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Climate change and the resulting extreme weather events bring significant economic losses and many unstable factors. It is an important means to actively seek environmental protection and climate governance countermeasures to meet severe challenges. As an environmental protection tool widely used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), environmental taxes are expected to play an important role in combating climate change and reducing extreme weather events. Based on public goods theory, collective cooperation theory, externality theory and double dividend theory of environmental taxes, this paper takes 36 OECD countries as research samples and empirically tests the role of environmental taxes in mitigating climate change process and reducing extreme weather events through the establishment of panel Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The empirical results show that the environmental taxes on the whole is conducive to reducing the frequency of abnormal temperature weather and plays a positive role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in OECD countries. Further research shows that environmental budget and environmental technologies play a positive role in the process of environmental taxes to delay climate change and reduce extreme weather events. In other words, we should attach importance to the investment of environmental protection funds and the research and development of environmental protection technology while carrying out environmental taxes. The robustness test shows that the main regression results of this paper have strong robustness. The research in this paper enriches theories and existing literature related to environmental taxes and climate change, and provides new research ideas and policy guidance for delaying the process of climate change and responding to extreme weather events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions and climate change risk have become constraints on global economic sustainable development. Environmental regulation (ER) is a key method for achieving synergy in CO 2 and pollution reduction in China. This paper is the first study to explore the effects of ER on CO 2 emissions by exploiting the National Environmental Protection 11th Five-Year Plan (NEP11-FYP). The implementation of the NEP11-FYP significantly decreases CO 2 emissions by 19.73% in key environmental cities relative to other cities. Heterogeneity analyses suggest that this negative impact is larger in western cities and cities with more pressure to reduce CO 2 emissions. Scale effects, structural effects, and technical effects might be three potential influencing channels through which ER contributes to the CO 2 reduction effect. In addition, the results of the spatial externality of the NEP11-FYP demonstrate a positive spillover effect in neighboring cities within a distance of 300 km and a negative spillover effect in cities more than 500 km away. Our empirical findings provide policy implications for implementing low-carbon transition strategies and reducing CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to explore how environmental protection expenditures (EPE) affect innovation and investigate the potential causal relationship between the two variables. The novelty and main contribution of our paper to the literature stems from the fact that we look at total environmental protection expenditures from both the public and private sectors, and distinguishing between corporations and households in the private sectors. We also consider both inputs and outputs of innovation and address potential endogeneity issues in this relationship, which are both lacking in the current literature. Using a panel of EU countries over the period 2006–2020, this study generally finds a positive impact of EPE on innovation after controlling for the effects of trade, credit, education and inflation on innovation, and using the System GMM estimator to treat endogeneity. Moreover, EPE from the government sector drives the bulk of this positive impact. The core results are robust to alternative measures of innovation, alternative estimation techniques that address endogeneity (i.e., the Lewbel 2SLS, Mundlak, and Hausman-Taylor estimators) and the moderation effects of Climate Change Performance (CCPI). This study also provides a useful guide to policy makers engaged in environmental planning. • We evaluate the impact of environmental protection expenditures (EPE) on innovation in mainly EU countries. • We use longitudinal dataset for the group of EU countries over the period 2006–2020. • We find a positive impact of EPE on innovation. • The results are robust for observable heterogeneity, alternative measures of innovation and estimation techniques. • This study provides a useful guide to policy makers engaged in environmental planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Expert technical and economic rationalities overlook political aspects of sustainability. • Local experiences reveal structures and processes that shape inequitable outcomes. • Sustainable developmentality creates a triple-bind for rural mountain residents. • The triple-bind contributes to large numbers migrating from mountain dwellings. • Mountain migration and land abandonment is a political not an inevitable process. Sustainability challenges persist in the central Indian Himalayas (CIH) despite an array of solutions proffered by external experts. This paper interrogates the 'sustainability gaze' of external experts – which reflects attempts to reconcile neoliberal economic growth with environmental conservation within the logics of technical and biophysical rationalities - by