scholarly journals Social Science Perspectives on Drivers of and Responses to Global Climate Change

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Jorgenson ◽  
Shirley Fiske ◽  
Klaus Hubacek ◽  
Tom McGovern ◽  
Torben Rick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Anthropogenic Drivers

This article provides a review of recent anthropological, archaeological, geographical, and sociological research on anthropogenic drivers of climate change, with a particular focus on drivers of carbon emissions, mitigation and adaptation. The four disciplines emphasize cultural, economic, geographic, historical, political, and social-structural factors to be important drivers of and responses to climate change. Each of these disciplines has unique perspectives and makes noteworthy contributions to our shared understanding of anthropogenic drivers, but they also complement one another and contribute to integrated, multidisciplinary frameworks. The article begins with discussions of research on temporal dimensions of human drivers of carbon emissions, highlighting interactions between long-term and near-term drivers. Next, descriptions of the disciplines’ contributions to the understanding of mitigation and adaptation are provided. It concludes with a summary of key lessons offered by the four disciplines as well as suggestions for future research.

scholarly journals Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Direction for Future Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Utsab Bhattarai
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The potential adverse effects of climate change have posed serious threat to all species of the planet in many ways. Species’ functional characteristics strongly influence ecosystem properties. Although significant numbers of studies have already explored the interrelationship between biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate change more focused studies have now begun to appear with the goal of investigating and analyzing the negative consequences of climate change on life support systems. This review paper discusses the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and redirects how these losses of biological species on earth have affected and will continue to have effects on the delivery chain of ecosystem services. Concluding section of this paper spotlights on possible mitigation and adaptation plan of actions which contributes in minimizing climate change induced risks while supporting biodiversity and thus the entire ecosystem services. The timeliness of this review is evident because the concerns regarding the potential impacts of global climate change on species and ecosystem services are widely and seriously recognized as major threat of our time.HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 20Page: 41-48

Towards Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-158
Author(s):  
Umer Khayyam ◽  
Rida Bano ◽  
Shahzad Alvi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Level Of Motivation ◽  
The University

Abstract Global climate change is one of the main threats facing humanity and the impacts on natural systems as well as humans are expected to be severe. People can take action against these threats through two approaches: mitigation and adaptation. However, mitigations and adaptations are contingent on the level of motivation and awareness, as well as socio-economic and environmental conditions. This study examined personal perception and motivation to mitigate and adapt to climate change among the university students in the capital city of Pakistan. We divided the respondents into social sciences, applied sciences and natural sciences, using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that students who perceive severity, benefits from preparation, and have more information about climate change were 1.57, 4.98 and 1.63 times more likely to take mitigation and 1.47, 1.14 and 1.17 times more likely to take adaptation measures, respectively. Students who perceived self-efficacy, obstacles to protect from the negative consequences of climate change and who belonged to affluent families were more likely to take mitigation measures and less likely to take adaptation strategies. However, mitigation and adaptation were unaffected by age, gender and study discipline.

The Contemporary US Energy System Overview Including A Comparison With China

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. McElroy
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Energy System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Personal Consumption ◽  
Energy Economy ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Reduce Emissions

The discussion in chapter 2 addressed what might be described as a microview of the US energy economy— how we use energy as individuals, how we measure our personal consumption, and how we pay for it. We turn attention now to a more expansive perspective— the use of energy on a national scale, including a discussion of associated economic benefits and costs. We focus specifically on implications for emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2. If we are to take the issue of human- induced climate change seriously— and I do— we will be obliged to adjust our energy system markedly to reduce emissions of this gas, the most important agent for human- induced climate change. And we will need to do it sooner rather than later. This chapter will underscore the magnitude of the challenge we face if we are to successfully chart the course to a more sustainable climate- energy future. We turn later to strategies that might accelerate our progress toward this objective.We elected in this volume to focus on the present and potential future of the energy economy of the United States. It is important to recognize that the fate of the global climate system will depend not just on what happens in the United States but also to an increasing extent on what comes to pass in other large industrial economies. China surpassed the United States as the largest national emitter of CO2 in 2006. The United States and China together were responsible in 2012 for more than 42% of total global emissions. Add Russia, India, Japan, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, South Korea, and Iran to the mix (the other members of the top 10 emitting countries ordered in terms of their relative contributions), and we can account for more than 60% of the global total. Given the importance of China to the global CO2 economy (more than 26% of the present global total and likely to increase significantly in the near term), I decided that it would be instructive to include here at least some discussion of the situation in China— to elaborate what the energy economies of China and the United States have in common, outlining at the same time the factors and challenges that set them apart.

