Climate Protection Policy Research Articles

What makes national sport federations consider environmental sustainability? A conceptual framework on the agenda setting process based on a multiple case study

Introduction
 In Europe, more than 60 million people practice sport in a club. Through the consumption behaviour of this large number of sport club members, organised sport not only has positive impacts, but can be deleterious to the environment, for example through travel behaviour or the destruction of natural habitats caused by sport activities and required infrastructure (McCullough et al., 2020). National sport federations, which represent sport clubs and engage in sport policy issues, could be crucial when it comes to taking measures concerning the environmental sustainability of and through organised sport. However, sport federations are traditionally committed to the interests of their members and sport as their core business (Thiel & Mayer, 2009). Therefore, this study addresses the extent to which environmental policies are set on agendas in national sport federations and which drivers are relevant for the agenda setting of such policies.
 Methods
 To gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of these questions, we conducted an explorative qualitative multiple case study with eight Swiss sport federations. To investigate the agenda-setting process in sport organisations, we employed the multiple streams approach by Kingdon (1984).
 Results
 The developed conceptual framework shows that whereas nature conservation policies were primarily driven by national regulations, climate protection policies were pushed by engaged functionaries of the federations. Functional issues (as opposed to normative arguments), sponsor and member interests, practices of other federations and societal developments could further facilitate or impede the agenda setting of all types of environmental policies.
 Discussion/Conclusion
 This study provides valuable insights into the drivers of the agenda setting of environmental policies in national sport federations. Furthermore, it outlines the fit and limitations of the multiple streams approach according to Kingdon (1984) to explain agenda setting processes in national sport federations and extends it by external factors to gain a more holistic perspective of the phenomenon. Understanding drivers in the agenda setting of environmental policies in national sport federations is especially important because it is a prerequisite for the subsequent decision making and implementation of such policies and can help to shape the response of the organised sport to environmental challenges.
 References
 Kingdon, J. W. (1984). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies. Little Brown and Co.
 McCullough, B. P., Orr, M., & Watanabe, N. M. (2020). Measuring externalities: The imperative next step to sustainability assessment in sport. Journal of Sport Management, 34(5), 393–402. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2019-0254
 Thiel, A., & Mayer, J. (2009). Characteristics of voluntary sports clubs management: A sociological perspective. European Sport Management Quarterly, 9(1), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184740802461744

EU trilogue results for the aviation sector – key issues and expected impacts

In July 2021, the European Commission had proposed additional and tightening measures to reduce the climate impact of the air transport sector as part of its ‘Fit for 55 package’. In December 2022, so-called trilogue negotiations of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union came to new rules for the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) for aviation. In April 2023, further trilogue agreements on mandatory blending quotas for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) were reached. This paper aims at identifying and illustrating the agreed new rules and regulations for the aviation sector in comparison with the previous regime. In addition, key impacts on stakeholders and the environment will be discussed. So far, the trilogue parties have reached an agreement on a strengthened EU ETS for aviation, which integrates the global offsetting scheme CORSIA and creates incentives for the increasing use of SAF. Also, a monitoring, reporting and verification scheme for aviation's climate relevant so-called non-CO2 emissions will be introduced as a basis for a later integration of these emissions into the EU ETS. Aviation's non-CO2 emissions include H2O, aerosols, NOx, contrails and cirrus clouds. Moreover, a mandatory sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) blending quota, which rises gradually up to 70 per cent in the year 2050, has been agreed. However, further policy measures originally proposed within the ‘Fit for 55 package’, such as a European kerosene tax, are still subject to final negotiations. As our analysis indicates, several and diverse economic and environmental effects arising from these climate protection policies for European aviation can be expected.

