Implementation Of Climate Policies Research Articles

Poland's Climate Policy – Selected Legal Aspects

This paper aims to briefly present the climate policy in Poland, in selected critical areas from the author's perspective and that may accelerate or delay the just transformation. Climate policy should be a significant part of Poland's activities because Poland is one of the EU countries most dependent on fossil fuels, and the increase in carbon dioxide emissions is also disturbing. However, as the analyses show, the conclusions of various reports seem fully justified, and Poland is not correctly implementing its climate policy. This paper, the first in the series, first explains the basic concepts. Then it briefly presents the basics of the EU's climate policy. The last part concerns Poland's implementation of climate policy in selected areas. Renewable energy sources and air protection will be discussed first in the series. The final fragment contains unoptimistic conclusions with a simultaneous suggestion to undertake urgent work on the Climate Protection Act in Poland. The research was carried out using dogmatic, legal, and statistical methods to a narrow extent.

A perspective on the next generation of Earth system model scenarios: towards representative emission pathways (REPs)

Abstract. In every Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment cycle, a multitude of scenarios are assessed, with different scope and emphasis throughout the various Working Group reports and special reports, as well as their respective chapters. Within the reports, the ambition is to integrate knowledge on possible climate futures across the Working Groups and scientific research domains based on a small set of “framing pathways” such as the so-called representative concentration pathways (RCPs) in the Fifth IPCC Assessment Report (AR5) and the shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This perspective, initiated by discussions at the IPCC Bangkok workshop in April 2023 on the “Use of Scenarios in AR6 and Subsequent Assessments”, is intended to serve as one of the community contributions to highlight the needs for the next generation of framing pathways that is being advanced under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) umbrella, which will influence or even predicate the IPCC AR7 consideration of framing pathways. Here we suggest several policy research objectives that such a set of framing pathways should ideally fulfil, including mitigation needs for meeting the Paris Agreement objectives, the risks associated with carbon removal strategies, the consequences of delay in enacting that mitigation, guidance for adaptation needs, loss and damage, and for achieving mitigation in the wider context of societal development goals. Based on this context, we suggest that the next generation of climate scenarios for Earth system models should evolve towards representative emission pathways (REPs) and suggest key categories for such pathways. These framing pathways should address the most critical mitigation policy and adaptation plans that need to be implemented over the next 10 years. In our view, the most important categories are those relevant in the context of the Paris Agreement long-term goal, specifically an immediate action (low overshoot) 1.5 °C pathway and a delayed action (high overshoot) 1.5 °C pathway. Two other key categories are a pathway category approximately in line with current (as expressed by 2023) near- and long-term policy objectives, as well as a higher-emission category that is approximately in line with “current policies” (as expressed by 2023). We also argue for the scientific and policy relevance in exploring two “worlds that could have been”. One of these categories has high-emission trajectories well above what is implied by current policies and the other has very-low-emission trajectories which assume that global mitigation action in line with limiting warming to 1.5 °C without overshoot had begun in 2015. Finally, we note that the timely provision of new scientific information on pathways is critical to inform the development and implementation of climate policy. Under the Paris Agreement, for the second global stocktake, which will occur in 2028, and to inform subsequent development of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) up to 2040, scientific inputs are required by 2027. These needs should be carefully considered in the development timeline of community modelling activities, including those under CMIP7.

What law does not understand about public participation

Public participation plays a vital role in developing and implementing climate policies. However, in practice, it is challenging to organise public participation effectively. In this paper, we compare three main regulatory approaches to public participation, the Aarhus Convention, the Escazú Agreement and the Impact and Benefits Agreements, in light of their ability to implement social sciences insights on effective public participation. By linking the social sciences and law, our analysis shows that the shortcomings of each regime, when individually taken, potentially explain why public participation practices face difficulty fulfilling the envisaged goals.

The Possibility and Improvement Directions of Achieving the Paris Agreement Goals from the Perspective of Climate Policy

Currently, climate change and global warming have significantly impacted human life. In the context of sustainable development, achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement is both urgent and complex. This paper presents a comprehensive review of climate policies worldwide. Based on the global comprehensive climate policy database that we constructed and using global panel data from 1990 to 2019, we predicted the emission reduction due to climate policies using trend and fixed-effects models to identify areas for improvement. The research findings indicate that there is a considerable gap between current climate policies and the targets set by the Paris Agreement, both in terms of quantity and effectiveness. Economic growth and primary energy consumption contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing the proportion of renewable energy in electricity generation and implementing climate policies have the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Relying solely on increasing the quantity or effectiveness of policies would require an increase of 15–30 times the levels seen before 2019 to achieve the 2 °C warming target of the Paris Agreement. However, simultaneously increasing the number of policy implementations and enhancing their effectiveness would only require about a fourfold increase from the levels seen before 2019. Additionally, the results of the study on national heterogeneity demonstrate significant differences in policy effectiveness among countries, indicating substantial potential for emission reduction. Furthermore, the analysis of policy legal enforceability shows that hard law policies outperform soft law policies, suggesting that increasing the implementation of hard law policies can more effectively reduce emissions.

