INTEGRATES ASSESSMENT MODELS (IAMS) APPLIED TO CLIMATRE CHANGE AND ENERGY TRANSITION

The climate change that is currently occurring is due to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere as a result of human activity. The large number of factors and variables that directly or indirectly affect GHG emissions, as well as the multiple and complex relationships between them, makes it difficult to make decisions on the best measures to be adopted to slow down or mitigate climate change and to analyze the consequences that each decision entails. This has led to the development of complex simulation models called Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) or Energy-Economy-Environment Models (E3 models), with a particular focus on climate change. The development and use of these models to guide policy decisions on climate change has grown very significantly in recent years, as evidenced by the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This paper is a panoramic review of the main existing IAMs and analyzes their main characteristics. The paper focuses especially on the analysis of the limitations of the current IAMs, which should mark the future developments of these tools.

Download Full-text

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

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12072982 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 2982 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

Download Full-text

The case for long-term studies of greenhouse gas emissions

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892999000247 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 166-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

TIM NEWCOMB

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Greenhouse Gases ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Industrialized Countries ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Long Term Studies

Many nations have recognized the need to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The scientific assessments of climate change of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) support the need to reduce GHG emissions. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 Convention on Climate Change (UNTS 30822) has now been signed by more than 65 countries, although that Protocol has not yet entered into force. Some 14 of the industrialized countries listed in the Protocol face reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 10% compared to projected 1997 carbon dioxide emissions (Najam & Page 1998).

Download Full-text

All change for climate change

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27982v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Tony R Walker

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

New York ◽

Global Warming ◽

United Nations ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Global Economy ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Ipcc Report ◽

Single Use

Governments, corporations and individuals all need to take immediate action to help change the global economy toward a circular economy. A circular economy which uses fewer resources and based on renewable clean technologies to help limit global warming to 1.5 °C. The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warned that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels would require current greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to be cut in half by 2030. Yet actions by governments, corporations and individuals are lagging behind. Many countries are failing their obligations made under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Even the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency set a 50% reduction target of GHG emissions for global shipping by 2050, but this falls short of the IPCC target by 20 years. The United Nations climate summit in New York this week (September 2019) needs to send a strong wake up call to the entire world for us all to change. Change makers like Greta Thunberg has already done that. Individual actions to change consumer behaviour can play a major role to help reduce GHG emissions. Even reducing use of single-use plastics (a petroleum derivative) and incineration can help reduce GHG emissions. GHG emissions from plastics could reach 15% of the global carbon budget by 2050 if not curbed. In Europe, plastic production and incineration emits an estimated ~400 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Therefore, reducing single-use plastic use could curb GHG emissions.

Download Full-text

Assessing Carbon Pools in Dipterocarp Forests of Peninsular Malaysia

Journal of Tropical Resources and Sustainable Science (JTRSS) ◽

10.47253/jtrss.v3i1.685 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 214-221

Author(s):

Hamdan Omar ◽

Norsheilla Mohd Johan Chuah ◽

Ismail Parlan ◽

Abdul Khalim Abu Samah

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Carbon Sink ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Carbon Pools ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Flux Dynamics ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Dipterocarp Forests

Modification and loss of forests due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances contribute an estimated 20% of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Accounting GHG emissions associated with forestry, specifically, and land use generally is crucial in recent days because forests play major roles in balancing terrestrial carbon and contribute to the mitigation of global warming and climate change. Consequent to the awareness of climate change, reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation, and conservation (REDD+) programmed was introduced at the international level to promote forest conservation and enhance forest governances. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) came out with protocols on how to account the carbonstored and released from the forests. Principally there are five primary carbon pools in a forest, which are above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, deadwood, litter, and soils that accumulate and in some conditions release carbon. However, about 98% of carbon stored in a forest comprises trees components (aboveground and belowground living biomass, deadwood and litters) and the remaining is stored in soils. Many factors interact to affect the flux dynamics of these carbon pools, including the type of forest ecosystem, the age of the forest, and if harvested, the length of stand rotation cycles and the forestry practices used. Logging these forests, in a sense, represents an opportunity cost, as the time necessary for a harvested forest to regain its carbon sink capacity can take many decades, and if left undisturbed, would have gone on to expand its carbon pool or at least remain in constant over time. In this study, the lowland dipterocarp forest, where logging often takes place, is profiled in terms of biomass carbon. Pahang, which has the largest forest cover and biggest timber production in Peninsular Malaysia, was selected as the study area. The dipterocarp forests comprise both protection and production functions were categorized into strata based on year elapsed after logging (i.e. logged 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, and > 30 years). Measurements have been conducted on the ground and all the carbon pools in these strata were assessed. The study found significant differences between each stratum in terms of carbon and the results are presented in this paper. The effects of harvesting practices on carbon pools are also discussed.

