Climate Change Mitigation Projects Research Articles

Assessing the economic value of Posidonia oceanica (L.) at Tremiti Islands (Mediterranean Sea): An ecosystem condition-based approach

In the context of limiting global warming, the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) gained the centrality of several international climate change mitigation projects being the most effective carbon storage sink among Mediterranean seagrasses. To assess and monitor the change of environmental conditions and economic values of natural resources, the present study moves from the insights of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting to assess the economic value of the carbon sequestration and storage capacity of the Mediterranean-endemic seagrass P. oceanica at the Tremiti Islands Marine Protected Area. The economic value is compared across: i. the reference study by Pergent-Martini et al.; ii. the ecological condition-based approach; and iii. the unit value transfer. Based on the obtained outcomes, an ecosystem-based approach would prevent biases in the accounting of the ecosystem-service provision capacity of P. oceanica and help the policy maker to implement adequate public investment policies to mitigate its overall degradation.

CO2 -ის დაჭერის პროცესში, ნამწვი აირები - კლინოფთილოლითი დისპერსულ სისტემაში მოსალოდნელ პროცესთა თერმოდინამიკური პროგნოზირება

CO2 generated in production processes and emitted into the atmosphere with flue gases is the cause of the greenhouse effect and negative processes of global climate change towards warming. Therefore, prevention of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere is the research topic of the article. CCUS type climate change mitigation projects are being developed in Georgia, where natural zeolite mineral containing clinoptilolite, Khekordzula tuff is a sorbent for CO2 capture. Its formation enthalpy (ΔfH0 298), Gibbs free energy (ΔfG0 298), and entropy (ΔfS 0 298) have not been studied, also temperatures of its thermal dehydration, CO2 adsorption, expected chemisorption and other thermodynamic quantities. It was determined: Enthalpy of clinoptilolite tuff formation (ΔfH0 298=-39826 kJ/mol), Gibbs free energy (ΔfG0 298=-36735 kJ/mol), entropy (ΔfS 0 298=-10.37 kJ/K-mol); Temperatures of dehydration (94.800C), CO2 capture using it (physical-96.5700C), start of chemo-sorption (95.2400C) and pressure corresponding to these temperatures (745, 636, 534) mm Hg. Tuff can be successfully used for CCUS from flue gases.

Functional composition outweighs taxonomic and functional diversity in maintaining ecosystem properties and processes of mangrove forests

AbstractBiodiversity loss can have significant consequences for human well‐being, as it can affect multiple ecosystem properties and processes (MEPP) that drive ecosystem services. However, a comprehensive understanding of the link between environmental factors, biodiversity, and MEPP remains elusive, especially in mangrove ecosystems that millions of people along tropical coastlines worldwide depend upon. Here, we collated a comprehensive dataset on forest inventory, plant traits, and environmental factors across 93 plots in the Sundarbans Reserved Forests, Bangladesh. The functional composition (FC) of leaf area showed a stronger positive association with MEPP, being determined by total biomass and productivity of the mangroves, sediment organic carbon, and ammonium, phosphorus, and potassium contents of the sediment, than species richness (SR) or functional diversity (FD). Further, FC mediated a strong negative association of sediment salinity, and a positive association of SR, with MEPP. The similar but opposite total associations of SR and sediment salinity with MEPP suggest that species‐rich mangroves could offset the negative impacts of rising salinity on MEPP. When focusing on a single aspect of MEPP, both FD and FC mattered, with the FD of leaf area showing a strong association with mangrove productivity and sediment potassium content, while the FC of leaf litter nitrogen showed the strongest associations with sediment ammonium and phosphorus contents. Therefore, to sustain mangrove ecosystems as a reliable nature‐based solution for climate change mitigation, conservation and (re‐)establishment projects should prioritize regionally dominant species with high leaf area and nitrogen content, plus functionally different species to support the ecosystem processes and services provided by mangroves.

