Low-carbon Development Strategies Research Articles

Techno-economic assessment of alternative marine fuels for inland shipping in Croatia

Emissions reduction targets are pushing the shipping industry towards cleaner and more energy-efficient solutions. One option proposed is to replace conventional marine fuels with cleaner fuels. This is particularly important for vessels engaged in short-sea shipping and inland waterway transportation because their exhaust gases more negatively affect the local population than long-distance ships do. Hence the aim of this study is to undertake a technical, environmental and economic analysis of alternative fuels to reduce the environmental footprint and lifetime costs of inland waterway transportation. The analysis will focus on Croatia whose existing outdated inland waterway fleet needs to meet the goals of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia. In the study, a life-cycle analysis and life-cycle cost assessment of different alternative fuels will be performed taking into account the operating profiles and technical characteristics of vessels working in Croatia. The potential effects of a carbon tax are also examined in a case study considering carbon emissions reduction targets in Croatia by 2030. The electrification of ships is highlighted as the most environmentally friendly option for each considered ship, reaching a carbon emission reduction of up to 51%, while the most cost-effective option varies for each ship.

Costs and potentials of reducing CO2 emissions in China's transport sector: Findings from an energy system analysis

As China's transportation system expands it is producing a large amount of end-use emissions. To derive cost-effective measures for CO2 mitigation, the authors of this paper develop a marginal abatement cost (MAC) curve for China's transport sector. Using the TIMES model, MAC curves are derived which identify the linkages among all transport modes, considering, among other uncertainties, the impacts of a carbon peaking policy and driver preferences for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The results underline that the intercity passenger transport sector has a cost advantage, with a huge potential for emissions reduction (accounting for almost 38.8% of all CO2 emissions mitigation). The freight sector is another potentially significant contributor to CO2 reduction, underlining its vital role for emission mitigation in the longer run. The carbon peak policy, while making alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) more efficient, is found to increase the overall cost of emissions reduction. A higher ratio of electricity to fossil fuel use by PHEVs drivers would help the transport sector to reduce CO2 much faster. The sensitivity analysis of these and other factors is also estimated in this paper. The final MAC curves provide valuable insights for future low-carbon energy development strategies of China's transport sector.

Key global climate governance problems and Chinese countermeasures

Presently, the full implementation of the negotiations and collaborations under the Paris Agreement faces new key problems and severe challenges. These problems and challenges include the following: how to honor the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” to facilitate a comprehensive, balanced, and effective implementation of the key elements of the Paris Agreement, such as adaptation, mitigation, finance, technology, capacity building, and transparency; how to uphold and maintain the status of China and other emerging countries as developing countries in light of the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the historical responsibilities of these countries; and how to assess the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C and what constitutes an equitable carbon mitigation pathway for different types of countries. Developed countries and developing countries have drastically diverging views on carbon border adjustment measures for trade with developing countries proposed by several developed countries such as the European Union. Developed countries have demonstrated obvious intentions and actions designed to weaken and neglect the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, to impose mitigation pressure on developing countries, to shift the responsibilities for emissions onto others, and to pass on the costs of mitigation. The maneuvering among different types of countries and interest groups has become increasingly intense. In response, China must maintain its strategic focus, adhere to the goals and principles established by the Paris Agreement, stick to its strategic positioning as a developing country, solidify strategic support from the developing world, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. China played a conducive role in facilitating the Paris Agreement and has become an active participant, contributor, and leader in global climate governance. China must continue to follow Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its conception of ecological civilization and the concept of building a community of common destiny, to actively lead the cooperation process in the construction of a global climate governance system characterized by equity, justice, and win–win collaborations, and to promote compliance with the Paris Agreement. At the same time, China should accelerate the green, low-carbon, circular transformation of its economy; accelerate the coordinated governance of the economy, environment, and climate change; and formulate and implement a long-term low-carbon development strategy. By the middle of the 21st century, while achieving the goal of building a great modern socialist country, China can also achieve a deep decarbonization development path that is in line with the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to well below 2 °C and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

Regionalized cost supply potential of bioenergy crops and residues in Colombia: A hybrid statistical balance and land suitability allocation scenario analysis

