scholarly journals Carbon Neutrality Policies and Technologies: A Scientometric Analysis of Social Science Disciplines

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Chung-Lien Pan ◽  
Han-Teng Liao

Carbon neutrality, or “net zero”, has become the impact assessment project of human impact on Earth, increasingly structured to examine the implications, for the environment and people, of proposed actions and consequences of inaction. International and local collaboration efforts have been made with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality or “net-zero” emissions; thus, policies and technological innovations have been developed. Such impact-oriented risk assessment and control efforts amount to carbon-neutral pathways. Although such pathways may diverge in terms of energy, resources, and cost, it is critical to summarize essential and promising preparatory work on related policies and technologies to inform both policy-makers and social scientists to take actions. Through a scientometric analysis and systematic review of the latest social science literature, the study identified the size, scope and exemplar work for each social science discipline on carbon neutrality, based on 907 articles collected in early 2021 from the Web of Science database. This study reveals a set of disciplines focusing on certain common and distinct aspects of carbon neutrality. By outlining the possibilities and application areas for future research and policy development for socio-technical transition towards a net-zero or post-carbon future, this study has contributed to the understanding of the global efforts to achieve a clearer and viable carbon-neutral pathway. In conclusion, as many aspects of the planet and humans have become datafied, digitized, and networked, carbon neutrality, as the ecological indicator that guide human production and consumption patterns, must take on a central role in guiding our conscious green digital transformation of many political, economic, social and psychological aspects of our societies according to the existing and emerging social science knowledge.

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 333-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Gray ◽  
Eric Sundstrom ◽  
Louis G. Tornatzky ◽  
Lindsey McGowen

Cooperative research centres (CRCs) increasingly foster Triple Helix (industry–university–government) collaboration and represent significant vehicles for cooperation across sectors, the promotion of knowledge and technology transfer and ultimately the acceleration of innovation. A growing social science literature on CRCs focuses on their management and best practices, mainly through success stories and rarely by describing and analysing CRC failures. The literature on CRCs can benefit by learning from failures, as has been seen in other areas of social science. Here the authors present four mini-cases of CRC failures – centres that were successfully launched but later declined and closed – and, in contrast, one mini-case of a success story. The analysis identifies: (a) likely contributing factors in the failures, mainly environmental influences and mismanagement of centre transitions; (b) themes in the failures, notably a tendency for problems in one area to magnify the impact of problems in other areas; and (c) learning points for CRCs concerning leadership and succession. The implications for Triple Helix organizations are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 03010
Author(s):  
Chung-Lien Pan ◽  
Xianghui Chen ◽  
Mei Lin ◽  
Zhuocheng Cai ◽  
Xiaolin Wu

In recent years, the innovation and breakthrough of digital technology have brought great convenience to the economic development of various sectors and People’s daily life, especially in the field of financial services. To explore the impact of digital technology on the financial industry, this paper searched 285 papers based on Web of Science (WoS) and conducted a systematic scientific metrology and literature review, providing a research front for future research. According to the research papers published between 1984 and 2020, the analysis results of co-citation and co-cited by sources, disciplines, and keywords show that in recent years, the publishing industry in this field has developed rapidly in various countries, and the research field involves such disciplines as business economics, computer science, social science, and interdisciplinary application. According to the research papers published between 1984 and 2020, the analysis results of co-citation and co-cited by sources, disciplines, and keywords show that in recent years, the publishing industry in this field has developed rapidly in various countries, and the research field involves such disciplines as business, finance; economics; computer science; social science and interdisciplinary application. Besides, American, Chinese and British institutions are also good at hosting such interdisciplinary work. And different types of keywords present important interactions in the visualization: (a) digital-based innovation, (b) big data and regulation, (c) Internet finance and financial innovation, (d) financial inclusion, (e) digital finance and risk management, and (f) mobile payment.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Grey ◽  
Andrew Sturdy

Recent developments in organizational analysis have done much to fill out the dry, textbook image of rational, formal structures. Yet on one of the commonest kinds of organizational experience—friendship—organizational analysis has remained virtually silent. By contrast, within the wider social science literature some writers have recently accorded greater importance to friendship as a social phenomenon. This article suggests that organizational analysis would be well served by doing the same. To this end, the article explores what this might entail and identifies some of the issues that it could illuminate, both empirically and theoretically. In particular, it presents friendship as a folk concept, which recognizes the situational variability of its form, experience, and connectedness with other forms of relationship. In doing so, the article will help define and open up a focus for future research into friendship and organizational analysis.


