Climate Change Agenda Research Articles

Cities Towards Global Climate Governance: How the Practices of City Diplomacy Foster Hybrid Multilateralism

One of the effects of globalization is the increasing number of transnational ties that central governments not only ceased to control but also ceased to participate in; therefore, in recent decades, cities have been increasingly motivated to respond to international issues and initiate various contacts with foreign economic, cultural, and political centres. This article examines practices of city diplomacy in light of the current climate crisis. Albeit cities could be in conflict with their central government, they are executing the global climate agenda. Nonetheless, how do we frame cities’ autonomous activities in the global governance agenda? The article seeks to determine whether the framework of hybrid multilateralism is the niche for cities to assume the role of the central government in defending common global values such as preservation of the environment when the state fails to do so. Based on a dataset consisting of various subnational initiatives responding to climate change, we suggest a remarkable growth in the pledges to the international climate agreements’ commitments involving many subnational actors. Through these pledges, cities enter the international negotiations with various partners under hybrid policy architecture.
 Cities hold an enormous potential to influence the global conversation on climate change agenda. Furthermore, we conclude that cities are taking on the states’ role in global issues when they identify the inadequacy of the central governments’ action. Their conflict position forces them to carry out autonomous activities and fosters the new phenomenon of hybrid multilateralism.

Sustainable Electric Vehicle Transportation

The future direction of electric vehicle (EV) transportation in relation to the energy demand for charging EVs needs a more sustainable roadmap, compared to the current reliance on the centralised electricity grid system. It is common knowledge that the current state of electricity grids in the biggest economies of the world today suffer a perennial problem of power losses; and were not designed for the uptake and integration of the growing number of large-scale EV charging power demands from the grids. To promote sustainable EV transportation, this study aims to review the current state of research and development around this field. This study is significant to the effect that it accomplishes four major objectives. (1) First, the implication of large-scale EV integration to the electricity grid is assessed by looking at the impact on the distribution network. (2) Secondly, it provides energy management strategies for optimizing plug-in EVs load demand on the electricity distribution network. (3) It provides a clear direction and an overview on sustainable EV charging infrastructure, which is highlighted as one of the key factors that enables the promotion and sustainability of the EV market and transportation sector, re-engineered to support the United Nations Climate Change Agenda. Finally, a conclusion is made with some policy recommendations provided for the promotion of the electric vehicle market and widespread adoption in any economy of the world.

Total Ecosystem Carbon Stocks of Mangroves in Lamu, Kenya; and Their Potential Contributions to the Climate Change Agenda in the Country

Mangroves are carbon-rich ecosystems found in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. However, they are threatened by a combination of natural and human-induced factors. When mangroves are lost or degraded, their co-benefits to human society are greatly diminished along with the ecosystem’s ability to sequester carbon. The current study assessed mangrove cover and cover change, as well as measuring carbon stocks and their emissions levels from the mangroves of Lamu County, Kenya. We sampled above-and below-ground carbon pools, including soil organic carbon (SOC), in 191 plots distributed throughout the study area. Lastly, we evaluated the economics of avoiding mangrove deforestation based on the carbon-offset market. The total carbon stock of mangroves in Lamu was estimated at 20 million Mg C, with an average density of 560.22 ± 79.79 Mg C ha–1. Southern swamps recorded significantly higher carbon densities (p < 0.05) than other mangrove management blocks in Lamu. At least 1,739 ha of mangroves in Lamu were lost between 1990 and 2019 due to anthropogenic activities, representing a decline of 60 ha yr–1. Total emissions from loss and degradation of mangroves in Lamu is estimated at 140.1 Mg C ha–1; which translates to 30,840.1 Mg CO2e yr–1. Assuming an offset price of US$10/Mg CO2e, the estimated costs of avoided emissions in Lamu is US$308,401 yr–1 plus other co-benefits such as fishery functions and shoreline protection. Mainstreaming mangroves and associated blue carbon ecosystems into national development and climate change agenda could accelerate Kenya’s achievements of both Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

