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Subsurface gas storage is crucial for achieving a sustainable energy future, as it helps to reduce CO2 emissions and facilitates the provision of renewable energy sources. The confinement effect of the nanopores in caprock induces distinctive thermophysical properties and fluid dynamics. In this paper, we present a multi‐scale study to characterize the subsurface transport of CO2, CH4, and H2. A nanoscale‐extended volume‐translated Cubic‐Plus‐Association equation of state was developed and incorporated in a field‐scale numerical simulation, based on a full reservoir‐caprock suite model. Results suggest that in the transition from nanoscale to bulk‐scale, gas solubility in water decreases while phase density and interfacial tension increase. For the first time, a power law relationship was identified between the capillary pressure within nanopores and the pore size. Controlled by buoyancy, viscous force and capillary pressure, gases transport vertically and horizontally in reservoir and caprock. H2 has the maximum potential to move upward and the lowest areal sweep efficiency; in short term, CH4 is more prone to upward migration compared to CO2, while in long term, CH4 and CO2 perform comparably. Thicker caprock and larger caprock pore size generally bring greater upward inclination. Gases penetrate the caprock when CH4 is stored with a caprock thickness smaller than 28 m or H2 is stored with a caprock pore size of 2–10 nm or larger than 100 nm. This study sheds light on the fluid properties and dynamics in nanoconfined environment and is expected to contribute to the safe implementation of gigatonne scale subsurface gas storage. Plain Language Summary: Aiming at the ambitious targets of net‐zero emission and global energy transition, effective technologies need to be developed and deployed with huge efforts. Subsurface gas storage is expected to play a critical role in reducing CO2 emission and providing large‐scale renewable energy. However, unforeseen gas leakage can cause potential environmental risks and energy efficiency concerns. Despite its importance, the mechanisms governing gas transport and distribution within caprocks, particularly under nanoconfinement conditions, are poorly understood. From nano‐scale and bulk‐scale thermodynamic properties predictions to field‐scale numerical simulations, this work carried out a comprehensive multi‐scale analysis to evaluate the storage security of CO2, CH4, and H2. Relationships between VLE, phase density, interfacial tension, capillary pressure and pore size, temperature, pressure and wettability were discussed, offering novel perspectives on the mechanisms governing gas leakage. Furthermore, loss potentials of different gases were compared and evaluated and the impacts of caprock thickness and pore size were examined, providing valuable insights for screening eligible storage sites. Overall, this work contributes to the development of secure and reliable gas storage techniques, supporting the goals of climate change mitigation and facilitating the transition to a net‐zero energy future. Key Points: A multi‐scale analysis is carried out to assess the loss potential of CO2, CH4, and H2 during subsurface storageMigration and distribution characteristics of gases in the caprock are investigatedShort‐term and long‐term gas storage security are analyzed and compared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock production in developing countries faces several difficulties such as a general shortage of feed resources, regional availability, and quality. Climate change further exacerbates these problems, leading to a massive reduction in ruminant productivity. Therefore, there is a need for the use of adaptable and resilient forage plants that can also contribute to reducing greenhouse gases. The Moringa oleifera tree is well known as an agroforestry tree and has adapted to growing in harsh conditions. It produces a high amount of biomass in a short period and contains high levels of nutrients and biologically active components. All parts of the Moringa tree are valuable and have multiple benefits and applications. Therefore, Moringa oleifera has great potential and can be used as a forage crop, storing carbon dioxide (CO2) and improving ruminant performance and the livelihoods of farmers in the tropics. This article aimed to present the results and findings of studies related to the use of Moringa in ruminant feed (cattle, sheep, and goats) and its contribution to climate protection. Several studies highlighted that M. oleifera can be used as green fodder either individually or in combination with other crops or concentrate feeds to improve the performance of ruminants, such as the growth rate, milk yield, and milk constituents, without negatively impacting animal health. This improvement in performance could be attributed to the favorable nutrient content in M. oleifera, delivering proteins in conjunction with bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, glucosinolates, carotenoids, sterols, saponins, phenolic acids, tannins, and isothiocyanates. Furthermore, it has been shown that this plant can be produced in high yields and thus might be an excellent carbon dioxide sink to absorb and utilize carbon dioxide, reducing the anthropogenic load of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, feeding cattle and other ruminants with M. oleifera leaves or seeds significantly decreases ruminal methane emissions, which could contribute to adapting to climate-friendly farming. Thus, the use of Moringa can make a sustainable contribution to strengthening animal production, especially in countries with limited feed resources.