exploring local experiences of rapid and uncertain social and environmental change. Three strands of policy and practice shape the gaze: (i) natural hazard mitigation for climate change adaptation; (ii) reducing social vulnerability through pro-poor development; and (iii) increasing resilience through environmental management and conservation. Results challenge narratives that overpopulation causes environmental degradation and changing patterns of migration are a natural process of modernisation in the CIH. Alternative local narratives highlight haphazard and inequitable economic growth, lack of mountain planning and disaster management, inadequate social welfare programmes, and monkey relocation policies as the major sustainability challenges. The paper discusses how the gaze produces 'sustainable developmentality' - a depoliticising process that cultivates multiple and conflicting mountain subjectivities, namely: (i) active community members responsible for mitigating natural hazards, (ii) productive farmers and flexible waged labourers, and (iii) custodians of the environment. This creates a triple-bind for smallholders which has forced huge numbers to migrate from their mountain dwellings with unsustainable outcomes. Exploring local perspectives re-politicises the debate, exposing the contradictions and tensions of the gaze and the broader systemic issues of power and inequity the gaze overlooks. Such insights are crucial for rendering development policies more relevant to mountain residents of the CIH and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The potential of pine wastes for carbon-rich biochar production is explored. • Advancements in biochar production technologies are emphasized. • Biochar properties are highly influenced by temperature, heating rate, and inert conditions. • Selection of upgradation technique depends on specific biochar application. • Solar pyrolysis demonstrates great potential as a low-cost biochar production technology. Pine wastes, including pine needles, cones, and wood, are abundantly produced as an agroforestry by-product globally and have shown tremendous potential for biochar production. Various thermochemical conversion technologies have exhibited promising results in converting pine wastes to biochar, displaying impressive performance. Hence, this review paper aims to investigate the possibilities and recent technological advancements for synthesizing biochar from pine waste. Furthermore, it explores techniques for enhancing the properties of biochar and its integrated applications in various fields, such as soil and water remediation, carbon sequestration, battery capacitor synthesis, and bio-coal production. Finally, the paper sheds light on the limitations of current strategies, emphasizing the need for further research and study to address the challenges in pine waste-based biochar synthesis. By promoting sustainable and effective utilization of pine wastes, this review contributes to environmental conservation and resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how climate change affects green technology innovation among enterprises from the perspective of attention to global warming. The results show that abnormal temperatures significantly inhibit the green technology innovation output of local enterprises. Our conclusion still holds after a series of robustness checks. This effect is more pronounced for nonstate-owned enterprises and manufacturing enterprises. Moreover, CSR and information opacity aggravate the inhibitory effect of abnormal temperatures on green innovation. We find that abnormal temperatures increase the short-term environmental protection investment of enterprises in a region, which has a crowding out effect on R&D investment and inhibits green innovation. This study helps to deepen the understanding of climate risk and enterprise green innovation and provides an empirical basis for how to carry out environmental regulation to promote sustainable development. • This study explores the impact of climate change attention on corporate green innovation. • Abnormal temperature is used as a proxy for climate change attention (Choi et al., 2020). • We find that abnormal temperature significantly reduces corporate green innovation. • This effect is more pronounced for nonstate-owned enterprises and manufacturing enterprises. • CSR and information opacity aggravate the inhibitory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Review of green finance (GF) and green innovation (GI) as catalysts for circularity. • Conceptual framework to explore the potential circularity and environmental benefits. • Future research directions to understand the pathway for GF and GI in carbon neutrality field. • Effective involvement of different stakeholders in the implementation of GF and GI. There is growing attention from governments and regulators towards crucial matters such as climate change and global warming, resulting in a pressing need to investigate the factors that make it possible for businesses to engage in green finance (GF). The externality of environmental pollution prioritizes the need of green innovation (GI) in public management. GF distributes financial resources to the research and development (R&D) of clean energy and environmentally friendly goods and processes; it is complementary to the GI process for environmental protection. GF policies help to alleviate the impacts of financial constraints and GI impaired industries involving new products, processes, services and the global market. To better understand how GF and GI have functioned as a catalyst for circular economy practices, this paper seeks to present a historical and contemporary overview of these concepts. The