Climate Policy in Global and Local Aspects

A review article summarising the current state of knowledge and suggesting directions for further research. It is part of a wider review aimed at assessing the effectiveness of climate change policies. The main difficulties considered in the article include the problems of environmental management and strategies for building resilience to climate change induced stress. The issues analysed in the article concern selected problems in the implementation of climate policy at global, regional and local levels. It was found that, under certain conditions, the effects of the measures taken can be counterproductive. The effectiveness and rationality of climate policy was also analysed from an economic perspective. The aim of the article was achieved on the basis of a review of domestic and foreign literature and documents on the subject, as well as a comparative analysis. The study covered selected issues that, in the author's opinion, should be taken into account when adapting the climate policy formulated at world summits to local conditions. This adaptation should include not only solutions but also targets. In conclusion, the author points out that the evaluation of the effectiveness of climate policy should be carried out at the local level and should include social and economic issues in addition to environmental ones, and should be accompanied by a balance of losses and benefits.

From limit values to carbon budgets: Assessing comprehensive building stock decarbonisation strategies

Several countries are moving towards imposing mandatory limit values that consider the life-cycle greenhouse gases emissions (GHGE) of new construction projects. While they offer valuable guidance towards low-carbon practices, they may not be sufficient to ensure the building activities alignment with ambitious climate goals. To do so, it is imperative to integrate all stock-level activities dynamics and consider the evolving nature of limit values influenced by the decarbonisation efforts in the energy and industry sectors.This article introduces a methodological framework designed to explore the potential evolution of the dwelling stock GHGE, with the ultimate goal of assessing their alignment with climate objectives. By using a national building stock database, alongside drivers of stock-level activities and scenarios for the decarbonisation of upstream sectors, it facilitates the creation of multiple scenarios and the calculation of yearly and cumulative Whole-Life Carbon (WLC) emissions.France is taken as a case study to investigate the compatibility of its recent implementation of climate and sectoral policies. The findings suggest that prioritising the elimination of fossil fuel usage emerges as an optimal strategy for decreasing operational GHGE. Regarding embodied GHGE, the more ambitious the scenario, the greater its relative contribution, potentially accounting for up to half of the WLC emissions by 2050. In addition to the ambitious transformation of energy-inefficient dwellings, the deep decarbonisation of energy carriers and construction materials plays a pivotal role in the overall decarbonisation of the dwelling stock, while sufficiency measures significantly impact embodied GHGE.

Effective climate finance coordination? Stakeholder perceptions, climate change policy implementation and the underlying political economy factors in Kenya

ABSTRACT The last two decades have seen an increase in climate financing channelled to the Global South from multiple sources, putting a spotlight on climate finance coordination challenges in recipient countries. However, the climate finance coordination debate has largely been centred at climate finance provision at the global level. Emerging literature has called on recipient countries to establish effective climate finance coordination mechanisms. Yet, the calls have not clarified what accounts for an effective coordination mechanism. This paper addresses the gap by analyzing stakeholder perceptions of effective climate finance coordination in Kenya. Kenya has instituted a legal and institutional framework to guide climate finance coordination, but challenges of coordination persist. Using the political economy framework, the paper analyzes political economy factors influencing stakeholder perceptions and climate change policy implementation to identify political contestations that need to be reconciled. Data is drawn from relevant literature, 29 key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions at the national level in Nairobi and at the sub-national level in Turkana County. Deductive thematic analysis is adopted for coding and analyzing data. Results indicate that different ideologies, interests, incentives, politics, power relations and contestation over resources largely influence stakeholder perceptions of an effective climate finance coordination mechanism and climate policy implementation. The operationalization of the National Climate Change Council and the National Climate Change Fund are the most contested. The paper calls on policy actors to reconcile political issues of contention for recipient countries to institute coordination mechanisms that gain ownership and widespread legitimacy from stakeholders.

Life expectancy and emission trading scheme: a case study in China.

