Contested imaginaries and the cultural political economy of climate change

Organization ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 659-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Levy ◽  
André Spicer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Political Economy ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy System ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Sustainable Lifestyles ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Cultural Political Economy ◽  
Shared Understandings

This article analyses the evolving cultural political economy of climate change by developing the concept of ‘climate imaginaries’. These are shared socio-semiotic systems that structure a field around a set of shared understandings of the climate. Climate imaginaries imply a particular mode of organizing production and consumption, and a prioritization of environmental and cultural values. We use this concept to examine the struggle among NGOs, business and state agencies over four core climate imaginaries. These are ‘fossil fuels forever’, ‘climate apocalypse’, ‘techno-market’ and ‘sustainable lifestyles’. These imaginaries play a key role in contentions over responses to climate change, and we outline three main episodes in the past two decades: the carbon wars of the 1990s, an emergent carbon compromise between 1998–2008 and a climate impasse from 2009 to the present. However, climate imaginaries only become dominant when they connect with wider popular interests and identities and align with economic and technological aspects of the energy system to constitute ‘value regimes’.

Smart Cities and Smart Regulation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Rønne
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Smart Regulation

Increasing focus on sustainable societies and ‘smart cities’ due to emphasis on mitigation of climate change is simultaneous with ‘smart regulation’ reaching the forefront of the political agenda. Consequently, the energy sector and its regulation are undergoing significant innovation and change. Energy innovations include transition from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources and application of new computer technology, interactively matching production with consumer demand. Smart cities are growing and projects are being initiated for development of urban areas and energy systems. Analysis from ‘Smart Cities Accelerator’, developed under the EU Interreg funding programme that includes Climate-KIC,——provides background for the focus on a smart energy system. Analysis ensures the energy supply systems support the integration of renewables with the need for new technologies and investments. ‘Smart’ is trendy, but when becoming ‘smart’ leads to motivation that is an important step towards mitigating climate change.

Climate change impact on photovoltaic potential in Poland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Zdunek
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Change Impact ◽  
Module Performance ◽  
The Impact

<p>Due to global warming and the worldwide depletion of fossil fuel resources, there is a growing need to transform the energy system toward greater use of renewable sources. In Poland, poor air quality constitutes an additional argument for the necessity of such transition. High levels of pollutants concentrations in many locations, especially in urban and suburban areas are caused by emissions from individual heating systems running on fossil fuels.</p><p><span> Data from recent years show </span><span>that renewable generation forms the largest share of the total generation mix in Europe</span><span>. </span><span>Regarding new installation, solar and wind energy dominate renewable </span><span>capacity expansion, jointly accounting for example in 2019 for 90% of all net renewable additions.</span><span> However, along with the increase in the penetration of these energy sources also increases the sensitivity of the power system to weather and climatic conditions.</span></p><p>The study presents the impact of climate change up to the year 2100 on the photovoltaic power generation potential (Pvpot) in Poland. For determination of Pvpot index a set of high-resolution climate models projections, made available within the EURO-CORDEX initiative was used. Maps showing spatial distribution of absolute values of Pvpot in future climate (30-year average for 2071-2100) and relative changes with respect to current climate (30-year average for 2006-2035) are presented, separately for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenario. The influence of meteorological conditions (temperature, wind and solar radiation) on PV module performance is taken into account by applying two different formula (Ciulla et. al, 2014 and Davy and Troccoli, 2012). Furthermore, two options for module orientation are considered: horizontal and inclined at an optimal angle.</p>

scholarly journals Enhanced oil recovery with carbon dioxide geosequestration: first steps at Pre-salt in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1429-1441
Author(s):  
José Maria Alves Godoi ◽  
Patrícia Helena Lara dos Santos Matai
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Energy System ◽  
The World

