South Korea’s 2050 Carbon Neutrality Policy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
Hyungna OH ◽  
Inkee HONG ◽  
Ilyoung OH
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Climate Finance ◽  
Commercial Development ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Korean Economy ◽  
Industrial Sustainability ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Future Technologies

On 28 October 2020, President Moon Jae-in declared Korea’s 2050 carbon neutrality strategy as a comprehensive transformation plan towards a sustainable and green Korean economy. The key elements for the 2050 carbon neutrality are: expanding the use of clean power and hydrogen across all sectors; improving energy efficiency to a significant level; commercial development of carbon removal and other future technologies; scaling up the circular economy to improve industrial sustainability; and enhancing carbon sinks. The success of the 2050 net-zero depends on whether the energy sector can be decarbonised on schedule. More fundamentally, the strength of carbon pricing to secure private climate finance will determine the future of Korea’s vision to go carbon neutral by 2050.

Sustainable Finance and the Move to a Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
pp. 249-294
Author(s):  
Janis Sarra
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Green Finance ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Conservation Finance ◽  
Sustainable Finance

Ultimately, our goal is to move beyond ideas, beyond action to net zero and then to ‘climate positive’; to create a circular economy that relies on renewable energy, designs waste out of the system as much as possible, conserves and enhances biodiversity, and frames economic activity so that it is fair and equitable, and is good for the planet and society. This chapter is a forward-looking vision for sustainable finance to support these goals. It discusses scaling-up of resources to decarbonize and links sustainable finance with sustainable development. It explores the European Commission’s vision for a sustainable and climate neutral economy. It looks at Indigenous partnerships in green finance and green energy and the potential contributions of conservation finance. The chapter then turns to examples of sustainable finance in a number of sectors.

Leadership for a climate resilient, net-zero health system: Transforming supply chains to the circular economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 084047042110036
Author(s):  
Neil H. Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
Single Use

The global pandemic has taught us that we can focus the attention of the healthcare system on a clear intention when there is a looming threat. Climate action is required from multiple stakeholders particularly private sector suppliers in order to achieve the net-zero carbon emission by 2050 goal established by the Canadian government. Also building climate resilience among healthcare institutions and their supply chains is urgently needed, as they are already affected by a changing climate. By adopting a circular economy framework, the industry can move away from the current damaging take, make waste economic model and adopt a more sustainable model characterized by designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Health leaders can adopt sharing platforms, product as a service, reduce single use products, encourage extended producer responsibility, and value-based procurement in order to further these aims.

scholarly journals A Review of Bioplastics and Their Adoption in the Circular Economy

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1229
Author(s):  
Alberto Di Bartolo ◽  
Giulia Infurna ◽  
Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Sustainable Society ◽  
Net Zero

The European Union is working towards the 2050 net-zero emissions goal and tackling the ever-growing environmental and sustainability crisis by implementing the European Green Deal. The shift towards a more sustainable society is intertwined with the production, use, and disposal of plastic in the European economy. Emissions generated by plastic production, plastic waste, littering and leakage in nature, insufficient recycling, are some of the issues addressed by the European Commission. Adoption of bioplastics–plastics that are biodegradable, bio-based, or both–is under assessment as one way to decouple society from the use of fossil resources, and to mitigate specific environmental risks related to plastic waste. In this work, we aim at reviewing the field of bioplastics, including standards and life cycle assessment studies, and discuss some of the challenges that can be currently identified with the adoption of these materials.

Net zero carbon: Energy performance targets for offices

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-369
Author(s):  
Robert Cohen ◽  
Karl Desai ◽  
Jennifer Elias ◽  
Richard Twinn
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Minimum Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Extensive Consultation ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
The Uk

The UKGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework was published in April 2019 following an industry task group and extensive consultation process. The framework acts as guidance for achieving net zero carbon for operational energy and construction emissions, with a whole life carbon approach to be developed in the future. In consultation with industry, further detail and stricter requirements are being developed over time. In October 2019, proposals were set out for industry consultation on minimum energy efficiency targets for new and existing commercial office buildings seeking to achieve net zero carbon status for operational energy today, based on the performance levels that all buildings will be required to achieve by 2050. This was complemented by modelling work undertaken by the LETI network looking into net zero carbon requirements for new buildings. In January 2020 UKGBC published its guidance on the levels of energy performance that offices should target to achieve net zero and a trajectory for getting there by 2035. This paper describes the methodology behind and industry perspectives on UKGBC’s proposals which aim to predict the reduction in building energy intensity required if the UK’s economy is to be fully-powered by zero carbon energy in 2050. Practical application: Many developers and investors seeking to procure new commercial offices or undertake major refurbishments of existing offices are engaging with the ‘net zero carbon’ agenda, now intrinsic to the legislative framework for economic activity in the UK. A UKGBC initiative effectively filled a vacuum by defining a set of requirements including energy efficiency thresholds for commercial offices in the UK to be considered ‘net zero carbon’. This paper provides all stakeholders with a detailed justification for the level of these thresholds and what might be done to achieve them. A worked example details one possible solution for a new office.

The Journey to Net Zero: Driving Down Emissions from Bp's North Sea Operations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Peter Coupland
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Flare Activity ◽  
Improve Working ◽  
The North ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Operational Improvement ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Working Practices

Abstract bp's strategy sets out a decadeof delivery towards becoming a net zero company by 2050 (or sooner) with targets set for emissions from operations to fall by between 30-35% by 2030. In pursuit of this, a North Sea carbonplan has been developed to identify, track, and deliver sustainable emission reductions (SERs) activities. Proactive engagement has been essential in delivery of this plan, helping to empower colleagues to prioritize emissions reduction opportunities. To date, the plan has identified more than 80 SERs across bp's North Seaportfolio and cumulatively reduced carbonemissions by more than 400,000 tonnes from offshore operations. It is on track to reduce almost 70,000tonnes of carbon from operations in 2021 alone. Whilst it is recognised that this represents only part of bp's annual scope 1 emissions in the North Sea; this is a lasting operational improvement. The plan has also significantly reduced sources of unknown flare gas. It also contributed to a 45% reduction in flare activity in 2020 vs 2019as well as achieving zero routine flaringon two of bp's major west of Shetland installations from October 2020 The plan has more deeply embedded emissions tracking in operations on and offshore and helped further improve working practices on flaring and energy efficiency in general.

scholarly journals Biofuels – Towards Objectives Of 2030 And Beyond

2021 ◽  
pp. 32-40
Author(s):  
Rafał M. Łukasik
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Environmental Criteria ◽  
Production Technologies

The European (and global) energy sector is in a process of profound transformation, making it essential for changes to take place that influence energy producers, operators, and regulators, as well as consumers themselves, as they are the ones who interact in the energy market. The RED II Directive changes the paradigm of the use of biomass in the heat and electricity sectors, by introducing sustainability criteria with mandatory minimum greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and by establishing energy efficiency criteria. For the transport sector, the extension of the introduction of renewables to all forms of transport (aviation, maritime, rail and road short and long distance), between 2021-2030, the strengthening of energy efficiency and the strong need to reduce GHG emissions, are central to achieving the national targets for renewables in transport, representing the main structural changes in the European decarbonisation policy in that sector. It is necessary to add that biomass is potentially the only source of renewable energy that makes it possible to obtain negative GHG emission values, considering the entire life cycle including CO2 capture and storage. Hence, this work aims to analyse the relevance of biomass for CHP and in particular, the use of biomass for biofuels that contribute to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050. The following thematic sub-areas are addressed in this work: i) the new environmental criteria for the use of biomass for electricity in the EU in light of now renewable energy directive; ii) current and emerging biofuel production technologies and their respective decarbonization potential; iii) the relevance or not of the development of new infrastructures for distribution renewable fuels, alternatives to the existing ones (biomethane, hydrogen, ethanol); iv) the identification of the necessary measures for biomass in the period 2020-2030

scholarly journals ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, LESS STRAIGHT FORWARD THEN PRESUMED

