Current Climate Policy Research Articles

Where is the EU headed given its current climate policy? A stakeholder-driven model inter-comparison

Recent calls to do climate policy research with, rather than for, stakeholders have been answered in non-modelling science. Notwithstanding progress in modelling literature, however, very little of the scenario space traces back to what stakeholders are ultimately concerned about. With a suite of eleven integrated assessment, energy system and sectoral models, we carry out a model inter-comparison for the EU, the scenario logic and research questions of which have been formulated based on stakeholders' concerns. The output of this process is a scenario framework exploring where the region is headed rather than how to achieve its goals, extrapolating its current policy efforts into the future. We find that Europe is currently on track to overperforming its pre-2020 40% target yet far from its newest ambition of 55% emissions cuts by 2030, as well as looking at a 1.0–2.35 GtCO2 emissions range in 2050. Aside from the importance of transport electrification, deployment levels of carbon capture and storage are found intertwined with deeper emissions cuts and with hydrogen diffusion, with most hydrogen produced post-2040 being blue. Finally, the multi-model exercise has highlighted benefits from deeper decarbonisation in terms of energy security and jobs, and moderate to high renewables-dominated investment needs.

EU ENERGY AND CLIMATE POLICIES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLAND

Along with the observed in the second half of the 20th century progressing climate change and accelerating greenhouse gas emissions levels (GHGgreenhouse gases), the European Commission (EC) actively started to act, both internally and globally, against these adverse changes. This paper presents the current energy and climate policy of the European Union resulting from the long-term strategy based on developing low-carbon economy, and analyses its influence on energy transformation of the Polish economy. It contains results of analyses and assessments of the implementation process of energy and climate policy in the economy of Poland as an EU member, economic restructuring and it indicates challenges connected with the practical aspects of EU energy policy objectives implementation in the near future. The analysis is based on literature of the subject, EU strategic programming documents relating to the strategy of developing low-carbon economy in the EU, those relating to energy and climate policies, legal acts, reports and industry publications as well as Polish background documents and regulations. The analysis concerns the period between 2004 and 2017 and contains actual data obtained from EUROSTAT and GUS (Statistics Poland).

Germany’s Energiewende at a Crossroads

This article examines Germany’s current climate and energy policies. Nearly two decades on, Germany’s Energiewende—the transition to a less carbonintensive economy—is at a crossroads. While remarkable advances have been made, the technical difficulties of expanding the energy transition beyond the electricity sector, the mounting costs of the transition itself, and now the covid-19 pandemic are slowing further progress. Maintaining the momentum of the Energiewende would require collaborative action, yet the principal political players have different agendas, making it difficult to reach decisions. In this article, we consider three of those actors: the German public, the opposition parties, and the government. We find that agreements on German climate policy have been diluted in political compromises and that real progress is being blocked. These problems will only increase as Germany deals with the consequences of the pandemic and faces a transition in national leadership in 2021.

Assessing climate policies: Catastrophe avoidance and the right to sustainable development

With the significant disconnect between the collective aim of limiting warming to well below 2°C and the current means proposed to achieve such an aim, the goal of this paper is to offer a moral assessment of prominent alternatives to current international climate policy. To do so, we’ll outline five different policy routes that could potentially bring the means and goal in line. Those five policy routes are: (1) exceed 2°C; (2) limit warming to less than 2°C by economic de-growth; (3) limit warming to less than 2°C by traditional mitigation only; (4) limit warming to less than 2°C by traditional mitigation and widespread deployment of Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs); and (5) limit warming to less than 2°C by traditional mitigation, NETs, and Solar Radiation Management as a fallback. In assessing these five policy routes, we rely primarily upon two moral considerations: the avoidance of catastrophic climate change and the right to sustainable development. We’ll conclude that we should continue to aim at the two-degree target, and that to get there we should use aggressive mitigation, pursue the deployment of NETs, and continue to research SRM.