Approaches to Implementing Ecosystem Climate Projects in Russia

Russia is developing a legal framework for the Paris Agreement implementation. In Russian strategic documents, there is no consistency in measures and quantitative indicators to reduce emissions and increase absorption of greenhouse gases. The main focus on forests and other ecosystems through the implementation of climate change mitigation projects also raises questions. The purpose of this paper is to determine the goal and place of these projects within the framework of a national low-carbon policy, and to analyze the opportunities and limitations of such projects in Russia. The main criteria are the additionality, conservative baselines, and minimization of risks (leakage, non-permanence, cessation of project funding, reversion). Ecosystem projects are high-risk compared to industrial projects, while the climate component of project activities occurs only in the long-term preservation of the result. The project’s goal in Russia to refine mitigation technologies based on sustainable management of natural ecosystems: the results lead to the multiple benefits including ecosystem services of the territory, biodiversity and adaptation to climate change. Therefore, their attractiveness in the implementation of sustainable development policies of companies and the state is growing. Given the additional nature, projects will not be able to provide a significant quantitative contribution to mitigation, but can provide a tool to achieve that. At the initial stage of the Russian carbon market it is necessary to allow only reliable and transparent projects (reforestation and afforestation with mixed species; improved forest management of managed forests; management of previously unmanaged forests; restoration of wetlands/grassland ecosystems; conservation of soil carbon of agricultural lands; biochar inputs to soils). Projects such as forest conservation from logging and monoculture plantations require a separate regulatory framework to prevent tampering and minimize threats to local natural ecosystems.

Nature-Based Solutions in integrated drainage and climate change mitigation projects in the city of São Paulo (Brazil)

The results of the floods in the city of São Paulo cause serious problems to society that tend to be aggravated by the effects of climate change. Thus, the design of urban drainage works plays a central role in mitigating these problems. Gray infrastructure is the traditional drainage mechanism usually employed. Nature-Based Solutions are alternatives to traditional solutions that value green and blue infrastructure in cities. This research aims to discuss the synergy between the proposition of Nature-Based Solutions as planning actions to face floods and actions to face climate change adopted by the city of São Paulo. In order to do so, a documentary analysis of the Drainage Guidelines and the Climate Action Plan, technical documents that address the planning of urban drainage in São Paulo, was carried out. It was found that the insertion of NbS associated with the traditional projects of the Drainage Guidelines can contribute to achieving the goals proposed by Planclima-SP, as well as bringing multifunctional benefits, generating resilience and sustainability with regard to urban water management.

Index-based impact monitoring of water infrastructures in climate change mitigation projects: A case study of MGNREGA-IWMP projects in Maharashtra

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is currently the largest funded rural development program in India to ensure rural livelihood by providing employment through different activities. Owing to climate change impacts and water scarcity for the last 5 years, approximately more than 70% of activities (budget of 5 billion USD per year) are focused on water issues. For better utilization of resources, MGNREGA has been implementing these works in convergence with many other schemes like the integrated watershed management programme (IWMP), with the aim of restoring rural natural resources, like soil, vegetation, and water. Although the largest Rural Development Scheme in India, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) does not focus on the actual impact on water resources but only focuses on the amount spent. This can lead to only information on funds spent but does not have much an impact on water resources and earmarking data for monitoring. The recent advancements in remote sensing techniques have provided open access to high-resolution satellite data along with the processing platform. Considering the available technologies and gaps in the existing M&E framework, the current study developed a low-cost, comprehensive, robust, and near real-time M&E framework to assess the impact of water projects. A novel remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) has been developed to assess the overall ecological status of land surfaces due to the water infrastructures developed. The performance of RSEI has also been assessed using the secondary data of crop production, which shows excellent results (adjusted R2 value of 82% and Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.92). In addition, RSEI results were compared against the results of government audits (e.g., by the Comptroller Auditor General of India), wherein RSEI found similar areas of increased water status and crop productivity. The results indicate that the use of the RSEI-based M&E framework will allow for an impact assessment of water infrastructure and also aid to identify the priority areas demanding immediate intervention. Thus, RSEI can be used as a decision support system for stakeholders, including for smooth planning, designing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of water infrastructure for combating climate change extremes such as droughts.

