Climate Action Research Articles

Implementation of Car-Free Days in Support of Sustainable Development to Reduce Vehicle CO2 Emissions in Urban Areas

The transportation sector is one of the main contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 18.52% of total emissions, with this percentage reaching 40% in developed countries. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of Car-Free Day (CFD) implementation in reducing emissions in Cirebon, Indonesia, as a contribution to the 13th Sustainable Development Goal on climate action. The research method used a mixed approach, combining quantitative analysis of fuel consumption data with qualitative interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of CFD. Referring to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory guidelines, Book I: The results showed that while CFD reduced emissions by 13-26% in the designated lane due to traffic diversion, it also led to an 8-14% increase in emissions in the alternative lane. Therefore, the overall emission reduction effort was not optimal, as the emission reduction in one lane was masked by the emission increase in the other lane. The implication of this research is that a more holistic approach is needed to effectively reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions. The results of this research can serve as a basis for formulating more effective transportation policies, such as extending the duration and coverage of CFD, restricting vehicles on alternative routes, and improving public transportation systems that are more environmentally friendly.

Unveiling Groundwater Potential in Hangu District, Pakistan: A GIS-Driven Bivariate Modeling and Remote Sensing Approach for Achieving SDGs

Sustainable groundwater development stands out as a contemporary concern for growing global populations, particularly in stressed riverine arid and semi-arid regions. This study integrated satellite-based (Sentinel-2, ALOS-DEM, and CHIRPS rainfall) data with ancillary lithology and infrastructure datasets using Weight of Evidence (WoE) and Frequency Ratio (FR) models to delineate Groundwater Potential Zones (GWPZs) in the Hangu District, a hydrologically stressed riverine region in northern Pakistan, to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ten key variables, including elevation, slope, aspect, distance to drainage (DD), rainfall, land use/land cover, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, lithology, and road proximity, were incorporated into the Geographic information system (GIS) environment. The FR model outperformed the WoE model, achieving success and prediction rates of 89% and 93%, compared to 82% and 86%. The GWPZs-FR model identified 23% (317 km2) as high potential, located in highly fractured pediment fans below 550 m, with gentle slopes (<5 degrees), DD (within 200 m), and high rainfall in areas of natural trees and vegetation on valley terrace deposits. The research findings significantly support multiple SDGs, with estimated achievement potentials of 37.5% for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 20% for SDG 13 (Climate Action), 15% for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 12.5% for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and notable contributions of 10% for SDG 2 and 5% for SDG 3. This approach provides valuable insights for policymakers, offering a framework for managing groundwater resources and advancing sustainable practices in similar hydrologically stressed regions.

Varieties of Climate Activism: Assessing Public Support for Mainstream and Unorthodox Climate Action in the United Kingdom

Abstract Is the general public of the UK willing to financially support environmental organizations that adopt disruptive tactics (museum and art gallery protests, sporting event disruptions, and traffic stoppages), as opposed to orthodox tactics (litigation, lobbying, and research and education)? Using a conjoint choice experiment (N = 1,023), we asked respondents’ willingness to donate £25 to hypothetical environmental organizations that differ in terms of (1) advocacy tactics, (2) share of revenue toward administrative overheads, (3) representation of women on their boards, (4) organizational age, (5) organizational size, (6) number of volunteers, and (7) revenue from citizen donations. We find respondents’ willingness to donate diminishes when organizations adopt disruptive tactics. These results hold across party preferences, ideology, generation, location, and environmental policy attitudes. Further, respondents are willing to donate organizations that rely on public donations, have low overheads, are supported by volunteer labor, and provide representation to women on their boards.