Life cycle cost optimization analysis of battery storage system for residential photovoltaic panels

The current climate and energy policies of the European Union aim at achieving carbon dioxide emissions reduction and the promotion of clean energy. The priorities set concentrate on decarbonizing the energy sector, mainly by promoting renewables. At the same time, it is of great importance to effectively manage the energy generated in-situ within a community. That community can be approached as a micro-grid able either to be connected to the main grid or to be independent. In addition to this, storage of electricity seems the unavoidable solution for the effective energy management with the micro-grid. Due to the technological developments and the reduction in production costs that are expected to decrease even further in the coming years (50% reduction), batteries are a crucial factor for the effective integration of renewables on a residential scale. Thereafter, the proper size of a battery system plays an important role for the total minimization of system's cost during its lifetime. The purpose of the paper is to present a mathematical tool, able to manage the energy produced by residential photovoltaic panels, the energy stored in the batteries and the energy purchased from the main grid. Continuing with the energy management, the framework should come up with an optimized life cycle cost solution, regarding both the energy management within the grid and the optimum size of energy battery system. Main findings of the paper indicate that storage is a feasible option, whenever selling electricity to the main grid is not applicable, as for that case the battery capital cost should decrease to 400 (€/kWh); this is a 20% cost reduction compared to current prices and 30 (€/kWh).

Barriers to Implementing Climate Policies in Agriculture: A Case Study From Viet Nam

Agriculture is both highly sensitive to climate change and a major global emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG). With growing international pressure to curb global emissions through the 2015 Paris Agreement and mounting climate change-related losses in agriculture, countries are in need of an increasingly robust agricultural policy framework. This paper takes an in-depth look at the agricultural sector in Viet Nam, contributing to a better understanding of the main bottlenecks in implementing the Paris Agreement, evaluating the relevance and impact of selected barriers for the implementation of current climate policies and their implications for nationally determined contribution (NDC) design. To address these questions, an exploratory mixed method approach was employed: (i) identifying and mapping key policies, (ii) reviewing global literature sources on barriers, (iii) conducting stakeholder interviews (n= 25), and (iv) follow-up quantitative surveys (n= 16). The interviews revealed numerous barriers within Viet Nam's institutional setting that acted to impede the creation and implementation of climate policy. As seen in other countries, insufficient inter-ministry collaboration and information sharing restricted the overall success of climate policy, with poor representation of non-lead ministries in drafting and inadequate channels for bottom-up engagement also considered major constraints. These coupled with gaps in financing make for fragmented policies that often lack clear implementation guidelines, particularly at a local level. The NDC process presents an opportunity for Viet Nam to coordinate their cross-sector climate response around a single international agreement, facilitating greater inter-ministry information and data sharing, while utilizing the technical and financial support provided through international partners to build capacity in this vital area.

The greenhouse gas emissions of an electrified vehicle combined with renewable fuels: Life cycle assessment and policy implications

A life cycle assessment is presented for a current vehicle’s greenhouse gas impact when using a combination of electrification and renewable fuels. Three degrees of electrification are considered: a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and a battery-electric vehicle. These are combined with fuels with various degrees of renewable content, representing a fossil fuel, a first-generation biofuel and a second-generation biofuel. For charging, the 2020 European electricity mix is used and compared with an electricity mix of low greenhouse-gas intensity. Renewable fuels are found to have a greater potential to reduce the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than a low carbon electricity mix. The results are discussed in terms of the supply potential for renewable fuels on the fleet level. It is found that plug-in hybrid vehicles may enable the automotive sector to reach more ambitious climate goals than battery-electric vehicles. An assessment is also made of how the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compare with the emissions as measured by current policy instruments. The discrepancies indicate that current climate policy instruments are inadequate for minimizing the automotive sector’s climate impact and suggestions for improvements are made.