AbstractThis paper revisits the intense using of energy in the world and the role of the fossil fuels with predominance of the oil in the global primary energy supply and their effects to climate change. It also presents a new reading on the thermodynamic conditions and characteristics of CO2 and CO2-EOR together with oil industry advancement in the world and Brazil. The interface with chemical EOR processes involving nanoparticles (NPs), their application inside the reservoirs for EOR and understanding of fines migration reducing, among other physical phenomena is also studied. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a worldwide strategy for mitigating climate change. CO2 geosequestration is also analyzed on the leakage of CO2 and brine from aquifers and their implication to the security of the storage and environment. Recent studies show that, globally, CO2-EOR can extract up to 375 billion of additional oil barrels and geological storage up to 360 Gt of CO2 in the next 50 years. Pre-salt is a complex of microbial carbonate reservoirs with stromatolite framework in ultra-deep waters (1500–3000) m depth, underneath by thick salt layer (2000–2500) m. Its reservoirs are in the depth up to (5500–6500) m TVDSS and approximately (200–300) km offshore. It presents light oils and high (GOR) ranging (200–400) Sm3/Sm3 and huge CO2 contamination (8–15)%. Due to the large CO2 content of oil, this work investigated CO2-EOR and CO2 geosequestration within the reservoirs. Pilot test demonstrated that miscible CO2-EOR with WAG is feasible and beneficial to this hydrocarbon Province. This study also calculated and validated the potential of CO2-EOR to the CCS. It concludes that Pre-salt can contribute to recovery factor (RF) increasing about 5.7 billion of additional oil barrels, and to CCS with about 266 Mt CO2 to be geological stored, for the next 20 years. In this context, this work also analyses the recent changes on the Brazilian oil and gas regulation to encourage new international Companies to enter in Brazil and Pre-salt for petroleum exploring. In Pre-salt, CO2-EOR also connects the petroleum energy system to CCS, transforming the oil reservoir in a carbon sink. These results represent a substantial role of Pre-salt to the energy efficiency of energy resources recovering from the biosphere and a high contribution to the climate change mitigation.

scholarly journals South Africa's Journey to Climate Change Regulation: Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs 2017 2 All SA 519 (GP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Helen Papacostantis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Current Energy

Concerns over climate change are increasingly reaching an urgent level. Many countries have begun focusing their efforts on mitigating its devastating impact. At the same time countries need to ensure their economic growth and development, thus calling for greater energy usage leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. As the environment struggles to adapt to the rapid changes brought about by climate change, the effects are felt by the most vulnerable of the world's population. Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have outlined the reasons and the effects of climate change providing actions required to mitigate these effects. Unfortunately developing countries, including South Africa, are the most affected. The current energy system in the country is primarily based on fossil fuels, which emit the greatest amount of greenhouse gases. To ensure that South Africa mitigates the impact, government needs to safeguard and promote sustainable development. To do this South Africa should weigh its energy mix in relation to the environment and the wellbeing of its citizens. A comprehensive and robust regulatory framework on climate change is required thus ensuring the achievement of South Africa's developmental goals well into the future and ensuring participation in the global effort against climate change. Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs 2017 2 All SA 519 (GP) signifies a good start towards the effective regulation of climate change in South Africa.

Do No Harm

2020 ◽  
pp. 218-238
Author(s):  
Betty Sue Flowers
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Global Energy ◽  
Do No Harm ◽  
Strategic Conversation ◽  
Health And Well Being

This chapter identifies four shifts that must take place to overcome the challenges of climate change and better preserve what remains of the inhabitable natural environment. Globally, climate change must be accepted as fact, not fiction, and each nation must take responsibility and commit to sustainable development. The global energy system must rely on renewable sources, rather than fossil fuels. The focus must shift from economic growth to health and well-being. None of these ideas are new, but the author calls for a global strategic conversation about the shape of our collective future. The chapter concludes with the idea that climate change is an opportunity for global collaboration and the development of relationships to better the future.

scholarly journals Shared vision for a decarbonized future energy system in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (13) ◽  
pp. 7108-7114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deidra Miniard ◽  
Joseph Kantenbacher ◽  
Shahzeen Z. Attari
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Energy System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Energy System

How do people envision the future energy system in the United States with respect to using fossil fuels, renewable energy, and nuclear energy? Are there shared policy pathways of achieving a decarbonized energy system? Here, we present results of an online survey (n = 2,429) designed to understand public perceptions of the current and future energy mixes in the United States (i.e., energy sources used for electric power, transportation, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors). We investigate support for decarbonization policies and antidecarbonization policies and the relative importance of climate change as an issue. Surprisingly, we find bipartisan support for a decarbonized energy future. Although there is a shared vision for decarbonization, there are strong partisan differences regarding the policy pathways for getting there. On average, our participants think that climate change is not the most important problem facing the United States today, but they do view climate change as an important issue for the world today and for the United States and the world in the future.