The Colombian agricultural sector has the capacity and ambition to reduce its land use and GHG emissions through sustainable intensification of livestock production. However, the impact of such pathway on the availability of land for bioenergy crops production has not been thoroughly investigated. Moreover, previous assessments of the role bioenergy in Colombia have mostly focused on residues, in isolation of land use policies.To address this gap, we propose a hybrid statistical land balancing and suitability allocation approach to estimate long term projections of the cost–supply potential of bioenergy crops and residues. Regionalized to the 32 Colombian departments (administrative divisions), this approach could provide higher resolution than global assessments, while avoiding the complexity of spatially explicit methods. We investigated three scenarios covering the uncertainty of socioeconomic drivers and agricultural and livestock productivity factors.Our results suggest that pursuing progressive land use policies (SSP1 scenario) could release up to 14 Mha of land by 2050, which could be available to produce perennial bioenergy crops. The cumulative potential of crops in SSP1 could reach up to 2200 PJ, where about half of this potential could be attained at 7 $ GJ−1 or less. Potential supply centers could be identified in Orinoquía, Andean, and Caribbean regions for energy crops and the Pacific region for residues. Our findings indicate that there could be an opportunity to create synergy between the low carbon development strategies of the land use and energy sectors in Colombia.

Study of low-carbon energy development in China: the case of Fujian Province

Carbon emissions caused by energy consumption have a serious impact on global climate change, causing serious environmental problems. As one of the world’s largest energy consumers and carbon emitters, China needs to attach great importance to low-carbon energy development, and address major environmental issues such as ecological destruction and climate warming. In the process of energy low-carbon development, Fujian Province is faced with a series of challenges in terms of energy structure, social and economic development, capital and technology, etc. However, at the same time, Fujian Province in China also has opportunities to develop energy low-carbon in terms of emission reduction space and rich forest resources. This paper firstly describes the energy consumption situation in Fujian Province and emphasizes the necessity of using low-carbon energy, then analyzes the energy structure of Fujian Province and the relationship between low carbon development and the adjustment of industrial structure in Fujian Province. Finally, this paper proposes that Fujian Province should make use of the advantages of renewable resources to develop a reasonable low-carbon energy development strategy.

Philippine Electricity Power Market Supply Options: Challenges and Policy Implications for Greening Economic Growth, Climate Resiliency, and Low Carbon Future

Over the past few years, energy security and sustainable development have moved up the global agenda. Energy is what makes an economy run. There is a strong correlation between economic development and energy consumption. Energy security plays an important role in all economic sectors in attaining the long-term vision of inclusive economic growth and development of the economy. The attainment of this vision is difficult as it is challenged by the need to build energy infrastructures that are not only responsive to the growing demand but can withstand the maximum credible natural disaster. One of the primary objectives of sustainable development is to make people without access to enough energy be able to meet their needs through the provision of stable, reliable, clean, safe, and affordable energy services. This research will use the Granger Causality test to analyze the causal relationship among the endogenous variables among (1) GNI per capita; (2) GHG Emissions; and (3) Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) between energy-economic development and the influencing factors of power supply security indicators. In the end, this paper expects to suggest that the paper electric power development plans in the country also have implications for the path that would lead the country to what is known as a green economy. It is in this background that energy security and economic growth development are intertwined by public policy. In a broader development sense, public policy draws in the active involvement of the community in identifying problems. Anchored deeply in the national development agenda, the local community develops its own sets of development goals and pushes itself towards realizing this long-range vision. Hence, the output of public policy supported by strategic planning will require effective monitoring and evaluation of programs. This remains to be both a challenge and priority for both the national and local governments.ReferencesAstana, K. (2011). Greening the economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development. https://sustainabledevelopment .un.org/content/documents/796unece2.pdfAslan, T., Ayşe, A., & Fatma, Z. (2013). The Impact of Electricity Consumption on Economic Development in. Istanbul University School of Economics.Edomah, N. (2018). Economics of Energy Supply. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.11713-0..Elahee, K. (2004). Access to Energy: The Key to Poverty Alleviation. Retrieved March 06, 2015, from International Research Foundation for Development Research: http://irfd.org/events/wfsids/virtual/papers/sids_kelahee.pdfEnergy Policy and Planning Bureau - Department of Energy Philippines. (2014). Philippine Energy Plan 2012-2030. 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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).