\u2018Seeing with Empty Eyes\u2019: a systems approach to understand climate change and mental health in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s unique climate vulnerability is well-investigated but the mental health impacts of climate change remain relatively unexplored. Three databases were searched for English primary qualitative studies published between 2000 and 2020. Out of 1202 publications, 40 met the inclusion criteria. This systematic review applies a systems approach to further understand Bangladesh’s ‘climate-wellbeing’ network. The literature indicates diverse factors linking environmental stress and mental ill-health including four key themes: (1) post-hazard mental health risks, (2) human (im)mobility, (3) social tension and conflict, and (4) livelihood loss and economic hardship. This systems analysis also revealed that people’s mental wellbeing is strongly mediated by socio-economic status and gender. The article illustrates how multiple pathways may amplify stress, anxiety, violence, and psychological damage. Greater recognition of the ‘climate-wellbeing’ connections, and incorporation of mental health in current climate action and policy frameworks, will be an effective way to achieve a more sustainable future.

Beyond Bathroom Bills and the Gender Identity Debate: Complicating the Policy Conversation About Supporting Trans Students in Schools

Schools and districts across the country have been thrust into the political limelight as they grapple with sometimes competing policy messages about the education of transgender and gender expansive students. Drawing on 2 years of survey data from families of transgender and gender expansive youth in one mountain state, this article uses critical trans politics to examine the ways the current policy climate aligns with the supports schools provide. Results suggest that parents desire policies and practices that transform cis-heteronormative school structures, and they recognize that policy is often limited in its ability to affect the material experiences of youth in schools. We therefore argue that a focus on bathroom bills and policies regarding trans accessibility have distracted from a conversation that needs to be elevated to address broader structural issues and should ultimately be driven by families and trans youth.

REDD+ and forest protection on indigenous lands in the Amazon

AbstractReducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) was introduced by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a mechanism to reverse the loss of forests and carbon stocks in developing countries. REDD+ operates on the basis of performance‐based payments. This article focuses on REDD+ as a market‐based mechanism in the voluntary carbon market (VCM). It assesses the viability of using REDD+ on indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon by examining three key aspects of REDD+—the legal, technical and market requirements—in light of recent policy developments in Brazil and under the UNFCCC. REDD+ as a market‐based mechanism in the VCM currently faces significant barriers as a useful tool for forest protection in the Amazon, due to the lack of an international carbon market under the UNFCCC, the highly complex technical requirements, and the low market demand for REDD+ credits in the VCM. Moreover, we suggest that, although legally possible under Brazilian law, REDD+ projects in the VCM may not be a suitable market‐based option for indigenous communities in the Amazon due to the current national and international climate policy context.

Anthropogenic Drivers of Mangrove Loss and Associated Carbon Emissions in South Sumatra, Indonesia

The Air Telang Protected Forest (ATPF) is one of the most dynamic and essential coastal forest landscapes in South Sumatra, Indonesia, because of its location between multiple river outlets, including the Musi catchment—Sumatra’s largest and most dense lowland catchment area. While most ATPF areas are covered by mangroves, these areas have been experiencing severe anthropogenic-driven degradation and conversion. This study aims to evaluate land cover changes and associated carbon emissions in the ATPF over a 35-year period (1985–2020) by utilizing the available Landsat and Sentinel imagery from 1985, 2000, and 2020. Throughout the analysis period, we observed 63% (from 10,886 to 4059 ha) primary and secondary forest loss due to land use change. We identified three primary anthropogenic activities driving these losses, namely, land clearing for plantations and agriculture (3693 ha), coconut plantations (3315 ha), aquaculture (245 ha). We estimated that the largest carbon emissions were caused by coconut plantation conversion, with total carbon emissions of approximately 14.14 Mt CO2-eq. These amounts were almost 4 and 21 times higher than emissions from land clearing and aquaculture, respectively, as substantial soil carbon loss occurs once mangroves get transformed into coconut plantations. While coconut plantation expansion on mangroves could generate significant carbon stock losses and cleared forests become the primary candidate for restoration, our dataset could be useful for future land-based emission reduction policy intervention at a subnational level. Ultimately, our findings have direct implications for current national climate policies, through low carbon development strategies and emission reductions from the land use sector for 2030, as outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Climate Policy Imbalance in the Energy Sector: Time to Focus on the Value of CO2 Utilization