Climate Ethics and the Everyday Lifeworld

AbstractOur everyday lifeworlds, the environments in which we spend our daily lives, in which we exercise agency and control and to which we are bound through practical knowledge and routines, receive little attention in contemporary climate ethics. This is unfortunate, as climate ethics can benefit from an in-depth analysis of the lifeworld-perspective—especially when it comes to evaluating the individual’s role in the face of climate change. This paper focuses on two key problems, the problem of individual climate responsibility and the problem of the individual’s motivation to support climate protection policies. Currently discussed strategies to solve both problems face serious objections. A lifeworld-oriented perspective, so I argue, helps us to better understand both problems as well as the reasons why they are practically resistant to solutions proposed in the philosophical literature. My main claim is that climate change’s serious consequences cannot be experienced in the current everyday lifeworlds of most people who live in the Western hemisphere. In consequence, appeals to conscience lack adequate grounding in everyday contexts. These contexts, however, have a decisive impact on the individual’s motivation and moral behavior. Based on this critique, I give some suggestions how the problems of individual responsibility and motivation could be handled from a lifeworld-oriented perspective.

Environmental sustainability in sport federations: a Swiss case study of environmental policy genesis

Since national sport federations (NSFs) represent sport clubs and engage in sport policy issues, they could play a crucial role in establishing measures to ensure the environmental sustainability of sport. Several Swiss sport federations have already launched such programmes. However, sport federations are primarily committed to the interests of their member clubs and the sport as their core business and environmental sustainability is generally not their primary issue. With regard to the usually limited resources, their environmental engagement does not appear to be evident. Therefore, this study investigated the extent to which environmental policies are generated by NSFs and which factors are relevant for policy genesis (agenda setting and decision coupling). We conducted an in-depth case study of the Swiss Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association based on the multiple streams approach with two coupling phases. The findings showed that whereas agenda setting of policies regarding biodiversity and access to nature primarily occurs through national regulations, climate protection policies are mainly pushed by engaged policy entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, member interests, functional issues (as opposed to normative arguments) and the practices of similar federations were found to be crucial for all environmental policies. Because decisions regarding environmental policies require knowledge that does not necessarily belong to the core topics of the board of management, the support of environmental officers is key for the decision coupling of such. An understanding of environmental policy genesis is essential because it is prerequisite for the subsequent implementation of such policies and their effects.

Formation of legal support of climate-protective farming in Ukraine: problems under martial period

Formation of legal support of climate-protective farming in Ukraine: problems under martial period

Environmental sustainability in Swiss sports federations – A case study on agenda setting, policy formulation and decision making processes

Environmental sustainability in Swiss sports federations – A case study on agenda setting, policy formulation and decision making processes

Neue Klimaschutzregeln für den europäischen Luftverkehr – Chancen und Risiken

Abstract In December 2022, the EU Commission, the EU Parliament and the EU Council agreed on new climate protection policy measures for European air transport within the framework of the so-called trialogue. The trilogue decision means that European aviation will make a greater contribution to climate protection in the future, as the regulations of the EU emissions trading system will be tightened and incentives for the increasing use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will be introduced at the same time. Whether further measures proposed as part of the Fit for 55 package, such as a European kerosene tax, will be introduced in the future is currently open. This paper provides an overview of the new climate protection regulations that will affect European aviation in the future and the opportunities and risks that will arise from an environmental and economic perspective.

Transient Stability Improvement of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Grid Using a Flywheel as a Synchronous Machine

The global climate protection policy aimed at achieving a zero greenhouse gas emissions target has led to the fast incorporation of large-scale photovoltaics into the power network. The conventional AC grid was not modeled to be incorporated with large-scale non-synchronous inverter-based energy resources (IBR). Incorporating inertia-free IBR into the grid leads to technical issues such as the degradation of system strength and inertia, therefore affecting the safety and reliability of the electrical power system. This research introduced a new solution to incorporate a flywheel in the rotor of a synchronous machine to improve the dynamic inertia control during a system disruption and to maintain the constancy of the system. The objective of this work is to enhance large-scale photovoltaic systems in such a way that they can avoid failures during a fault. A model of transient constancy with two synchronous generators and a LSPV is established in PowerWorld modeling software. A line-to-ground and three-phase fault are simulated in a system with up to 50% IBR penetration. The outcomes showed that the power network was able to ride through faults (RTFs) and that the stability of frequency and voltage are enhanced because of a flywheel that improved grid inertia and strength.

