Levels Of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Research Articles

Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Trade Capability in the European Food Market

Climate change and global food security issues will continue to be at the center of policy debates as long global warming prolongs due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Since agriculture is very vulnerable to climate change, various climate change scenarios are projected for the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector. However, there are conflicting hypotheses regarding the relation between climate change and agricultural production, and agricultural trade as well, in the literature. In this study, the major determinants of agricultural trade capability, including climate change indicators are analyzed in the European food market. First of all, Turkey and its major rivals are included in the analysis because Turkey is one of the major agricultural exporters and ranks the 16th in global agricultural market. The share of the 5irst 16 countries covers 60% of agricultural exports in the world. Secondly, the major rivals of Turkey are determined in the European food market and categorized as emerging and developing countries. Then, panel data models are employed to analyze the main determinants of agricultural trade for 16 countries for the period of 1990-2008. The empirical evidence supports that climate change affects the agricultural trade capability of food exporters in the European Market. Fixed Effect Model results reveal that particulate emission damage decreases agricultural trade capability of emerging and developed countries in the European food market. In addition, carbon dioxide emission level is favorable for agricultural trade capability in developed countries due to usage of energy sources and the efficiency in agricultural production. Contradicting results are applicable for emerging countries since the carbon dioxide emission level is favorable mainly for the industrial sector. Furthermore, carbon dioxide intensity is also negatively correlated with the agricultural trade capability of both emerging and developed countries.

Briefing: A practical initiative for the construction industry

This briefing paper presents a client-led programme to save cost and reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions by encouraging the innovation of working practices and processes within the construction industry. The need to improve performance and be sustainable in the construction industry is well understood. Recent calls that everyone has to lead improvement and other calls to innovate are being answered by a programme called Best East, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, which is managed by the East of England Development Agency. Components of the programme include: clients working collaboratively to encourage change in the industry; support organisations working in partnership to provide more comprehensive change programmes; supply chains being procured to make time to innovate while reducing the overall schedule and cost; organisations in the supply chain given help to put all the basics of good business in place; provision of knowledge on performance improvement, low carbon, sustainability; and long-term network support to enhance the initial learning including connection to higher and further education. The programme uses capital projects to demonstrate the successes gained from capturing improvements from every organisation in the supply chain.

Gender differences in environmental behaviors in China

China represents the third largest economy and the highest level of national carbon dioxide emissions when compared to other nations across the globe. Yet, little social science research has focused on the environmentally oriented behaviors of Chinese nationals, key to understanding levels of environmental impact. This study examines, in China, gender differences in environmentally oriented behaviors, environmental knowledge, and general environmental concern. Making use of path analyses, we identify a pattern of gender differences similar to common findings in the West: women demonstrated greater participation in environmental behaviors inside of the home (e.g., recycling), while outside of the home (e.g., environmental organization donations) no gendered patterns were exhibited. However, Chinese women expressed lower levels of concern than men—a finding opposite of most Western studies. Also distinct from other settings, in China, higher levels of knowledge regarding environmental issues did, indeed, translate into pro-environmental behaviors—thereby not exhibiting the knowledge-behavior gap demonstrated elsewhere.

Do environmental characteristics influence foreign direct investment growth? A cross-national study, 1990-2000

The author engages several theoretical traditions in both economics and sociology to examine the impacts of levels of environmental efficiency and environmental institutions on foreign investment location in less-developed countries. Results from static score design panel OLS models of 52 countries provide mixed results. Less-developed countries with higher levels of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product attract higher levels of foreign investment, whereas less-developed countries with environmental ministries attract lower levels of foreign investment. Other independent variables - including sulfur dioxide emissions per unit of GDP, environmental treaty ratification, and environmental INGO presence/rate - show no statistically significant relationship with foreign investment location. The results underscore the continuing importance of the pollution havens hypothesis as well as the need for further research.