Pametna i socijalno odgovorna energetska tranzicija u regionima sa intenzivnom eksploatacijom uglja

Faced with forthcoming international obligations related to climate change mitigation measures, primarily planned to be reflected through the Law and Action Plan on Low Carbon Development Strategy, as well as the Law on Climate Change, all of which are currently being defined and adopted, Serbia is increasingly facing a need to switch its coal-fired facilities to alternative, environmentally more acceptable options. The related measures will have to be implemented much sooner than initially planned. Knowing that 80% of national GHG emissions originate from the energy sector, as well as that the dominant portion of those emissions results from the use of locally available coal, it is clear that the most efficient climate change mitigation measure would be a switch to alternative fuel options. However, having in mind that such an energy transition process is coupled with significant technological, environmental, economic, social, and other difficulties, the EU has initiated several projects, and one of them is TRACER, launched under the Horizon 2020 program, that strives to shed light on the best research and innovation strategies facilitating easier transition to the sustainable, low carbon energy system. The project addresses actions across nine coal-intensive European regions, including Kolubara Region in Serbia. The paper presents technological, environmental, and social challenges in the transition process, with an emphasis on the Kolubara region, and a proposal for the energy transition in Serbia respecting R&I strategies and Smart Specialization.

Construction and Application Analysis of Carbon Emission Influence Factor Model of Energy Consumption in Mining Industry

With the proposal of China’s “double carbon goal,” as a high energy‐consuming industry, it is urgent for the mining industry to adopt a low‐carbon development strategy. Therefore, in order to better provide reasonable suggestions and references for the low‐carbon development of mining industry, referring to the methods and parameters of the 2006 IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Guidelines and China’s Provincial Greenhouse Gas Inventory Preparation Guidelines (Trial), a carbon emission estimation model is established to estimate the carbon emission of energy consumption of China′s mining industry from 2000 to 2020. Then, using the extended Kaya identity, the influencing factors of carbon emission in mining industry are decomposed into energy carbon emission intensity, energy structure, energy intensity, industrial structure, and output value. On this basis, an LMDI model is constructed to analyze the impact of five factors on carbon emission from mining industry. The research shows that the carbon emission and carbon emission intensity of energy consumption in China’s mining industry first rise and then fall and then rise slightly. The carbon emission intensity in recent three years is about 2 tons/10000 yuan. The increase in output value is the main factor to increase carbon emission. The reduction in energy intensity is the initiative of carbon emission reduction. The current energy structure of mining industry is not conducive to carbon emission reduction.

Multisektorski pristup u tranziciji prema niskougljičnom razvoju i ciljevima Zelenog akcionog plana EU – iskustva Republike Hrvatske

The paper will describe a multisectoral approach in development of long-term planning documents based on the example of developing background papers for low-carbon development strategy in the Republic of Croatia until 2030, with a view to the year 2050. As part of its obligations under the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (EU 2018/1999), the Republic of Croatia is obliged to develop an Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and a Long-Term Decarbonisation Strategy. New strategic goals of the Green Plan for Europe, intended to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and raise global competitiveness of the European economy, set an ambitious goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Fulfilling that vision requires a multidisciplinary approach as it does not suffice to reduce emissions from energy, industry, general consumption and transport, but it is necessary to increase removals in agricultural and LULUCF sectors. The paper will describe the development process, the engagement of numerous stakeholders, the methodological approach and the main outcomes. The analyses include detailed modelling in energetics, by economic sectors and natural carbon storage of the LULUCF sector. There are comments on synergistic energy challenges and on maintaining a secure food supply, as well as on sustainable forest management, achieving clean air, use of space and more.

Temporospatial pattern of carbon emission efficiency of China’s energy-intensive industries and its policy implications

Energy-intensive industries are the primary sectors of energy and resources consumption and carbon emissions. Exploring the temporospatial pattern and influencing factors of carbon emission efficiency (CEE) of energy-intensive industries helps discover the contribution of energy-intensive industries to regional carbon emissions and formulate different regional low-carbon industry development strategies. Through three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, the CEE of energy-intensive industries of China was estimated from provincial level, and the temporospatial distribution and influencing factors of CEE were analyzed by spatial autocorrelation analysis and Tobit model. The results showed that CEE of energy-intensive industries decreased from 0.649 to 0.587 during 2005–2017 with a decreasing rate of 9.60% annually, while the carbon emissions increased from 0.80 to 1.31 billion tonnes during 2005–2017. CEE of energy-intensive industries in China has obvious spatial heterogeneity and spatial agglomeration. CEE of the eastern provinces is relatively higher, while that of the western regions is lower. It showed that the scale efficiency (SE) of energy-intensive industries is close to the optimal frontier, while the pure technical efficiency (PTE) of energy-intensive industries should be improved in the future. Change of CEE of China’s provinces may fall into five categories: high-high-high, low-high-high, low-low-high, low-low-low, and low-high-low. Industry scale (IS) and research and development (R&D) are promoting factors for the CEE of energy-intensive industries, while energy intensity (EI), capital formation rate (CF) and water intensity (WI) are negative factors. To improve CEE and promote cleaner production of energy-intensive industries, the technological innovation capacity should be further improved, energy structure should be adjusted, energy and water consumption should be restrained and the open economic system should be further promoted in central and western China in the future, which help to realize the dislocation, coordination, and high-quality development of energy-intensive industries among China’s provinces.