research is thoroughly dissected by a systematic literature evaluation of articles from 2016 to 2023 that appear in peer-reviewed journals and are indexed in the SCOPUS database. To attain supply chain circularity, this article encompasses four major research themes concerning the adoption of GF and green technologies. The research also includes a network analysis of shortlisted articles to examine the overall citation trends. It is shown that several institutional theories are associated with the investigated area. As a final step, a framework is provided to illustrate how GF and GIs might be used to achieve supply chain circularity. The research findings provide a novel concept related to GF within the context of GI which are significant for environmentalists, policymakers, green investors, and researchers. Through its findings, the study provides a conceptual framework that promotes sustainable strategies to effectively balance financial considerations and environmental innovation. It helps to leverage the potential of green research and practice to create value for businesses and to benefit society at large. The analysis provides an unexplored and significant contribution to current literature in terms of delivering evidence of the past and present approaches to GF and GI in a circular economy. The results of this study will attract the attention of policymakers and stakeholders to develop and combine the two concepts in research and practice to attain environmental balance in the circular economy and to promote long term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asian air pollutants exert substantial effect on the climate and environment change over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). This paper investigates the trans-boundary transport of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and O 3 from South Asia to the TP via WRF-Chem sensitive analysis. It is found that PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and O 3 over South Asia are mainly sourced from anthropogenic sources. South Asian emissions contribute up to 54% of PM 10 (PM 2.5) in the TP in the pre-monsoon season. For O 3 , the highest contribution of 18.13% is in the monsoon season, while the lowest contribution of 8.67% is in the winter season. To evaluate the respective contributions of anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions in South Asia to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and O 3 in the TP, anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions in South Asia are considered separately. The results show that the largest percentage contribution of PM 10 (PM 2.5) from South Asian anthropogenic emissions to PM 10 (PM 2.5) in the TP with value of 35.86% (37.77%) occurs in winter, while the lowest percentage contribution of 16.52% (16.77%) appears in the monsoon season. For O 3 , the largest contribution of 17.74% from South Asian anthropogenic emissions appears in the monsoon season, whereas the lowest contribution of 8.59% occurs in winter. Compared to the anthropogenic emissions, the biomass burning emissions in South Asia have a relative less contribution to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and O 3 in the TP. The largest contribution of PM 10 (PM 2.5) from South Asian biomass burning emissions to PM 10 (PM 2.5) in the TP is 20.04% (18.37%) in the pre-monsoon season. Conversely, the lowest contribution of 0.58% (0.53) appears in the monsoon season. O 3 from South Asian biomass burning emissions contributes <1% to O 3 in the TP in each season, implying that the biomass burning emissions in South Asia have little effect on O 3 in the TP. This study is of great significance to the ecological environment protection for the TP. • Contributions of South Asian emissions to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and O 3 in the TP are quantified. • Anthropogenic emissions in South Asia have a larger contribution to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and O 3 in the TP. • O 3 from South Asian biomass burning emissions contributes <1% to O 3 in the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Transdisciplinary research has been introduced as an approach to integrate different bodies of knowledge to learn and to develop solutions towards socio-ecological transformations. In these concepts, broad stakeholder involvement is intended to promote knowledge integration, consensus formation and activation of local actors to initiate and advance learning and change processes. In doing so, however, transdisciplinary processes enter societal battlegrounds and meet conflicting interest and knowledge claims. Thus, building on the discussion on transdisciplinarity in the context of sustainability-related research, the paper seeks to understand when and why which types of conflicts emerge in sustainability-related transdisciplinary research, how they affect knowledge integration, and how they can be resolved. It develops a categorization of conflicts including differing values, conflicting interests, dissimilar claims of legitimacy, and diverse knowledge claims. They are applied empirically in the analysis of a project on regional adaptation to climate change in Northwestern Germany. It studies processes and outcomes with regard to the societal impact of the project and discusses experiences of conflicts and relevant solutions. The paper finds that societally relevant transdisciplinary research processes need to be prepared for conflict resolution and overcoming resistance and blockages in cases when consensus formation and mutual agreement is not attainable. Highlights • Analyses types of conflicts in sustainability-related transdisciplinary research • Finds that