Climate-friendly Development Research Articles

Sustainability of productive use of off-grid renewable energy: A case of a women’s collective from rural India

Renewable energy has emerged as a climate-friendly development alternative to provide clean and reliable energy access. However, the long-term sustainability of off-grid-based applications for productive and income-generating activities remains in suspect as it is an emerging area of development and has yet to be extensively studied for sustainability. With this background, this paper proposes a new framework for the assessment of the sustainability of productive use of off-grid energy based on technical, economic, social, institutional, and environmental dimensions. To ensure it is deeply rooted in practice, a survey-based study of a women-collective from rural India was conducted using the proposed framework. The results indicated that capacity development, participatory approaches, need assessment, and regular cash flows were a few of the important indicators for sustainability of operations. Further, it was also observed that sustainability and socio-economic benefits were intertwined and complementary. The Indian Government envisions a substantial role for renewable energy-enabled productive use to address infrastructure bottlenecks, development issues, and climate change related goals. In this context, the proposed framework would be useful for assessing the sustainability of such interventions for their longevity while accruing socio-economic benefits to the users.

Climate concerns and the future of nonfungible tokens: Leveraging environmental benefits of the Ethereum Merge

The world is facing a formidable climate predicament due to elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels. The preceding decade has also witnessed a dramatic surge in blockchain-based applications, constituting yet another substantial energy consumer. Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are one such application traded on Ethereum (ETH) marketplaces that have raised concerns about their climate impacts. The transition of ETH from proof of work (PoW) to proof of stake (PoS) is a step toward reducing the carbon footprint of the NFT sector. However, this alone will not address the climate impacts of the growing blockchain industry. Our analysis indicates that NFTs can cause yearly GHG emissions of up to 18% of the peak under the energy-intensive PoW algorithm. This results in a significant carbon debt of 4.56 Mt CO2-eq by the end of this decade, equivalent to CO2 emissions from a 600-MW coal-fired power plant in 1 y which would meet residential power demand in North Dakota. To mitigate the climate impact, we propose technological solutions to sustainably power the NFT sector using unutilized renewable energy sources in the United States. We find that 15% utilization of curtailed solar and wind power in Texas or 50 MW of potential hydropower from existing nonpowered dams can support the exponential growth of NFT transactions. In summary, the NFT sector has the potential to generate significant GHG emissions, and measures are necessary to mitigate its climate impact. The proposed technological solutions and policy support can help promote climate-friendly development in the blockchain industry.

USE OF BIOGAS AS A RAW MATERIAL AND ENGINE FUEL IN ENERGY AND TRANSPORT

In the article, based on existing global trends, legislative incentives for climate-friendly development of economic sectors, the place of biogas as a raw material and engine fuel in the decarbonization of energy and transport in Ukraine is substantiated. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, most countries are making the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. In EU countries, renewable energy with a Green Deal label was equated with energy obtained from the combustion of natural gas. In Ukraine, biomethane is legislated as an alternative gas fuel similar to natural gas. The raw material for biomethane is biogas. In Ukraine, biomethane is not produced on an industrial scale due to the lack of special purification and enrichment technologies at biogas stations. In Ukraine, it is necessary to start producing biomethane on an industrial scale and use the natural gas infrastructure for transporting biomethane. An existing quantity and quality of treatment technologies of biogas plants allow the use of biogas as an independent fuel in cogeneration plants in the immediate vicinity of biogas plants. Calculation of the heat balance of the drive gas engine (8-cylinder, 100 mm cylinder diameter, 88 mm stroke) showed that in addition to generating 30 kW of electrical energy, it is possible to obtain additionally up to 162 MJ of thermal energy without taking heat from the lubrication system. When generating only electrical energy, the efficiency installation in nominal mode is about 30%, and with cogeneration – it increases to 75%. The next step is – the use of biogas as an additive to natural gas in reciprocating internal combustion engines on cars, buses and special agricultural machinery at the local or regional level. The results of research on the 8Ch10/8.8 gas combustion engine ensured the transition from quantitative to qualitative regulation of the fuel mixture of natural gas with biogas additives. An interdependent regulation algorithm has been developed for mixed fuel. With an increase in load, the share of biogas decreases, the mixture is enriched with natural gas. At a load of 75% or more, the enrichment of the fuel mixture occurs more intensively.