АКТУАЛЬНІСТЬ ВУГЛЕЦЕВОГО ПОДАТКУ ДЛЯ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОГО СЕКТОРУ ТА СКОРОЧЕННЯ ВИКИДІВ ПАРНИКОВИХ ГАЗІВ В УКРАЇНІ

The article analyzes the current state of the energy sector of Ukraine, identifies key issues that need urgent consideration. Trends in greenhouse gas emissions in Ukraine are analyzed. The urgency of the carbon tax for Ukraine is higher than ever, as we have made a number of climate commitments (the Paris Agreement) to the EU. We strive to follow European values and significantly reduce GHG emissions by 2050. At the same time, Ukraine is focused on low-carbon development, which is reflected in the Low-Carbon Development Strategy until 2050 and the Energy Strategy until 2035. The rational use of carbon taxation can accumulate funds to modernize the energy sector and increase energy efficiency. Using an instrument such as the general equilibrium model for Ukraine, the economic impact of implementing various low-carbon policies to curb global warming at 1.5 and 2 ° C was assessed. The results show that the carbon tax plays an important role in increasing Ukraine's GDP in 2050 by 12-15% in 2050.

Investigating the Uncertainties Propagation Analysis of CO2 Emissions Gridded Maps at the Urban Scale: A Case Study of Jinjiang City, China

Gridded CO2 emission maps at the urban scale can aid the design of low-carbon development strategies. However, the large uncertainties associated with such maps increase policy-related risks. Therefore, an investigation of the uncertainties in gridded maps at the urban scale is essential. This study proposed an analytic workflow to assess uncertainty propagation during the gridding process. Gridded CO2 emission maps were produced using two resolutions of geospatial datasets (e.g., remote sensing satellite-derived products) for Jinjiang City, China, and a workflow was applied to analyze uncertainties. The workflow involved four submodules that can be used to evaluate the uncertainties of CO2 emissions in gridded maps, caused by the gridded model and input. Fine-resolution (30 m) maps have a larger spatial variation in CO2 emissions, which gives the fine-resolution maps a higher degree of uncertainty propagation. Furthermore, the uncertainties of gridded CO2 emission maps, caused by inserting a random error into spatial proxies, were found to decrease after the gridding process. This can be explained by the “compensation of error” phenomenon, which may be attributed to the cancellation of the overestimated and underestimated values among the different sectors at the same grid. This indicates a nonlinear change between the sum of the uncertainties for different sectors and the actual uncertainties in the gridded maps. In conclusion, the present workflow determined uncertainties were caused by the gridded model and input. These results may aid decision-makers in establishing emission reduction targets, and in developing both low-carbon cities and community policies.

A new carbon emission reduction mechanism: Carbon Generalized System of Preferences (CGSP).

Countries throughout the whole world, including China, are working together to curb the greenhouse effect, but the effects seem very limited in spite of the fact that various low-carbon development strategies have been adopted, particularly in industrial enterprises. Therefore, carbon emissions caused by the public should be taken seriously, and the public should be encouraged to engage in behavior that limits carbon emissions. Therefore, this article introduces a new incentive mechanism called the Carbon Generalized System of Preferences (CGSP), which was first introduced in Guangdong Province, China. It is believed that this new mechanism matches the role of leadership in Guangdong in the urbanization and economic development of China by addressing the small sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and by issuing carbon coins. Compared with Chinese Certified Emission Reduction (CCER), the development scope, management level, and novel criteria of CGSP are very different but relatively easy for the public to accept. The CGSP shows that the network platform, reduced carbon emissions, and urban pilots are all compatible with the goals of the nation and city, and they promote the CGSP in different ways. Because of its consistency with ecological civilization in China, the prospect of the CGSP is bright; however, there are some challenges, such as policy and economic factors, combined with pollution control.

An Investigation of the Carbon Emissions and Climate Change Awareness from the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector in Guyana: The Case of Mahdia

Mineral extractive industries are becoming increasingly relevant in climate change science and policy. Guyana’s economic policy, the Low Carbon Development Strategy, seeks to align sectors of the economy along a low carbon emission trajectory. Although the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector is economically important, it is a known emissions-intensive sector that contributes to deforestation and direct operational emissions.

