scholarly journals Constitutional Change to Address Climate Change and Nonrenewable Energy Use

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (1, 2 & 3) ◽  
pp. 2008
Author(s):  
Lynn McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Constitutional Change ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Address Climate Change ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Climate change, or climate breakdown, is arguably the greatest challenge we now face. The need to address it seriously has been widely accepted by all national political parties in Can- ada, if only lately and grudgingly. Yet Canada is far behind European countries in turning to low-carbon energy sources — we remain the world’s highest per capita energy user and car- bon emitter. We signed the Kyoto Protocol,1 but far from meeting our obligations under it, we have increased our greenhouse gas emissions. Our record is worse than even the Americans, who did not sign Kyoto.

scholarly journals Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frauke Urban ◽  
Johan Nordensvärd
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Environmental Kuznets Curve ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
The Other ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Low carbon energy transitions are important to mitigate climate change, reduce air pollution, and reduce fossil fuel resource depletion. The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) are seen as leaders in low carbon energy transitions. This paper provides a comparative data analysis of low carbon energy transitions in the Nordic countries from the 1960s to 2015, and assesses evidence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The paper finds that the EKC has been observed in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden in terms of total CO2 emissions, but not in Norway and Finland. For per capita CO2 emissions, there is evidence for the EKC in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden, but not for Norway. For energy use per capita, the EKC is only observed for Denmark, while improvements are needed for the other countries. Norway is an outlier, in comparison with the other Nordic countries, hence the country should implement more stringent climate change mitigation policies to reduce its emissions. Overall, the research suggests that the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, can provide valuable lessons for national, regional, and global low carbon energy transitions.

Implementation of Brackish Groundwater Desalination Using Wind-Generated Electricity as a Proxy for Energy Storage: A Case Study of the Energy-Water Nexus in Texas

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E. Clayton ◽  
Ashlynn S. Stillwell ◽  
Michael E. Webber
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Compressed Air ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
West Texas ◽  
Storage Technologies ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

With a push toward renewable electricity generation, wind power has grown substantially in recent U.S. history and technologies continue to improve. However, the intermittency associated with wind-generated electricity without storage has limited the amounts sold on the grid. Furthermore, continental wind farms have a diurnal and seasonal variability that is mismatched with demand. To increase the broader use of wind power technologies, the development of systems that can operate intermittently during off-peak hours must be considered. Utilization of wind-generated electricity for desalination of brackish groundwater presents opportunities to increase use of a low-carbon energy source and supply alternative drinking water that is much needed in some areas. As existing water supplies dwindle and population grows, cities are looking for new water sources. Desalination of brackish groundwater provides one potential water source for inland cities. However, this process is energy-intensive, and therefore potentially incongruous with goals of reducing carbon emissions. Desalination using reverse osmosis is a high-value process that does not require continuous operation and therefore could utilize variable wind power. That is, performing desalination in an intermittent way to match wind supply can help mitigate the challenges of integrating wind into the grid while transforming a low-value product (brackish water and intermittent power) into a high-value product (treated drinking water). This option represents a potentially more economic form of mitigating wind variability than current electricity storage technologies. Also, clean energy and carbon policies under consideration by the U.S. Congress could help make this integration more economically feasible due to incentives for low-carbon energy sources. West Texas is well-suited for desalination of brackish groundwater using wind power, as both resources are abundant and co-located. Utility-scale wind resource potential is found in most of the region. Additionally, brackish groundwater is found at depths less than 150 m, making west Texas a useful geographic testbed to analyze for this work, with applicability for areas with similar climates and water supply scarcity. Implementation of a wind-powered desalination project requires both economic and geographic feasibility. Capital and operating cost data for wind turbines and desalination membranes were used to perform a thermoeconomic analysis to determine the economic feasibility. The availability of wind and brackish groundwater resources were modeled using geographic information systems tools to illustrate areas where implementation of a wind-powered desalination project is economically feasible. Areas with major populations were analyzed further in the context of existing and alternative water supplies. Utilization of wind-generated electricity for desalination presents a feasible alternative to energy storage methods. Efficiency, economics, and ease of development and operation of off-peak water treatment were compared to different energy storage technologies: pumped hydro, batteries, and compressed air energy storage. Further economics of compressed air energy storage and brackish groundwater desalination were examined with a levelized lifetime cost approach. Implementation of water desalination projects using wind-generated electricity might become essential in communities with wind and brackish groundwater resources that are facing water quality and quantity issues and as desires to implement low carbon energy sources increase. This analysis assesses the economic and geographic feasibility and tradeoffs of such projects for areas in Texas.