Planning power system (PS) towards renewable energy is crucial for reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2) emission as well as mitigating climate change. However, the inherent uncertainty and hierarchical structure of PS pose intractable challenges to the planning process. This study develops a multi-GCM-based interval bi-level programming (MIBP) method that can balance two-level decision-making conflict between CO 2 -emisison reduction and system cost minimization. MIBP can also deal with uncertainties expressed as interval values in objective functions and constraints. Then, a MIBP-PS model is formulated to plan PS for China (2021–2050), where the upper-level objective is to minimize CO 2 emission and the lower-level objective is to minimize the system cost. The major findings are: (i) the CO 2 emission for PS would reach peak value before 2030 and then reduce by [10.2, 20.4]% in 2050, which is mainly owing to the curtailment of fossil fuel; (ii) compared with the conventional model, CO 2 emission from MIBP-PS model could decrease by [3.1, 4.8]%, which shows the superiority of the developed model; (iii) the fossil-fuel power would be gradually replaced by renewable energy, and the proportion of coal-fired power would decrease by 38.8% by 2050, especially small coal-fired facilities (i.e., below 0.3 GW) should be gradually phased down. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UCCS research, initiated in the 1990s, is following a sigmoidal growth pattern. • No highly active research group has been identified in UCCS research. • USA and China are currently leading countries in UCCS research. • More systematic studies are required to promote UCCS for real applications. • Findings can be used by stakeholders such as governments, among others. In this study, a scientometric comprehensive analysis has been executed in order to explore the scientific situation of research efforts performed previously with regard underground CO 2 sequestration and encapsulation. To this end, a total of 1280 bibliographic records from the Web of Science (WoS) database were extracted and analysed to report the analysis of scientific state of the authors, journals, countries, and categories. Eventually, geospatial maps of the progress in this field are created and presented. As per the results obtained, efforts on this subject have been initiated significantly since 1990s. Scientific articles and proceeding papers share nearly 63% and 31% of the documents published. The results indicate that USA and China are the most contributing countries. Among the active journals, international journal of greenhouse gas control impact is the most active journal. It may be concluded that no highly active research group has yet been emerged. Hence, more supports and scientific efforts are needed to promote carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for carbon neutrality, the cement industry employs various CO 2 mitigation strategies, including material efficiency, cement plant technologies, and clinker-to-cement ratio reductions. This study reviews the past decade's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature on cement production to assess the feasibility of modeling these strategies. Heating energy is the predominant factor in energy consumption, benefiting from energy efficiency measures. Allocation consistently favors cement in evaluations of secondary fuel-related impacts, leading to significant reductions in energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. However, transparency improvements are necessary to clarify the origin and calculation of combustion-related emissions. Challenges arise from limited data availability when assessing grinding energy, especially for high-quality cement aligned with a material efficiency strategy. In our examination of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs), we have observed that production process variations and allocation assumptions significantly influence LCA models, while highlighting the absence of waste availability consideration in current substitution-focused LCA methods for both secondary fuels and SCMs. • Cement functionalities are generally not described and should be based on strength. • Existing models overlook impacts of increased cement quality due to grinding energy. • Allocation method choice affects climate change impacts of slag-blended cement. • Excluding allocation methods, slag recovery shows climate change impacts variability. • Substantial variability is also found for heating energy for clinkerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 Biden Inflation Reduction Act ("IRA") and the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ('UIJA"), together providing foran unprecedented 81.7 trillion in spending, were enacted to construct a sustainable legal US. exit ramp from what the Secretary-General of the United Nations recently described as a Vighway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator." This Article analyzes a critical legal missing link in these Acts that is now causing the U. S. economy to do the opposite of its intended climate change mitigation, given: * A necessary eight-fold increase in current renewable electric power, requiring adding the entire amount of existing renewable power again euery eighteen months; * A shortage of rare-earth and critical minerals now required in quantities ten-to-fifteen times greater to produce one unit Of renewable electricity compared to current power; and * How the federal IRA plan is being legally blocked by hundreds of cities in thirty - one states, notwithstanding the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. The Supreme Court in 2022 announced its new "major questions doctrine" in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency and applied it to limit presidential discretion regarding matters of electric power technology and climate change. States and cities are now deploying their constitutional authority, supported by Supreme Court decisions, to block a sustainable transition. The final two Sections of this Article design an alternative sustainable legal "bridge" within existing US. late that