India will defy external pressure over climate policy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Emissions Intensity

Significance The G7 wants leading emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to achieve net-zero emissions by around mid-century, preferably 2050. India’s targeted Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to action against climate change includes reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35%, relative to 2005 levels, by 2030. Impacts India will steadily reduce its palm oil imports. Coal will continue to dominate India’s energy mix in the medium term. Delhi will try to step up cooperation over clean energy with key partners such as Washington.

Partisanship shapes US attitudes to climate policy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Party Affiliation ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Policies ◽  
State And Local

Significance Although acceptance of the reality of climate change is growing, views on how government should respond divide sharply by party affiliation. US polling data suggest that partisanship is a stronger factor in shaping public attitudes toward the risks and policies associated with climate change than an individual’s age or location. Impacts The recently enacted Biden infrastructure bill includes significant funds to improve resilience and advance clean energy. One-quarter of the USD2tn spending bill now before the Senate is earmarked for issues associated with climate change. Work on climate issues in response to regional concerns will result in a patchwork of state and local policies. Changes in insurance availability for homes and businesses in vulnerable areas will be an increasing factor in policy decisions.

Extreme weather highlights longer-term Canada concerns

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Extreme Cold ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ways Of Life ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Significance The extreme cold comes as the province is still dealing with the damage caused by unprecedented levels of heat and wildfires last summer and then record levels of rainfall and flooding in November. Its experience has focused attention on Canada’s wider vulnerability to the impact of shifting weather patterns and climate change. Impacts The natural resource sectors that are vital to Canada’s economy face an increasingly difficult environment for extraction. Indigenous peoples across the country will see their traditional ways of life further disrupted by climate change. The increasingly evident impacts of climate change on day-to-day life will see voters demand greater action from government. Significant investment in green initiatives, clean energy and climate resiliency initiatives will boost green industries.

Oil will drive record Guyana growth again in 2022

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
National Development ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
The Government ◽  
Wage Increases ◽  
Oil And Gas Sector

Significance As in 2020 and 2021, this projected growth will be driven by the ongoing expansion of the oil and gas sector, and related investment and state revenues. These rising revenues will support the government’s ambitious national development plans, which include both increased social and infrastructure spending. Impacts The government will prioritise enhancing the oil and gas investment framework. Investment into joint oil and gas infrastructure with Suriname will benefit the growing oil industry in both countries. The expansionary fiscal policy may lead to a rise in inflation, leading to further calls for wage increases. In the medium term, strong growth in the oil and gas sector could lead to increased climate change activism in the country.

A qualitative assessment of the impact of smart homes and environmentally beneficial technologies on the UK 2050 net-zero carbon emission target

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghasson Shabha ◽  
Francesca Barber ◽  
Paul Laycock
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Smart Homes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology

PurposeThere are 29 million homes in the UK, accounting for 14% of the UK's energy consumption. This is given that UK has one of the highest water and energy demands in Europe which needs to be addressed according to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Smart homes technology holds a current perception that it is principally used by “tech-savvy” users with larger budgets. However, smart home technology can be used to control water, heat and energy in the entire house. This paper investigates how smart home technology could be effectively utilised to aid the UK government in meeting climate change targets and to mitigate the environmental impact of a home in use towards reducing carbon emissions.Design/methodology/approachBoth primary and secondary data were sought to gain insight into the research problem. An epistemological approach to this research is to use interpretivism to analyse data gathered via a semi-structured survey. Two groups of participants were approached: (1) professionals who are deemed knowledgeable about smart home development and implementation and (2) users of smart home technology. A variety of open-ended questions were formulated, allowing participants to elaborate by exploring issues and providing detailed qualitative responses based on their experience in this area which were interpreted quantitatively for clearer analysis.FindingsWith fossil fuel reserves depleting, there is an urgency for renewable, low carbon energy sources to reduce the 5 tonnes annual carbon emissions from a UK household. This requires a multi-faceted and a multimethod approach, relying on the involvement of both the general public and the government in order to be effective. By advancing energy grids to make them more efficient and reliable, concomitant necessitates a drastic change in the way of life and philosophy of homeowners when contemplating a reduction of carbon emissions. If both parties are able to do so, the UK is more likely to reach its 2050 net-zero carbon goal. The presence of a smart meter within the household is equally pivotal. It has a positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions and hence more need to be installed.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed using a larger study sample to achieve more accurate and acceptable generalisations about any future course of action. Further investigation on the specifics of smart technology within the UK household is also needed to reduce the energy consumption in order to meet net-zero carbon 2050 targets due to failures of legislation.Practical implicationsFor smart homes manufacturers and suppliers, more emphasis should be placed to enhance compatibility and interoperability of appliances and devices using different platform and creating more user's friendly manuals supported by step-by-step visual to support homeowners in the light of the wealth of knowledge base generated over the past few years. For homeowners, more emphasis should be placed on creating online knowledge management platform easily accessible which provide virtual support and technical advice to home owners to deal with any operational and technical issues or IT glitches. Developing technical design online platform for built environment professionals on incorporating smart sensors and environmentally beneficial technology during early design and construction stages towards achieving low to zero carbon homes.Originality/valueThis paper bridges a significant gap in the body of knowledge in term of its scope, theoretical validity and practical applicability, highlighting the impact of using smart home technology on the environment. It provides an insight into how the UK government could utilise smart home technology in order to reduce its carbon emission by identifying the potential link between using smart home technology and environmental sustainability in tackling and mitigating climate change. The findings can be applied to other building types and has the potential to employ aspects of smart home technology in order to manage energy and water usage including but not limited to healthcare, commercial and industrial buildings.