scholarly journals From Dichotomy to an Integrated Approach: Cities’ Benefits of Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7591
Author(s):  
Jo-Ting Huang-Lachmann ◽  
Edeltraud Guenther
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Endogenous Risk ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Change Mitigation

Cities are facing impacts of climate change and encountering risks such as extreme weather events, while cities are also aiming to contribute to their mitigation goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the differences in characteristics of climate change mitigation and adaptation have shown the possible reasons for a dichotomy in climate policy. This has motivated us to further look into whether cities could integrate their actions in climate change mitigation and adaptation in their planning and how they achieve benefits to overcome the dichotomy. To answer our research question, we have developed an analysis framework built on the endogenous risk theory to analyse how cities overcome the different characteristics to integrate their climate strategies and obtain benefits. The theory of endogenous risk involves seeing both climate change mitigation and adaptation as risk reduction strategies because both of them aim to reduce climate risks and can be carried out by actors who perceive such risks. Therefore, the actors will be more willing to integrate and implement both mitigation and adaptation policy. Our results show that mitigation and adaptation in cities are interlinked and that benefits of an integrated climate change policy exist. A list of entry points how cities overcome the dichotomy are also identified. Our research outcomes also provide a list of benefits identified by the cities in their integrated climate strategies and we call for more public disclosed data for future research and policy assessments.

scholarly journals Carbon Emissions of Hotels: The Case of the Sri Lankan Hotel Industry

Buildings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udara Willhelm Abeydeera ◽  
Karunasena
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change

The need to mitigate climate change has become a major global concern, and greenhouse gas emissions are a major cause of global climate change. Therefore, the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions has been well recognized by global researchers, policymakers and academics. Carbon emissions of hotel operations have seized the attention of global researchers. However, carbon emissions of the hotels in developing countries remain to be a less explored domain. Therefore, carbon emissions of Sri Lankan hotels were explored using a case study approach. Five hotels in the Colombo suburb were explored, which revealed that each hotel released more than 7000 tons of carbon annually. Results further indicated the use of purchased electricity as the dominant source of carbon emissions. Emissions caused by transport activities were not included in the calculations due to the unavailability of data. Recommendations were made to overcome the issues identified during data collection as well as to reduce the carbon emissions from hotel operations. Wider adoption of the methodology used in this research will benefit the hotels to keep track of the carbon emissions using a systematic approach.

Book Reviews

2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 786-788 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Climate Regime ◽  
Yale University ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Innovation And Technology ◽  
World Development

Robert Mendelsohn of Yale University reviews “World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change” by. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Explores what climate change means for development policy and considers how public policy can change to better help people cope with new climate-related threats and risks. Discusses understanding the links between climate change and development; reducing human vulnerability--helping people help themselves; managing land and water to feed nine billion people and protect natural systems; energizing development without compromising the climate; integrating development into the global climate regime; generating the funding needed for mitigation and adaptation; accelerating innovation and technology diffusion; and overcoming behavioral and institutional inertia. Glossary; bibliographic note; index.”

scholarly journals Costs of Reducing Global Carbon Emissions

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P Weyant
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Short Range ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Time Horizons ◽  
Integral Component ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Global Carbon

Projecting the costs of reducing carbon emissions is extremely important, and exceedingly difficult. Such projections are an integral component of cost-benefit analyses of alternative policies in response to climate change. This paper first discusses the key dimensions of any projection of the cost of reducing carbon emissions. Then it discusses the projections that have been made, including long-, medium- and short-range time horizons. Finally, the conclusion summarizes what we know and don't know about the costs of controlling carbon emissions and recommends an agenda for future research.

scholarly journals CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES FACING SRI LANKA: A LITERATURE REVIEW