Russian low carbon development strategy

The article presents the key results of scenario projections that underpinned the Strategy for long-term low carbon economic development of the Russian Federation to 2050, including analysis of potential Russia’s GHG emission mitigation commitments to 2050 and assessment of relevant costs, benefits, and implications for Russia’s GDP. Low carbon transformation of the Russian economy is presented as a potential driver for economic growth that offers trillions-of-dollars-worth market niches for low carbon products by mid-21st century. Transition to low carbon economic growth is irreversible. Lagging behind in this technological race entails a security risk and technological backwardness hazards.

Eco-efficient blended cements with high volume supplementary cementitious materials

The ways of reducing CO2 emissions in the cement industry were analysed for the purposes of implementation of the low carbon development strategy. The optimal solution to this problem is the technologically optimised blended cements with high volume of supplementary cementitious materials of various genesis and fineness. The design of eco-friendly blended cements was achieved by a synergistic combination of the main constituents such as granulated blast furnace slag, superfine zeolite, fly ash and limestone, as well as by optimisation of the their granulometric composition, taking into account their bimodal particle size distribution by volume and surface area. Moreover, the article presents the technical, environmental and economic benefits of using eco-efficient blended cements.

Regionalized Cost Supply Potential of Bioenergy Crops and Residues in Colombia: A Hybrid Statistical Balance and Land Suitability Allocation Scenario Analysis

The Colombian agricultural sector has the capacity and ambition to reduce its land use and GHG emissions through sustainable intensification of livestock production. However, an appraisal of the impact of achieving such goal on the availability of land to produce bioenergy crops remains lacking. Moreover, previous assessments of the role bioenergy in Colombia have mostly focused on residues, in isolation of land use policies.To address this gap, we propose a hybrid statistical land balancing and suitability allocation approach to estimate long term projections of the cost–supply potential of bioenergy crops and residues. Regionalized to the departmental level, this approach could provide higher resolution than global assessments, while avoiding the complexity of spatially explicit methods. We investigated three scenarios covering the uncertainty of socioeconomic drivers and agricultural and livestock productivity factors.Our results suggest that pursuing progressive land use policies (SSP1 scenario) could release up to 14 Mha of land by 2050, which could be available to produce perennial bioenergy crops. The cumulative potential of crops in SSP1 could reach up to 2,200 PJ, where about half of this potential could be attained at 7 $ GJ -1 or less. Potential supply centers could be identified in Orinoquia, Andean, and Caribbean regions for energy crops and the Pacific region for residues. Our findings indicate that there could be an opportunity to create synergy between the low carbon development strategies of the land use and energy sectors in Colombia.

Low-carbon development strategy of Russia considering the impact on the economy

The article considers the impact of national climate policy on the development of the Russian economy and energy sector. Implementation of an aggressive scenario (which is aimed at containing at any cost the rise in global temperature within 1.5 °C compared to the pre-industrial era) is unacceptable to Russia from socioeconomic perspective given it leads to lowering the average annual GDP growth rate by 1.8 percentage points by 2050. Effective long-term development strategy with low GHG emissions level should focus on structural and technological modernization of the economy; improve the absorption potential of the LULUCF sector; stimulate only those structural changes in the energy sector that involve production and technological chains within the country and do not provide for excessive price growth. Russia retains a significant potential for energy efficiency growth, and the necessary condition for activating this process is sustainable economic growth as it involves modernization of the production facilities and using available and competitive industrial capacities. The implementation of a reasonable scenario, based on these principles, would allow Russia to fulfil the nationally determined contributions within the Paris Agreement while ensuring economic growth at the rate not less than the global average one.

Identifying the powers, players, and emotions associated with REDD+ implementation: The case of Guyana's LCDS.

REDD+ remains a critical tool for dealing with increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Like other global-level initiatives, REDD+ has strong supporters and critics. Despite the division over its merits, little has been done to understand how a national-level audience responds to the program's arrival in a partner country and which players drive a program's implementation. Here we coded the archives of two Guyanese newspapers to identify the policy actors, institutions, and concepts (players) that drove the implementation of the country's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Two groups of players-super-key and key-dictated the direction of the LCDS implementation. Super-key players used the state-owned media to advocate their positions, while players who felt they would be punished by the LCDS implementation published their positions in the privately-owned media. Therefore, like responses to other global-level environmental challenges, views around the LCDS were divided.