2. Why do we need renewables?

2020 ◽  
pp. 16-29
Author(s):  
Nick Jelley
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Dangerous Climate Change ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

‘Why do we need renewables?’ describes the dangers of fossil fuels and explains the importance of renewable energy as an alternative. It shows that the use of fossil fuels causes global warming and climate change, leading to widespread concern, and also to a growing realization of the harm caused by the air pollution from coal burning and from internal combustion engines in cars and lorries. These threats are causing a switch away from fossil fuels to renewables that is gaining impetus from the growing awareness of the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather seen in recent years. This transition is also being aided by the falling price of clean energy from renewables, in particular, solar and wind farms, which will become the dominant sources. The area of land or sea required for these farms is readily available, as are the back-ups required to handle their variability. Alternative supplies of low-carbon energy are examined. In the Paris Agreement in 2015, it was recognized that carbon dioxide emissions must reach net-zero by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change.

African cocoa grower disparities will mar reform plans

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
Ivory Coast ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Cocoa Products ◽  
Combat Climate Change ◽  
Planting Season

Subject West Africa cocoa prospects. Significance Global cocoa markets are expected to remain oversupplied during the 2017/18 planting season, with Ivory Coast and Ghana -- which together account for 60% of world supplies -- expected to produce 1.9 million tonnes and 850,000 tonnes respectively. Thereafter, the slump in prices could deter investments in plantations, particularly in Ivory Coast where the farm gate price has been slashed. This could could sow the seeds of a new boom cycle -- especially if it compounds longer-term supply bottlenecks that have resulted from underinvestment in rehabilitating ageing and diseased tree stocks. Impacts Deforestation from cocoa farming will come under increased scrutiny as a result of international goals to combat climate change. Health trends in Western markets could reduce structural appetite for cocoa products amid flagging demand in emerging markets. Farmers are likely to switch to other crops like rubber and palm oil if prices fail to recover quickly.

Germany’s climate efforts could boost the opposition

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Industrial Firms ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Fuel Costs

Significance Worth 54 billion euros (60 billion dollars) until 2023, the reforms are designed to help Germany reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% of 1990 levels by 2030. This comes after the government said it would fail to reach its 2020 goal of a 40% reduction. Impacts Germany’s ambition to become a front-runner in the global fight against climate change will likely continue to suffer. Protests similar to France's 'yellow vest' movement are unlikely as the proposals avoid pain for lower- and middle-income voters. The proposed policies could put pressure on industrial firms to lower their heating and fuel costs. Given the economic impact that ambitious climate policy could have on industry and consumers, reforms to the deal will likely be modest.

Prospects for climate change in 2021

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Policies ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Better Than

Significance US re-entry into the Paris Agreement will signal renewed climate engagement by Washington. Prospects for climate cooperation are better than they seemed a year ago, with net-zero targets being more widely adopted, alongside long-term ambition statements. Credibility will depend on substantial changes in near-term climate policies and the pursuit of ‘green recoveries’.

The Gulf will lag on climate action, despite exposure

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Oil Revenue ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Combat Climate Change

Significance On the same day, opening speakers in a high-profile forum in Abu Dhabi highlighted the emirate’s commitment to renewable energy. Despite the rhetoric and their own vulnerability, however, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are lagging behind global efforts to tackle climate change and remain heavily dependent on oil revenue. Impacts Forecast rises in summer temperatures will deter foreign investment and expatriate workers in future. A collapse in oil prices would cut the funding available to develop clean energy. Failure to stem wasteful hydrocarbons energy consumption will make it harder for renewables to compete. Gulf states’ populations will be largely disengaged from global efforts to combat climate change.

US stance may shift on climate change post-Trump

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Content Type

Headline INTERNATIONAL: US climate policy may change post-Trump

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