Land use planning and health and well-being

This paper is concerned with the relationship between the planning of settlements and health. It gives a brief introduction to the issues before summarising the evidence in relation to a range of topics, concluding with some more speculative thoughts on likely future findings. Modern planning was invented in response to inhumane living conditions in 19th century cities. But in the last century the connection was lost. Only now, with concerns over climate change and obesity, is there beginning to be the realisation that the physical environment is an important determinant of health. The paper uses a particular model of this relationship based on eco-system and health determinants theories to structure the review of evidence. The review covers: lifestyle choices in relation to physical activity and diet, mental well-being and community, the local economy and income, health inequalities and strategic land use transport planning, pollution and urban form, and finally impacts on global ecology. There is now a growing consensus that while personal factors are critical in determining health, the urban environment exacerbates or mitigates health and well-being outcomes. The level of active travel (walking and cycling) and outdoor recreational activity is strongly affected by accessibility to local facilities. Access to green, natural environments, and to local social networks, are factors in mental well-being. The wider sub-regional pattern of housing, economic development, land use and transport is a determinant of social exclusion and therefore health inequalities. It also affects health-damaging pollution, adaptability in the face of climate change and the level of carbon dioxide emissions. We have literally been building unhealthy conditions into many of our towns and cities. But comparisons with the best cities in Europe indicate that it is possible to reverse the less desirable trends. Success depends, however, on more radical policies of local authority control over land and finance than any political party has yet advocated. It also requires collaboration between the full range of powerful public and private organizations that influence the built environment. Future research is likely to further strengthen these conclusions. It will become much more obvious that planning for health and well-being is not only the NHS, but about creating a health-promoting physical, social and economic environment.

The implications of population growth and urbanization for climate change

This paper considers the implications of population growth and urbanization for climate change. It emphasizes that it is not the growth in (urban or rural) populations that drives the growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but rather, the growth in consumers and in their levels of consumption. A significant proportion of the world’s urban (and rural) populations have consumption levels that are so low that they contribute little or nothing to such emissions. If the lifetime contribution to GHG emissions of a person added to the world’s population varies by a factor of more than 1,000 depending on the circumstances into which they are born and their life choices, it is misleading to see population growth as the driver of climate change. A review of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions levels for nations, and how they changed between 1980 and 2005 (and also between 1950 and 1980), shows little association between nations with rapid population growth and nations with high GHG emissions and rapid GHG emissions growth; indeed, it is mostly nations with very low emissions per person (and often only slowly growing emissions) that have had the highest population growth rates. The paper also discusses how in the much-needed planning for global emissions reduction, provision must be made to allow low-income, low-consumption households with GHG emissions per person below the global “fair share” level to increase their consumption.

Setting cumulative emissions targets to reduce the risk of dangerous climate change

Avoiding "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" requires stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and substantial reductions in anthropogenic emissions. Here, we present an inverse approach to coupled climate-carbon cycle modeling, which allows us to estimate the probability that any given level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will exceed specified long-term global mean temperature targets for "dangerous anthropogenic interference," taking into consideration uncertainties in climate sensitivity and the carbon cycle response to climate change. We show that to stabilize global mean temperature increase at 2 degrees C above preindustrial levels with a probability of at least 0.66, cumulative CO2 emissions from 2000 to 2500 must not exceed a median estimate of 590 petagrams of carbon (PgC) (range, 200 to 950 PgC). If the 2 degrees C temperature stabilization target is to be met with a probability of at least 0.9, median total allowable CO2 emissions are 170 PgC (range, -220 to 700 PgC). Furthermore, these estimates of cumulative CO2 emissions, compatible with a specified temperature stabilization target, are independent of the path taken to stabilization. Our analysis therefore supports an international policy framework aimed at avoiding dangerous anthropogenic interference formulated on the basis of total allowable greenhouse gas emissions.