Author(s):  
Zhanping Hu

Dependence on chemical pesticides has become one of the most pressing challenges to global environmental sustainability and public health. Considerable regulatory efforts have been taken to mitigate pesticide dependence, which however has resulted in a prevalent ‘managerial failure’. Massive pesticide application has generated severe genetic resistance from pests, which has in turn further aggravated pesticide dependence and thus induced agrochemical industries to develop new pesticide varieties. This review proposes to look beyond the resistance-dependence nexus and presents a comprehensive discussion about global pesticide dependence in a social science perspective, i.e., revealing the socio-economic and political factors that reinforce pesticide dependence. These factors are classified into five intertwined themes: (1) agricultural regime, (2) social process of pesticide application, (3) economic analysis, (4) politics and governance, and (5) promotional failure of alternatives. It is found that pesticide dependence is not just a technological issue in the sphere of natural sciences, but more a human-made issue, with deep-seated socio-economic and political reasons. Addressing contemporary trap of global pesticide dependence entails a full acknowledgement and comprehension of the complex and intertwined factors. Furthermore, this review identifies two major explanatory approaches underlying the extant social science literature: a structuralist approach that stresses macro-level structures such as institutions, policies and paradigms, and an individualist approach that focuses on the decision-making of farmers at the micro level. This review recognizes the limitations of the two approaches and calls for transcending the duality. This study advocates a policy framework that emphasizes alignment and coordination from multi-dimensions, multi-actors and multi-scales. For future research, collaborations between natural and social scientists, and more integrated and interdisciplinary approaches should be strengthened.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Coppock ◽  
Donald P. Green

A small but growing social science literature examines the correspondence between experimental results obtained in lab and field settings. This article reviews this literature and reanalyzes a set of recent experiments carried out in parallel in both the lab and field. Using a standardized format that calls attention to both the experimental estimates and the statistical uncertainty surrounding them, the study analyzes the overall pattern of lab-field correspondence, which is found to be quite strong (Spearman'sρ= 0.73). Recognizing that this correlation may be distorted by the ad hoc manner in which lab-field comparisons are constructed (as well as the selective manner in which results are reported and published), the article concludes by suggesting directions for future research, stressing in particular the need for more systematic investigation of treatment effect heterogeneity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sacha Altay ◽  
Manon Berriche ◽  
Alberto Acerbi

Alarmist narratives about online misinformation continue to gain traction despite evidence that its prevalence and impact are overstated. Drawing on research questioning the use of big data in social science and reception studies, we identify six misconceptions about misinformation and examine the conceptual and methodological challenges they raise. The first three misconceptions concern the prevalence and circulation of misinformation. First, the internet is not rife with misinformation or news, but with memes and entertaining content. Second, scientists focused on social media because it is methodologically convenient, but misinformation is not just a social media problem. Third, falsehoods don’t spread faster than the truth, how we define (mis)information influences our results and their practical implications. The second three misconceptions concern the impact and the reception of misinformation. First, people don’t believe everything they see on the internet: sheer volume of engagement should not be conflated with belief. Second, misinformation’s influence on people’s behavior is overblown since it often preaches to the choir. Third, people are more likely to be uninformed than misinformed, surveys overestimate misperceptions and say little about the causal influence of misinformation. To appropriately understand and fight misinformation, future research needs to address these challenges.


1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Hunter

Objective: The aim of the study was to review the available material on Aboriginal youth mental health, exploring certain contemporary issues. Method: The review covers the psychiatric and social science literature, focusing on the recent period of major social change. Results: The available material is severely limited, particular deficiencies being normal child development, the impact of social change and its consequences for the construction of Aboriginal identity. Conclusion: There is a need for more work in this area and for psychiatric engagement at a political level.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Dyson ◽  
James Varney ◽  
Vaseem Khan ◽  
Chris Dartnell