A Blueprint for the Estimation of Seagrass Carbon Stock Using Remote Sensing-Enabled Proxies

Seagrass ecosystems sequester carbon at disproportionately high rates compared to terrestrial ecosystems and represent a powerful potential contributor to climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. However, at a local scale, rich heterogeneity in seagrass ecosystems may lead to variability in carbon sequestration. Differences in carbon sequestration rates, both within and between seagrass meadows, are related to a wide range of interrelated biophysical and environmental variables that are difficult to measure holistically using traditional field surveys. Improved methods for producing robust, spatially explicit estimates of seagrass carbon storage across large areas would be highly valuable, but must capture complex biophysical heterogeneity and variability to be accurate and useful. Here, we review the current and emerging literature on biophysical processes which shape carbon storage in seagrass beds, alongside studies that map seagrass characteristics using satellite remote sensing data, to create a blueprint for the development of remote sensing-enabled proxies for seagrass carbon stock and sequestration. Applications of satellite remote sensing included measuring seagrass meadow extent, estimating above-ground biomass, mapping species composition, quantifying patchiness and patch connectivity, determining broader landscape environmental contexts, and characterising seagrass life cycles. All of these characteristics may contribute to variability in seagrass carbon storage. As such, remote sensing methods are uniquely placed to enable proxy-based estimates of seagrass carbon stock by capturing their biophysical characteristics, in addition to the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and variability of these characteristics. Though the outlined approach is complex, it is suitable for accurately and efficiently producing a full picture of seagrass carbon stock. This review has drawn links between the processes of seagrass carbon sequestration and the capabilities of remote sensing to detect and characterise these processes. These links will facilitate the development of remote sensing-enabled proxies and support spatially explicit estimates of carbon stock, ensuring climate change mitigation and adaptation projects involving seagrass are accounted for with increased accuracy and reliability.

How climate policies can translate to tangible change: Evidence from eleven low- and lower-middle income countries

Formally adopting climate change mitigation policies does not necessarily translate to tangible change on the ground. Here, we analyse 31 semi-structured interviews with climate policy government officials and consultants from 11 low-income and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) as well as the respective climate policy context, and find high average degrees of perceived discrepancies between formally adopted climate change mitigation policies and their actual implementation. Our results suggest that for our LMIC sample, both the global political process to limit climate change and domestic environmental threats have been key to drive the formal adoption of climate change mitigation policies, but have had limited effect on implementation. By contrast, momentum for implementation of climate change mitigation initiatives and projects on the ground emerges where climate policies are firmly embedded within economic and social development policies, the economy and society are comparably well-positioned to embrace the associated change, and where they have been governed by cross-ministerial institutions capable of implementing wider climate-compatible development pathways. Thus, to help translate climate policy into action, national LMIC governments and the international community need to find context-specific ways to successfully integrate climate with economic and social development policies, identify and build on feasible opportunities and competitive advantages through which the local economy can benefit from green growth, build adequate social capital, and actively create institutional spaces and processes for well-equipped and meaningful cross-ministerial co-benefit governance. The importance of unlocking co-benefits for implementing climate policies underlines both the urgency with which the international community needs to increase finance for LMICs for climate change mitigation, as well as the associated development opportunities.

A simple tree planting framework to improve climate, air pollution, health, and urban heat in vulnerable locations using non‐traditional partners