conflicts are rarely addressed in this literature • Identifies conflicts from differing values, interests, claims of legitimacy, and knowledge claims • Studies conflicts in an adaptation case in Northwestern Germany • Finds conflicts between values and legitimacy claims in the case study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discourse on vulnerability to climate change presents many complexities. Among these are the constant tension between policy makers and academics. This paper unpacks these complexities in order to analyze how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) deal with the notion of vulnerability at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The lack of a clear definition of vulnerability at the UNFCCC has created many tensions among developing countries because the notion of vulnerability is associated with financial and technical resource distribution. However, on a strategic level SIDS have had to demonstrate their vulnerabilities within the UNFCCC in order to remain relevant and compete with other groups for these resources. This paper highlights some of these tensions, especially among developing countries, through an in-depth analysis of vulnerability within academia and foreign policy through the UNFCCC. We argue that competing definitions of vulnerability by academics and policymakers evoke different methodologies for understanding and measuring vulnerability. Further, we find that within the UNFCCC, prioritizing mitigation policies over adaptation has increased SIDS’ vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local government organisations in coastal Australia have historically commissioned studies aimed at understanding risks in their locality to future sea level rise as a starting point for developing adaptation strategies to climate change. Therefore, the success of the overall adaptation activities of local government are strongly influenced by the way those initial risk studies are scoped and conducted, and how the outputs of those studies underpin subsequent adaptation planning activities within the organization. Mainstreaming of adaptation planning activities within local government is critical in terms of getting stakeholder support and required resources for its implementation. This paper analyses a sample of these coastal risk assessment studies across seven states and territories in Australia, with an aim to critically investigate the current state of practice among coastal local governments. First, we develop a typology of studies that have been undertaken by or for practitioners to understand coastal climate change risks, and discuss the applicability of the studies within the policy-making context of local government. Second, we identify a set of sample studies from the ‘grey literature’ through a systematic process and investigate to what extent they adhere to best practice risk management guidelines and principles, such as ISO31000. Third, we interview stakeholders from top performing studies to identify how/if the risk studies helped their organization in progressing their adaptation planning. We find that there is a significant inconsistency among terminologies in the coastal climate change risk assessment unpublished literature as studies use “risk”, vulnerability” and “hazard” concepts interchangeably despite their separate objectives and aims. Most studies perform poorly in evaluating risk against broader organizational criteria. Subsequently, it is difficult to integrate the findings of such studies into a broader organizational risk register, limiting opportunities for identified coastal climate change risks to be integrated into councils’ long-term strategic decision making. Conversely, the follow up interviews of studies that performed well in scoping and consultation in our assessment demonstrate that these aspects were beneficial to stakeholders in terms of informing adaptation planning. Importantly, the findings presented in this paper confirm the need for a consistent risk assessment approach for local councils in the coastal zone to underpin successful adaptation planning. This is a critical issue, not only for Australia, but for local government organisations globally given that sea level rise is a projected threat for all populated coastal regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targets are crucial to the definition, effort and investment implied in any plan. The way how they are set should therefore be carefully thought and decided. In the context of local energy planning, however, the increasingly active attitude of local stakeholders has not yet been corresponded by an evolution on the way how targets are set. The aim of this work is to review how targets are currently defined and, after justification is found, to develop a new methodology for target setting in the context of local energy planning, that can guide local authorities and other stakeholders to act towards global climate change mitigation and other policy objectives. This paper begins with a critical assessment of existing targets set in the context of local energy planning, in order to understand how they were defined and the implications of different methodological choices. Here, the drawbacks found on current practices call for the need of a new methodology that answers to two fundamental requisites: being able to reflect local characteristics and past accountability, by taking into account the starting point; and being quantitatively coherent with existing long-term goals. The paper then presents an alternative approach for target setting that corresponds to the referred requisites, and illustrates the implications through the application to nine municipalities in the