scholarly journals A Strategic and Smart Environmental Assessment of Rapid Urbanization in Beijing

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5138
Author(s):  
Paulina Rodríguez Fiscal ◽  
Rallou Taratori ◽  
Marie Abigail Pacho ◽  
Christos S. Ioakimidis ◽  
Sesil Koutra
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Green Development ◽  
Smart Technologies ◽  
Beijing China

One of the key challenges of developing countries is to tackle the mitigation of the impacts of rapid and uncontrolled urbanization. Assessing this phenomenon is crucial to lessen the consequences for the environment and society. ‘Literature has been concentrated in planning strategies for the cities’ adaptation and engagements to the principles of green development ensuring a long-term quality of life for their citizens. Hereby, smart technologies and applications consist of two of the most encouraging concepts for solutions for achieving the 2030 and 2050 horizon targets towards clean energy transition and carbon neutrality. In academia, scholars have already raised the importance of ‘smartness’ to define the adaptative patterns for the global pressures of climate change and uncontrolled urban growth. The mitigation of these phenomena is crucial to ensure the cities’ future and lessen their impacts. This study seeks a strategic and smart-driven vision to leverage smartness on the phenomenon of rapid urbanization that occurred in the case of Beijing, China. Defining and evaluating the environmental impacts in line with the RIAM approach as one of its main targets. Future works can be focused on addressing solutions in similar cases in further developing countries to not only overcome environmental, but also economic, social, and digital complications.

Alternatives to solve SDG trade-offs and to enforce SDG synergies: a systematic literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Boar ◽  
Erola Palau Pinyana ◽  
Marc Oliveras-Villanueva
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Economic Models ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Offs

PurposeThis paper takes a critical view of synergies and trade-offs and discloses the practices that countries and companies should apply to achieve sustainable development.Design/methodology/approachThis paper offers a systematic literature review of 408 papers to find models of sustainable development goals (SDGs) interaction with the aim of shedding light on the existing synergies and trade-offs and finding solutions to enhance these synergies and minimize the trade-offs.FindingsBoth rich and developing countries should follow multiple strategies to improve the quality of life of their citizens. Developing countries should focus on eradicating poverty. Rich countries should apply new economic models that are more likely to be environmental-friendly. Finally, the topic of SDGs should be revisited by the United Nations.Practical implicationsBoosting the quality of education and providing clean energy are two of the most relevant actions that should to be taken by countries, as they will accelerate the fulfilment of all the other SDGs. The use of circular economic models or new business models, such as the sharing economy, is essential to the achievement of sustained economic growth without negative environmental impact.Originality/valueThe paper analyzes SDG interactions and offers a critical vision of practices that countries and companies should adhere to for achieving sustainable development.

scholarly journals The Effect of Corruption and Governance on Tax Revenues

2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (4II) ◽  
pp. 405-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahseen Ajaz ◽  
Eatzaz Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Tax Evasion ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Tax Revenue ◽  
Tax Administration ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Revenue Generation ◽  
Quality Of Governance

Developing countries are typically unable to generate sufficient amount of revenue from taxation because these countries face a number of institutional problems in the process of revenue generation. One of the main problems is corruption in tax administration. The two important components of revenue generation are tax administration and tax system reforms [Brondolo, et al. (2008)]. The main objective of these is to increase the efficiency of tax administrations, specifically by reducing corruption and tax evasion. The second main problem of low revenue generation is political instabilities in developing countries. One of the important characteristics of political instability is unstable and governments and, hence, incoherent policy framework, which hinder in the process of long-term reforms in the system. The quality of governance as a whole is also relevant in this context. It is widely agreed that the presence of tax evasion and corruption of public officials is a social phenomenon that can significantly reduce tax revenue and seriously hurt economic growth and development.

scholarly journals Field Evaluation of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors in Beijing

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 4381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Mei ◽  
Pengfei Han ◽  
Yinan Wang ◽  
Ning Zeng ◽  
Di Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Relative Bias ◽  
Miniaturized Sensors ◽  
Beijing China ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