Life expectancy can reflect both health benefit and implementation cost of climate policy. Nevertheless, little research has quantified the relation between life expectancy and climate policy in literature. In this paper, we attempt to narrow the research gap by studying how life expectancy is related to the Chinese nationwide emission trading scheme (CNETS). To achieve this research target, a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is employed to simulate the operation of the economic system and the policy shock from emission abatement. The CGE model results show that life expectancy is prolonged by GDP but shortened by emissions, and the GDP impact on life expectancy is larger than the emission impact. Climate policy has dual effects on life expectancy because it relieves both negative emission impacts and positive GDP impacts on lifespan; its net effect on life expectancy is positive. Life expectancy positively impacts GDP, and this impact is moderated by climate policy; specifically, climate policy reinforces the positive impact of life expectancy on GDP. Life expectancy minimally affects carbon emissions during climate policy implementation; in other words, it has minimal impacts on emission abatement. These findings imply that climate policy and life expectancy complement each other; the government could implement climate policy to increase lifespan or prolong life expectancy to facilitate policy implementation.

Navigating The Escalating Climate Crisis: Comprehensive Policy Responses And Collaborative Global Action For A Sustainable Future

The escalating climate crisis has become one of the greatest challenges of this century, having far-reaching negative impacts on the environment, human health, food security, and the global economy. The response to this crisis requires a deep understanding of the dynamics of climate change, as well as comprehensive and collaborative policies and actions at the global level. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and identify effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and move towards a sustainable future. This research aims to explore comprehensive policy responses and collaborative global action to navigate the climate crisis toward a sustainable future. The research method used is qualitative, by collecting and analyzing data from relevant research results and previous studies. The results of this research found that efforts to overcome the climate crisis require a comprehensive approach, involving strong international cooperation and synergy between development policies. Transitioning to clean energy, sustainable management of natural resources, and increasing community resilience to the impacts of climate change were identified as key strategies. Education and increasing public awareness are also important elements in supporting behavior change and community participation. Technology and innovation play a vital role in creating efficient and sustainable solutions. Finally, adequate funding and innovative funding mechanisms are needed to support the effective implementation of climate policies and initiatives.

Polish climate policy in the opinion of young Poles - a pilot survey

As established in the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Green Deal, combating climate change is one of the central elements of the European Union’s policy. As a member, Poland is obliged to develop and implement climate policy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so climate neutrality can be achieved by 2050. In the context of low political priority for the Polish government, the study aims to identify the level of awareness, perceptions, and attitudes of young Poles towards climate change, as well as their assessment of climate policy. To achieve this aim, a non-random sampling pilot survey was conducted among young Poles in spring 2022, using an electronic questionnaire made available via social media. While the results show respondents’ awareness of and rather high interest in the threats posed by climate change, in-depth knowledge of climate change, climate policy, and its socio-economic implications is lacking. The progress in and effectiveness of climate policy in Poland is rather assessed negatively. Based on the results, key directions for future actions are suggested for the young generation to become a force in creating a more effective climate policy.

Integrating climate policies in the sustainability analysis of green chemicals.

New and enhanced processes will not be the only drivers toward a sustainable chemical industry. Implementing climate policies will impact all components of the chemical supply chain over the following decades, making improvements in energy generation, material extraction, or transportation contribute to reducing the overall impacts of chemical technologies. Including this synergistic effect when comparing technologies offers a clearer vision of their future potential and may allow researchers to support their sustainability propositions more strongly. Ammonia and methanol production account for more than fifty percent of the CO2 emissions in this industry and are, therefore, excellent case studies. This work performs a prospective life cycle assessment until 2050 for fossil, blue, wind, and solar-based technologies under climate policies aiming to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C, 2 °C, or 3.5 °C. The first finding is the inability of fossil-based routes to reduce their CO2 emissions beyond 10% by 2050 without tailored decarbonisation strategies, regardless of the chemical and climate policy considered. In contrast, green routes may produce chemicals with around 90% fewer emissions than today and even with net negative emissions (on a cradle-to-gate basis), as in the case of methanol (up to -1.4 kg CO2-eq per kg), mainly due to the contributions of technology development and increasing penetration of renewable energies. Overall, the combined production of these chemicals could be net-zero by 2050 despite their predicted two to fivefold increase in demand. Lastly, we propose a roadmap for progressive implementation by 2050 of green routes in 26 regions worldwide, applying the criterion of at least 80% reduction in climate change impacts when compared to their fossil alternatives. Furthermore, an exploratory prospective techno-economic assessment showed that by 2050, green routes could become more economically attractive. This work offers quantitative arguments to reinforce research, development, and policymaking efforts on green chemical routes reliant on renewable energies.