Metropolitan Area of Porto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with the Paris Agreement, many nations have set out a global framework to stabilise and prevent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate climate change. This study reviewed the literature on the GHG protection and control (GHGPC) impacts of overburden fractures in relation to coal mining. Different factors, such as geological conditions, mining conditions, and gas extraction methods, were compared because they influence GHGPC. Carbon emissions, coal mining safety, and environmental protection are crucial parameters. GHGPC can (1) improve the safety and efficiency of mining, (2) reduce GHG emissions, and (3) generate clean gas resources. During mining, cracks appear in overburden strata, causing GHG emissions. Various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, two-dimensional and three-dimensional physical similarity simulations, permeability testing, and numerical simulations, have been adopted to determine the macroscopic and microscopic features of overburden fractures. Finally, the extraction method of GHG was optimised through field practice, namely, roadway, borehole, and pipe extraction, were analysed, and the comprehensive GHG extraction method was preferred to achieve superior management results. This paper reviewed studies that examine the development of fractures to elucidate the significance of GHGPC. Moreover, this article provides new insights into the achievement of the "dual carbon strategy" with particular reference to coal mining; it also summarises the holistic life cycle of gas management in terms of overburden activity, gas transport patterns, reservoir characteristics and typical technologies. It also summarises the holistic life span of GHGPC management in terms of overburden activity, GHG transport patterns, reservoir characteristics, and typical technologies. Finally, the authors discuss and conclude the article with proposed methods for future research directions. • The role of GHGPC in carbon neutrality was talked about from various aspects. • Technologies for GHG transport, extraction, and utilisation were elaborated. • GHG extraction technologies in coal mining were introduced. • New energy supply and the dual carbon strategy in coal mining were described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International attempts have not succeeded in addressing climate change, leaving an even heavier responsibility on countries, firms and people. As tourism is an expanding branch in the world economy, it is crucial to focus on how climate change issues are addressed in this industry as well. This paper analyses a group of tourism firms in Norway that join together to promote growth and profitability in winter tourism. The span in how these firms deal with environmental issues ranges from ecotourism till not addressing the subject at all. Although the majority of the firms have environmental issues on the agenda, environmental issues are not included in the cooperation. We use critical discourse theory to explore how this stance on environmental issues within a cooperation has come about, and categorize the firms into three discourses: neoclassical economics, environmental economics and ecological economics. Our data indicate that the hegemonic power of neoclassical economics hampers an environmental focus in the network. This power is exerted through the position of being environmentally indifferent. The paper adds knowledge to economic discourses on firm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests for the applicability of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis at the Canadian and provincial/territorial levels using greenhouse gas emissions as an indicator for environmental degradation. The hypothesis is tested using provincial and territorial panel data from 1990 to 2014. The results vary depending on the econometric estimation method. The pooled regression results are mixed, with the EKC hypothesis confirmed at the Canadian level and in half of the provinces and territories. However, the fixed-effects regression results confirm the EKC hypothesis at the Canadian level and in all provinces and territories. The results also highlight the significance of technological change and province/territory specific characteristics in determining the level of greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European semi-natural grasslands maintained through traditional practices are among the most species-rich plant communities within the present-day rural landscape. However, land use change has caused a drastic decline in grassland area. In European agricultural policy, agri-environmental schemes (AES) have been introduced to preserve, enhance and restore biodiversity on European farmland. Goričko Landscape Park (GLP) in Slovenia is Natura 2000 area with the aim to preserve traditional and extensive small-scale farming. Measures to encourage proper management of extensively used meadows in GLP were carried out within the Agricultural Environmental Climate Scheme (AECS). The aims of this research were to identify key factors that might affect an owner’s decision to adopt AECS. The data were collected with online and paper versions of a survey completed by 198 meadow owners between April 2015 and April 2016. Owners reported that 41.3% of a total of 368 meadows were involved in AECS. In year 2015, there were 156 officially registered Agricultural Economies from GLP. With 53 analysed meadows (34%), involved in AECS, the confidence level was 95% and the confidence interval was 11. Based on binominal logistic regression factors having a positive significant influence on participation in AECS were, as