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.P.M. Dasandara ◽  
◽  
U. Kulatunga ◽  
M.J.B. Ingirige ◽  
T. Fernando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Temperature Levels ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
The Many

The earth’s climate has changed throughout history and climate change can be identified as an inevitable phenomenon which is being experienced by the whole world. When considering the Sri Lankan context, it is no different to the global context in that the country’s climate has already changed. Sri Lanka, being an island state, is vulnerable to many climate change impacts including high-temperature levels, adverse weather events, sea level rising, and changes in precipitation patterns. The many challenges that arise from these climate-related issues are projected to continue through this century and beyond. Thus, climate change mitigation and adaptation have become the most appropriate ways to restrain these climate change challenges in Sri Lanka. It is paramount to get a broad understanding of how disastrous these climate change challenges are, prior to implementing appropriate responses to overcome them. This urges the need for conducting an in-depth investigation of prevailing climate change challenges in Sri Lanka. Thus, this study presents the prevailing climate change challenges facing Sri Lanka through a conceptual framework, that has been developed based on the existing literature. The developed framework reveals how these prevailing climate changes can lead to a number of challenges. These challenges were identified under three main categories as economic, social, and environmental challenges. The knowledge generated through this literature review will be the focus of future research.

scholarly journals Can Nature-Based Solutions Deliver a Win-Win for Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Key ◽  
Alison Smith ◽  
Beth Turner ◽  
Alexandre Chausson ◽  
Cécile Girardin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Local Species Richness ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Change Mitigation

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognised for their potential to address both the climate and biodiversity crises. These outcomes are interdependent, and both rely on the capacity of NbS to support and enhance the health of an ecosystem: its biodiversity, the condition of its abiotic and biotic elements, and its capacity to function normally despite environmental change. However, while understanding of ecosystem health outcomes of nature-based interventions for climate change mitigation is growing, the outcomes of those implemented for adaptation remain poorly understood with evidence scattered across multiple disciplines. To address this, we conducted a systematic review of the outcomes of 109 nature-based interventions for climate change adaptation using 33 indicators of ecosystem health across eight broad categories (e.g. diversity, biomass, ecosystem functioning and population dynamics). We showed that 88% of interventions with positive outcomes for climate change adaptation also reported measurable benefits for ecosystem health. We also showed that interventions were associated with a 67% average increase in local species richness. All eight studies that reported benefits in terms of both climate change mitigation and adaptation also supported ecosystem health, leading to a triple win. However, there were also trade-offs, mainly for forest management and creation of novel ecosystems such as monoculture plantations of non-native species. Our review highlights two major limitations of research to date. First, only a limited selection of metrics are used to assess ecosystem health and these rarely include key aspects such as functional diversity and habitat connectivity. Second, taxonomic coverage is poor: 67% of outcomes assessed only plants and 57% did not distinguish between native and non-native species. Future research addressing these issues will allow the design and adaptive management of NbS to support healthy and resilient ecosystems, and thereby enhance their effectiveness for meeting both climate and biodiversity targets.

scholarly journals Climate change risk: Challenge for corporate governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2, special issue) ◽  
pp. 258-268
Author(s):  
Hugh Grove ◽  
Maclyn Clouse ◽  
Tracy Xu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
Climate Change Risks

The major research question of this paper is to analyze climate change risk as a challenge to corporate governance. Climate action failure was the environmental risk most frequently listed in the top ten country risks. It also becomes a major reason that many companies are taking their own initiatives on climate change action which poses an imminent challenge for corporate governance as boards of directors track and assess such initiatives by their own companies. Boards can play a key role in guiding their organizations into the next new normal in the wake of global pandemic, economic disruptions, and ongoing climate change problems. This paper identifies and studies the corporate governance risks and opportunities related to global climate change risk and provides recommendations to boards of directors. The major sections of this paper are global climate change risks, corporate climate change pledges, climate-related financial disclosures, major topics in the Global Climate Change report, whether companies are ready to manage major climate change risks and opportunities, climate-related investment benchmarks, and conclusions. Future research could investigate this climate change risk challenge with case studies or empirical studies.

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