CLIMATE CHANGE, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND GOVERNANCE: A SPECIAL FOCUS ON INDIA

With a focus on the Indian context, this paper explores the complex relationship between governance, policy creation, and climate change. Our study uses a mixed-methods approach and starts with a thorough analysis of the body of knowledge on India's governance systems, climate change policy, and related topics. We gather primary data from key stakeholders through surveys and interviews with them, as well as through secondary sources like academic journals and government papers, including representatives of civil society and environmental experts. The report examines India's climate change policies in-depth, evaluating their coherence, efficacy, and compliance with international obligations. In addition, we conduct case studies in several Indian states to find best practices and areas where policy implementation needs to be improved. In order to identify important lessons and methods that may be applied to India, comparative study of international experiences in climate governance is helpful. Engagement of stakeholders is a key element that offers priceless insights into the difficulties and opportunities involved in developing and implementing climate policies. To forecast the potential impact of various policy options on India's climate resilience and emissions reduction ambitions, scenario building exercises are used. By utilizing this reliable methodology, our research aims to advance knowledge of climate governance and policy formulation while providing detailed suggestions for improving India's climate governance framework and hastening the country's transition to sustainability and climate change resilience.

Climate actions, market beliefs, and monetary policy

This paper studies the role of expectations and monetary policy in the economy's response to climate actions. We show that in a stochastic environment, without the standard assumption of the perfect rationality of agents, there is more uncertainty regarding the path and the economic impact of a climate policy, with a potential threat to the ability of central banks to maintain price stability. Market beliefs and behavioral agents increase the trade-offs inherent to the chosen mitigation tool, with a carbon tax entailing more emissions uncertainty than in a rational expectations model and a cap-and-trade scheme implying a more pronounced pressure on allowance prices and inflation. The impact on price stability is worsened by delays in the implementation of stringent climate policies, the lack of confidence in the ability of central banks to keep inflation under control, and the adoption of monetary rules tied to expectations rather than current macroeconomic conditions. Central banks can implement successful stabilization policies that reduce the uncertainty surrounding the impact of climate actions and support the greening process while remaining within their mandate.

Climate Litigation in a ‘Developmental State’: The Case of China

Abstract Despite the absence of a framework climate law, China’s judiciary has expressed its determination to take climate change litigation seriously. This article argues that the Chinese approach to climate change litigation can be better understood within China’s climate governance paradigm. Primarily understanding climate change as a matter of development instead of a matter of environment or human rights, the Chinese government believes that mitigation and adaptation can only be achieved through a smarter development strategy. The state entrusts the power of making and implementing climate policy to the developmental and industrial departments of the executive branch, allowing them to use macroeconomic measures to transform the structure of energy and industry. If this paradigm persists, Chinese judges are unlikely to condemn carbon majors or require the adaptation of more ambitious climate goals. Instead, the judiciary will interpret statutory law or contracts in light of the state’s climate goals, with the hope of incentivizing industrial upgrades. Despite this approach’s apparent advantages of mainstreaming climate considerations, judges are facing the challenge of employing more sophisticated legal techniques and empirical expertise in respect of the energy system.

Governança adaptativa: desafio para regiões metropolitanas brasileiras

Abstract The purpose of this article is to present a theoretical discussion about the institutional dimension of the concept of adaptive governance. We discuss examples of this institutional dimension based on an analysis of the limits to the implementation of adaptive governance in Brazilian metropolises, based on: 1) the financial resources available to the environmental management of municipalities belonging to metropolitan regions; 2) the creation of an institutional arrangement for climate governance in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Despite the incremental aspect, the analyzed data indicate the low fiscal relevance of the environmental issue, as well as difficulties in implementing governance arrangements that succeed in providing transversal planning capacity, mechanisms for the integrated action of different agents, and incentives to an enhanced participatory dynamics in the formulation and implementation of climate policies.

Nationally determined contributions to the 2015 Paris Agreement goals: transparency in communications from developing country Parties

ABSTRACT The goals of the Paris Agreement (PA) on collectively managing climate change can only be reached if all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commit to actions supporting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Developing-economy nations play a crucial role in reaching the PA targets, particularly in the Agriculture, Forest, and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) sector. However, developing country Parties also face several constraints in tracking and communicating progress towards their climate policy targets and implementation of their NDCs. The operationalization of Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the PA will bring stricter reporting timeframes and advanced transparency for all parties. With these requirements rapidly coming into force, addressing reporting gaps is now a pressing priority. The present study analyzes the NDCs, and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) submitted by developing country Parties under the UNFCCC. In an illustrative exercise, our in-depth analysis concentrates on reporting on the AFOLU sector and identifies issues impeding a comprehensive and comparable Global Stock Take (GST): (i) issues of consistency in reporting timeframes (ii) issues in transparency of reporting on mitigation sectors and on relevant progress indicators (iii) incomparability of methodological approaches proposed and used, and (iv) the implications of limited national capacity for transparent reporting. The UNFCCC and developed country Parties now have the opportunity of providing specialized support for developing country Parties. This could include tailored guidance to address gaps in both greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions accounting, and reporting challenges, to ensure consistent, comprehensive, and transparent reporting to reinforce capacities moving forward following the next GST.