Societal Impact StatementPlanting trees is considered an effective method for climate change adaptation and mitigation. This framework provides a replicable blueprint to improve health, urban heat, flooding, and air pollution via a multisectoral, collaborative, environmental data‐driven approach. Native tree species with targeted ecosystem services are selected, and sites are strategically identified based on environmental and health benefits, with the intent of engaging community involvement through education and large‐scale tree plantings. Including non‐traditional partners in the framework provides heightened awareness of the relationship between climate change and health, thus catalyzing decision‐making regarding sustainable actions that reduce effects of climate change. This native tree planting framework is highly adaptable in other cities.Summary A multidisciplinary framework is presented for a data‐driven, climate change adaptation and climate change and air pollution mitigation project. This framework leverages heightened awareness of the connections between climate change, air pollution, and health to expand the cadre and societal impacts of those working to intervene in resilience planning and implementation. The framework, implemented in Houston, Texas, USA, beginning in 2019, consists of three parts: (1) identification of optimal native tree species for climate change adaptations and air pollution mitigation around variables important locally; (2) selection of large‐scale native tree planting locations where populations are already disproportionately experiencing flooding, increased heat, and air pollution‐related health effects that could be further exacerbated from climate change; and (3) engagement of multisectoral leadership broadened beyond those traditionally working on climate change resilience through heightening awareness of the link to human health. Native tree species were identified that had the highest combination of absorption of carbon dioxide, other air pollutants, and water absorption (aiding in flood adaptation and air pollution/heat mitigation). Thousands of the top tree species were planted in locations that experience substantial flooding during large rain events, have high rates of health effects exacerbated by air pollution (e.g., cardiac arrest and asthma attacks), and experience multiple days of elevated heat and air pollution. This multidisciplinary framework addresses a critical need to provide interventions accessible to the community; educate on the connection between climate change adaptation, air pollution mitigation, and health; and foster multisectoral leadership to accelerate local resilience actions.

More data, more problems? Incompatible uncertainty in Indonesia’s climate change mitigation projects

Within environmental governance regimes such as the United Nations’ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+), uncertainty surrounding forest carbon offset commensurability is often regarded as a technical failing that can be resolved through additional data collection or new scientific methods. Though efforts to reduce uncertainty through extensive carbon accounting has generated immense datasets, uncertainty surrounding the commensurability of forest carbon offsets remains, emerging from the neoliberal political economic context as much as from scientific data gaps. Drawing on an analysis of a REDD+ project in Indonesia’s peatlands, this article shows that incompatibilities between scientific uncertainty and financial uncertainty emerged through this forest carbon offset project and, more broadly, that incompatible uncertainty acts as a knowledge regime in the context of hegemonic discourses that connect Indonesia’s degraded peatlands to climate change. This article thus argues that in neoliberal land use-based climate change mitigation projects, it is not the inevitable, enduring presence of scientific or market-based uncertainty that stymies project implementation but the incompatibility of these two forms of uncertainty. By exploring how the drive for more data leads to more uncertainty, in turn spurring the pursuit of more data in lieu of other forms of project action, this article contributes to scholarship on the politics of knowing and un-knowing in environmental governance.

Crowdfunding for climate change: Exploring the use of climate frames by environmental entrepreneurs

This study investigates which climate change frames environmental entrepreneurs can employ in their project descriptions while seeking crowdfunding on online platforms. An explorative analysis of 58 climate change mitigation projects was conducted in four countries with different degrees of maturity of crowdfunding market. The following climate change frames prevail, and appear particularly in the descriptions of the projects with successful campaigns: promotion goal frame, humans-related impact frame, positive valence frame, and near future and now time frame. Many projects with successful crowdfunding campaigns also mention their location. This study contributes to the sustainable crowdfunding literature by addressing an underexplored topic of framing and following a qualitative in-depth approach. Moreover, it can help environmental entrepreneurs understand the landscape of framing opportunities and therefore make a more informed choice of what kind of frames to employ in their project descriptions.

Organic carbon in soils with different systems of use in Tacarimena Yopal, Colombia

Soil is an important carbon reservoir as it can store twice the amount that atmosphere does and three times the biomass, which makes it a key component for climate change (CC) mitigation projects. It is important to know the potential of soil organic carbon storage (SOC) in the main uses of the soli and their expected dynamics due to potential use changes. SOCS is estimated in 7 of the dominant land use systems in the area of the study, with 5 replicas as follows: 1) banana with shade (SAF+banana); 2) cocoa with shade (Ca+S); 3) citrus (C); 4) low silvopastoral system (SSPB); 5) high silvopastoral system (SSPA); 6) gallery forests (BG); and 7) bush forest (MM). SOC concentration was analyzed in samples composed of 25 soil sub-samples per plot, and the DA was estimated with the cylinder method in a simple per plot. All land uses studied can mitigate CC when storing SOC. BG was the system that showed the highest carbon storage. On the other hand, SAF+banana stored the least SOC (72,7 vs 33,4Mg/ha, respectively). Changes in land use can cause CO2 emissions or an addition in carbon fixation. Changes in land use that increase SOC allow CC mitigation, which makes them feasible for funding, thus allowing an improvement in the livelihood of local producers.