Planetary health diplomacy and transdisciplinary research

Abstract Given the urgent need for multilateral action for planetary health, the scope of planetary health research must be broadened. Key challenges are currently addressed through disconnected approaches and fragmented policy making. Planetary health is an integrative approach that can enhance synergies across multiple fragmented agendas, notably related to health, environment, human rights, and security. It is high time to boost an overlooked area: planetary health diplomacy. This involves measuring progress beyond gross domestic product, broadening the understanding of security to include planetary health, and reforming international organisations to ensure the protection of a rule-based international order. Efforts to address them lack a truly holistic narrative. The science of planetary health goes beyond the currently politicised climate change agenda. So far, planetary health studies have privileged natural science in order to become more impactful. However, the insights gained through this work deserve to be translated into actionable policies for decision makers. More social scientists are therefore needed in this process. Scholars of international relations are under-represented in the planetary health community. The absence of political scientists, lawyers, foreign policy experts, diplomats, and civil servants who are committed to translating planetary health knowledge into effective action comes at a high cost. Policy decisions are being reshaped in the context of evolving pandemic recovery planning, and strategies to advance planetary health that do not take account of unfolding shifts in global power relations are doomed to fail. With only a decade remaining to shift gears towards achieving the SDGs, there is no time to spare. de Paula, N. (2021). Planetary health diplomacy: a call to action. The Lancet. Planetary Health, 5(1), e8-e9. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30300-4.

New wine in old bottles: governing logics for applying sustainability management control systems in Austrian electric utilities

Purpose Literature shows that a strong link between sustainability control systems and sustainability management (SM) fosters sustainability development (SD) and compliance with regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. Research on the integration of SM and its control mechanisms in corporate business remains scarce. This study aims to focus on Sustainability Management Control Systems (S)MCS applied in Electric Utility Companies (EUC), which experience close scrutiny by its stakeholders in as much as they play an important role in climate change agendas. Design/methodology/approach The methodological approach includes in-depth expert interviews within seven Austrian EUC followed by qualitative content analysis. This study builds on “MCS as a package” by Malmi and Brown (2008). Institutional logics (IL) are used for the theoretical approach. Findings Results show that several IL are involved in implementing strategic SMCS in EUC. Managers cope by integrating emerging hybrid logics, selectively coupled SMCS and making sense by building a communication bridge between the strategic and operative levels to create awareness. Research limitations/implications Results show that managers in EUC have to acquire a new hybrid logic for SD. This implies the use of informal controls and a strong focus on administrative and cultural controls as the main control mechanisms for SM. Originality/value The paper contributes to MCS research by using the scarcely applied theoretical framework of IL. Findings facilitate a better understanding of the control mechanisms behind SM and the coping strategies of managers in applying SMCS.

Time to integrate global climate change and biodiversity science‐policy agendas

Abstract There is an increasing recognition that, although the climate change and biodiversity crises are fundamentally connected, they have been primarily addressed independently and a more integrated global approach is essential to tackle these two global challenges. Nature‐based Solutions (NbS) are hailed as a pathway for promoting synergies between the climate change and biodiversity agendas. There are, however, uncertainties and difficulties associated with the implementation of NbS, while the evidence regarding their benefits for biodiversity remains limited. We identify five key research areas where incomplete or poor information hinders the development of integrated biodiversity and climate solutions. These relate to refining our understanding of how climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches benefit biodiversity conservation; enhancing our ability to track and predict ecosystems on the move and/or facing collapse; improving our capacity to predict the impacts of climate change on the effectiveness of NbS; developing solutions that match the temporal, spatial and functional scale of the challenges; and developing a comprehensive and practical framework for assessing, and mitigating against, the risks posed by the implementation of NbS. Policy implications. The Conference of the Parties (COP) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) present a clear policy window for developing coherent policy frameworks that align targets across the nexus of biodiversity and climate change. This window should (a) address the substantial and chronic underfunding of global biodiversity conservation, (b) remove financial incentives that negatively impact biodiversity and/or climate change, (c) develop higher levels of integration between the biodiversity and climate change agendas, (d) agree on a monitoring framework that enables the standardised quantification and comparison of biodiversity gains associated with NbS across ecosystems and over time and (e) rethink environmental legislation to better support biodiversity conservation in times of rapid climatic change.

Inland rail freight services with less fuel and lower emissions

Many countries have enhanced their air quality agenda (NOx, PMx etc.) by a climate change agenda (CO2 etc.). A direct way to lower these emissions is by using less energy (fuel) per activity. One of these activities is freight transport. Transport from supplier to factory relies on efficient and cost-effective means of transport. Road transport (trucking) is usually preferred. But, trucking is still very dependent on fossil fuels. It is also not suitable for bulk transport over longer distances. In areas without suitable waterways, rail is a logical alternative, but is has its own perils. This paper discusses options to make bulk freight services between Germany and France compliant with emission reduction targets. This leads to the main research question: Is it possible to design rail freight routes that reduce fuel use, emissions of CO2, NOx and PM10, while offering competitive transport times? Main rail corridors show signs of congestion and lack of resilience. It is then interesting to research if (dormant) regional/rural, non-electrified, rail tracks could provide capacity and increase resilience of rail services. Such services could also benefit rural economies. A literature study and conversations with a regional expert were used to develop a case study with a rail service using alternative routes. A model was used to estimate the fuel consumption, emissions and trip times of such services. The study indicates that it takes concerted action to achieve the intended goals.