Environmental Monitoring—Important for Climate Protection Policy and Measures

During the past months, we have received more and more submissions on the topic of monitoring in the field of environment in the journal CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water. So far, monitoring articles have not been in scope for CLEAN. The increasing desire of scientists to publish articles with monitoring background in CLEAN has shown me as the Editor-in-Chief that environmental scientists very much see this kind of contribution in the journal. And I have to admit, they are right. With an increasing urgency regarding climate or climate change issues, we really need evidence of the changes in the parameters. If we cannot prove with data what the quality of air, water, and soils is, we lack the basis for taking action for clean air, pure water, and good soil quality—and thus also for the health of all of us. The discussion about climate change and its effects has long since reached the public. We not only read about it in scientific articles, but also learn in all the media available to us that we will not be able to reach the climate targets. Due to the hunger for energy, which is often satisfied by burning oil, gas or coal, the parameters for air quality, such as an increase in CO2 content, nitrogen oxides, methane, etc., have changed extremely in recent years. Another example would be the agricultural sector, where climate change is affecting soils, with droughts or heavy rainfall events. And there are so many more examples that could be mentioned here. As far as clean air is concerned, scientists worldwide have collected and published interesting results during lockdowns with restricted mobility in the COVID-19 pandemic. If mobility is restricted by government regulations, this has a massive effect on air quality—it improves considerably. But as soon as restrictions are lifted, we behave as usual. People are traveling by car and flight bookings are back to pre-pandemic levels. The values of water and soil pollution parameters are also alarming. More and more chemicals are found in soils and then later in water, or vice versa, first in water and then in soils—and later in the food on our plates. Microplastic particles can now be detected everywhere, in water, in soil, in food and in our bodies. Everything is connected to everything else. And so, monitoring of air, water, and soil quality parameters is more important than ever. I therefore welcome submissions on monitoring of water, air, and soil quality parameters in CLEAN. The following criteria apply to submissions that include monitoring data: Manuscripts containing only measured data are not sufficient for publication. The collected data should be compared and discussed with published works and the resulting findings should be placed in a scientific context. Let's add this new subject “Monitoring of Quality Parameters” to the journal. Stay healthy! Yours sincerely

From trucks to tracks

Freight rail is one of the most energy-efficient and least carbon-intensive way to transport goods. We look at the trends, goals, barriers and actions of selected emerging economies (India, China, Indonesia, Mexico) in this area. Is there government ambition and already progress for modal shifts from road? What is the role of climate protection and other policy objectives? Are barriers overcome with innovative approaches? Where does international technical cooperation come in all of this? And what common themes, patters or solutions emerge when comparing the country cases?

Accelerating climate protection by behavioural insights: the Planetary Health Action Survey (PACE)