follows: large meadow area, higher education level and higher knowledge about goals of Natura 2000. Factors that do not statistically significantly contribute to participation in AECS are meadow type, income, age, gender, environmental values, management independence, subsidy rate and knowledge about AECS. Factor having a negative significant influence on participation in AECS was subsidy procedure. To increase the number of participants in AECS and therefore encourage proper management of extensively used meadows, young owners should be encouraged to participate in AECS, because older owners who had completed secondary school were more likely to participate in AECS. There is also a lack of female owners participating in AECS because of their lack of skills and knowledge about AECS. Additionally the subsidy procedure for joining AECS should be simplified. Owners should get more information about AECS and available options and why it even matters to implement AECS. With knowledge about the factors that influence participation in AECS, we can positively affect farmer behaviour, thereby increasing the number of participants in AECS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry, the integration of trees and shrubs with livestock and/or crops, can make a substantial contribution to mitigating and enabling adaptation to climate change. However, its full potential will only be achieved if the challenges to agroforestry implementation are identified and the most efficient and sustainable solutions are made widely known. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore these challenges and to determine the most suitable set of solutions for each challenge that combines local effectiveness with European scale relevance. We performed a two-step “solution scanning” exercise. First, the main challenges to sustainable agroforestry in Europe were identified through 42 participatory workshops with 665 local stakeholders. The solutions to each challenge were scanned and classified into either direct solutions (28) to address climate change or indirect solutions (32) that improve the sustainability of agroforestry. In a second step, the direct solutions were prioritized through expert consultation in terms of their potential benefits for mitigation and adaptation. The most commonly reported barriers were a lack of knowledge and reliable financial support to which the most widely suggested indirect solutions were agroforestry training programmes and the development of safe economic routes. The direct solutions considered as holding the greatest mitigation and adaptation potential were the adoption of practices capable to increase soil organic carbon pools and the implementation of multifunctional hedgerows and windbreaks respectively. Our solution scanning approach can inform the implementation of the European climate strategy in general and to the Common Agricultural Policy in particular by pointing to concrete climate beneficial actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of observed city involvement in energy and climate initiatives indicate that free-riding has been much less of a barrier to local climate protection efforts than suggested by theories of collective action. This study investigates why local governments have adopted various energy and climate change policy instruments despite the non-excludability of climate benefits. This paper advances theories of institutional collective action (ICA) and policy diffusion by testing ICA based hypotheses that local officials are able to overcome collective action problems to the extent that the costs of these initiatives are minimized through policy network interactions, the extent to which climate action produces localized benefits or compliments local environmental, development or growth management efforts, and the extent to which energy and climate protection efforts generate selective benefits to elected and appointed local government officials who advance their career interests depending on the existing configurations of political system institutions. Analysis of adoptions of the Climate Protection Agreements by Florida Cities indicates larger cities are more likely to adopt climate agreement, while district elections decrease the likelihood of climate policy adoption. Moreover, economic development rather than growth management or environmental problem situation is linked to climate initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities publish climate change mitigation strategies and other policy measures to support the wide spread uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs). This paper investigates the effectiveness of these strategies and the provision of infrastructures in 30 UK cities, with a specific emphasis on those strategies that are within the remit of cities and local authorities. The climate mitigation strategies and supporting documents were obtained from 30 UK cities recommended by the Urban Audit Methodology. We show that 13 cities mention EVs in their strategies. Analysing EV registrations and the EV infrastructures that is provided by cities we found that there is no statistical difference in the number of charging points or EVs between the cities that have EVs as part of their climate change mitigation strategy and those that do not. It was shown that EV uptake was more generally associated with other factors (such as local vehicle population or income) rather than any documented EV/climate mitigation strategy. We demonstrate that local strategies are failing in achieving the much needed step change and make suggestions how to improve EV uptake as an even more radical thinking and policies may become necessary to achieve carbon reduction targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study is to show that by understanding the food-energy-water nexus, potential unforeseen negative outcomes can be avoided in the pursuit of sustainable development. To do this, this paper uses a novel approach to compare a combined farm and short rotation coppice willow system, in which the willow was planted as a riparian buffer, with a food-only and an energy only system. The impact of each system was investigated through the lens of the food-energy-water nexus using life cycle assessment techniques. Data from previous research was adapted in order to quantify the impacts for a typical Irish dairy farm, which is indicative of intensive agriculture across Europe. On a typical Irish dairy farm, the implementation of a short rotation coppice willow riparian buffer strip could reduce total nitrogen and phosphorus leachate by 14% and 9% respectively. Total CO 2 eq emissions could be reduced by 16.5% if energy from the willow displaces fossil fuels, while the impact on milk production and profit is minimal. Thus, the use of short rotation coppice willow as a riparian buffer strip has the potential to reduce strain on the entire food-energy-water nexus. By considering the food-energy-water nexus, the negative impacts of the food-only and energy-only systems were also highlighted. The paper also shows how a better understanding of the food-energy-water nexus supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and could help ameliorate the impact of climate change on the food-energy-water ecosystem. Image 1 • Understanding the FEW nexus supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals. • Negative outcomes can be avoided by assessing systems using the lens of the FEW nexus. • SRC willow riparian buffer strips can complement agricultural intensification. • Nitrogen (−14%) and phosphorus (−9%) exports to water can be permanently reduced. • Agricultural GHG emissions can be reduced by 16.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A regional green development index system is established based on the "driver-pressure-state-impact-response" model. • The level of regional green development in Hubei, China, is rising, and the gap between regions is narrowing. • The inter-regional spillover effect of green development is greater than the intra-regional spillover effect. • Technological innovation and the living environment have a positive spillover effect on green development. Green development strives to harmonize economic and social development with environmental protection. It is an innovative development model for people to follow in response to global climate change. This paper first combines the "driver-pressure-state-impact-response" (DPSIR) model with the entropy weighting method to measure the level of green development in Hubei Province from 2010 to 2018. Then, the spatial Durbin model (SDM) is used to analyse in depth the spatiotemporal evolutionary pattern and spatial spillover effects. The results indicate that after 2014, the levels of green development increased significantly and that regional differences gradually shrank. ρ = 0.409 indicates that the green development level has a positive spatial spillover effect, and the spillover effect between regions is greater than that within a region. The spatial spillover effects of the industrial structure and growth efficiency are −2.17 and −8.64, respectively, while the spatial spillover effects of technological innovation and the living environment are 7.35 and 0.32, respectively. Based on our findings, we provide several policy recommendations for developing countries to achieve green, coordinated and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Ecosystem services” is a phrase with many meanings, yet very few studies have primarily focused on comparing different definitions of the term. Ecosystem services are now generally used in identifying an appropriately wide range of environmental variables for policy and management as well as better understanding the benefits provided by those aspects of the environment. A review of the dominant definitions of ecosystem services reveals the term is comprehensive in its scope and requires further specification for most purposes. Analysis further reveals that there are four main categories of conceptual definitions. The paper concludes that ecosystem services can be identified at various points along the spectrum of nature-human interaction depending on which specific definition is chosen and that the term was not created to identify a novel set of environmental objects or processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first that theorises and empirically tests, at the organisational level, the role that ‘Green’ Human Resource Management (HRM) practices play in facilitating employees' collective engagement in environment protection by taking voluntary actions that ‘go the extra mile’. In this regard, we take an original perspective on Environmental Management (EM) as an organisational change that requires strong support from employees. This allows us to investigate the mediating role of collective commitment to change – and specifically to EM – with regard to the relationship between ‘Green’ HRM practices and collective voluntary behaviours towards the environment. Our results show that ‘Green’ HRM practices are conducive to voluntary behaviours towards the environment at the collective level. Moreover, employees' willingness to support their organisation in its EM endeavour partially mediates this relationship. Additionally, by conceptualising three different types of ‘Green’ HRM practices, our results disentangle their relative importance and their differing impact on