does not require any congressional action and that is immediately implementable at lower cost than business-as-usual. This decentralized legal bridge also features more efficient use of energy and can be implemented immediately by local governments, state governments, and the federal government. This legal bridge can span the widening gap between these new laws' asynchronous and rapidly increasing electric demand compared to available interconnected zero-carbon renewable power supply until these two become resynchronized. This legal bridge sustainably operates without worsening climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to assess the potential of a transport policy to mitigate climate change by assessing the impacts of urban rail transit (URT) investments on travel mode choice and carbon dioxide emission reductions in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. The objectives are: (1) to assess the extent of travel mode change from private automobiles to rail for commuting trips as an effect of the URT operation; (2) to identify complementary measures which might be adopted to enhance the effect of the URT; and (3) to quantify the CO2 emission reductions on the basis of the fuel saved per person as a result of the travel mode change that occurred, following the IPCC guideline methodologies. A questionnaire survey of the URT users was conducted to observe the behavioural changes. Positive effects of rail projects in terms of attracting car users to the new travel modes have been evidenced, resulting in a significant extent of carbon emission reductions, which signifies a contribution to sustainable urban mobility and climate change mitigation. The findings also show reinforcing effects of both fuel price increases and parking restrictions on mitigating transport-related carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world's population grows, the energy demand continues to rise due to advancements in technology and the impact of globalization. The finite nature of traditional energy sources has accelerated the shift toward renewable energy, particularly in developing countries where environmental degradation and declining quality of life are significant concerns. This study delves into the interplay between urbanization, carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, and renewable energy production in Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation member states, providing new insights into the energy market. By using annual data from 1995 to 2020 and advanced panel cointegration tests, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the determinants of renewable energy for developing countries. The findings show a substantial and long-term relationship between urbanization, emissions, growth, and renewable energy production. These findings have important implications for policymakers and underscore the critical role of renewable energy in mitigating climate change in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism needs to reduce emissions in line with other economic sectors, if the international community's objective of staying global warming at 1.5°-2.0 °C is to be achieved. This will require the industry to half emissions to 2030, and to reach net-zero by mid-century. Mitigation requires consideration of four dimensions, the Scales, Scopes, Stakeholders and Strategies of carbon management. The paper provides a systematic review of these dimensions and their interrelationships, with a focus on emission inventory comprehensiveness; allocation principles at different scales; clearly defined responsibilities for decarbonization; and the identification of significant mitigation strategies. The paper concludes that without mitigation efforts, tourism will deplete 40% of the world's remaining carbon budget to 1.5 °C. Yet, the most powerful decarbonization measures face major corporate, political and technical barriers. Without worldwide policy efforts at the national scale to manage the sector's emissions, tourism will turn into one of the major drivers of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thailand has established a target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Reaching this goal will require coordination and collaboration between stakeholders spanning sectors and scales, including energy system decision makers, land managers, and city planners. Robust decarbonization scenarios incorporating current plans and targets, additional measures needed, and trade-offs between strategies can help stakeholders make informed decisions in the face of uncertainty. Through iterative engagement with decision makers at the city and national levels, we develop and analyze carbon neutral scenarios for Thailand that incorporate Bangkok's role using a global integrated assessment model. We find that Thailand can reach carbon neutrality through power sector decarbonization, energy efficiency improvements, widespread electrification, and advanced technologies including carbon capture and storage and hydrogen. Negative emissions technologies will also be needed to offset Thailand and Bangkok's hardest-to-abate CO2 emissions. Bangkok, as a major population and economic center, contributes significantly to Thailand's energy demand and emissions and can therefore play an important role in climate change mitigation. Accordingly, our results underscore the importance of subnational climate action in meeting Thailand's carbon neutral goal. Our analysis also indicates that without sustained land-based carbon sequestration, much more mitigation effort will be needed in Thailand's energy sector, including at the subnational scale, to reach carbon neutrality. These insights can help stakeholders identify priorities, consider tradeoffs, and make decisions that will impact Bangkok and Thailand's long-term climate change mitigation potential. This analysis demonstrates how stakeholder engagement in integrated