BackgroundThe Planetary Health Action Survey investigates the gap between scientific consensus and collective action to protect our planet's and our own health. Following a theory driven and theory testing approach, we aim to better understand social cognitive processes leading to citizens’ readiness to act against climate change. Our findings could contribute to designing and communicating climate protection policies so that they are supported by the public. To achieve this, planetary health behaviour needs to be better understood. MethodsIn a serial cross-sectional design and accompanying large-scale online experiments, we examine psychological factors that affect health and climate protection-related attitudes and behaviours. Our first survey took place in July, 2021 (n=1521; a German quota sample representing the distribution of age, gender, and federal state of the adult general population). Currently, the survey runs every 4 weeks (around 1000 participants). Along with demographic variables, we assess different paths to understand people's readiness to act against climate change. We assess several determinants of readiness to act, including risk perception, trust in institutions, social norms, perceived response efficacy, self-efficacy, knowledge, and prosociality. Readiness to act is assessed via several indicators that go beyond individual behaviours and include acceptance of climate protection measures, political participation, psychological reactance towards measures, and compliance with measures. FindingsRespondents judged weather events as likely to seriously impact health. They judged health consequences, such as low food quality or poor mental health, as less relevant. Individuals who think that they will be exposed to health risks consider them more serious and are more likely to agree with climate protection measures. From 80 potential measures surveyed (as proposed by the German Climate Citizen Assembly [Bürgerrat Klima Deutschland]), 17 (21%) received more than 75% approval. High approval rates were found for cheaper local transport and reducing food waste, whereas low approval rates were found for regulation of renewable energy or reducing livestock. 167 (11%) of 1521 individuals showed low or no support for all measures. InterpretationWe found that most participants were pro climate protection. Risk perception differed between individuals. The links between climate change and health risks that go beyond heat and extreme weather should be communicated more effectively. Frameworks should be created that facilitate climate-friendly collective and individual action. FundingKlaus Tschira Foundation, German Federal Ministry of Health, Robert Koch Institute, and Federal Center of Health Education.

Financing Energy Transition in Poland: Possible Contribution of EU Funds

There is a general agreement that the energy transition is necessary on a global scale to avert the threat of a climate catastrophe and that it is very costly. In the EU, this transition is supported by funds under the Multilateral Financial Framework and the New Generation EU Facility. The purpose of the paper is to identify EU financial instruments available for Poland to support the energy transformation, to estimate their scale and assess chances to use these funds. The research methods applied are a critical review of Polish and EU documents and methods of statistical analysis. Against the background of European Green Deal strategy, the author identifies EU funds available for Poland for low emission transition and estimates their size. The paper also addresses the EU institutions’ allegations of violating the EU law by Poland. Main conclusions are as follows. The huge EU support for energy transition is at risk, due to Poland’s refusal to comply with the EU law, as assessed by Commission and the Court of Justice of the EU. This situation creates a double cost for Poland: of non-used EU money and of high penalties for the rejection of the CJEU orders. Costs of the energy transformation are inevitable and must be incurred in Poland not only due to the adaptation to the requirements of the EGD, but also due to the fact that a large part of the Polish energy sector is old and will require replacement in any case. Moreover, Polish products may be denied access to EU market due to non- compliance with EU environmental standards. The EU funds should be a good opportunity to move away from coal and develop new eco-friendly industries. Without energy transformation in Poland, the EU results of climate protection policy will be limited, as the country is one of the biggest GHG emitters. Keywords: EU climate policy, energy transition, EU funds for Poland, greenhouse gas emissions, National Recovery Plan

From trucks to tracks

Freight rail is one of the most energy-efficient and least carbon-intensive way to transport goods. We look at the trends, goals, barriers and actions of selected emerging economies (India, China, Indonesia, Mexico) in this area. Is there government ambition and already progress for modal shifts from road? What is the role of climate protection and other policy objectives? Are barriers overcome with innovative approaches? Where does international technical cooperation come in all of this? And what common themes, patters or solutions emerge when comparing the country cases?

A social science perspective on conflicts in the energy transition: An introduction to the special issue

The energy transition is essential to European climate protection policies that aim to establish climate neutrality by the middle of the century. However, it has become evident that several challenges impede policy implementation, especially at the regional level. In this special issue, institutionalization, mobilization, and collaboration are identified as essential formative elements in shaping structures and processes of the energy transition. They have in common the point of view that most problems can be found in democratic decision-making, with conflicts of interest across established and emerging power structures.This introductory article presents a research framework to explore the energy transition, highlighting recurrent challenges. The presentation of an ideal policy cycle and a brief review of key points from the articles in the special issue allows us to form preliminary conclusions about policy implications. Chief among these is the recognition that divergent research perspectives are needed to understand the energy transition. Therefore, we advocate integrating classical policy analysis with research into participatory processes, democratization, and justice. In addition, we need new strategies and governance approaches to meet the challenges of transitioning to carbon-neutral practices in a democratic society.