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 Energy-Related Carbon Emissions of China’s Model Environmental Cities

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kevin Lo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Garden Cities ◽  
Annual Carbon ◽  
Per Capita

This paper identifies three types of model environmental cities in China and examines their levels of energy-related carbon emissions using a bottom-up accounting system. Model environmental cities are identified as those that have been recently awarded official recognition from the central government for their efforts in environmental protection. The findings show that, on average, the Low-Carbon Cities have lower annual carbon emissions, carbon intensities, and per capita emissions than the Eco-Garden Cities and the Environmental Protection Cities. Compared internationally, the Eco-Garden Cities and the Environmental Protection Cities have per capita emissions that are similar to those of American cities whereas per capita emissions from the Low-Carbon Cities are similar to those of European cities. The result indicates that addressing climate change is not a priority for some model environmental cities. Policy changes are needed to prioritize climate mitigation in these cities, considering that climate change is a cross-cutting environmental issue with wide-ranging impact.

Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts of Adopting Clean Energy Use

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Razi ◽  
Yousaf Ali
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Crucial Issue ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Alternative Solutions

These days, the excessive industrialization, elevated levels of pollution, and the increased energy crisis has led nations towards the use of renewable energy sources. Through the use of renewable energy sources, global warming can also be decreased, which is currently the biggest environmental issue worldwide. Pakistan, being a developing country, relies on the use of fossil fuels for the generation of electricity. The alarming increase in population, energy consumption per capita and energy wastages lead to a shortfall. To resolve this crucial issue, the alternative solutions considered include the use of renewable sources of energy such as hydro, solar and wind. The use of these renewable energy sources is governed by various environmental, economic and social parameters. The influence of these parameters on the use of renewable energy sources is studied through the use of DEMATEL and revised DEMATEL techniques.

Promoting Green and Low-Carbon Development to Address Challenges of Climate Change

2017 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 1750008
Author(s):  
Zhenhua XIE
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Address Climate Change ◽  
Development Path ◽  
International Obligation ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Low Carbon Development ◽  
Major Progress

A general consensus has been developed to proactively address climate change and promote green and low-carbon development in the international community. China, as a responsible major developing country, takes green and low-carbon development not only as its due international obligation to tackle global climate change, but also a priority in the implementation of the “Five Key Concepts for Development” ( http://keywords.china.org.cn/2016-03/01/content_37907679.htm ) and the realization of the “Two Centenary Goals” ( http://www.china.org.cn/china/china_key_words/2014-11/18/content_34158771.htm ). In this paper, the author reviews the major progress in tackling climate change worldwide in recent years, explores the nature of climate change based on the experiences of developed countries and China’s choice of development path, and analyzes China’s achievements and future development potential in green and low-carbon development.

National Policies to Promote Renewable Energy

Daedalus ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed T. El-Ashry
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
The World ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

The world is entering a new energy era marked by concerns over energy security, climate change, and access by the poor to modern energy services. Yet the current energy path is not compatible with sustainable development objectives. Global demand for energy will continue to grow; so will CO2 emissions. Achieving a low-carbon energy world will require an unprecedented technological transformation in the way energy is produced and used. That transformation has begun, as renewables capacity continues to grow, prices continue to fall, and shares of global energy from renewables continue to increase. Government policies are the main driver behind renewable energy's meteoric growth. Still, the world is tapping only a small amount of the vast supply of renewable energy resources. There is broad consensus that the role of these resources should be expanded significantly in order to meaningfully address energy security, energy access, and climate change.

Prioritizing low-carbon energy sources to enhance China’s energy security

2015 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingzheng Ren ◽  
Benjamin K. Sovacool
Keyword(s):  
Energy Security ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Energy
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