Mitigating Climate Change: Growth-friendly Policies to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Jaumotte ◽  
Weifeng Liu ◽  
Warwick J. McKibbin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Net Zero

scholarly journals Climate Change in the Western Balkans and Eu Green Deal – Coherence, Challenges, and Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandi Knez ◽  
Snežana Štrbac ◽  
Iztok Podbregar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
The State ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Average Annual Temperature ◽  
Level Of Economic Development ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background: The European Commission (EC), based on the European Green Deal (2019) and the Recovery plan for Europe (2021) envisages investing 30% of the budget in climate-related programs, projects, and initiatives, which clearly shows Europe's commitment to becoming the first climate-neutral region by 2050. Activities are also planned for countries that are not members of the European Union (EU), which requires complex changes in the field of legislation, strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring. To successfully plan short-term and long-term activities on these grounds, it is necessary to have a realistic picture of the state of climate change in each country - as they spill over into the entire region of Europe. The main objective of this paper is to present the state of climate change in six Western Balkans countries, of which only Croatia is a member of the EU, for the needs of planning activities and initial harmonization with the EU plan to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2050. Results: The main results of the research show that in all countries of the region, the average annual temperature increased by 1.2 °C compared to 1970, with stabilization and the beginning of the decline which can be expected around 2040. The main reasons for climate change in the region are: industry, energy, and heating sector based on coal exploitation, low energy efficiency, etc. Conclusions: It can be concluded that all countries of the Western Balkans have adopted (or are in the process of adopting) the necessary regulations and strategies towards climate change mitigation, but the implementation of specific activities is at a low level. The reasons for this most often lies in the insufficient commitment of decision-makers to make significant changes in the field of climate change transition (lower level of economic development, lack of investment, preservation of social peace). Finally, the paper provides an overview of climate change by country, scenario analysis, and policy recommendations.

scholarly journals Governing Net Zero Carbon Removals to Avoid Entrenching Inequities

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Healey ◽  
Robert Scholes ◽  
Penehuro Lefale ◽  
Pius Yanda
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Burden Sharing ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Global North ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
Interdisciplinary Effort ◽  
Global Agreement

Climate change embeds inequities and risks reinforcing these in policies for climate change remediation. In particular, with policies designed to achieve “net zero” carbon dioxide, offsets may be considered inequitable if seen to avoid or delay gross emission reductions; offsets to emissions through technologically mature methods of carbon dioxide removals (CDR) require natural resources at scales threatening food security; knowledge of the potential of immature CDR is largely a global north monopoly; and CDR in particular environments is ill-understood and its implications for development unexamined. The use of CDR to contribute to robust progress toward Paris climate goals requires global agreement on simultaneously reducing emissions and enhancing removals, equity in burden sharing, and an interdisciplinary effort led by individual jurisdictions and focused on the co-development of technologies and governance to create CDR portfolios matched to local needs.

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.

scholarly journals Climate change impact on energy balance of net-zero energy buildings in typical climate regions of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 04004
Author(s):  
Jiale Chai ◽  
Pei Huang ◽  
Yongjun Sun
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy Building ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Study Results

Net-zero energy building (NZEB) is widely considered as a promising solution to the current energy and environmental problems. The existing NZEBs are designed using the historical weather data (e.g. typical meteorological year-TMY). Nevertheless, due to climate change, the actual weather data during a NZEB’s lifecycle may differ considerably from the historical weather data. Consequently, the designed NZEBs using the historical weather data may not achieve the desired performance in their lifecycles. Therefore, this study investigates the climate change impacts on NZEB’s energy balance in different climate regions, and also evaluates different measures’ effectiveness in mitigating the associated impacts of climate change. In the study, the multi-year future weather data in different climate regions are firstly generated using the morphing method. Then, using the generated future weather data, the energy balance of the NZEBs, designed using the TMY data, are assessed. Next, to mitigate the climate change impacts, different measures are adopted and their effectiveness is evaluated. The study results can improve the understanding of climate change impacts on NZEB’s energy balance in different climate regions. They can also help select proper measures to mitigate the climate change impacts in the associated climate regions.

Circular Economy and Climate Change in Developing Economies

2021 ◽  
pp. 225-238
Author(s):  
James Osabuohien Odia
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Climate Change Risks ◽  
Product Lifetime ◽  
Development Goals

The CE represents a new model for resilient growth in both developed and developing economies that would help to tackle the causes and devastating effects of climate change and climate change risks, meet the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The CE practices can help to reduce greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, and nitro-oxide) to net zero emissions by 2050 through efficient resources use, elongation of product lifetime, recycling, recovery, reuse, materials substitution, efficient waste reduction and management, sharing service, among others. Given the numerous economic opportunities, innovation, and policy progresses, developing countries should transit to the CE pathway by aligning the CE strategies with the mitigation of climate change and the achievement of SDGs, synergize the CE practices with the existing national policies, and mainstream across sectoral strategy and policy development.

PESA Australian business environment review 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 360
Author(s):  
Simon Molyneux
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Co2 Injection ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Resource Industry ◽  
First Time

This Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia review looks at the major issues that impacted the Australian petroleum business environment in 2019. While the petroleum business in 2020 has been combating an oil price slump and a global economic slowdown driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019 will be remembered as a pivotal year in the petroleum industry. At a global level, climate change moved centre-stage with global protests, extensive media coverage and clear commitments from global players in the resource industry to become net-zero emitters of carbon. Oil prices averaged US$64/barrel for Brent, liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices fell and global CO2 emissions from power generation were flat for the first time. In Australia, petroleum production also increased, driven by LNG production, and Australia became the world’s largest producer of LNG, the world’s largest CO2 injection plant became operational and the regulatory system was tested by current operations and future drilling. Meanwhile, society’s relationship with the petroleum industry was reframed with the linking of extensive bushfires to climate change. This paper will describe each of these issues and frame the issues facing the industry in 2020 and beyond.

scholarly journals Net zero-emission pathways reduce the physical and economic risks of climate change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Drouet ◽  
Valentina Bosetti ◽  
Simone A. Padoan ◽  
Lara Aleluia Reis ◽  
Christoph Bertram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Emission ◽  
Economic Risks
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