Do climate change policies affect labour market distortions? Empirical evidence from China's low-carbon city pilots

ABSTRACT To mitigate climate change while ensuring that the substantial benefits of a green economic transition are widely shared, the concept of a just transition has emerged as a pivotal element in climate strategies. Although the effectiveness of climate policies has been a subject of ongoing debate, the integration of just transition principles is often overlooked as a key component. This study employs China’s Low-Carbon City Pilot policy (LCCP) as a quasi-natural experiment and uses a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) methodology to assess the impact of LCCP on wage distortions within firms. Using data from listed companies between 2006 and 2022, our analysis shows that the low-carbon policy itself may be a source of inequity, disproportionately benefiting capital at the expense of labour, thus exacerbating wage distortions and preventing labour from receiving fair compensation. This inequity undermines the principles of a just transition, as the allocation of policy resources tends to favour large firms, enhancing their pricing power and diminishing labour market flexibility. The economic outcomes of LCCP are mixed: while it accelerates the growth of capital share, it also leads to an unequal distribution between capital and labour. Furthermore, our exploration of the role of export trade in mitigating these distortions reveals that exports actually widen the disparity in wage distortions. Our study underscores the urgent need to prioritize equity in climate policies and improve labour allocation efficiency within climate action frameworks. We aim to provide decision-making support for the design and implementation of more equitable low-carbon policies in developing countries.

An Analysis of the IMF’s International Carbon Price Floor

Abstract The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed an International Carbon Price Floor (ICPF) arrangement among six major emitting economies (the US, EU, UK, Canada, China, and India) to scale up global climate mitigation action. Our quantitative analysis of the IMF’s ICPFs indicates that, compared to the committed policies of National Determined Contributions (NDCs), differentiated price floors are non-binding for developed countries – and therefore have a limited impact on their climate actions. However, for developing countries (e.g. China and India), the ICPFs effectively translate into substantial increases in carbon prices. Essentially, the ICPFs place additional responsibilities of emission reductions and economic costs fully on China and India. Given this gap between the participation incentives of developed and developing economies, we believe that the ICPF arrangement, in its current form, is unlikely to be adopted by major economies. To address this, we recommend that the IMF devote efforts to: (1) estimating the price equivalents of non-price policy instruments, as well as re-calibrating the desirable floors for broadly defined carbon prices; and (2) considering options to redistribute the economic benefits between developed and developing countries by increasing the availability of climate mitigation funds and low-carbon technologies to developing countries.

The role of socio-demographic and psychological factors in shaping individual carbon footprints in Finland.

Household consumption emissions are a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, making them a vital target for emission reductions. While previous research has studied socio-demographic and situational factors in explaining the variation in individuals' carbon footprints, a more comprehensive exploration of individual drivers, would benefit the development of effective and equitable mitigation policies. The current study examines associations between psychological and socio-demographic factors and carbon footprints of Finnish adults (n = 3,519). Income was found to be the strongest factor explaining the variation in carbon footprints. While environmental attitudes, perceived easiness and perceived importance of climate actions statistically explained differences in carbon footprints, the effect sizes were modest. The factors explaining variation in the carbon footprint varied across different domains (housing, travel, diet, and other consumption of goods and services), with psychological factors having a more substantial effect on diet compared to other domains. Overall, the findings suggest that tailoring policy interventions to reduce emissions from different domains to specific groups and factors could be beneficial. Furthermore, the greatest emission reduction potential lies among higher-income individuals. In the dietary domain, attitude-changing interventions could be more effective, while financial or choice architecture interventions might be better suited for other domains.

Localization vs globalization of carbon emissions trading system (ETS) rules: how will China’s national ETS rules evolve?

ABSTRACT China’s national carbon emission trading system (C-ETS) is central to its climate action. Previous studies have largely focused on the unique ETS design and/or regulatory details to determine whether the ETS functions successfully. However, less attention has been paid to crucial questions of how China adapts ETS rules to its unique political, legal, economic, and social contexts; and, given China’s climate ambitions, how those rules will develop in future global climate governance. Adding to discussions on how to design the ETS legal infrastructure, this study takes the world’s largest ETS (C-ETS) as an example to discuss the critical question of what rules should be differentiated and what rules should be harmonized (e.g. in alignment with the arguable prototype EU ETS and/or those of strategic partners). First, by examining China’s general ETS institutional framework, its legal evolution, and related legal disputes, this study highlights a ‘central government-promoted model’ underlying China’s ‘localization’ of ETS rules. A Functional Comparative Legal Analysis Framework is proposed to identify China’s key, distinctive, and long-lasting ETS legal features and to examine their collective potential to provide effective, efficient, and just abatement incentives. Further situating the C-ETS in global climate governance, this study provides insights into the potential future development of China’s ETS rules, with policy priorities that vary across stages. Finally, we draw lessons for other jurisdictions and discuss how our analysis might assist in the transnational understanding and potential coordination of different ETS rules.

