scholarly journals Energy Transition Indicators in African Countries: Managing the Possible Decline of Fossil Fuels and Tackling Energy Access Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-48
Author(s):  
Victoria Nalule ◽  
Theophilus Acheampong
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Definition Of

The global move to tackle climate change as envisaged in the 2015 Paris Agreement has necessitated debates and action geared towards transitioning to a low carbon economy. Although there is no agreed international definition of energy transition, the focus has been put to a shift from fossil fuels to renewables. This paper is intended to contribute to the global debate on energy transition with a focus on the initiatives taking place in a few selected countries. The argument in this paper is to the effect that many developing countries still need fossil fuels to tackle energy access challenges and ensure economic growth. Nevertheless, this does not in any way mean that these countries are climate change deniers. In this respect, the question to be addressed in this article is how can we measure energy transition efforts in developing countries? In responding to this question, the article attempts to develop and analyse some key energy transition indicators.

scholarly journals Should Countries Fire Sell their Oil & Gas Assets? Addressing the Mis-conceptions Surrounding the Continued Role of Fossil Fuels in the Energy Transition Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 432-440
Author(s):  
Victoria R. Nalule ◽  
Xiaoyi (Shawn) Mu
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Poverty Eradication ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Oil Gas ◽  
Carbon Economy

Access to modern energy such as electricity is key in the economic development of any country, and yet over 600 million people remain with no access to electricity in developing countries. It is true that both renewable energy and fossil fuels are key in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development (UN SDG) Goal 7 and Goal 1 on energy access and poverty eradication respectively. However, the current global efforts to transition to a low carbon economy, and tackle climate change as stipulated in the SDG 13 and the 2015 Paris Agreement, have created a lot of tension on fossil fuel developments in recent years.This commentary article is presented as a question and answer session aimed at addressing the misconceptions surrounding the achievement of SDG 7 and SDG 13 in this energy transition era. The paper is of interest to oil producing countries. The article follows the various questions raised by policymakers during an online seminar delivered by both the authors entitled, ‘Fossil Fuels in the Energy Transition Era’.

Alternative scenarios for the future of the Canadian boreal zone1

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W.N. Steenberg ◽  
Peter N. Duinker ◽  
Irena F. Creed ◽  
Jacqueline N. Serran ◽  
Camille Ouellet Dallaire
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Boreal Zone ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Carbon Economy

In response to global climate change, Canada is transitioning towards a low-carbon economy and the need for policy approaches that are effective, equitable, coordinated, and both administratively and politically feasible is high. One point is clear; the transition is intimately tied to the vast supply of ecosystem services in the boreal zone of Canada. This paper describes four contrasting futures for the boreal zone using scenario analysis, which is a transdisciplinary, participatory approach that considers alternative futures and policy implications under conditions of high uncertainty and complexity. The two critical forces shaping the four scenarios are the global economy’s energy and society’s capacity to adapt. The six drivers of change are atmospheric change, the demand for provisioning ecosystem services, the demand for nonprovisioning ecosystem services, demographics, and social values, governance and geopolitics, and industrial innovation and infrastructure. The four scenarios include: (i) the Green Path, where a low-carbon economy is coupled with high adaptive capacity; (ii) the Uphill Climb, where a low-carbon economy is instead coupled with low adaptive capacity; (iii) the Carpool Lane, where society has a strong capacity to adapt but a reliance on fossil fuels; and (iv) the Slippery Slope, where there is both a high-carbon economy and a society with low adaptive capacity. The scenarios illustrate the importance of transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the role of society’s adaptive capacity in doing so. However, they also emphasize themes like social inequality and adverse environmental outcomes arising from the push towards climate change mitigation.

China’s energy policies and strategies for climate change and energy security

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haifeng Deng ◽  
Paolo Davide Farah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Energy Economy ◽  
International Data ◽  
National Energy Security ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract National energy security, parallel with the ultimate goal of emissions reductions, is of utmost priority for the Chinese government. In order to comply with the requirements set by the Kyoto Protocol, the Chinese government announced, on 25 November 2009, that 2020’s CO2 emissions would be reduced by 40–45 per cent in accordance with the data collected from 2005. Said goal was met three years ahead of schedule. Even in light of such an accomplishment, however, commentators suggest that the overall nationally determined contributions (NDCs) made by the Parties belonging to the Paris agreement are not enough to reduce global warming by even 2°C. This article focuses on the concept of energy security in assessing whether, and how, the priorities related to climate change are gradually changing. After analysing climate change’s impact on China, conducted via an analysis of the study’s available literature and through the support of international data, this article mainly focuses on the concept of energy security, itself. Under the second section, based on the examination of China’s efforts to transition towards a low-carbon economy, the authors provide a holistic definition of energy security through the lens of three dimensions: energy supply security, energy economy and energy ecological security. The third section, in turn, addresses the relationship between energy security and climate change. The results presented in the conclusion insist that, in order to strengthen environmental protection in China, it is crucial to reform the highly inefficient and strictly regulated national energy market. In doing so, China’s transition to a low-carbon society and economy could prove less painful, as China’s available resources offer the potential for a strengthened ecological dimension and sustained socio-economic development.