Do Consumers Select Food Products Based on Carbonddioxide Emissions? Evidence from a Buying Experiment in Japan

This study investigates whether consumers select foods based on the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by using a choice experiment in the laboratory. Respondents are asked to purchase a few Satsuma mandarin oranges based on price and the levels of CO2 emissions during different stages of their life cycle of production until packing and to answer questions on environmental consciousness, knowledge, and behavior. The following results are obtained: (i) the result for the high and low groups with respect to environmental consciousness is only significant different. (ii) the willingness to pay (WTP) estimate for the reduction of 1g of CO2 emissions per Satsuma mandarin orange is significantly lower for the low environmentally conscious group than it is for the high environmentally conscious group; (iii) the choice reasons selected by the respondents indicate that the low environmentally conscious group is less likely to select foods based on their CO2 emissions, whereas the high environmentally conscious group is indifferent to both price and the levels of CO2 emissions; and (iv) socioeconomic characteristics such as gender, age, and education influence the selection of foods on the basis of CO2 emissions in the low environmentally conscious group. However, this is not the case in the high environmentally conscious group. Therefore, this study implies that regardless of consumers’ environmental knowledge and behavior, the higher their environmental consciousness, the greater their likelihood of selecting foods with lower environmental loads.

Predictive equations for CO 2 emission factors for coal combustion, their applicability in a thermal power plant and subsequent assessment of uncertainty in CO 2 estimation

The emission of carbon dioxide varies systematically with the rank and type of coal combusted. Hence use of a single default emission factor proposed by IPCC (Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change) for entire categories coals may not be appropriate option to obtain a reliable estimate of carbon dioxide emission level or towards the preparation of national carbon dioxide inventory. Even predictive equations developed based on the coals of different origin may not work well with coals of a specific origin. Several linear predictive equations were thus developed separately for coking and non-coking coals of Indian origin for the estimation of carbon dioxide emission utilizing basic coal parameters such as VM, FC, GCV and NCV on different basis. Large numbers of authenticated data set were used for multiple regression analysis and good correlations were obtained. Those equations were also validated with different data sets of Indian coals. Its applicability towards estimation of CO 2 emission from power plant was also studied and uncertainty in CO 2 estimation is revealed. The developed equations may be utilized to get a realistic estimate of carbon dioxide emission with specific cases where Indian coals are mostly used.

A Car for the Great Asian Multitude

Although the vehicles-to-population ratios of China and India are small when compared to Europe, Japan, and the United States, sales of cars and light trucks in the two countries have increased rapidly in recent years. This article documents the growth in the number of vehicles in China and India and compares the expansion of their vehicle fleets to the historical experiences of countries that achieved high levels of automobile ownership decades ago. The article notes some of the problems that are emerging as the extent of vehicle ownership in China and India begins to approach that of the developed countries: pressure on the world’s petroleum supplies, increased levels of carbon dioxide emissions, and a rising toll of automobile-related deaths and injuries. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the cultural and political issues that are accompanying mass motorization in China and India.

Environmental Policy Implications of Extreme Variations in Pollutant Stock Levels and Socioeconomic Costs

Motivated by recent evidence on the possibility of jumps in carbon dioxide emission levels and abrupt increases in pollutant-related socio-economic costs, this paper uses a real options approach to examine their impact with respect to the optimal timing of environmental policies and the optimal emissions abatement level. To this end, we extend the methodology of Pindyck (2000) using jump diffusion processes. We show that if pollutant stock levels are subject to extreme variations and the emissions abatement level is chosen exogenously by the policymaker, then environmental policy measures should be taken earlier. A similar, yet more prominent, effect is observed under the assumption that pollutant-related socio-economic costs and benefits are expected to exhibit abrupt changes. However, different results are obtained when we examine simultaneously the two interrelated decisions, namely, the optimal timing of emissions abatement and the optimal abatement level. In this case, an increase in the size and/or probability of a jump, delays policy adoption but leads to higher optimal abatement.