Internet image search outputs propagate climate change sentiment and impact policy support

AbstractA critical step in tackling climate change involves structural, system-level changes facilitating action. Despite their ubiquity, little is known about how internet search algorithms portray climate change, and how these portrayals impact concern and action. In a sample of 49 countries, we found that nationwide climate concern, but not nation-level climate impact, predicted the emotional arousal caused by climate change Google Image Search outputs, as rated by a naive sample (n = 383). In a follow-up experiment we randomly assigned another sample (n = 899) to receive the climate change image outputs resulting from searches conducted in countries high or low in pre-existing climate concern, and found that participants exposed to images from countries with high pre-existing concern (compared to low) became more concerned about climate change, supportive of climate policy and likely to act pro-environmentally, suggesting a cycle of climate sentiment propagation systemically facilitated by internet search algorithms. We discuss the implications of these findings for climate action interventions.

Assessing corporate climate action: Corporate climate policies and company-level emission reductions

Private investment decisions are expected to play a decisive role in redirecting capital flows in line with the Paris Agreement. The financial sector and policymakers have emphasized the role of corporate climate action and climate-related disclosure, including backward-looking emissions figures and forward-looking information on corporate climate policies to enable investors to reallocate capital to firms with promising emission reduction pathways. However, there is at best inconclusive evidence on the relationship between corporate climate policies and subsequent company-level emission reductions. Previous research was limited by small sample sizes and short observation periods, impeding the analysis of time-lagged effects or the inclusion of company-level fixed effects. To overcome these shortcomings, we draw on a new dataset with 17,198 observations from 1,749 companies that disclosed their corporate climate policies between 2010 and 2022. While our results show only a weak link between individual policies and company-level emissions, we find some evidence for an improved climate performance for absolute emissions for companies that introduced a comprehensive corporate climate policy mix. This is in line with public policy research that has found comprehensiveness to be an important dimension for public policy mixes and emphasizes the role of a mix of corporate climate policies rather than relying on individual measures.

CHALLENGES OF GREEN SCHOOL QUALITY ASSESSMENT

The Green School Quality Standard offers criteria for integrating holistic institutional and sustainable development education, that demonstrate commitment to green education, integrate environmental principles and climate action into the delivery of school educational services. The ultimate goal of the standard is to provide a complete educational roadmap, that ensures continuity and interdependence between educational stages, from early years to higher education. In article recommendations are made for improving the implementation of the audit for quality of green education, discussing also the road map for completing audit processing of the results from activity of the green school.

Guest editorial: Tensions between tradition and innovation in disaster risk reduction, climate action and reconstruction

Guest editorial: Tensions between tradition and innovation in disaster risk reduction, climate action and reconstruction

Low-cost nano biochar: a sustainable approach for drought stress mitigation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

This study tends to reach some objectives of the sustainable development goals, which call for responsible consumption and production and climate action. Long-term global food security is affected by drought and the optimal use of water in agricultural areas under climate change scenarios. Our approach aims to amend soil for cultivation under drought stress and improve plant growth to contribute to food security. In this context, a biochar was prepared from peanut shell and thoroughly examined as a soil enhancer for broad bean cultivation during drought stress. The produced biochar exhibited 0.307 g cm−3 bulk density, 9.6 cmol kg−1 cation exchange capacity, −15.5 mV zeta potential, and an average diameter of 21.86 nm. Surprisingly, the application of biochar increased soil water holding capacity and organic matter by 66% and 220%, respectively. Moreover, its application under drought improved plant growth as indicated by stem height, leaf area index, pod number/plant, pod weight, protein level, chlorophyll content, nutrient levels in leaves, and reduced lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. The principal component and factorial analysis of the current study demonstrated correlations between the physiological response of faba bean plants and soil physiochemical parameters after the application of peanut shell-derived biochar. This study presents promising nano biochar that could be an effective sustainable practice for disposing residual materials.