assessment modeling can facilitate and inform multilevel climate governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or utilization (BECCU) allows net zero or negative carbon emissions and can be a breakthrough technology for climate change mitigation. This work consists of an energetic, exergetic, and economic analysis of an integrated process based on chemical looping combustion of solar-torrefied agro-industrial residues, followed by methanation of the concentrated CO2 stream with green H2. Four agro-industrial residues and four Italian site locations are considered. Depending on the considered biomass, the integrated plant processes about 18–93 kg h−1 of raw biomass and produces 55–70 t y−1 of synthetic methane. Global exergetic efficiencies ranged within 45–60% and 67–77% when neglecting and considering, respectively, the valorization of torgas. Sugar beet pulp and grape marc required a non-negligible input exergy flow for the torrefaction, due to the high moisture content of the raw biomasses. However, for these biomasses, the water released during drying/torrefaction and CO2 methanation could be recycled to the electrolyzer to eliminate external water consumption, thus allowing for a more sustainable use of water resources. For olive stones and hemp hurd, this water recycling brings, instead, a reduction of approximately 65% in water needs. A round-trip electric efficiency of 28% was estimated assuming an electric conversion efficiency of 40%. According to the economic analysis, the total plant costs ranged within 3–5 M€ depending on the biomass and site location considered. The levelized cost of methane (LCOM) ranged within 4.3–8.9 € kgCH4−1 but, if implementing strategies to avoid the use of a large temporary H2 storage vessel, can be decreased to 2.6–5.3 € kgCH4−1. Lower values are obtained when considering hemp hurd and grape marc as raw biomasses, and when locating the PV field in the south of Italy. Even in the best scenario, values of LCOM are out of the market if compared to current natural gas prices, but they might become competitive with the introduction of a carbon tax or through government incentives for the purchase of the PV field and/or electrolyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planted forests are in the utilisation phase in Japan, contributing to the increased use of timber and the realisation of carbon neutrality. We simulated and compared the carbon emission reduction effects of three forest management scenarios, including a no final cutting scenario at two geographical scales, in the context of a privately owned Cryptomeria japonica planted forest in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. We adopted two substitution approaches: the status quo approach and the dynamic approach in line with Japan's nationally determined contribution. We used hypothetical stands over three rotation periods of 150 years at the stand level, and a harvest schedule of 120 years at the regional level. The harvesting scenarios based on the status quo substitution approach reduced carbon emissions more than the no final cutting scenario for current wood usage at the study site, although those based on the dynamic substitution approach reduced carbon emissions as much as the no final cutting scenario during the first 30 years. Sustainable timber production from forests may reduce carbon emissions as much as unharvested forests until 2050, indicating that the substitution effects of harvested wood products could have a significant impact on the climate change mitigation effect arising from timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globalized supply chain for crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic (PV) panels is increasingly fragile, as the now-mundane freight crisis and other geopolitical risks threaten to postpone major PV projects. Here, we study and report the results of climate change implications of reshoring solar panel manufacturing as a robust and resilient strategy to reduce reliance on foreign PV panel supplies. We project that if the U.S. could fully bring c-Si PV panel manufacturing back home by 2035, the estimated greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption would be 30% and 13% lower, respectively, than having relied on global imports in 2020, as solar power emerges as a major renewable energy source. If the reshored manufacturing target is achieved by 2050, the climate change and energy impacts would be further reduced by 33% and 17%, compared to the 2020 level. The reshored manufacturing demonstrates significant progress in domestic competitiveness and toward decarbonization goals, and the positive reductions in climate change impacts align with the climate target. Reshoring silicon photovoltaic manufacturing back to the U.S. improves domestic competitiveness, advances decarbonization goals, and contributes to mitigating climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban policy plays an important role in urbanization and urban sprawl, which in turn affect changes in CO 2 emissions from urban areas. However, urban planning policies that consider climate change mitigation have not been widely adopted, despite the issue's importance. To promote the consideration of climate change policies in urban planning, it is useful to identify the key determinants of effective climate change mitigation for policy makers. The objective of this study is therefore to identify the determining factors that affect changes in urban CO 2 emissions based on city type using a dataset of metropolitan areas. We obtained data on 276 cities in 26 countries for the years 2000, 2005, and 2008. We divided the data into five regional groups and four clusters to control for the characteristics of metropolitan areas. The dataset includes urban CO 2 emissions, GDP, and population. Three variables related to urban characteristics are subjected to determinants analysis using an econometric approach. The results show that the determinants of changes in urban CO 2 emissions differ by city type and region. These results contribute to a better understanding of urban policies that can improve the effects of these driving factors by considering the characteristics of each city type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current era of global warming, the Himalayan forests are under tremendous pressure due to intensified anthropogenic activity, resulting in the loss of forest diversity. However, the potential of carbon (C) sinks for increasing carbon storage and/or sequestration is still uncertain. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the C‐sequestration and mitigation potential of eight different tree plantations, namely: Pinus roxburghii, Quercus leucotrichophora, Acacia mollissima, Acacia catechu, Alnus nitida, Albizia procera, Ulmus villosa, and Eucalyptus tereticornis in the mid‐hills of the Indian Himalayas. The soil samples used in our study (humus, 0–20cm, 20–40cm, and 40–100 cm) were used to determine the soil and ecosystem C‐density. The analysis revealed that the maximum tree biomass (300.19 Mg ha−1), vegetation biomass (305.43 Mg ha−1), vegetation carbon (153.59 Mg ha−1), and total ecosystem C density (369.93 Mg ha−1) occurred under U. villosa plantation. Similarly, P. roxburghii plantations had the maximum detritus C‐density (7.25 Mg ha−1), whereas A. nitida (224.71 Mg ha−1) had the maximum soil C‐density. The highest C‐sequestration was recorded under U. villosa (183.0 Mg ha−1). A significantly higher and lower rate of C‐sequestration and CO2 mitigation was observed in Ulmus villosa (5.9 and 21.64 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and Eucalyptus tereticornis (3.9 and 14.3 Mg ha−1 yr−1). Our study found that indigenous tree species such as U. villosa, A. procera, A. nitida, and Q. leucotrichophora should be encouraged for afforestation on degraded lands to support climate change mitigation strategies in the sub‐temperate forest ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy and institutions have emerged among other variables touted to address climate change problems. However, empirical results have been conflicting. With a relatively poorer state of institutional quality and a lower level of renewable energy development amidst rising carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions in Africa, the study assesses: a) the direct effect of renewable energy and institutional quality on CO 2 emissions in Africa; and b) the moderation role of institutional quality on the effect of renewable energy on CO 2 emissions in Africa. The study relies on panel data covering 2002–2021 for 32 African countries. The Fully-Modified OLS regression method is employed to analyze the data based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, & Technology (STIRPAT) model. The results show that urbanization and trade openness increase CO 2 emissions. Although income has a positive effect on carbon emissions, the square term has a negative confirming the EKC hypothesis. Renewable energy also reduces CO 2 emissions. Institutional quality variables of control of corruption, rule of law, regulatory quality, political stability and absence of violence, voice and accountability, government effectiveness and institutional index created from the above indicators reduce CO 2 emissions. In addition, except government effectiveness, the remaining indicators of institutional quality negatively moderate the effect of renewable energy on CO 2 emissions. The results among other things imply that intensifying the development and usage of renewable energy would help address the rising carbon dioxide emissions trend in Africa. Also, strengthening institutions promises to reduce CO 2 emissions. • Determinants of environmental degradation is estimated. • Renewable energy consumption reduces pollution. • Institutions reduce carbon emissions. • Institutions reinforce the effect of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct air capture (DAC) is critical for achieving stringent climate targets, yet the environmental implications of its large-scale deployment have not been evaluated in this context. Performing a prospective life cycle assessment for two promising technologies in a series of climate change mitigation scenarios, we find that electricity sector decarbonization and DAC technology improvements are both indispensable to avoid environmental problem-shifting. Decarbonizing the electricity sector improves the sequestration efficiency, but also increases the terrestrial ecotoxicity and metal depletion levels per tonne of CO2 sequestered via DAC. These increases can be reduced by improvements in DAC material and energy use efficiencies. DAC exhibits regional environmental impact variations, highlighting the importance of smart siting related to energy system planning and integration. DAC deployment aids the achievement of long-term climate targets, its environmental and climate performance however depend on sectoral mitigation actions, and thus should not suggest a relaxation of sectoral decarbonization targets. New study concludes that environmental tradeoffs of direct air capture and sequestration technologies are linked to the energy system in which they will operate, and their deployment should not equate to a relaxation of decarbonization or resource use efficiency targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing global population causes more anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and raises the need for forest products, which in turn causes deforestation and elevated CO2 levels. A rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the major reason for global warming. Carbon dioxide concentrations must be reduced soon to achieve the mitigation of climate change. Forest management programs accommodate a way to manage atmospheric CO2 levels. For this purpose, we considered a nonlinear