Hot Corrosion and Steam Oxidation Properties of New Heat Resistant Steels for Ultra Super Critical Boilers

Achieving higher plant efficiency in thermal power plants is one of the major global challenges from the viewpoint of reducing carbon dioxide emission levels, particularly in coal-fired boilers, irrespective of the type of coal being burned. In recent times, it has been possible to increase the steam temperature in coal fired ultra supercritical (USC) plants without too much of a cost impact. The temperature has already been increased to 600 for main steam and 610 for reheat steam. The main enabling technology is the development of stronger high temperature materials such as newly developed high Cr ferritic steels and austenitic steels, capable of operating under high stresses at increasing high temperatures. Other key demands for those materials are hot corrosion resistance such as coal ash corrosion in superheater and reheater tubes and sulfidation of waterwall tubes, and steam oxidation resistance. This paper will mainly present the hot corrosion and steam oxidation properties of newly developed high strength heat resistant steels for their application to USC boilers and long-term experience in an actual plant.

Is there cross-country convergence in carbon dioxide emissions?

This paper examines the spatial distribution of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in 87 countries during the period 1960–1999. In order to overcome the methodological limitations of conventional convergence analysis, I have used a non-parametric approach which allows us to study the dynamics of the entire cross-section distribution. The results show that cross-country disparities in per capita carbon dioxide emissions decreased throughout the study period. In fact, the probability mass concentrated around the average increased over time, which helps to explain the observed reduction in the polarisation of the distribution under consideration. In any event, the intradistribution mobility level is relatively low. I have also investigated how far spatial differences in per capita carbon dioxide emission levels can be explained by factors such as per capita income, the degree of trade openness or climatic conditions.

Uncertainty, imprecision, and the precautionary principle in climate change assessment

Statistical decision theory can provide useful support for climate change decisions made under conditions of uncertainty. However, the probability distributions used to calculate expected costs in decision theory are themselves subject to uncertainty, disagreement, or ambiguity in their specification. This imprecision can be described using sets of probability measures, from which upper and lower bounds on expectations can be calculated. However, many representations, or classes, of probability measures are possible. We describe six of the more useful classes and demonstrate how each may be used to represent climate change uncertainties. When expected costs are specified by bounds, rather than precise values, the conventional decision criterion of minimum expected cost is insufficient to reach a unique decision. Alternative criteria are required, and the criterion of minimum upper expected cost may be desirable because it is consistent with the precautionary principle. Using simple climate and economics models as an example, we determine the carbon dioxide emissions levels that have minimum upper expected cost for each of the selected classes. There can be wide differences in these emissions levels and their associated costs, emphasizing the need for care when selecting an appropriate class.

International Nongovernmental Organizations and Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Developing World: A Quantitative, Cross‐National Analysis

This quantitative, cross‐national study is designed to test hypotheses linking the activities of international nongovernmental organizations to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions in the developing world. While many quantitative studies of variation in carbon dioxide emissions have been published, none have included a control for the presence of international nongovernmental organizations. We review the literature that discusses the many ways that international nongovernmental organizations work to reduce environmental degradation in developing nations. We then conduct a panel regression analysis in which we include a variable to estimate the effects of international nongovernmental organizations on carbon dioxide emissions while including variables suggested by other relevant theoretical perspectives. Our findings are quite clear in that nations with high levels of international nongovernmental organization presence have lower levels of carbon dioxide emissions than nations with low levels of international nongovernmental organization presence. We also find support for the ecological modernization hypothesis pertaining to the existence of an environmental Kuznet's curve between the level of economic development and level of carbon dioxide emissions.

From Red To Green In East Central Europe: Transition And The Environment In Romania And Hungary

This paper uses the wave of regime changes that swept East Central Europe in 1989 to test the hypothesis that a smoothe R transition to democracy will lead to greater success in addressing environmental issues. Changes in the levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) emissions during the transition period in Romania and Hungary are examined in relation to political and economic developments over the period in order to determine the significance of each factor in dealing with environmental challenges. The analysis shows that the stable transition in Hungary has provided an opportunity to improve environmental outcomes, whereas Romania has struggled during the transition period with limited environmental improvements. the Re does, then, appear to be a link between the nature of the transition process and environmental performance.