Global warming is an existential threat to humanity and the rapid energy transition, which is required, will be the defining social, political and technical challenge of the 21st century. Practical experience and research results of recent years have showed that our actions to cover the gap between real situation and aims of climate agreements are not enough and that improvements in climate policy are needed, primarily in the energy sector. It is becoming increasingly clear that hydrocarbon resources, which production volume is increasing annually, will remain a significant part of the global fuel balance in the foreseeable future. Taking this into account, the main problem of the current climate policy is a limited portfolio of technologies, focused on replacement of hydrocarbon resources with renewable energy, without proper attention to an alternative ways of decreasing carbon intensity, such as carbon sequestration options. This study shows the need to review the existing climate policy portfolios through reorientation to CO2 utilization and disposal technologies and in terms of forming an appropriate appreciation for the role of hydrocarbon industries as the basis for the development of CO2-based production chains. In this paper we argue that: (1) focusing climate investments on a limited portfolio of energy technologies may become a trap that keeps us from achieving global emissions goals; (2) accounting for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions losses, without taking into account the potential social effects of utilization, is a barrier to diversifying climate strategies; (3) with regard to hydrocarbon industries, a transition from destructive to creative measures aimed at implementing environmental projects is needed; (4) there are no cheap climate solutions, but the present cost of reducing CO2 emissions exceeds any estimate of the social cost of carbon.

Climate Policy in Iran and the Case for Carbon Pricing

Iran has committed to a 4% reduction target by 2030;but as the Iranian economy is fossil fuel based, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have continued to surge over the last decade. In this paper, we consider whether carbon pricing could help Iran to achieve its Paris targets. First, we describe current climate-related policies in Iran and survey relevant academic literature on their effectiveness. We then review carbon pricing designs in five countries with a comparable development status to Iran. Finally, we consider whether Iran’s current climate policies are adequate and what role carbon pricing could play in a future climate policy mix. The results of this study should enhance an understanding of Iran’s climate policy, which thus far has received little attention in research;and can be put to immediate use in shaping a sustainable climate policy strategy for Iran.

Low hanging fruit in Australia's climate policy

Australia has a history of fragmented and politically contested climate policy, and current climate policy is both piecemeal and limited in scope and ambition. Ample opportunities exist to reduce emissions through the more broad-based application of policy. This paper outlines six areas where climate policy in Australia could achieve emissions reductions at low cost: pricing emissions in industry through a modification and broadening of the existing Safeguards Mechanism; investment in assisting the transformation of the electricity grid to very high shares of renewables; a mixture of innovation support, and targeted incentives and regulatory standards in specific sectors and activities; an effective green infrastructure program to stimulate demand and raise productivity in the medium term; a community focussed structural adjustment fund that would enable disproportionately impacted communities to adapt reality of the global transition to net-zero emissions by 2050; and removing impediments to the emergence of new renewable energy-based export industries to take the place of coal and gas exports.

現状の気候・エネルギー政策を考慮した，パリ協定国別貢献における国際競争力に関する分析

現状の気候・エネルギー政策を考慮した，パリ協定国別貢献における国際競争力に関する分析

A company performance index for motor vehicle manufacturers: company performance measurement with environmental concerns

PurposeCurrent literature presents limited measurement methods of quantifying manufacturers' performance with environmental concerns. The purpose of this paper is to construct a company performance index for benchmarking motor vehicle manufacturers (MVMs) with environmental concerns.Design/methodology/approachMethods of constructing the index include regression analysis, a modified linear method for normalizing variables and a geometric mean for aggregating variables into a single index IMVM (index for MVMs). A case study is conducted in 12 MVMs from 2008 to 2017. A sensitivity analysis with the simple additive weighting method is performed to analyze how different aggregation methods affect the final value. The index IMVM is assessed through a benchmark with three existing indices.FindingsThree realistic considerations are identified from MVMs, based on which proper and transparent methods are chosen to construct the IMVM. The construction of the index IMVM has been assessed through a benchmark against the methodologies of three other indices. The results indicate that the new measurement is feasible and effective for MVMs to measure their company performance from an environmental perspective.Practical implicationsThe construction of the index IMVM can support policymakers with accurate statistics for decision-making. As a response to current imperative climate policies, this paper raises awareness of CO2 emissions in vehicles' production. For statistical organizations and stakeholders in the investment world, this paper provides available and reliable statistics for trend analysis of different MVMs.Originality/valueA new method is designed for constructing a company performance index for MVMs. Three environmental variables are identified based on literature, their environmental impact as well as their data availability from public documents. A ranking by manufacturer with environmental concerns is generated. This index can contribute with available statistics and useful insights toward decision-making.