Numerous particulate matter (PM) sensors with great development potential have emerged. However, whether the current sensors can be used for reliable long-term field monitoring is unclear. This study describes the research and application prospects of low-cost miniaturized sensors in PM2.5 monitoring. We evaluated five Plantower PMSA003 sensors deployed in Beijing, China, over 7 months (October 2019 to June 2020). The sensors tracked PM2.5 concentrations, which were compared to the measurements at the national control monitoring station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) at the same location. The correlations of the data from the PMSA003 sensors and MEE reference monitors (R2 = 0.83~0.90) and among the five sensors (R2 = 0.91~0.98) indicated a high accuracy and intersensor correlation. However, the sensors tended to underestimate high PM2.5 concentrations. The relative bias reached −24.82% when the PM2.5 concentration was >250 µg/m3. Conversely, overestimation and high errors were observed during periods of high relative humidity (RH > 60%). The relative bias reached 14.71% at RH > 75%. The PMSA003 sensors performed poorly during sand and dust storms, especially for the ambient PM10 concentration measurements. Overall, this study identified good correlations between PMSA003 sensors and reference monitors. Extreme field environments impact the data quality of low-cost sensors, and future corrections remain necessary.

scholarly journals Cities4ZERO Approach to Foresight for Fostering Smart Energy Transition on Municipal Level

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merit Tatar ◽  
Tarmo Kalvet ◽  
Marek Tiits
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
System Thinking ◽  
System Level ◽  
Energy Planning ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Participatory Foresight ◽  
Municipal Level

Smart energy transition efforts at the municipal level are gaining importance and go far beyond implementing single projects. Decarbonising cities involves complex strategic planning and needs system level thinking and changes. This has been increasingly realised at the municipal level, but challenges remain regarding the tools, involvement of stakeholders and on the development of policies. The focus of the research is on the use of participatory foresight for fostering smart energy transition on a municipal level, the key benefits and success factors that participatory foresight brings, and the replicability of this approach. Within the novel Cities4ZERO framework, an overarching methodology for a smart urban decarbonisation transition, guiding cities through the process of developing the most appropriate strategies, plans, projects, as well as looking for the commitment of key local stakeholders for an effective transition–foresight framework, was developed and tested in five pilot cities. Foresight as applied within the Cities4ZERO framework creates a participatory process which brings stakeholders together to achieve unified scenarios, and a common vision for future urban decarbonisation strategies. The methodology is replicable and increases the quality of strategic energy planning by fostering long-term system thinking.

Barriers to sustainable urban stormwater management in developing countries: the case of Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaí Floriano Vasconcelos ◽  
Ademir Paceli Barbassa ◽  
Maria Fernanda Nóbrega dos Santos ◽  
Maryam Imani
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Stormwater Management ◽  
Urban Stormwater ◽  
Urban Stormwater Management ◽  
Institutional Issues ◽  
Country Case Study ◽  
Professional Capacity

Urban stormwater management is one of the key challenges concerning the sustainability in urban areas. Through several approaches, sustainable urban stormwater management (SUSM) is becoming widely adopted around the world and is proving its effectiveness in enhancing sustainability and quality of life in the cities. Nevertheless, these strategies are still not widespread in developing countries, such as Brazil, where more than 40% of municipalities reported pluvial flooding in the last five years. Inspired by international experiences, this paper presents the barriers to the widespread adoption of SUSM in Brazil, as a developing country case study with severe urban stormwater management problems. A thorough literature review has been conducted. Surveys relating to urban stormwater management have been completed by different stakeholder groups to investigate the factors involved in the problem, such as institutional issues, professional capacity, and resource availability. “Lack of design and maintenance standards”, “Lack of long-term planning”, “Lack of dissemination and knowledge”, “Lack of incentives”, and “Reluctance to change” have been recognized as the most challenging barriers by 80% of the respondents. Overcoming the common barriers is the prelude to effective SUSM solutions to increase urban stormwater sustainability in Brazil and in other developing countries with similar challenges.

Climate change to hit development in the global south

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
International Aid ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Transition Costs ◽  
Developed Nations

Significance In a scenario in which it becomes increasingly evident that carbon neutrality will not be reached by 2050, governments may switch the focus of spending from the energy transition towards measures designed to address a changing climate. This is more likely in the developing world, which has less chance of reaping the economic opportunities of energy transition. Impacts Governments will have to incorporate both transitioning to clean energy and resilience against climate change impacts into their policies. As economies recover from the pandemic, developing countries' calls for financial assistance with energy transition costs will rise. Developed nations will emerge from the pandemic with stretched budgets, and some will face pressure to spend less on international aid. The need for heightened international cooperation to deliver the energy transition worldwide will test existing institutions.