Analysis of the impacts of nuclear phase-out on energy systems in Japan

Nuclear power is likely to be widely recognized as one of the few options that can help countries meet base load electricity demand with virtually no greenhouse gas emissions. In Japan, the deregulation of Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) is expected to introduce competition into the electricity market and change market structures to lower electricity prices. As investors assume the risk of their investments, incentives to invest in nuclear power become conservative. This research examines the impacts of nuclear phase-out on both energy systems and carbon dioxide emissions in Japan. A partial equilibrium model of the Japanese energy sector has been developed to forecast changes in the energy system until the year 2040. This model can account for the changes in energy technology capacities, fuels, and consumption in response to policy initiatives, such as taxes. We find that the nuclear phase-out results in an 8% increase in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2040. To achieve the same level of carbon dioxide emissions without nuclear power in the future, it will be necessary to charge a 30% higher carbon tax than in a similar scenario with nuclear power.

Energy efficiency and building construction in India

The energy conservation has become an important issue in building design, it is logical to apply the principle of energy costing to building projects, and to look for ways to minimize the total energy consumed during their lifetime. Even though the total quantity of energy consumed in a building during its lifetime may be many times than that consumed in its construction, there are number of reasons why the energy use in the construction process, and in particular in the building materials used, should be treated as a matter of importance in looking for ways to minimize energy use in the built environment as a whole. In this paper the energy costs of alternative construction techniques using an optimization framework are assessed and compared. The techniques of construction evaluated in this paper are commonly used pucca techniques as well as low-cost construction techniques. Energy consumption and resource requirements due to the use of alternative techniques of construction for a representative room of size 3.5 m×3.5 m×3.14 m are evaluated. An assessment of the magnitude of energy consumption, if housing shortages have to be met, shows that a huge amount of energy would be consumed in housing sector alone. The associated levels of carbon dioxide emissions associated with this construction would also be prohibitively high. Finally the paper concludes with recommendations for structural changes in the energy and construction policy in India to minimize energy consumption in building construction.

Toward a Real Global Warming Treaty

In December 1997 the worlds nations met in Kyoto to grapple with the problem of global warming. The Kyoto conference garnered wide variety of assessments, ranging from a notable success through a useful first step ' to a grave disappointment and setback for those concerned with the future of the planet. Whatever one thinks of Kyoto in terms of environmentalist politics, the troubling fact remains that its underlying approach is bound to fail. Because it is premised on setting national emissions targets, the Kyoto strategy will not be able to solve the alleged problem of global climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. The likely failure of Kyoto should be used as the impetus for hard look at the prospects for treaty on global climate change. The Framework Convention on Climate Change signed in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro drew wide international attention to the danger of gradual global warming from humanity's use of fossil fuels and other activities. Rio committed signatory governments to do something about global climate change, but it did not commit them to take any specific actions. Since Rio, governments of most rich countries under took to reduce their levels of carbon dioxide emissions to estimated

Energy conservation & management — Role of women

Mahatma Gandhi said about the Planet Earth that there was sufficient resource to meet everybody's need (in the planet), but not for anybody's greed - nothing could be more appropriate at present in the context of the Global Energy situation. Renewable Energy has now been recognised as the only solution to the problem of sustainable development. Among Asian countries, India would continue to remain one of the major consumers of fossil fuels, because of the fast growth in her economy, since the new economic policies were initiated around 1991. With demand far out-stripping supply, shortages of power in India are growing every year with more and more forest covers getting depleted and women everywhere are being affected, directly or indirectly. Experts have projected that unless the present level of carbon dioxide emissions coming from fossil fuels is reduced to 60% of the present level, there would be a major climatic shift by the middle of 2000 A.D. The Government of India has realised that such a reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions would not be possible unless there is a shift from the present fossil-fuel based economy to a Renewable Energy based economy. The contribution of carbon dioxide emissions from the use of renewable energy is the least compared with those from other fuels, and is of the order of 0.001% per kwh, as against 1.2% per k. wh for coal and 0.6% per k. wh for oil.