Climate policy uncertainty and its relationship with precious metals price volatility: Comparative analysis pre and during COVID-19

Climate change and its associated challenges have become pressing global concerns. This has necessitated policymakers and governments to take action by implementing climate policies to mitigate its effects. However, the uncertainty surrounding climate policies has caused adverse effects in several areas, particularly in the financial markets. Likewise, the precious metals market has traditionally been considered a haven for investors in times of economic crisis. However, with the ongoing changes in climate policies, the previously stable prices of precious metals have encountered unexpected fluctuations. This state leads us to question how climate policy uncertainty impacts the volatility of precious metals. Thus, this study is designed to delve into the association between climate policy uncertainty and the volatile nature of precious metals prices, focusing on a comparative analysis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. An advanced technique, i.e., GARCH-MIDAS, has been employed for data analysis. The results illustrate that climate policy uncertainty significantly affects the price volatility of precious metals. The results also indicate that climate policy uncertainty significantly impacted precious metals price volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that price volatility of metals escalates during a crisis. It has been revealed further that platinum and palladium are the foremost precious metals with high fluctuation series. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the proposed relationship, providing significant information for long-term investment strategies and developing policy in light of changing climate policies.

Building the Concept of Just Transition in Law: Reflections on its Conceptual Framing, Structure and Content

This article focuses on the concept of just transition, which has recently greatly expanded in the climate debate, expressing the demand to adopt and implement climate policies leading to decarbonisation in a way that maintains equity and justice. Building on previous research on the concept of just transition in other disciplines of social sciences, and on the concept’s appearance in international climate law instruments and law literature, we analyse the just transition in the field of law. We seek to clarify its conceptual framing, to define its meaning, and to determine its position and limits in law. We then examine it vertically (for each level of law) and horizontally, addressing the main criteria that define its content, i.e., human rights and legal principles.

Job creation and deep decarbonization

Abstract This paper explores whether economic viability is the key to achieve deep decarbonization or net zero emissions. The hypothesis tested is that popular support for decarbonization policies is conditional upon most people’s belief that their economic well-being will improve, or at least not suffer with these policies. While GDP growth is the typical metric for economic health, a more useful socio-economic indicator for gauging the political viability of climate policies may be job creation. Specifically, the paper reviews the existing evidence about whether climate policies are more successful in achieving deep decarbonization in the long run if policy-makers include job creation as well as emissions reductions when designing and implementing climate policies, because, to date, climate policy-makers have often focused on emissions reductions as the primary criterion for policy choice. While empirical evidence remains thin, we find that job creation in low-carbon industries appears to lead to greater political support for the climate policies that contribute to decarbonization, but employment factors are not always the most salient factor in a voter’s decision. We also find empirical evidence that clean energy deployment policies, such as feed-in tariffs, have led to significant net gains in employment in the countries that have been studied. The review points to several policy implications, including the need to assess competitive advantage, develop plans, design and execute industrial policy, and develop a low-carbon workforce.

Power in climate change policy-making process in South Asia

ABSTRACT Climate change policies are prepared in a power-loaded environment, where different policy actors interact to meet their personal or collective interests. This paper argues that the ‘power interplay’ between actors plays a significant role in shaping and re-shaping climate change policies. We present examples from South Asia (Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan) to show how actors’ power interplay at the local, sub-national, national and transboundary levels influences climate change policy-making. We show that negative effects of power interplay are prominent in the climate policy domain of South Asia, including short-termism of local adaptation plans, exclusion of certain policy actors in the policy-making processes, lack of transboundary-level adaptation, and lack of coordination between actors. Nuances also exist, such as the state's authority in prioritizing technical solutions, exclusionary design and implementation of climate policies, and an agenda of securitization; these can further marginalize the actors involved in climate change policy processes. The negative effects of power interplay in South Asia can limit the success of on-the-ground implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies, limit adaptive capacity among communities, and possibly counter the development of a strong climate change solutions space. Lastly, we argue that there are no silver bullet solutions to power asymmetries and appeal to policy actors – in South Asia and elsewhere – to design context-specific and power-sensitive policy-making approaches.