Integrated spatial and energy planning in Styria – A role model for local and regional energy transition and climate protection policies

• Programme to integrate spatial planning and energy planning. • Creating strategic database for energy transition in spatial planning. • Applying strategic maps to harmonize district heating, mobility and spatial development. • Applying energy transition thinking for sustainable spatial planning. • Holistic implementation programme for scientific knowledge in local spatial planning. How we plan our towns, cities and regions is inseparably connected to energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions and the way how we can manage the transition to sustainable renewable energy systems. Therefore, we propose that integrated spatial and energy planning is an important part of energy transition and climate protection strategies. In this article, we discuss how the energy transition and spatial planning can be holistically integrated, and how this theoretical framework combining the factual findings of integrated spatial and energy planning and strategic concepts of spatial planning can be put into practice in municipal spatial planning. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach in an action research process in the Austrian Province of Styria involving the Government representatives, municipalities and spatial planners. The whole approach includes, as tangible outputs a strategic database, strategic maps, and a planning guidance for municipalities on the one hand, and a further education programme for planners and municipal decision makers on the other hand. Finally, the applicability, transferability and limitations of the approach are discussed. As the approach is not only established in Styria, but at the moment also put forward in two further Provinces so that we can, in total, cover about 63% of all Austrian municipalities with this approach, we also propose that this approach can serve as a role model not only for local and regional energy transition and climate protection policies around the world, but also for shaping third mission activities of universities.

From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs

Global initiatives on climate protection and national sustainability policies are accelerating the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Many electricity suppliers are engaged in efforts to monetize this transition with ‘green’ services and products, such as Green Electricity Tariffs. These promise customers that their supply includes a specific share of green electricity, yet since electricity suppliers often fail to deliver on those promises, many customers have lost trust in their suppliers. Further information asymmetries may not only exacerbate this loss of trust, but also spark distrust and lead to an overall feeling of ambivalence. Eventually, ambivalent customers may feel inclined to switch suppliers. To prevent this domino effect, electricity suppliers must eliminate ambivalence by increasing customer trust and reducing customer distrust. Here, we discuss how these challenges can be met with a customer loyalty program built on blockchain technology. We developed the program following a Design Science Research approach that facilitated refinement in four iteration and evaluation cycles. Our results indicate that the developed customer loyalty program restores trust, reduces distrust, and resolves customer ambivalence by providing four features: improved customer agency, sufficient and verifiable information, appropriate levels of usability, and unobstructed data access.

Legal protection of Germany's national interests in the field of environmental security: the evolution of approaches

It is widely recognised that climate change is having malign effects on human life. Climate change is a global issue, but the political action necessary to address it is inevitably local and national as well as international. The security dilemma is one of the most important theoretical ideas in international relations. The content of security policy is evolving because "security" is a social structure, the content and structure of which is constantly changing depending on the transformation of existing and the emergence of new threats and challenges (climate change, destruction of the ozone layer, desertification, fresh water shortages, etc. - the list of current environmental problems in the XXI century is increasingly supplemented by new threats. Scholars, policy-makers, and activists have proposed broadening use of the concept security beyond its traditional military focus to take into account environmental threats that seriously jeopardize human well-being. This paper explores how ecological and climate problems have fundamentally changed the way we think about security. The non-physical security, diversification of threats, and the salience of identity are key effects of globalization in the security realm. These security effects translate into certain behavioral tendencies in a Germany foreign policy that have thus far not been studied in the literature. The claim that environmental factors should be integrated into the concept of security was first made in the early 1980s. In the late twentieth - early twenty-first century the concept of security has been expanded and applied to address many of the most important issues of international relations theory and security policy. Environmental issues are not only to be treated as non-military threats to the security of societies, but can also work to promote cooperation and peace-building. In modern conditions, the ability of the state system to respond to environmental hazards is criticized, and therefore fundamentally different management structures are proposed as a replacement for it. Therefore, targeted climate protection policies at the international and regional levels, as well as at the national and local levels, are needed to effectively address environmental and climate threats and challenges. Germany positions itself as a regional and world leader in the field of environmental protection and climate. The idea of ​​caring for the environment is gradually becoming an essential element of the value system, legal culture and national identity of German society and the state, which it not only promotes both in the European Communities / European Union and beyond, but also consistently protects. Within the framework of the EU environmental policy, there is room for independent national action by the German government. This guarantees Germany a free choice of national strategies in promoting environmental policy.