Moving toward Net-Zero Emissions Requires New Alliances for Carbon Dioxide Removal

The 1.5°C target will require removing at least some of the carbon dioxide (CO2) previously emitted. Knowledge on how this can be done has been increasing, though barriers remain concerning governance, policy, and acceptability. For the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to move beyond an academic debate on CO2 removal (CDR), a broader alliance of research and policy communities, industry, and the public is needed.

Access to Health Care and Mental Health Among Latino Students in San Diego.

Purpose: Depression during adolescence has important consequences, and Latino adolescents face different mental health challenges compared with peers from other ethnic groups. In this article we investigate whether access to a primary care physician affects the mental health of Latino high school students.Methods: Our data are drawn from a unique sample survey conducted in San Diego County in 2016. Classrooms were randomly selected from six area high schools, and students currently attending school were recruited to complete the survey in class. Self-reported depression screener (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) and loneliness were collected as outcome variables, and access to a primary care physician was the main independent variable.Results: Our multilevel logistic regression linking access to a physician and being at risk for major depression resulted in an odds ratio (OR) of 0.316 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.184–0.544), whereas the multilevel logistic regression relating access to a physician and feeling lonely resulted an OR of 0.371 (95% CI: 0.215–0.639).Conclusion: This study provides evidence from a novel setting to demonstrate the link between mental health and access to health services within a minority population. Because many of the Latino adolescents in our sample come from mixed status families, this finding is particularly important in the current policy climate of the United States, in which the future of access to health care for many immigrant families is highly uncertain.

Public support for aviation policy measures in Sweden

ABSTRACT Air travel has received increasing attention in the climate debate in recent years. Current climate policy in this sector remains weak in comparison to, for example, the road transport sector. In this study, we analyze public support for seven different national policy measures that have been chosen to reflect the main thinking raised in the debate. Using original data from Sweden (N = 4500), we found that less coercive measures, as well as regulatory measures targeting the aviation industry rather than individuals directly, are more readily supported by the public than market-based policies aiming to push individuals away from air travel. The analyses of the different policy measures reveal many similarities between them. Climate concern, a personal norm to act in a more climate-friendly way, a political orientation to the left and high levels of institutional trust all display strong associations with support for all the different policy types. Perceptions of fairness, in particular, and effectiveness were strongly associated with overall policy support. Interestingly, however, the extent to which a policy measure was expected to affect one’s own personal freedom was found to have a very weak correlation with policy support. Key policy insights Public support was higher for ‘pull’ policies (climate labelling and subsidies for high-speed and night trains), as well as for regulatory measures targeting the aviation industry (biofuel blending mandate), than for policies that aim to push individuals away from air travel (e.g. air passenger tax). The weakest public support was found for frequent flyer taxation and personal carbon allowances. One reason, however, may be that these are novel policy options where the respondents had little prior information. In line with previous research, climate concern, ideology and trust in institutions correlate with attitudes to aviation polices, but the multivariate model showed that perceptions of whether a policy is fair and effective were by far the most important variables. Hence, fairness and effectiveness appear to be crucial aspects for the design of new policies.

First Term Support for International Graduate Students Attending Small Colleges and Universities

The recruitment and retention of international students in academic institutions in the United States has become more complicated and more competitive than ever before given the current political climate and governmental policies. This article discusses some of the specific challenges international students face and what a small- to medium-sized private university has put in place to attract these students and to better prepare them for graduate level management courses starting their first term. This example introduces an 11-week foundations course along with additional resources designed to provide knowledge, instruction, and practice in skills and behaviors crucial for academic success within the United States.