Preface

1st ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment (AICEE)Brunei Darussalam, 15th September 2021ASEAN Energy Transition with Resiliency in the Post Pandemic Climate Change Era Introduction ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation within ASEAN structure that represents the 10 ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) interests in the energy sector. It currently implements ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT), which aims to improve the coherence between the ASEAN energy and climate policies, contribute to more climate-friendly development of the energy sector. Part of ACCEPT initiatives is the establishment of ASEAN Researchers Network on Energy and Climate Change (ARNECC).ASEAN Member States (AMS), with their high population and economic growth, are expected to be a new global centre of energy consumption in the future. This trend pushes energy security as one of the highest priorities in energy development in the region. At the same time, climate change concern also drives the energy sector to be more environment-friendly and sustainable. In response to these trends, all AMS ratified the Paris Agreement and submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as pledges of climate action.List of Theme, Topic, Key Dates, Participants, Steering Committee, Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee and Documentation are available in this pdf.

The hidden side of Norwegian cabin fairytale: climate implications of multi-dwelling lifestyle

ABSTRACT In addition to a primary dwelling, having access to a non-primary dwelling for leisure activities is a mass phenomenon with a long tradition in Norway. This paper questions the Norwegian multi-dwelling lifestyle by critically discussing its climate implications. Based on a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews with persons having access to non-primary dwellings, the paper analyzes the mobility pattern and housing consumption pattern of the multi-dwelling lifestyle. Two lifestyle groups are distinguished: traditional, and modern multi-dwelling lifestyles. A discussion of the climate implications of the two multi-dwelling lifestyles suggests that the traditional non-primary dwelling lifestyle is less climate harmful than the modern one. Furthermore, informed by the weak and strong sustainability perspectives, the paper suggests two climate policy pathways in order to raise and enrich the debates on climate-friendly development of the multi-dwelling lifestyle.

Model Cities for Resilience: Climate-led Initiatives

Paris Agreement of December 2015 was the last official initiative led by the United Nations (UN) as the driver of climate change mitigation. Climate change was hence linked with an increase in the occurrence of natural hazards. A variety of initiatives were consequently adopted under different themes such as sustainable cities, climate-friendly development, and low-carbon cities. However, most of the initiatives targeted by global cities with urban areas being the focus in terms of taking action against global warming issues. This is due to the structural and environmental features of cities characterized by being populated, as such, they not only generate a large number of carbon emissions but also happens to be the biggest consumer of natural resources. In turn, they create a microclimate, which contributes to climate change. Masdar City, for example, was designed as the first fully sustainable urban area, which replaced fuel-based energy with electric-based energy. China, as another example, introduced the Sponge Cities action, a method of urban water management to mitigate against flooding. Consequently, architects and urban planners are urged to conform to the proposals that would mitigate global warming. This paper, as a result, examines some of the models that have been internationally adopted and thereafter provide recommendations that can be implemented in large urban areas in Turkey, primarily in Istanbul.

Climate Change Adaptation In Serbia: The Role Of Information Networks

Facing climate shift and responding to its challenges have become important concerns for scientists, politicians and grassroots movements in their efforts to reduce the carbon footprint. Simultaneously, they all agree that information has a significant role in the process of mitigation and adaptation, especially in urban areas. Communicating the climate change and raising the general awareness are preconditions for implementation of numerous suggested measures, while detecting the condition and increasing the efficiency and low-carbon potential have become imperatives for humanity. Consequently, all these tendencies directly influence changes is spatial and activity patterns, reinforcing the material realm with information flows. The integral approach to urban development, anticipated as a preferred option for the climate-friendly future, has recently generated a number of creative concepts, tools and methods as a multi-disciplinary synergic response to accumulating problems. However, its real-time success greatly depends on the expansion and improvement of material and digital information networks because they represent a key-ingredient of all futuristic visions. Considering the current condition of climate awareness, as well as the course of undertaken actions, this article will focus on the relationship between cities, climate change and information networks, analyzing emerging ideas and innovations related to the (un)conventional use of information flows in reducing the consequences of climate change. The strategic role of networks in the exchange of data and knowledge will be examined on two levels - in the domain of public communication of climate changes, and on the level of urban systems, their effectiveness, accessibility and low-carbon outcomes. In accordance with recent environmental and technological trends, the article indentifies three areas of networks applicability, targeting main challenges of the anticipated climate-friendly development - human behavior, ecological awareness and general efficiency.

Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Measures in Transportation Sector of Malaysia

Malaysia has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 40% by the year 2020. The fact that transport sector of Malaysia shares a big portion of national GHG emissions; its role is paramount. The present study reviews the current state of GHG emission, the major technical and policy measures that can be adopted, and the measures that have been initiated in Malaysia for GHG emission reduction in transportation sector. Data related to road vehicles and GHG emission from road transportation are collected from open source databases and analyzed to reveal the present trends and possible future changes in GHG emission due to government initiatives. The result shows deceleration of GHG emission from transportation sector of Malaysia in recent years. However, the study reveals that the present measures may not be enough to reduce GHG emission up to the set target. Malaysia needs more prudent strategies for climate-friendly development of transportation to achieve sustainability goals. The study also examines the potential of Malaysia to reduce GHG and the measures that that can be initiated to streamline the effort towards GHG emission reduction are discussed.

Fueling Injustice: Globalization, Ecologically Unequal Exchange and Climate Change

The globalization of economic production fundamentally reshapes how a ‘fair’ solution to the climate change problem must be forged. Emissions are increasing sharply in developing countries as wealthy nations ‘offshore’ the energy- and natural resource-intensive stages of production. We review a new and relatively under-utilized theory of ‘ecologically unequal exchange’ and apply it to the case of climate change. We describe four distinct principles that have been proposed to assign responsibility for carbon emissions, discuss their inadequacies, and briefly lay out some ‘hybrid’ proposals currently under consideration. We suggest combining hybrid proposals with environmental aid packages that help poorer nations transition from carbon-intensive pathways of development to more climate-friendly development trajectories, using remuneration from the so-called ‘ecological debt’. In the context of deadlock over a completely inadequate Kyoto Protocol, we argue that fairness principles, climate science, and an understanding of globalization and development must be integrated. La globalización de la producción económica cambia completamente la forma de cómo una “simple”solución al problema del cambio climatológico debe de ser alterado. Las emisiones han aumentado bruscamente en los países en desarrollo mientras que los países ricos operan en el extranjero las fases intensas de producción de energía y utilización de recursos naturales. Hemos revisado una teoría nueva y relativamente poco utilizada de ‘intercambio ecológico desigual’ y la hemos aplicado al caso del cambio del clima. Describimos cuatro principios distintos que se propusieron para asignar la responsabilidad a las emisiones de carbón, discutimos sus faltas de adecuación y planeamos brevemente unas propuestas ‘híbridas'que se encuentran actualmente bajo consideración. Sugerimos combinar las propuestas híbridas con los paquetes de ayuda para el medio ambiente que ayuden a las naciones más pobres a hacer la transición de las vías intensivas de desarrollo de carbón a trayectorias de desarrollo más adaptable al clima, usando renumeración de la llamada ‘deuda ecológica’. En el contexto sobre un Protocolo de Kyoto estancado y completamente inadecuado, discutimos que la justicia, ciencia climatológica y el entendimiento de globalización y desarrollo deben integrarse.

How do developments in the South affect climate change?

Despite the provisions of the UNFCCC, some developed countries, the United States in particular, are insistent that their actions are contingent on meaningful by developing countries. This paper explores the developments - social and economic - in the South that would influence GHG emissions and identifies those developments that are essential to a long-term solution of the climate change problem. The paper argues that participation in project based activities, such as those defined by the CDM, may bring about short-term reductions in the rate of growth of GHG emissions. However, building the social infrastructure of developing economies is an essential precondition to facilitate their transition towards a situation wherein they could also undertake quantitative commitments towards climate-friendly development. Paradoxically, Official Development Assistance that would facilitate such a transition is on the decline.