scholarly journals Aspects regarding the reduction of fugitive methane emissions from the valves

2021 ◽  
Vol 343 ◽  
pp. 09010
Author(s):  
Ioana Petre ◽  
Monica Emanuela Stoica
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Testing Procedures

Methane is the second strongest greenhouse gas contributing to climate change after carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions contributes to both slowing climate change and improving air quality. In order to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector, the European Commission has proposed the obligation to improve leak detection and disposal in fossil fuel infrastructure, as well as any other infrastructure that produces, transports or uses fossil fuels. Compressors and compressor stations are such a component of the energy system. The paper presents the testing procedures of the valves in the gas transmission pipes for the evaluation of external leaks and the proposed corrective actions to minimize them.

scholarly journals Portuguese Wood Pellets Market: Organization, Production and Consumption Analysis

Resources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Leonel J. R. Nunes ◽  
Margarida Casau ◽  
Marta Ferreira Dias
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
National Production ◽  
Market Organization ◽  
Using Data ◽  
European Markets

Wood pellets are a form of energy that can be seen as an alternative to fossil fuels, thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In other words, wood pellets can be considered a solution contributing to the mitigation of climate change. The use of wood pellets has grown significantly in recent years, with different markets emerging, such as Portugal, both from production and consumption perspectives. The wood pellet industry in Portugal began its development about 15 years ago, with the companies installed in the country initially almost exclusively dedicated to the production of wood pellets for export to central and northern European markets. However, over the years, the domestic market, initially considered insignificant, began to develop; it recently reached a considerable consuming share of the national production. This study presents an analysis of the Portuguese wood pellet market using data collected on the sector, and specifically on producers and consumers. The information was gathered using surveys presented directly to consumers and producers and through interviews with other stakeholders in the sector. From the analysis of the information, it was possible to understand the market’s dynamics, its current evolution and its prospects for the upcoming years, since it can already be considered mature and consolidated.

Energy system change and external effects in climate change mitigation

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
DENNIS ANDERSON ◽  
SARAH WINNE
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
System Change ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Linear Processes ◽  
Change Mitigation

Through a dynamic model of energy system change the paper examines the role of innovation in bringing about a low carbon energy system. The processes of innovation and technological substitution are cumulative, dynamic, and highly non-linear processes such that how the energy system evolves in the long term is extraordinarily sensitive to the strength and duration of the initial policies. It is possible, under some policy assumptions, that energy systems would continue to depend on fossil fuels for so long as fossil fuels remain abundant and the least cost resource; and under other assumptions, after allowing for the unavoidable lags associated with investment and the building up of a new capital stock, that fossil fuels would become almost wholly displaced by the non-carbon alternatives. The implication is that the external benefits of innovation, which include the creation of options and the reduction of costs arising directly from innovation itself, and the reduction of environmental damage, are far greater, perhaps by orders of magnitude, than the traditional cost–benefit models used for the analysis of climate change mitigation. The analysis suggests why a focus on discovery and innovation offers a promising way forward for national and international policies on climate change.

scholarly journals “Accelerating the Transition to a 100% Renewable Energy Era”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Hydrogen Fuel ◽  
Security Of Supply ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Low Carbon Energy ◽  
Source Of Information

“Accelerating the Transition to a 100% Renewable Energy Era” is part of the series Lecture Notes in Energy that contains 24 papers from multiple authors. The notes provide a topical and comprehensive source of information on achieving the transition to a low-carbon energy system, which is essential in the fight against climate change as we transition from our use of fossil fuels to clean energy.The book provides in-depth analysis of the various solutions that will contribute to this change, such as hydrogen fuel, low carbon buildings and cities, security of supply, energy grids and energy storage. The collection of papers provides the necessary data, case studies and analysis to frame the topic and explore the challenges and potential solutions.

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