The aim of the article is to analyse the scientific literature of the last decade on the social cost of carbon to identify and discuss the best values representing the external cost of CO2 emis-sions calculated with a damage valuation approach, to use in cost-benefit analysis and in other external costs applications, such as Life Cycle Assessment. The social cost of carbon repre-sents the present value of the global damages of climate change attributable to the emission of an additional ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The measurement of the social cost of carbon is fundamental in the transition to a net zero emissions economy because it allows bal-ancing the costs of investments needed for decarbonization with their benefits in terms of avoided climate damages. The paper develops and applies a method for identifying the best social cost of carbon estimates, that starts from study reviews conducted within institutional processes (IPCC, OECD, US Government bodies), to then analyse the study reviews made in academic or research contexts and only in the end it delves into selected academic studies that provide original estimates of the social cost of carbon. The method allowed to identify and dis-cuss a robust even if conservative estimate of the social cost of carbon for emissions in the period 2020-2080, recently elaborated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, that can be used worldwide, for example to update the reference external cost values for CO2 emis-sions recommended by the European Commission Handbook on external cost of transport.

This paper investigates the relationship between measures of environmental performance and of social preferences, thanks to the availability of a recently published dataset on global pref- erences. Using cross-sectional observations from 76 countries, this study finds evidence from macro data of a positive and statistically significant relationship between measures of proso- cial preferences, such as positive reciprocity, trust, and altruism, and environmental policy indicators in the categories of agriculture, forestry, and climate change after controlling for economic and geospatial factors. At the micro level, the results presented in this paper suggest a broader theory of collective action that is based on a behavioral approach to climate policy to mitigate motivational crowd out in settings of high reciprocity and trust. At the macro level, the results presented in this paper suggest a broader theory of climate clubs that includes pro- social preferences, such as positive reciprocity, trust, and altruism, as key cooperation mech- anisms in International Environmental Agreements.

The increasing share of intermittent sources of energy will increase the need for frequency-control reserves. However, the supply from gas and coal-fired power plants might decrease in the following years. Being the procurement of reserves mostly market-based in Europe, the market design should send price signals to encourage participation in these markets. This pa-per analyses the incentives provided by the French market design for seasonal storage and pumped storage hydropower plants to participate in reserve markets. To that end, a determinis-tic mixed-integer linear optimization model is presented. The objective is to maximize profits in the energy and reserve markets according to 2019 market prices. By optimising the trade-offs between the day-ahead and the reserve markets, the storage hydropower plant increase its profits. The pumped storage hydropower plant sometimes chooses the Frequency Contain-ment Reserve market or the day-ahead market only. The apparition of some hours of FCR par-ticipation with the pumped storage plant is explained by its higher number of generating hours and by the higher volatility of reserve energy prices. These two factors also explain the greater response of the pumped storage plant to the incentive measures on the FCR market.

Global climate change has triggered the implementation of energy transition programs in many countries where renewable fuels have received great attention. While Indonesia successfully im- plements biofuels-based crude palm oil (CPO) such as biodiesel (up to B30). The program proceeds towards implementing other green fuels (such as green diesel, gasoline, and bio jet fuel). However, the current price of CPO (as a raw material) is highly fluctuated depending on the global market mechanism and mostly more expensive than the price of fossil fuels. This situation leads to an unattractive business of green fuels. So, the government's policies are strongly required to make more attractive businesses with enhanced competitiveness of green fuels. A qualitative approach was conducted by using forum group discussion to gain information about the current status of biofuel policy in Indonesia and its challenges. The quantitative method was conducted by calculat- ing the economic analysis of palm oil-based energy crops and processing plants. The concept of integrated palm energy plantation was proposed based on the result. It may be a kind of integrated business entity owned by the government which aims at producing CPO and the following green fuels. Economic analysis shows that from the plantation side, the selling price of Fruit Fresh Bunch (FFB) is USD 0.068/kg with an IRR of 12.6%. While in the CPO processing industry, using the FFB price of USD 0.082/kg obtained an IRR of 14.4%. This result shows promising results from the calculation, keeps the sustainability of raw material supply and enhances the competitiveness of green fuels.

The Iberian Exception, the mechanism designed by the Spanish and Portuguese governments to address high electricity prices resulting from the gas price crisis in 2021 and 2022, has been met with controversy, both regarding its real impact on electricity prices and also its unin- tended consequences, such as increased (and subsidized) exports to France. In this paper we review the evidence on these impacts from different studies, concluding that the mechanism may have produced, depending on the assumptions, some reductions in electricity prices for Iberian consumers or none at all, but always at the expense of subsidies to French consumers and also increased rents for gas combined cycles, higher gas consumption, and larger CO2 emissions. Alternative mechanisms, such as a temporary single-buyer scheme, might have produced similar benefits without the downsides of the Exception.

This article aims to provide a critical analysis of the European Commission communication for a reform of electricity market design, proposed primarily after the energy crisis deriving from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In particular, the present document highlights some reflections for more in-depth analyses of the electricity market modelling trends in response to crisis factors of a purely endogenous nature (e.g. drought, heat waves, a gradual phasing out of electric power generation with regulating capacity and its replacement with intermittent generation, simultaneous stresses) in relation to a profoundly changing ecosystem.

This paper examines the role of natural resource wealth in financing public investment in renewable energy in 25 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 1996 to 2019. Results from two step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimates reveal that natural resource wealth negatively affects public investment in renewable energy. A distinction between the types of natural resources allowed to establish that this negative effect comes exclusively from the rents of point natural resources. Furthermore, the results show that institutional quality and human capital favor public investment in renewable energy. These results are robust when using the Driscoll-Kraay estimator. In terms of policy implications, it is imperative to promote good governance of natural resource rents, especially those from point source resources. It will also be necessary to redirect these rents towards the financing of structuring projects such as renewable energies in order to promote sustainable development.

Offshore wind energy is getting more attention from governments. Germany had the third rank among all countries in total offshore wind energy capacity at the end of 2022. Denmark, having less land area but a good location for offshore wind power, had the fourth rank. Both countries' offshore wind energy sectors have significant roles globally. This paper aims to explore the development paths of offshore wind energy policy in Denmark and Germany and understand the developmental differences. The trends in offshore wind energy production and the evolving policies of the governments are analysed, by comparing the two countries. Most of the policies in Denmark and Germany resulted positively, and their policy paths were sim- ilar with some nuance. The research concludes that a governmental policy strategy and a flex- ible support mechanism are the keys to developing an innovative offshore wind energy sector.

Do impact studies guide policies, do policies direct impact studies, or are ideologies inspiring both? We analyse the proposed new European regulation on packaging and show that the expected benefits are much lower than those magnified by official declarations. Our debunk- ing of the Impact Assessment study, apart from the specific issues, raises concerns about how the European regulatory process is made. By doing so, he invites readers to reflect on the intricate relationship between impact studies, policy-making, and the ideological influences that may shape both.

Navigating towards a sustainable future, Algeria engages in strategic resource management to fulfill its 2030 vision. This study delineates a Fuzzy Goal Programming (FGP) model, inte-grating economic objectives with ecological and energy sustainability. The framework priori-tizes renewable energy, marking a decisive pivot from traditional hydrocarbon reliance to meet global environmental mandates. It also maps out a strategic redistribution of the workforce, signifying a shift towards a diversified, innovation-led economy that embraces sustainable methodologies. The implementation of the model offers a robust, empirical tool for decision-makers, harmonizing Algeria's specific socio-economic attributes with broader, global sus-tainability trends. The outcome is a blueprint for a robust, renewable-centric economy, posi-tioning Algeria at the forefront of sustainable development and energy reform.