fractional model to analyze the impact of forest management policies on mitigating atmospheric CO2 concentration. In this investigation, fractional differential equations were solved by utilizing the Atangana Baleanu Caputo derivative operator. It captures memory effects and shows resilience and efficiency in collecting system dynamics with less processing power. This model consists of four compartments, the concentration of carbon dioxide C(t), human population N(t), forest biomass B(t), and forest management programs P(t) at any time t. The existence and uniqueness of the solution for the fractional model are shown. Physical properties of the solution, non-negativity, and boundedness are also proven. The equilibrium points of the model were computed and further analyzed for local and global asymptotic stability. For the numerical solution of the suggested model, the Atangana-Toufik numerical scheme was employed. The acquired results validate analytical results and show the significance of arbitrary order ffi. The effect of deforestation activities and forest management strategies were also analyzed on the dynamics of atmospheric carbon dioxide and forest biomass under the suggested technique. The illustrated results describe that the concentration of CO2 can be minimized if deforestation activities are controlled and proper forest management policies are developed and implemented. Furthermore, it is determined that switching to low-carbon energy sources, and developing and implementing more effective mitigation measures will result in a decrease in the mitigation of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes market failures that affected the voluntary carbon market (VCM) and its policy implications. Topics discussed include role of the VCM in mitigating climate change, carbon offsets, evolution and structure of the VCM, regulations related with the VCM, command and control regulations, gatekeeper liability and regulatory licenses, and the importance of transparency and strengthening of reputational sanctions for inaccurate certifications.

The climate system is indifferent as to the location of voluntary mitigation activities. Are people? Our artifactual online field experiment varies, for residents of a European Union member state, (1) whether the location of a real C O 2 mitigation measure is made salient or not or (2) whether the salient location is in the European Union or in a developing country. Harnessing between- and within-subjects variation in our panel data and controlling for cost effectiveness, we find that subjects respond to the location being made salient. Contrary to previous evidence, however, they are indifferent between mitigation sites. We conclude that locational preferences need not stand in the way of realizing the gains from comparative advantage in climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an effort to explore and incentivize the development of innovation-driven, green and low-carbon cities, China implemented the innovative city pilot policy (ICPP) in 2008. Using the ICPP as a quasi-natural experiment, we investigate whether and through which channels the ICPP reduces corporate carbon intensity. To do this, we employ a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) econometric method and find that the ICPP indeed mitigates corporate carbon intensity. This relationship is shown to be quite robust using various alternative specifications of the DID analysis. The reduction effect on corporate carbon intensity is more pronounced for private firms, polluting firms, and capital-intensive firms, showing a convergence trend towards technology-intensive and clean firms. We find the ICPP reduces corporate intensity by enhancing corporate innovation and increasing the value-added rate (i.e. corporate upgrading). Based on these novel findings, we draw out policy implications for carbon neutrality, shedding light on pathways for addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development. Key policy insights Carbon neutrality is a long-term and ambitious target. Achieving this target requires the coordination and integration of multiple climate instruments. Among these, technological progress (e.g. renewable energy substitution and improved carbon efficiency) determines the overall cost of carbon neutrality. And innovation support policies should be included in the optimal climate policy package. Innovation policy can promote knowledge spillovers and long-term economic growth, as well as address environmental externalities of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby providing a cost-effective way of combating climate change. Empirical evidence suggests that the ICPP implemented in China significantly reduces corporate carbon intensity and thus has promising prospects for the carbon-neutral target. The policy help firms enhance their innovation activities and facilitate corporate upgrading. As other emerging economies also face the sharp trade-off between climate change mitigation and economic growth, they can learn from this centrally-planned and locally-led innovation policy and lead their development mode onto a cleaner and decarbonized path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy sector in the selected Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam, was responsible for around 84% of total CO2 emissions (equivalent to 423.16 MtCO2) in 2015. Without the intervention of climate change mitigation actions, the emissions of CO2 from energy systems would be tremendously increased. Nevertheless, only Thailand appears to have clear targets for reaching carbon neutrality by the mid-21st century. This study investigates the possibility of energy system transformation to reach net-zero CO2 emissions in 2050 in the selected nations. The Net-Zero-Emission (NZE) scenario is built as a CO2 mitigation countermeasure to the reference scenario. Results show that to reach the goal of