Exploring the Influence of Democracy, Rule of Law, and Societal Well-being on Climate Action in OECD Nations

Exploring the Influence of Democracy, Rule of Law, and Societal Well-being on Climate Action in OECD Nations

Agroforestry for Carbon Neutrality: An Effective Pathway to Net Zero

Agroforestry is a promising strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and net zero emission, aiming towards the balance between greenhouse gas emissions and equal amount of carbon removal through sequestration Among several methods of carbon sequestration, agroforestry stands out for its unique ability to simultaneously sequester carbon while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with chemical fertilizer use in conventional agriculture. These systems store carbon through multiple pathways like, in above-ground biomass, below-ground root systems, and enhanced soil organic carbon accumulation while maintaining the agricultural productivity. Acknowledged under the afforestation and reforestation programs of the Kyoto Protocol, agroforestry has attracted interest for its several advantages from both industrialized and developing countries for its multifaceted benefits, including its potential to combat desertification and reduce anthropogenic emissions. Beyond carbon sequestration, it enhances soil fertility, supports biodiversity conservation, and provides economic diversification for farmers through multiple income streams. The role of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) negotiations in extending the Kyoto Protocol's second commitment period has further strengthened agroforestry's position in global climate action, particularly through the development of REDD offset credits in compliance carbon markets. The World Agroforestry Centre defines agroforestry as a dynamic, ecologically based natural resources management system that integrates trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifying and sustaining production for increased social, economic, and environmental benefits. The Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA) defines it as an intensive land management system that optimizes the benefits from biological interactions created when trees and/or shrubs are deliberately combined with crops and/or other natural resources. This review article critically examines agroforestry's crucial role as an effective pathway toward achieving carbon neutrality and net zero goals, synthesizing current knowledge and future prospects.

Sustainable Practices in Brazilian Ports: Aligning with SDGs 9, 13, and 14

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the disclosure of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in reports published by ports and terminals with the highest cargo movements. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in key concepts of sustainability and sustainable development, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Method: This exploratory and descriptive research employed content analysis of sustainability, integrated, and annual reports from Brazilian public ports (BPP) and private port terminals (PPT) to identify key sustainable practices aligned with SDGs 9, 13, and 14. Results and Discussion: The study highlighted the Brazilian port sector's focus on developing sustainable mechanisms, driven by technologies such as radars and cameras, and fostering investments in research and development, reinforcing a commitment to SDG 9. Likewise, initiatives targeting the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting the energy transition were prominent, demonstrating alignment with SDG 13. However, fewer practices were observed for SDG 14. Research Implications: The findings have significant implications for both academia and the port sector. The clear focus on SDGs 9 and 13 within the Brazilian port industry underscores the sector's commitment to innovation and climate action. Conversely, the study revealed a substantial gap in practices aligned with SDG 14, despite the strong connection between ports and marine ecosystems.

Research on Education for Sustainable Development with Design-Based Research by Employing Industry 4.0 Technologies for the Issue of Single-Use Plastic Waste in Taiwan