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Hens
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Energy Conserving ◽  
New Construction

Since the 1990s, the successive EU directives and related national or regional legislations require new construction and retrofits to be as much as possible energy-efficient. Several measures that should stepwise minimize the primary energy use for heating and cooling have become mandated as requirement. However, in reality, related predicted savings are not seen in practice. Two effects are responsible for that. The first one refers to dweller habits, which are more energy-conserving than the calculation tools presume. In fact, while in non-energy-efficient ones, habits on average result in up to a 50% lower end energy use for heating than predicted. That percentage drops to zero or it even turns negative in extremely energy-efficient residences. The second effect refers to problems with low-voltage distribution grids not designed to transport the peaks in electricity whensunny in summer. Through that, a part of converters has to be uncoupled now and then, which means less renewable electricity. This is illustrated by examples that in theory should be net-zero buildings due to the measures applied and the presence of enough photovoltaic cells (PV) on each roof. We can conclude that mandating extreme energy efficiency far beyond the present total optimum value for residential buildings looks questionable as a policy. However, despite that, governments and administrations still seem to require even more extreme measurements regarding energy efficiency.

SME’s, energy efficiency, innovation: a reflection on materials and energy transition emerging from a research on SMEs and the practice of Energy Audit

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Declich ◽  
Gabriele Quinti ◽  
Paolo Signore
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
Efficiency Measures

The paper presents some results emerging from the EC funded INNOVEAS project, particularly from a study on the non-economic factors that prevent (or facilitate) the adoption of energy efficiency measures and energy audits by SMEs. This study and its results are relevant for a reflection on the role of SMEs for the adoption of new business practices and technologies (including materials) that are conducive to a green transition. Attention will be paid also to those obstacles and facilitating factors that are relevant for the promotion of the circular economy – which is also, in fact, a strategy for achieving energy efficiency. The paper is based on the view that materials are a special type of technology and, as such, are the result of a social construction process. From this angle, materials can be thought of also by considering the actors involved in the process of their development and use. The life cycle of materials, in particular, must be analyzed also considering the role that different actors play in it; not only the technical characteristics of the materials have to be considered, but also the social context of development and application of materials. Such assumptions can be used also for interpreting the role of the actors in the challenges that contemporary societies are facing, particularly the promotion of energy saving and of the circular economy and more generally the transition towards decarbonization and dematerialization. In this paper, the focus is on a particular type of actors, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). They constitute a plethora of economic actors operating in numerous production sectors and at different levels of the value chains. SMEs orientations are important for achieving a better knowledge of the cycle of materials, especially in relation to the possibility of directing it towards the pursuit of environmental objectives such as energy saving and the circular economy. The paper stresses that considering the role of SMEs in such wide social and economic innovation process should illustrate peculiar aspects of the “internal” life of SMEs (culture, organizational skills, etc.) as well as the interaction with other actors within the context of operation of SMEs.

scholarly journals Manufacturing chemicals with light: any role in the circular economy?

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2176) ◽  
pp. 20190260
Author(s):  
M. Poliakoff ◽  
M. W. George
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Flow Chemistry ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Chemical Plants ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Organic Photochemistry ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Pharmaceutical Manufacture

We outline how recent developments in photochemistry can contribute to the realization of the 1912 vision of the pioneering Italian scientist Giacomo Ciamician, namely world-wide chemical-using industry-based chemical plants fuelled solely by the Sun. We then show how a combination of organic photochemistry and flow chemistry could contribute to the circular economy by harnessing the ability of light to provide the energy to promote reactions without the need for some of the added reagents that are necessary in more traditional chemical routes, so-called 'reagentless' chemistry. Photochemistry has a long history but recently it has undergone a renaissance, particularly with the rise in interest in photoredox chemistry. Continuous photoreactors offer a route to scaling up such reactions to a productivity needed for smaller scale pharmaceutical manufacture. We describe some reactor designs from our own laboratory and outline some of their applications. We then relate these to the requirements of the circular economy and the need to conserve the stocks of the less abundant chemical elements. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Science to enable the circular economy'.

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