decarbonized energy systems in the NZE scenario, efficient and advanced technologies must be used on both the demand and supply sides to reduce around 41% of the final energy demand, and at least 81% of all electricity must be generated by renewable energy. Additionally, the application of advanced low-carbon technologies, including carbon capture and storage in the coal, natural gas, and bioenergy industries and power generation in cooperation with the utilization of electric vehicles in the transport sector, are the key measures for attaining carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History instructs us that electrical power can be decarbonized in less than a dozen years with combinations of renewable and nuclear energy, but exaggerated fears of the latter have made it too costly and unpopular to develop and deploy in much of the world, allowing Russia and China to capture the nuclear export market. If humanity is genuinely serious about rapid decarbonization to avoid the worst health and climate risks, it will need to take steps to rapidly improve and deploy both nuclear and renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building decarbonization strategy with Distributed renewable energy sources (DRES) is applied and extended worldwide for its climate change mitigation benefits, however, it generates debate regarding equity in sharing electric system operation costs. To analyze DRES effects on equity, it is conducted a case study, in which same residential consumer is evaluated in three different markets (Spain, Mexico, Colombia). We analyze not only electrical system technical variables, but we also include society's economic, social, technological, and environmental characteristics. Next, energy, economic, and environmental benefits are obtained in each the three case studies, analyzing the impact of using DERS on equity to recover electric system operating costs. We also evaluate whether tariff mechanisms are equitable to motivate all consumers participation, as well as whether all consumers have equal opportunity for using DERS. We conclude that tariff mechanisms in Mexico and Colombia lead to inequity to recover market operating costs, favoring large consumers with high incomes. Furthermore, tariff mechanisms discourage the use of DERS by small and medium consumers due to economic, social, and technological aspects. In Spain, inequity arises due to increased difficulty for some consumers to use DERS, i.e., consumers in apartment buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenya is committed to the global efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation as seen through investments in various sustainable green and blue economy projects. In this review paper, we present the current status of what has been done, particularly on the blue carbon offset initiatives undertaken in the mangrove and seaweed ecosystems as well as the decarbonization activities at the port of Mombasa and which should form reference information for local, regional, bilateral/multilateral partners, scientists and other climate change stakeholders. The blue carbon offset projects involve mangrove conservation, reforestation and carbon credit sale as well as seaweed farming. The initiatives have several unique features amongst which are the community-led income generation systems that simultaneously act as an inducement for ecosystem preservation, co-management and benefits sharing which are recipes for economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. A notable project impact is the conferment of economic power to the locals, particularly the women and the youth The model used embraces a collaborative approach involving multisectoral engagements of both the government, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and local communities. This integrated top-down (government) and bottom-up (local community) method deliberately targets the strengthening of economic development while ensuring sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests play an essential role in climate change mitigation by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon in biomass. Carbon sequestration can be increased by the extension of rotation cycles in existing plantation forests. This study examines the cost‐effectiveness of the remuneration scheme employed by Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), a commonly used carbon accounting method based on the average amount of carbon stored in the forest. We compare the net present value of carbon remuneration under VCS with that of a scheme that remunerates actual carbon storage in each year which we call "current carbon accounting." We use data for an Acacia mangium plantation in Indonesia where the forestry sector is expected to contribute more than half of the reductions of carbon emissions according to Indonesia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. For our baseline scenario, we find, first, that the payments needed to incentivise additional carbon storage under VCS are considerably higher than under current carbon accounting. Second, the inefficiency is more pronounced at lower discount rates. Third, recent prices reported for VCS forest credits are not sufficient to incentivise forest managers to lengthen the forest rotation in Indonesian plantation forests. Recommendations for Resource Managers: Older forests store more carbon. Using a multiple rotations model our study determines how carbon payments incentivise forest managers to lengthen the forest rotation and, hence, to sequester and store more carbon. Forest managers should consider carbon remuneration options in their forest management decisions, in particular when choosing the length of the rotation period.Optimal forest management is impacted by the design of the remuneration scheme. It matters in particular whether carbon sequestration or carbon storage is paid for.Fund managers can incentivise larger amounts