The coalitional politics of the European Union\u2019s environmental forest policy: Biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection

European forest policymaking is shaped by progressing European integration, yet with notable ideological divisions and diverging interests among countries. This paper focuses on the coalitional politics of key environmental forest issues: biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection policy. Combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Shifting Coalition Theory, and informed by more than 186 key informant interviews and 73 policy documents spanning a 20-year timeframe, we examine the evolution of coalitional forest politics in Europe. We find that the basic line-up has remained stable: an environmental coalition supporting EU environmental forest policy integration and a forest sector coalition mostly opposing it. Still, strategic alliances across these coalitions have occurred for specific policy issues which have resulted in a gradual establishment of an EU environmental forest policy. We conclude with discussion of our findings and provide suggestions for further research.

Improving Consumers’ Understanding and Use of Carbon Footprint Labels on Food: Proposal for a Climate Score Label

SummaryToday, the food sector is largely excluded from climate protection policies. Nevertheless, the food sector is responsible for about 20 per cent of greenhouse gases. Food policies could substantially contribute to the EU’s ambitious climate goals. Currently, the debate on CO2‐e labelling is gaining momentum. Consumers know very little about the climate footprint associated with food choices. A climate label would strengthen consumer knowledge, may eventually influence food choices, could trigger reformulation efforts, raises awareness, and contribute to better informed discussions about climate policy. Based on a review of the current state of research and industry developments on designing CO2 footprint labels, this article provides recommendations on how to develop a clearly understood and trustworthy label. We propose a government approved, multi‐level, and categorical CO2‐e label, with colour coding and numeric CO2 equivalents; primarily based initially on median values. The design of the label should allow for an adoption of other environmental dimensions in the future. It should be scaled to weight (CO2‐e per kg) and apply to food products and meals. In the proposed form, a CO2‐e label is a low‐cost instrument. As more and more companies are already starting to label their products in different ways, consumer confusion is likely to rise if no uniform guidelines are established.

Experiencing climate change: revisiting the role of local weather in affecting climate change awareness and related policy preferences

Over the last few years, climate change has risen to the top of the agenda in many Western democracies, backed by a growing share of voters supporting climate protection policies. To understand how and why these changes came about, we revisit the question whether personal experiences with increasingly unusual local weather conditions affect people’s beliefs about climate change and their related attitudes. We first take a closer look at the theoretical underpinnings and extend the theoretical argument to account for the differential impact of different weather phenomena, as well as the role of prior beliefs and individual reference frames. Applying mixed-effects regressions to a novel dataset combining individual-level multi-wave panel survey data from up to 18,010 German voters collected from 2016 to 2019 with weather data from 514 weather stations, we show that personally experiencing unusual or extreme local weather did not shape people’s awareness of climate change as a political problem or their climate policy preferences in a sustained manner. Even among people who may be considered most likely to exhibit such effects, we did not detect them. Moreover, we demonstrate that the common modeling strategy of combining fixed-effects regression with clustered standard errors leads to severely reduced standard errors and substantively different results. We conclude that it cannot be taken for granted that personally experiencing extreme weather phenomena makes a difference in perceptions of climate change and related policy preferences.