Download Full-text

Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture, with Particular Emphasis on Emissions from Energy Used

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14133784 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (13) ◽

pp. 3784

Author(s):

Piotr Gołasa ◽

Marcin Wysokiński ◽

Wioletta Bieńkowska-Gołasa ◽

Piotr Gradziuk ◽

Magdalena Golonko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Energy Use ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Farm Income ◽

Minor Importance ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Emission Volume

The relationship between agriculture and climate change is two-sided. Agriculture is the branch of the economy most affected by the ongoing processes. It is also a large emitter of greenhouse gases and there are more and more voices about the need to reduce emissions. The purpose of the study was, based on FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) data, to determine the structure of greenhouse gas emissions in farms and to identify types of farms where it is possible to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions through better energy use. The emission volume was determined on the basis of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology modified for the FADN data. The emissions related to the production of energy were found to be of minor importance compared to other emission sources. Only in the horticultural crop type is the emission from the Energy section the dominant stream of GHG emission. The greatest emissions come from livestock production. Therefore, the emphasis on reducing emissions should not be placed on the Energy sector because, except for the type of horticultural farm, there is not much potential for reduction. The introduction of taxes for GHG emissions at the level of 27.31 EUR/t would reduce farm income from 21% for the type of field crops to 40% for the type of herbivorous animals. The exception is low-emission permanent crops, where the decrease in income would be only 3.85%.

Download Full-text

THE CONTRIBUTION OF ROMANIA TO CLIMATE CHANGE – THE EFFECTS OF ACCOUNTING THE GHG EMISSIONS FROM LAND USE, LAND-USE CHANGE AND FORESTRY (LULUCF)

SMART ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT ◽

10.46390/j.smensuen.24121.433 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 5-20

Author(s):

Ramona Ionela Zgavarogea ◽

Mihaela Iordache ◽

Andreea Maria Iordache ◽

Marius Constantinescu ◽

Felicia Bucura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Good Practice ◽

National Level ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Positive Trend ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Mk Test ◽

Increasing Trend ◽

The Eu

This study aimed to analyze Romanian (RO) involvement in the LULUCF sector by considering the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) good practice guidance (GPG). Trends were assessed using the Mann-Kendall (MK) test for trend estimation to determine the total greenhouse gas (GHG) (GHGCO₂-eq.) emissions/ removals. The results emphasized the increasing average annual levels of emissions/removals in both the EU-28 and RO when the subperiods from 1990-2005 and 2005-2017 were analyzed. Kendall’s analysis of GHG removal showed a positive trend in Romanian GHG removals, and no trend was observed for the EU-28. In comparison, the emissions indicated an increasing trend for RO and a decreasing trend for the EU-28. The GHGCO₂-eq. generated by the LULUCF sector decreased to an average annual rate of 0.5% per year in the EU-28. In Romania, these emissions increased by approximately 0.2% per year on average. Between 1990 and 2017, the CO2 total absorption increased to 0.9% per year. The methane absorption also increased by 11.7% per year, and no significant increasing trend was observed for methane. The dynamics of GHGCO₂-eq. emissions/removals in RO and LULUCF sectors showed that settlement had decreased in wetlands, and settlement of other land areas had increased. Assessing GHG gas emissions is essential for allowing each sector to promote specific strategies, policies and action plans. This will improve the national-level monitoring of the LULUCF sector and make this information more accessible to decision makers by raising awareness of the Romanian position within the EU-28

Download Full-text

All change for climate change

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27982 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Tony R Walker

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

New York ◽

Global Warming ◽

United Nations ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Global Economy ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Ipcc Report ◽