Science Policy to Advance a Climate Change and Health Research Agenda in the United States.

Climate change is thought to be one of the greatest public health threats of the 21st century and there has been a tremendous growth in the published literature describing the health implications of climate change over the last decade. Yet, there remain several critical knowledge gaps in this field. Closing these gaps is crucial to developing effective interventions to minimize the health risks from climate change. In this commentary, we discuss policy trends that have influenced the advancement of climate change and health research in the United States context. We then enumerate specific knowledge gaps that could be addressed by policies to advance scientific research. Finally, we describe tools and methods that have not yet been fully integrated into the field, but hold promise for advancing the science. Prioritizing this advancement offers the potential to improve public health-related policies on climate change.

US President Joe Biden’s Administration: A New U.S. Climate Change Agenda (U.S. CCA)

The climate change issue is a key principle for Mr Joe Biden’s administration. In this paper, author conducts a Qualitative Content-Analysis (QCA) method of the elements affecting Joe Biden’s administration about the new U.S climate change agenda (U.S. CCA). Thus, the question in this research is that why climate change is one of the important issues in the Biden administration? Based on this method and data analysis the publications were identified and divided to answer the basic question of this article. I differentiated between national and international levels.
 
 Hence, paper proposes two reasons, the Economic-based approach and the Individual approach at the national level, to abovementioned research question. In addition, two specific approaches are identified at the International level: global leadership on climate change, global cooperation on the climate change. The policy implications would seem to be that national elements by Economic-based approach and the Individual approach are critical in influencing Biden's new climate agenda.

The roles of nuclear energy, renewable energy, and economic growth in the abatement of carbon dioxide emissions in the G7 countries.

In the current century, the G7 countries have attached more importance to energy security, and have prioritized low-carbon sources which have necessitated the consumption of nuclear and renewable energy resources to achieve a resilient low-carbon system. However, it is still not clear if the sacrifice has paid-off since the environmental quality in the majority of these countries is yet to be significantly improved. As such, this study employs advanced panel data econometric techniques that account for cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity issues to explore the impacts of nuclear and renewable energy use in respect of CO2 emission mitigation in six of the seven G7 countries. The core objective of this study is to justify whether energy diversification through the promotion of nuclear and renewable energy consumption can assist the G7 nations in complying with their commitments concerning the Paris Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals agendas. The overall findings from the econometric analysis affirm the abating role of nuclear energy on CO2 emissions. However, renewable energy consumption is found to be statistically insignificant in explaining the variations in the CO2 emission levels. On the other hand, economic growth is found to initially boost the CO2 emission level but mitigate it later on; thus, the authenticity of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis is established in the G7 context. Besides, the country-specific results suggest that nuclear energy significantly reduces CO2 emissions in all the countries, except in Canada and the USA. Also, renewable energy significantly curbs CO2 emissions only in Canada and France. Furthermore, the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis is validated for Canada, France, the UK, and the USA. In line with these findings, it is pertinent for the G7 countries to boost nuclear energy use to reduce the fossil fuel dependency in the majority of the G7 nations to mitigate CO2 emissions. Moreover, it is also suggested that these nations adopt relevant policies to further green their consumption and production processes to ensure complementarity between economic growth and environmental development.

A Comparison of Government Communication of Climate Change in Hong Kong and United Kingdom

AbstractAs leaders of civil society, governments have a prime responsibility to communicate climate change information in order to motivate their citizens to mitigate and adapt. This study compares the approaches of the U.K. and Hong Kong governments. Although different in size and population, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong have similar climate change agendas to communicate to similarly educated and prosperous populations. The study finds that while both governments use similar means: policy, education, campaigns, internet, and social media, these have different characteristics, with different emphases in their climate change message. The United Kingdom’s top-down approach is more prominent in its legally binding policy and well-defined programs for adaptation and risk assessment. Hong Kong has more effectively embedded climate change education across the school curricula and has a more centralized and consistently branded campaign, with widespread use of visual language to connect the public to the problem. Hong Kong frames climate change as a science–society problem and has a greater focus on self-responsibility and bottom-up behavioral change. Thus, the U.K. and Hong Kong governments have polarized approaches to motivating their citizens into climate action. Moving forward, both governments should consider best practice elements of the other to develop their communication of climate change.