scholarly journals Energy Efficiency and GHG Emissions Mapping of Buildings for Decision-Making Processes against Climate Change at the Local Level

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Lorenzo-Sáez ◽  
José-Vicente Oliver-Villanueva ◽  
Eloina Coll-Aliaga ◽  
Lenin-Guillermo Lemus-Zúñiga ◽  
Victoria Lerma-Arce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy

Buildings have become a key source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the consumption of primary energy, especially when used to achieve thermal comfort conditions. In addition, buildings play a key role for adapting societies to climate change by achieving more energy efficiency. Therefore, buildings have become a key sector to tackle climate change at the local level. However, public decision-makers do not have tools with enough spatial resolution to prioritise and focus the available resources and efforts in an efficient manner. The objective of the research is to develop an innovative methodology based on a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping primary energy consumption and GHG emissions in buildings in cities according to energy efficiency certificates. The developed methodology has been tested in a representative medium-sized city in Spain, obtaining an accurate analysis that shows 32,000 t of CO2 emissions due to primary energy consumption of 140 GWh in residential buildings with high spatial resolution at single building level. The obtained results demonstrate that the majority of residential buildings have low levels of energy efficiency and emit an average of 45 kg CO2/m2. Compared to the national average in Spain, this obtained value is on the average, while it is slightly better at the regional level. Furthermore, the results obtained demonstrate that the developed methodology is able to directly identify city districts with highest potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. Additionally, a data model adapted to the INSPIRE regulation has been developed in order to ensure interoperability and European-wide application. All these results have allowed the local authorities to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition. In conclusion, public decision-makers will be supported with an innovative and user-friendly GIS-based methodology to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition in a more efficient and transparent way based on metrics of high spatial resolution and accuracy.

Low Carbon Economy-Finance and Technology Models

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
S. Sureshkukar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Present Climate ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
China And India ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change ◽  
Developed Nations

The climate change is forcing a low carbon growth model not only for the developed nations but also for the developing countries, and particularly the emerging major emitters belonging to the emerging economies like China and India. New types of policies, partnerships and instruments, which dramatically scale up present climate change efforts, will be needed, if efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects are to succeed. The focus of this chapter will be on these and related issues pertaining to financial and technological aspects of the challenges confronting us in this context. The methodology used is essentially based on current literature and tacit knowledge arising from related experience along with its explicit accounts.

scholarly journals Equator Principles 4-Revised Climate Change Risk: What Does This Mean For Project Financing in Africa Amidst The Ongoing Energy Transition?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-91
Author(s):  
Ailly P.G. Sheehama
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Social Risk ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Project Financing ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Equator Principles

Since its inception, the Equator Principles Association introduced a risk management framework in response to the ever-changing environmental and social risk in projects. The Equator Principles (EPs) result from minimum standards for risk management to stop the race to the bottom. In June 2013, EP3 was introduced, and climate change requirements were added to address the 'transition towards an ethical and low-carbon economy.' This eventually led to the newly revised Equator Principles 4 (EP4s), 'Climate Change Risk Assessment' (transition risk), in July 2020. This article analyses the effect of the transition risk of EP4 to determine whether this new addition will support or inhibit oil and gas project financing in Africa amidst the ongoing energy transition by questioning the underlying assumptions upon which the policy design was developed. The article concluded that consideration for project financing in Africa could be expected to address the energy needs in Africa while at the same time essentially pushing governments to take into consideration climate change by putting in place processes, policies, and systems to manage these risks.' Furthermore, the transition risks definition and implementing standards of EP4 are broadly worded, allowing adapting the principles to a wide range of regimes that positively contribute to these domains. This essentially enables consideration of ethical transition and provides for coordination and coherence across different policy domains.

Arresting carbon dioxide emissions: why and how?

