and validates a “five-fold framework,” comprising of selection, financial, operational, standards and targets measures, for integrating LC principles in the procurement of infrastructure projects. Findings The public sector fails to understand the importance of the need to incorporate climate change mitigation strategies due to poor procurement competencies. With respect to the operationalization of the framework, funding of viability gap in operations instead of construction, allowing renegotiation clauses to cater possible future LC technological improvements and incorporating emission reduction targets at the local and national levels were highlighted. Research limitations/implications LC principles presented in this paper are not exhaustive and are verified using a single Indian PPP case. Future research endeavor can focus on the relevancy and operationalization of these principles using a more elaborate set of indicators and extend the study to other sectors and countries. Originality/value This paper seeks to act as guidelines for governments on how to create and improve LC MSW PPP infrastructure projects to facilitate simultaneous achievement of both climate change mitigation and infrastructure delivery goals. The current study could add value to the current emphasis on LC transitions by policymakers, government agencies and regulators.


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