collective behaviours towards the environment. This paper thus provides scholars of EM and managers with original evidence-based guidelines on how to leverage ‘Green’ HRM to enhance employees' collective attitudes and behaviours towards the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current editorial summarized some of the scientific works presented in the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP) conference-held at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2018. The selected work was directly related to the scope of the Renewable, Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) journal. During the conference activities, experts from all around the world in the subjects of: renewable energy, climate change, optimization, and economics presented and discussed the progress made in renewable energy sources, as well as the new strategies for protecting the environment from the hazards connected with fossil fuel utilization. The methods presented in the conference focused on several directions: the development of efficient energy conversion systems with low/no environmental impacts; the suggested policies to widespread renewable energies; the restriction in the emission of greenhouse gases, and the recent progresses in CO 2 capture. This editorial focused on the renewable energy developments and their positive effect on the climate change, and briefly summarized the accepted manuscripts in this issue. • Effects of renewable energy on climate change. • Background on the International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP. • Summary of selected papers of SEEP 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fake controversies have influenced policy making on health and environmental issues for decades, resulting in major implementation setbacks worldwide. As a case study, in this paper we examine fake controversies produced by a small group of active Brazilian researchers that have seriously impacted environmental conservation, particularly in issues related to deforestation and climate change. Based on the literature, we develop a typology of strategies deployed in fake controversies, which include manufacturing uncertainty, misusing scientific credentials, and disregarding scientific literature. Afterwards, we examine the influence of this group of contrarians at the National Congress. We then analyze the fake controversies promoted by these contrarians and argue that, to properly understand them, we need to consider a strategy so far overlooked in the literature: the manufacture of "pseudo-facts", namely, affirmations at odds with the established literature but that strives to appear as scientific facts. Unlike other contexts, in which contrarians have mainly sought to cast doubt on consensual issues by arguing that there are still considerable uncertainties surrounding them, in Brazil pseudo-facts on deforestation have been produced and published outside the peer-reviewed literature. We conclude the study with recommendations on how to oppose fake scientific controversies that threaten environmental conservation in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigates the relationship between poverty and CO 2 emissions. • Analyses Sub-Saharan African countries. • Applies panel quantile regression method. • Confirms the trade-off relationship between poverty and environmental protection. • Recommends alternative policies within the scope of sustainable development goals. Poverty and climate change are important matters to be struggled within the scope of sustainable development goals. However, there may exist a paradoxical situation that implies a trade-off relationship between poverty alleviation and CO 2 emissions reduction efforts. In this context, this paper investigates whether such a relationship existed or not in the 48 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2010–2016 by employing a panel quantile regression method. Estimation outputs reveal that there is a strong trade-off between poverty and CO 2 emissions for all quantile levels. Results also provide evidence that access to electricity has a reducing and enhancing effect on poverty and CO 2 emissions, respectively. Results also show that institutional improvements help reducing both poverty and CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is regarded as a very promising technology to reduce CO 2 emission in China, which could improve the contradiction between economic development and environment protection. In order to study the CO 2 storage potential for deploying CCUS projects in China, considering China's special geological features and current national conditions, a new evaluation method of CO 2 storage capacity was proposed using the mass balance approach combined with various CO 2 storage mechanisms in different formations, and the CO 2 storage capacity was calculated in saline aquifer for CO 2 -EWR, oil reservoir for CO 2 -EOR and coal bed for CO 2 -ECBM respectively. The result shows that China has great CO 2 storage potential, which is estimated to be over 1841 Gt. The different features and application prospect of CO 2 -EWR, CO 2 -EOR and CO 2 -ECBM in China were analyzed, which give guidance on critical technologies breakthrough and costs reduction along the CCUS chain. With the joint effort and support by policy and finance, CCUS will make great contribution to the development of low carbon economy for China and the world. Highlights • A new evaluation method of CO 2 storage potential was established. • The CO 2 storage capacity was evaluated in China. • The prospect of CCUS was investigated in China. • CO 2 -EOR should be given priority development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]