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Vincent
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Kyoto Protocol ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Reduce Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Low Carbon Technologies

This chapter sets the scene for future chapters covering a range of low carbon technologies from renewables through to nuclear. It reviews how the evidence base for climate change is building up, what the impacts of climate change might be, and how we are beginning to explore the policies and measures which will be needed to make the transition to a low carbon economy. The year 2005 will go down in history as the beginnings of a broad, politically backed consensus that man’s activity is influencing our climate. In February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol came into force—binding over 170 countries in action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, accepted by most informed commentators to be the principal cause of anthropogenically forced climate change. In the same year, the G8 group of countries at Gleneagles, Scotland, considered climate change as a key agenda item. Significantly, it set up a forum for discussion with other countries and the emerging economies. The forum, known as the ‘Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development’ met for the first time in November 2005. However, the value of the Kyoto protocol is not universally acknowledged. Some argue that although the science underpinning the existence of climate change and the link with carbon dioxide emissions has become unequivocal, the Kyoto protocol is not appropriate for them. A group of these countries, including the US, China, and India (huge emitters of carbon dioxide in their own right) has agreed the need to tackle climate change. Their approach is to promote clean technology development initiatives; though how exactly that partnership will evolve and deliver new low carbon technologies is not, at the time of writing, clear. Nevertheless, whether via the formalized Kyoto Protocol with carbon dioxide emission reduction targets or via other initiatives, a start has been made on the long, uncertain road to a low carbon world. Slowly, but surely, global action on climate change is gathering momentum. The term ‘greenhouse effect’ was first coined by the French mathematician Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier in 1827. It enables and sustains a broad balance between solar radiation received and Earth’ s radiation emitted or reflected.

Climate Change and Well-Being

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Heap ◽  
Flavio Comim
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
The North ◽  
Global Threat

AbstractHuman well-being in industrialized and developing nations continues to be influenced by disparate components and there is growing evidence that climate change is a new and potentially damaging global threat. Context affects the prospect of finding solutions because socio-economic elements, ethical considerations, and moral norms all play their part. Of central concern is how to advance from the innumerable benefits of capitalism and industrialization based on economies driven by fossil fuels towards a predominantly low carbon economy faced with high population growth rates, consumerism in the North, poverty in the South, financial instability worldwide, and food insecurity. Cooperation among nations has become a pressing priority and it demands that value systems should be incorporated more strongly into international negotiations if we are to sustain a civil society that responds positively to the new politics of the global environment.

scholarly journals The role of traditional and new international relations actors in addressing climate change

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 201-221
Author(s):  
Olena Shevchenko
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Global Media ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Time Specific

Addressing global climate change brings up a number of priority issues. The fundamental issue is the definition of the participants in this process and the scope of their competencies and areas of responsibility. Practice shows that modern global challenges, which include global climate change, cannot be solved individually and in a straightforward manner without the involvement of all stakeholders and the general public. The article discusses actions aimed at adapting and mitigating the consequences of global climate challenges carried out by states and their alliances (as traditional international actors) and corporations and media (as new international actors). It is shown that today state political decisions on the adaptation to and mitigation of the consequences of global climate change are associated, in particular, with the transition to a low-carbon economy. At the same time, specific and effective climate policies are also being implemented by international corporations. Global media implement their own climate initiatives from one side and shape international public opinion regarding the climate challenge from the other side. The author concludes that, despite the active presence of the theme of global climate change in international and national political discourse, as well as in media and in the social and economic projects of corporations, the general attempts to resolve the issue can’t be considered as a well coordinated, and the results are not efficient enough.

scholarly journals Interrogating Climate Adaptation Financing in Zimbabwe: Proposed Direction

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6517
Author(s):  
Innocent Chirisa ◽  
Trynos Gumbo ◽  
Veronica N. Gundu-Jakarasi ◽  
Washington Zhakata ◽  
Thomas Karakadzai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Resource Base

Reducing vulnerability to climate change and enhancing the long-term coping capacities of rural or urban settlements to negative climate change impacts have become urgent issues in developing countries. Developing countries do not have the means to cope with climate hazards and their economies are highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, and coastal zones. Like most countries in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe suffers from climate-induced disasters. Therefore, this study maps critical aspects required for setting up a strong financial foundation for sustainable climate adaptation in Zimbabwe. It discusses the frameworks required for sustainable climate adaptation finance and suggests the direction for success in leveraging global climate financing towards building a low-carbon and climate-resilient Zimbabwe. The study involved a document review and analysis and stakeholder consultation methodological approach. The findings revealed that Zimbabwe has been significantly dependent on global finance mechanisms to mitigate the effects of climate change as its domestic finance mechanisms have not been fully explored. Results revealed the importance of partnership models between the state, individuals, civil society organisations, and agencies. Local financing institutions such as the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) have been set up. This operates a Climate Finance Facility (GFF), providing a domestic financial resource base. A climate change bill is also under formulation through government efforts. However, numerous barriers limit the adoption of adaptation practices, services, and technologies at the scale required. The absence of finance increases the vulnerability of local settlements (rural or urban) to extreme weather events leading to loss of life and property and compromised adaptive capacity. Therefore, the study recommends an adaptation financing framework aligned to different sectoral policies that can leverage diverse opportunities such as blended climate financing. The framework must foster synergies for improved impact and implementation of climate change adaptation initiatives for the country.

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