Discounting Climate Change Mitigating Projects: A Production-Based Model with Disasters

This paper proposes a model that sheds light on the appropriate discount rate on projects that mitigate climate change. In addition, it helps determine the best time to start implementing climate policy. The model is production-based and features endogenous climate-related disasters. It suggests (1) that the discount rate on climate change mitigation projects is lower than that on the stock market but higher than the risk-free rate and (2) that it is optimal to start investing into climate change mitigation projects as soon as possible.

Contested values and climate change mitigation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Contested values and climate change mitigation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Effect of REDD+ projects on local livelihood assets in Keo Seima and Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia

Climate-change mitigation projects are expected to improve local livelihoods in targeted areas. Several REDD+ projects aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserving and enhancing forest carbon stocks, and sustainably managing forests have been implemented in Cambodia but few studies have examined the effects on local livelihoods before and during project implementation. Our study applies a sustainable livelihood framework to assess the livelihood assets of local communities in the Oddar Meanchey and Keo Seima REDD+ project sites in Cambodia before and during project implementation. Five capital assets, namely natural, physical, human, financial, and social capital, are assessed and scored on a 1-to-5 Likert scale. Data analysis collected through 252 interviews in Oddar Meanchey and Keo Seima reveals a slight increase in livelihood assets in both sites from project validation to implementation. Generally, the mean scores for local livelihood assets increased from 2.81 ± 0.07 (±is followed by the standard error) and 2.66 ± 0.06 to 3.07 ± 0.09 and 3.06 ± 0.08 in Oddar Meanchey and Keo Seima, respectively. Nevertheless, natural capital assets sharply declined from 3.50 and 3.32 to 2.09 and 2.25, respectively. Respondents mainly blamed illegal logging for the decline, suggesting that strict patrolling and enforcement must be implemented. Furthermore, the scarcity of carbon-credit buyers and the projects’ inability to generate carbon-based revenues has led to dissatisfaction among local communities, inducing avoidable illegal activities in pursuit of short-term benefits. A financial mechanism to ensure sufficient and sustained financial support regardless of carbon-market volatility is urgently needed.

Emission of Green House Gases from Municipal Solid Waste by IPCC Model in Chidambaram

Municipal solid waste (MSW) has become a severe environmental threat with more urbanization and a enormous shift in people's lifestyles in our nation over the past two to three centuries.the waste generation of a person towards MSW is increasing unprecedented from 0.6-0.8 kg in the 1990s to more than 1.5 kg and more articles over "use - and-throw" are playing a significant role in our daily operations. Solid waste management eliminates adverse impacts in surrounding and enhances the economic growth and superior value of life. The main emissions from the handling and management procedures of MSW are CO2 and NH3. Consequently, adequate management of MSW becomes essential to offset the GHG (Green House Gasses). Hence Proper management of MSW becomes essential to offset GHG (Green House Gasses), which would otherwise contribute strongly to the domestic anthropogenic GHG budget. This paper is intended to assess techniques for managing MSW in the context of GHG decrease as a Climate Change mitigation project in Chidambaram. IPCC Model projected methane to be 908,1023Mg / year in Chidambaram for a 25-year credit period.