Policies for Financing the Energy Transition

Daedalus ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kassia Yanosek
Keyword(s):  
Private Equity ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Energy Economy ◽  
Clean Energy Policy

Historically, energy transitions have occurred gradually over the span of several decades, marked by incremental improvements in technologies. In recent years, public interest in accelerating the next energy transition has fueled a clean-energy policy agenda intended to underpin the development of a decarbonized energy economy. However, policies to date have encouraged investors to fund renewable energy projects utilizing proven technologies that are not competitive without the help of government subsidies. A true transition of the energy mix requires innovations that can compete with conventional energy over the long term. Investments in innovative technology projects are scarce because of the “commercialization gap,” which affects projects that are too capital-intensive for venture capital yet too risky for private equity, project, or corporate debt financing. Accelerating innovation through the commercialization gap will require governments to allocate public dollars to, and encourage private investment in, these riskier projects. Policy-makers will face a trade-off between prioritizing policies for accelerating the energy transition and accounting for the risks associated with innovation funding in a tight budgetary environment.

scholarly journals Role of Biofuels in Energy Transition, Green Economy and Carbon Neutrality

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12374
Author(s):  
Nida Khan ◽  
Kumarasamy Sudhakar ◽  
Rizalman Mamat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sustainable Transportation ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Transportation Sector ◽  
The Social

Modern civilization is heavily reliant on petroleum-based fuels to meet the energy demand of the transportation sector. However, burning fossil fuels in engines emits greenhouse gas emissions that harm the environment. Biofuels are commonly regarded as an alternative for sustainable transportation and economic development. Algal-based fuels, solar fuels, e-fuels, and CO2-to-fuels are marketed as next-generation sources that address the shortcomings of first-generation and second-generation biofuels. This article investigates the benefits, limitations, and trends in different generations of biofuels through a review of the literature. The study also addresses the newer generation of biofuels highlighting the social, economic, and environmental aspects, providing the reader with information on long-term sustainability. The use of nanoparticles in the commercialization of biofuel is also highlighted. Finally, the paper discusses the recent advancements that potentially enable a sustainable energy transition, green economy, and carbon neutrality in the biofuel sector.

scholarly journals EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81
Author(s):  
T.A. Zheliezna
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Climate Neutrality ◽  
Goals And Objectives

The aim of the work is to develop recommendations for Ukraine on setting long-term integrated climate and energy goals and identifying ways to achieve them. The preconditions, main goals and objectives of the European Green Deal, which was presented by the European Commission in December 2019, are analyzed. The European Green Deal is a comprehensive strategy for the transition to a sustainable economy, clean energy and climate neutrality, i.e., zero greenhouse gas emissions, in Europe by 2050. The adoption of this Deal was preceded by several stages of a coherent EU policy in the relevant sectors. Possibilities for renewable energy development within the framework of the European Green Deal are considered. It is determined that preference is given to the production of green electricity, mobilization of the potential of offshore renewable energy, production of biogas and biofuels from biomass of agricultural origin, sustainable use of low-carbon and renewable fuels, including biomass and hydrogen, in hard-to-electricity sectors. In Ukraine, the document that is closest by its contents to the European Green Deal is the draft Concept of green energy transition until 2050 presented in January 2020. The draft Concept states the goal of achieving 70% of renewable energy sources in electricity generation by 2050 and the climate-neutral economy of Ukraine by 2070. It is recommended that this document should be finalized and adopted formally as soon as possible.

scholarly journals Environment-Friendly Energy Research in Norway

2021 ◽  
pp. 49-70
Author(s):  
Antti Silvast ◽  
Chris Foulds
Keyword(s):  
Research Council ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Research ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Research Institutes ◽  
Project Participants

AbstractThe Research Council of Norway established the Centres for Environment-Friendly Energy Research in 2009. These are long-term national centres that are meant to integrate academics with industries, private companies, regulating bodies, governmental organisations, and research institutes, to trigger a clean-energy transition and pursue environmental innovations. Increasingly, addressing energy issues through the integration of technological and Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines has become expected in these Centres. This chapter draws from interviews with the project participants and fieldwork to demonstrate how different academics and professionals experienced these interdisciplinary collaborations, including what consequences and dynamics such collaborations generated. We round up by interpreting the findings along with the traits of interdisciplinarity that have been emerging in this book.

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