The social impacts of prevailing circular economy (CE) strategies remain under-researched despite the considerable attention that CE has received from scholars and in industry. Existing CE indicators primarily focus on business models from a decision-making standpoint, overlooking consumer engagement and alternative solutions. Boasting one of the highest recycling rates globally, Taiwan faces challenges in optimizing collected resources. This study delves into recycling plastic waste by integrating consumer behavior within CE strategies, leveraging open-source resources and additive manufacturing technologies to align with the United Nations Agenda 2030, particularly Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action). These resources facilitate the transformation of plastic waste into reusable materials. Employing an exploratory and participatory action research approach, this research uses the Precious Plastic Universe (PPU) database to identify potential resources from post-consumer polymer waste. Subsequently, it explores tools for converting collected waste into usable polymers. Lastly, the study investigates integrating collected polymer waste into student design projects to enhance creativity and problem-solving skills for sustainable development, employing additive manufacturing tools at the National Taiwan Normal University Department of Design. Thematic analysis of the data revealed several recurring patterns, including the role of consumer behavior in plastic waste generation, the development of creativity and problem-solving skills among students, and the challenges of working with recycled materials. These themes were observed in quantitative data (collected single-use polymers) and qualitative insights from student observations and interviews. Through thematic analysis, the study highlights key factors contributing to successful CE integration, providing a model for future educational and industrial applications of sustainable design.

Literature review on optimization of transboundary water for irrigation

ABSTRACT Transboundary water resources are essential for agricultural sustainability and regional development, and they are intrinsically linked to achieving the United Nations' SDGs and the water-food-energy nexus (WFE-NEXUS) concept. Despite challenges such as conflicting allocation and climate change impacts, effective transboundary water management for irrigation is crucial to meeting the SDGs of eradicating hunger, providing clean water and sanitation, offering affordable and sustainable energy, and taking climate action. This work synthesizes approaches to transboundary water for irrigation optimization, highlighting the significance of a holistic plan that considers both technical and social factors. Remote-sensing technologies, data forecasting, hydrology and hydraulic modelling, and water resource modelling all contribute to maximize water allocation and policy creation, particularly when paired with collaborative government features. This integrated approach to transboundary water for irrigation optimization fosters long-term development by improving livelihoods, resilience, and inclusive growth through efficient resource management.

Roles of Personal Values and Information Technology Usage in Forming the University Students’ View of Environmental Sustainability: A Preliminary Regional Study of Economics and Business Students

This study focuses on two significant factors shaping university students’ perception of environmental sustainability. Those are (a) personal values, measured by the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and (b) the usage of and proficiency in information technology. Personal values have been widely used to analyze individual perspectives toward various issues, including environmental ones. As contemporary social arrangements include significant influences from social networks and mobile phone usage, overall engagement with technology becomes an essential factor affecting university student attitudes and behaviors. While the individual impact of those factors can be found in the extant literature, we look into their interaction concerning university student pro-environmental attitudes, measured by the Revised NEP (New Ecological Paradigm) Scale, and their environmental self-efficacy. Our sample comes from the population of undergraduate business and economics students from Central and Southeast Europe, specifically Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. We discuss our findings in the context of previous studies from the same regions and consider the unique socio-economic factors. The research results address Sustainable Development Goals 4 (quality education), 12 (responsible consumption and production), and 13 (climate action) by analyzing the factors contributing to university student pro-environmental attitudes and their self-efficacy in the context of their information technology usage and proficiency.

Climate Change and Fiscal Response: Analysis of Regional Expenditure in Java Island

This study investigates the impact of climate change on regional fiscal policy in Java, Indonesia, focusing on how temperature and rainfall changes influence fiscal spending. Using secondary data from the ERA5 Satellite (2008–2020) and fiscal data from the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (Direktorat Jenderal Perimbangan Keuangan/DJPK), this research examines 113 districts/cities on Java Island. Climate change indicators—average temperature and rainfall—serve as independent variables, while regional fiscal spending on climate-related initiatives is the dependent variable. Panel data analysis is conducted using three regression models: common effect (OLS), fixed effect, and random effect models, with the Chow and Hausmann tests to identify the most appropriate model. Results indicate a positive relationship between climate change (temperature and rainfall) and increased fiscal spending for climate adaptation and mitigation. The findings support the hypothesis that regions with higher temperatures and increased rainfall experience greater climate-related fiscal spending, highlighting the urgency for such measures in areas farther from the equator.

Viewpoint: Taking chances with the weather: the link between indicative design life and structural safety

How should climatic design action vary with duration of exposure? Alastair Hughes identifies two conflicting approaches, and questions whether EN 1991 has made the right choice.