Single Use

Download Full-text

Using Emissions Intensity to Better Track Energy Transitions

Environmental and Climate Technologies ◽

10.2478/rtuect-2020-0042 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 681-690

Author(s):

Kelly D’alessandro ◽

Paul Dargusch

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Energy Policy ◽

International Energy Agency ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Energy Agency ◽

Energy Transitions ◽

Emissions Intensity ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

Mitigate Climate Change ◽

Climate And Energy Policy

Abstract Current metrics fail to adequately capture the temporal and spatial complexity of energy transitions in a sufficiently meaningful way and this limits their usefulness to inform effective climate and energy policy and management. In this paper we propose a cumulative integral of CO2 emissions intensity for electricity and heat use as a metric to monitor energy transition progress. We demonstrate its application using International Energy Agency data for each of the G20-member countries. Findings show that whilst most countries are far from the energy transition positions required to effectively mitigate climate change, there are some examples of countries that have made an effective transition that provide useful insights into how energy transitions might progress more extensively.

Download Full-text

Climate Solutions Double as Health Interventions

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413339 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13339

Author(s):

Nicholas A. Mailloux ◽

Colleen P. Henegan ◽

Dorothy Lsoto ◽

Kristen P. Patterson ◽

Paul C. West ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Climate Action ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Mitigate Climate Change ◽

Climate Crisis

The climate crisis threatens to exacerbate numerous climate-sensitive health risks, including heatwave mortality, malnutrition from reduced crop yields, water- and vector-borne infectious diseases, and respiratory illness from smog, ozone, allergenic pollen, and wildfires. Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stress the urgent need for action to mitigate climate change, underscoring the need for more scientific assessment of the benefits of climate action for health and wellbeing. Project Drawdown has analyzed more than 80 solutions to address climate change, building on existing technologies and practices, that could be scaled to collectively limit warming to between 1.5° and 2 °C above preindustrial levels. The solutions span nine major sectors and are aggregated into three groups: reducing the sources of emissions, maintaining and enhancing carbon sinks, and addressing social inequities. Here we present an overview of how climate solutions in these three areas can benefit human health through improved air quality, increased physical activity, healthier diets, reduced risk of infectious disease, and improved sexual and reproductive health, and universal education. We find that the health benefits of a low-carbon society are more substantial and more numerous than previously realized and should be central to policies addressing climate change. Much of the existing literature focuses on health effects in high-income countries, however, and more research is needed on health and equity implications of climate solutions, especially in the Global South. We conclude that adding the myriad health benefits across multiple climate change solutions can likely add impetus to move climate policies faster and further.

Download Full-text

Introduction: The Global Imperative

Wind Power Politics and Policy ◽

10.1093/oso/9780199862726.003.0003 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Scott Valentine

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Market Failure ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Cost Effective ◽

The United States ◽

Independent Study ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

An Inconvenient Truth ◽

Early Action

The years 2006–2007 represented an intellectual tipping point for climate change advocacy. Over this short period of time, there was ample evidence of a general convergence of understanding between many environmentalists and economists on the perilous threat posed by climate change. In the summer of 2006, the release of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth turned climate change into an issue of public concern in the United States. The domestic debate that the film helped inspire escalated over the next year to a point where energy policy suddenly became a vote swaying issue in American politics. This development became a topic of interest for the rest of the world because signs of a weakening in American reticence toward climate change mitigation would have significant repercussions for the 128 nations that were struggling to keep the Kyoto Protocol from falling apart. In October 2006, a comprehensive independent study called the Stern Review, commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom, presented an assessment of the anticipated impacts of climate change. As a foreboding sign of the content which would follow, the report began by describing climate change as “the greatest and widest ranging market failure ever seen”. The report concluded that the long-term costs of climate change were expected to be so great that early action to abate global warming was the most cost-effective alternative. It estimated that the net benefits (benefits less costs) from reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to achieve a stabilization level of 550 parts per million (ppm) by 2050 would be in the neighborhood of US$2.5 trillion. In February 2007, the first of four reports that comprise the Fourth Assessment Report of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released. The goal of this first report was to “describe progress in understanding of the human and natural drivers of climate change, observed climate change, climate processes and attribution, and estimates of projected future climate change.”

Download Full-text