Anatomy of density: measurable factors that constitute urban density

Serious concerns about global warming have been translated into urgent calls for increasing urban densities, as higher densities are associated with lower carbon emissions from both vehicles and buildings. However, attempts at effective densification have generally failed and urban densities continue to decline in cities across the world. Calls for densification without making room for it have resulted in serious housing supply bottlenecks in many cities and have rendered their housing unaffordable. If affordable densification is to be successful, it is necessary to understand the factors that constitute urban density. A novel way is presented for factoring the average density of cities into constituent factors—three or seven factors—that when multiplied together reconstitute urban density. This factoring methodology is presented together with the preliminary measurement of these factors in 10 cities in 10 world regions. This approach allows, for the first time, a clear understanding of how different cities acquire their density: Hong Kong gets its density from building height; Kinshasa from crowding; and Dhaka and Bogotá from residential coverage. This anatomy of density offers a new outline for a comprehensive strategy for city densification: one that addresses each and every one of the factors that constitute urban density. <em><strong>Practice relevance</strong></em> Urban density is usually defined as the ratio of the total population of a city and its total area. This is the most appropriate single metric for measuring progress in densification in cities and is now a central objective of the global climate change agenda. However, this metric is rather crude and often hides more than it reveals. The anatomy of density offers a new, simple method for factoring urban density into its constituent factors that when multiplied together reconstitute urban density. This approach offers city leaders and urban planners a new way to consider and develop comprehensive policy options and strategies for city densification that addresses each and every one of the factors that constitute urban density and the tradeoffs between them.

The nexus of climate change, urban infrastructure and sustainable development in developing countries

This study weighed in on the topical issue of climate change impacts and sustainable urban development in developing countries. Climate change is a global challenge that is much discussed at national and international fora. The study reflects on the lot and plight of cities and peri-urban communities in developing countries in the face of lopsided attention on climate change. Extant studies, articles, local and international reports on climate change, urbanization and infrastructure, extant literatures were reviewed to establish the perspective and position of the study. The study examined the global threats of climate change and the local impact of disasters to urban dwellers in developing countries like Nigeria. It further shed light on urbanization process and the state of infrastructure in developing countries. Vulnerability of cities in the areas of infrastructure was brought to the fore with a view to improving the capacity and preparedness against climate change impact. Concepts of climate change, urbanization challenge, urban infrastructure, sustainable development were reviewed to contextualize the study. The study concluded by advocating for positive urbanization to mitigate the effect of climate change and foster sustainable development agenda in developing countries.

Analysis of gender equality in climate governance

Gender equality is a yardstick for measuring the progress of social civilization and an important goal for mankind to achieve sustainable development. The importance of women in the global governance of climate change is self-evident. During the global climate change governance, it is very crucial to focus on achieving gender equality. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is the main channel of global climate change governance, the gender-specific climate change agenda started later than other topics and the progress is limited. This article summarized the progress, deficiencies and future directions of gender issues under the main channels of global climate governance, analyzed the current status of gender equality in Chinese climate response actions, and pointed out the progress and deficiencies of women in the fundamental scientific research and the participation in global governance and decision-making. Our research finds that in the current process of international climate change governance, gender issues have received adequate attention. While in China, despite the attention paid to gender issues, the practical action on gender equality is still out of the mainstream agenda. In the past few decades, Chinese women have made gratifying progress in basic scientific research on climate change and global climate governance, but there are still great insufficiencies in the field of decision-making. In the future, China needs to pay more attention to emphasize gender equality at the strategic level, and promote the formulation of policies and regulations in the field of gender and climate change. Increasing the proportion of women participating in decision-making and management in the field of climate change and disaster prevention and mitigation is also important. China also needs to focus on enabling a gender friendly environment and strengthening research on gender and climate change, support women's participation in relevant work, strengthen capacity-building, and enhance women's access to resources, funds, knowledge and information related to climate adaptation or mitigation.