Abstract To meet global climate targets, it is critical that the oil and gas industry address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to its operations. According to the IEA, 15% of global energy-related GHG emissions arise from the process of hydrocarbon extraction and distribution. Production facilities built today may operate for 20-30 years, by which time industries, governments and countries have committed to significant reductions in emissions. If facilities are not designed with carbon neutrality in mind, there is a risk that carbon pricing may cause projects to become uneconomic before their planned end-of-life - an expensive folly. To meet GHG emission targets and de-risk projects it is essential that operators design and construct facilities with carbon neutrality in mind. This will future-proof their operations, ensuring that operators are active participants in a carbon neutral future. In fact, this is a tenet for survival in a world with pressure to decarbonise from shareholders, financial institutions, and society itself. This paper presents a pathway to the carbon neutral upstream facility. A methodology to achieve net-zero emissions for an offshore compression platform is proposed. The project team used a Decision Quality framework to identify methods for achieving carbon neutrality, including: Power import and electrification Renewable micro-grids Integration with hydrogen networks Reduction of fugitive emissions Flare system removal Facility demanning and access method Engineered offsetting methods (excluding nature-based offsetting) Digital Transformation of design and operations - remote operation and monitoring. Design concepts were created to test carbon neutral facilities feasibility. Expertise gained from demanning projects, along with specialist Electrical & Instrumentation experience were used, to perform a techno-economic assessment. Class 5 CAPEX and OPEX estimates were prepared and compared against a Reference Case "traditional" facility design. Traditional approaches to facility design were challenged at every level and an optimal, carbon neutral design was identified based on the above assessments integrating the latest techniques and technology. The study team determined the facilities lifecycle cost, identifying breakeven carbon pricing required to ensure cost-competitiveness. This paper demonstrates what is achievable with current technology, and opportunities for further technology development. Breakeven carbon pricing for carbon neutral facilities is presented within a range of economic scenarios. A hierarchy of technologies show those which have the biggest impact per dollar spent. This will allow operators to make informed decisions on areas that present the biggest targets for emissions reduction. The methodology can be adapted to any geographical region, considering local infrastructure and carbon pricing. The approach presented can be applied across many industries. Long lifespan, capital intensive projects with large GHG footprints are particularly vulnerable to carbon taxes. These projects have much to gain from adopting carbon neutrality early in system design.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah McCaffrey ◽  
Eric Toman ◽  
Melanie Stidham ◽  
Bruce Shindler

As with other aspects of natural-resource management, the approach to managing wildland fires has evolved over time as scientific understanding has advanced and the broader context surrounding management decisions has changed. Prior to 2000 the primary focus of most fire research was on the physical and ecological aspects of fire; social science research was limited to a small number of studies. However, as more people moved into fire-prone areas interest grew in understanding relevant social dynamics. This growing interest was supported by increased funding for fire research overall with the creation of the Joint Fire Science Program in 1998 and the National Fire Plan in 2000. In subsequent years, a significant body of research has developed on the human dimensions of wildland fire covering diverse topics including: attitudes towards pre-fire mitigation, social acceptability of fire and fuels management, community preparedness, public response during fires, citizen–agency communications and post-fire recovery. This paper reports on two aspects of a Joint Fire Science Program project intended to take stock of the key social science lessons provided to date: a basic review of findings in the non-economic fire social science literature and identification of future research needs.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1259
Author(s):  
Ross Kingwell

Making Australian agriculture carbon neutral by 2050 is a goal espoused by several agricultural organisations in Australia. How costly might it be to attain that goal, especially when adverse climate change projections apply to agriculture in southern Australia? This study uses scenario analysis to examine agricultural emissions and their abatement via reforestation in south-western Australia under projected climate change. Most scenarios include the likelihood of agricultural emissions being reduced in the coming decades. However, the impact of projected adverse climate change on tree growth and tree survival means that the cost of achieving agricultural carbon neutrality via reforestation is forecast to increase in south-western Australia. Agricultural R&D and innovation that enable agricultural emissions to diminish in the coming decades will be crucial to lessen the cost of achieving carbon neutrality. On balance, the more likely scenarios reveal the real cost of achieving carbon neutrality will not greatly increase. The cost of achieving carbon neutrality under the various scenarios is raised by an additional AUD22 million to AUD100 million per annum in constant 2020 dollar terms. This magnitude of cost increase is very small relative to the region’s gross value of agricultural production that is regularly greater than AUD10 billion.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document