Effective Use of Carbon Pricing on Climate Change Mitigation Projects: Analysis of the Biogas Supply Chain to Substitute Liquefied-Petroleum Gas in Mexico

There is presently an urgent demand for efficient and/or renewable energy technologies to correct global warming. However, these energy technologies are limited mainly by political and economic constraints of high costs and the lack of subsidy. Carbon-pricing strategies, such as carbon-emission taxes and carbon-emission trading schemes, may reduce this gap between sustainable and unsustainable energy technologies. Therefore, this paper seeks to analyze both of these carbon-pricing instruments in the Mexican energy sector to promote upgrading biogas investment and to substitute liquified petroleum gas consumption using an optimization approach. Furthermore, we propose a multi-objective optimization approach to encourage investment in the biogas supply chain supported by an effective use of carbon-pricing schemes. A case study of the central western region of Mexico was made to analyze the performance of the proposed methodologies. The results show that carbon-emission taxes and carbon-emission trading systems stimulate, with some limitations, the investment in biogas projects for fossil fuel substitution. Nevertheless, using the proposed multi-objective optimization formulation leads the discovery of a more efficient use of the above-mentioned carbon-pricing schemes, thus reaching higher economic and environmental benefits than traditional carbon-pricing policies, with a lower cost/price per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Integration of UAV, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2 Data for Mangrove Plantation Aboveground Biomass Monitoring in Senegal

Due to the increasing importance of mangroves in climate change mitigation projects, more accurate and cost-effective aboveground biomass (AGB) monitoring methods are required. However, field measurements of AGB may be a challenge because of their remote location and the difficulty to walk in these areas. This study is based on the Livelihoods Fund Oceanium project that monitors 10,000 ha of mangrove plantations. In a first step, the possibility of replacing traditional field measurements of sample plots in a young mangrove plantation by a semiautomatic processing of UAV-based photogrammetric point clouds was assessed. In a second step, Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical imagery were used as auxiliary information to estimate AGB and its variance for the entire study area under a model-assisted framework. AGB was measured using UAV imagery in a total of 95 sample plots. UAV plot data was used in combination with non-parametric support vector regression (SVR) models for the estimation of the study area AGB using model-assisted estimators. Purely UAV-based AGB estimates and their associated standard error (SE) were compared with model-assisted estimates using (1) Sentinel-1, (2) Sentinel-2, and (3) a combination of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data as auxiliary information. The validation of the UAV-based individual tree height and crown diameter measurements showed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.21 m and 0.32 m, respectively. Relative efficiency of the three model-assisted scenarios ranged between 1.61 and 2.15. Although all SVR models improved the efficiency of the monitoring over UAV-based estimates, the best results were achieved when a combination of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data was used. Results indicated that the methodology used in this research can provide accurate and cost-effective estimates of AGB in young mangrove plantations.

Climate-risk vulnerability assessment of the agriculture sector in the municipalities and cities of Bukidnon, Philippines

Climate change is happening and is causing a huge problem to agriculture. It is affecting the agriculture sector of many places and certainly the province of Bukidnon, known as the food basket of Mindanao, is included. With its limited resources, the government has to target and prioritize sites that urgently need for programs relative to climate change adaptation and mitigation. To achieve this, an assessment of the climate-risk vulnerability of the agriculture sector in the municipalities and cities of Bukidnon was conducted. The CIAT framework to vulnerability assessment was employed in this study. Our results have shown that the municipalities of Kitaotao and Damulog have the most vulnerable agriculture sector in Bukidnon. This is mainly because these two municipalities obtained the lowest adaptive capacity ratings. As the results have indicated, this study recommends for the prioritization of Kitaotao and Damulog in the selection of sites to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives and projects to uplift the agriculture sector of Bukidnon.

Climate change and the mitigating tool of salvage archaeology: The case of the Fort Kongensten site at Ada Foah, Ghana

In the ongoing attempts at lessening the hydra-headed impacts of climate change, this paper explored the strategic use of salvage archaeology in the scientific retrieval and documentation of heritage remains and sites under the threat of climate change. In doing so, the research examined the effects of climate change and global warming on coastal heritage resources. Specifically, in Ghana, sea levels have been steadily rising over the centuries leading to the erosion of coastlines and the submergence of historic coastal settlements to about 110 metres inland. A historic Danish Fort Kongensten constructed in 1783 along the coast of Ada-Foah in Ghana, for example, has been totally eroded away by the rising sea water. This paper assesses how salvage archaeology was used to retrieve, document and conserve cultural materials associated with the fort. It also explored the extent to which salvage archaeology and anthropology can be used as tools in climate change mitigation projects in impacted zones.