Examining Taiwanese students’ views on climate change and the teaching of climate change in the context of higher education

ABSTRACT Background: Although higher education continues to pay great attention to teaching climate change, relatively little is known about how university students understand and perceive climate change and its teaching and learning, and how their understanding and perceptions may change over the course of climate change instruction. Purpose: The study was embedded in the context of a Taiwanese public university which has been actively integrating a climate change agenda into the curriculum. The purpose of the study was to examine students’ knowledge of and views on climate change and its teaching, and the influence of climate-related instruction on their knowledge and views. Sample: A total of 146 university students were solicited through four semester-long general environmental studies courses, all of which included some climate change instruction. Design and methods: Participating students completed both pre- and post-course surveys including Likert-type, multiple choice and open-ended questions for the purpose of examining their views about climate change and the teaching of this issue. Results: The vast majority of students demonstrated a high level of certainty about the reality of the happening of global warming as well as concern about this issue. However, their actual knowledge about its causes was alarmingly poor, and action-related perceptions were rather negative. Participating in an environmental course had only a limited impact on their views; significant improvement was only observed in their subjective knowledge and concern about the issue. Nevertheless, students’ responses regarding university teaching about climate change exhibited a strong interest in and support for their university to take an active role in combating the problem. Conclusion: These findings raise questions about the focus of, and approaches to, climate education in higher education, and serve as important basis for promoting curricular and instructional innovation in the field of climate change education.

Climate change worsens global inequity in maternal nutrition

Climate change worsens global inequity in maternal nutrition

To act or not to act. Debating the climate change agenda in the United States Congress

ABSTRACT Most climate change actions take place in the international context in terms of multilateral negotiations and accords or in bilateral agreements between heads of the state. Parliaments or legislatures such as the United States Congress are in a crucial position when it comes to converting agreements or aims to action in domestic politics. The United States has played a volatile role in international negotiations on climate change. From categorically rejecting the Kyoto protocol during the George W. Bush administration, President Barack Obama announced that the United States would join the Paris Climate Accord prior to President Donald J. Trump's announcement of the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Accord. In domestic politics, too, efforts to address climate change have likewise varied. This article explores the complexity of climate change as a political question in the United States and considers the problematic issue that explains why the United States Congress has not have similar momentum to address climate change since the House of Representatives passed cap and trade legislation in 2009. The focus will be on theoretical discussions on congressional inaction and the United States Congress members' views on how and to what extent that institution should play a role in addressing climate change.

CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONS: CRITICAL FACTORS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS Authors

Climate change has been deemed the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. Multiple factors contribute to this global phenomenon including anthropogenic causes. This review is to explore causes of climate change and recognise the impacts on population health as well as to look at strategies to mitigate climate change. This narrative review included articles searched through databases of SCOPUS, PubMed and PROQUEST from the year 2006 to 2018. Climate change is mainly due to man-made activities such as fossil fuels combustion, livestock farming and deforestation. The public health effects include increased vector-borne diseases, heat-related illnesses and respiratory illnesses. Strategies such as strengthening the adaptations to climate-related hazards, climate change integration into national policies, education, awareness-raising, impact reduction and early warnings have been put in place to tackle this crisis. The climate change agenda has been given an important platform as it is the 13th goal of the 17 United Nations Sustainable developmental goals (SDG). In conclusion, climate change has been going on for decades and is threatening the earth. Multi sectoral collaboration and working together towards a common goal is crucial as the wellbeing of our planet is our collective responsibility.

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) for Responding to Climate Change

Most climate change messages depict a picture of the devastating effects that anthropogenic activities have on the environment, expecting to mobilise human action. Built on the daunting scientific evidence, these gloomy messages can potentially emotionally harm a young audience. By contrast, this study explores the impact of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) as an innovative marketing technique to communicate positive climate change messages. This study investigates whether ASMR could be used to encourage pro-environmental behaviour and create social bonding among young people. An ASMR video and two series of interviews with high school students were conducted in Sydney, Australia. The results show that the participants are divided in their opinion about the effectiveness of ASMR. Although all see ASMR as a completely new world in marketing, some are of the opinion that it can influence positive climate change behaviours while others are reluctant to accept it as a way to encourage action. Given the vastness and urgency of the climate change agenda, this novel marketing technique can find its way in promoting pro-environmental behaviours by utilising positive messaging and influencing a section of the young population.

Green colonialism in the Nordic context: Exploring Southern Saami representations of wind energy development.

This paper explores social representations of wind energy development within reindeer herding lands among the Indigenous Southern Saami living within Norwegian borders. For this matter, the paper combines Social Representations Theory (SRT) with the analytical framework of "circuits of dispossession and privilege" and decolonial approaches within community psychology. Data consisted of seven individual semi-structured open-ended interviews, three collective interviews, and observation in three lawsuits, public meetings, protest actions, and reindeer herding activities. The findings suggest that for the subjects in this study, the onset of wind power represents the renewal of historical processes of dispossession through accumulation and colonialism, enabled by harmful knowledge gaps in Norwegian society and institutions, contrasting Southern Saami's values of responsibility and ecological practices. The implication of these findings suggests an urgent need of rethinking renewable energy and including indigenousknowledge in climate change agendas.