of carbon storage through careful design of the carbon remuneration scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the increasing fire events in addition to climate change due to the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as other greenhouse gases exerts huge pressure on natural resources and their management. This phenomenon is more severe in the tropical region due to increasing population, urbanization, industrialization, existing pressures, and limiting conditions. In the present study, carbon (C) stock, carbon sequestration (Cseq), CO2 mitigation potential, C budget, and C flux of the seasonally dry forest ecosystem of Chhattisgarh under the influence of wildfire in the protected area and its proximity were evaluated. Four sites namely, high fire zone (HFZ), medium fire zone (MFZ), low fire zone (LFZ), and non‐fire zone (NFZ) were selected and marked based on fire return intervals (frequency) and extent of damage. The present work is a novel approach that assesses the impact of different fire frequencies on C dynamics of fire‐affected zones. The stratified sampling technique was used within a permanent plot of 1 hectare. Forest stands on each site were analyzed using 10 randomly placed quadrats (each 10 × 10 m in size) and data were collected from each site. Across the sites higher tree density was observed at NFZ and the lowest at HFZ.Total tree biomass ranged between 116.0 and 358.4 t ha−1 across the fire regimes. Total vegetation C stock ranged between 59.1 and 169.5 t ha−1 in different sites. The C mitigation and Cseq potential ranged between 186.2 and 575.3 t ha−1, and 7.1 and 15.9 t ha−1, respectively being highest in NFZ and lowest in HFZ. The species such as Anogeissus latifolia, Buchanania lanzan, Shorea robusta, Lannea coromandelica, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Ougeinia oojeinensis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia tomentosa are the major contributor in biomass, C stock, C mitigation, and Cseq potential in different fire regimes. Thus, our findings would be highly useful in the restoration process of fire‐affected zones through the plantation of selective plant species. Therefore, the aforementioned species could be effectively utilized while going for an afforestation/reforestation program, and will be helpful in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies under different fire zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Green Deal (EGD) represents the response of the European Union (EU) to the climate crisis and a strategy to mitigate against climate change and the associated environmental degradation. European Climate Law supports the EGD by setting the legally binding target of climate neutrality for the EU on a time horizon of 2050 and mandates that member states develop and implement their own Climate Action Plans (CAP), which are strategic roadmaps outlining steps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Within the Irish context, the CAP focuses on six specific sectors, three of which, namely the energy grid, the built environment and transportation are considered in this research. This policy proposes the retrofitting of all residential buildings in the country to a B2 energy performance certificate (EPC), all public transport and 60% of private vehicles electrified and the full decarbonisation of the electrical grid by 2050. This study aims to implement the targets and goals outlined within CAP 2021 in an urban area of Ireland, specifically a historical city centre. The research leverages digital twin technology developed by IES to model the carbon emissions associated with the built environment, while also incorporating GHG emissions associated with transportation and the grid. Furthermore, CAP scenarios are applied systematically and strategically, prioritising building retrofits based on buildings with similar characteristics, typologies and performance. This study has assessed the performance of CAP about two future grid scenarios (1) business as usual and (2) a decarbonised grid. In both scenarios, CAP was not sufficient to achieve the targets set out, resulting in a shortfall of between 25 and 33%. Based on this outcome it may be concluded that any decarbonisation targets specified should be tested and validated before their implementation in policy. Moreover, current state-of-theart digital twin technologies can facilitate the rapid holistic appraisal of complex multi-sectoral policy at the urban scale, which, depending on data availability, could prove useful in future iterations of CAP at both national and international levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) industries must decarbonize to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This study explores how policy stringency and regional variability impact EITE industrial decarbonization. It uses Canada as a case study due to its heterogeneous industrial sector and high regional resource variability. The study has two scenarios: one with global climate action where the world pushes to limit warming to 1.5°C, and one where Canada acts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the rest of the world lags. The scenarios differ in three ways: the global price of oil, the pace of technological change for low emission technologies, and domestic climate policy. In the global action scenario, a carbon price of $430USD2020 was needed to achieve 75% decarbonization of EITE industries by 2050. In our global inaction scenario, EITE industries only decarbonize 25%, as domestic climate policy considered international competition and the risk of industrial shutdown. If competitiveness concerns persist as simulated in this scenario, Canada is highly unlikely to achieve deep industrial decarbonization by 2050. The results also show that regional variability plays a significant role in low emissions technology adoption. While all regions will need targeted innovation and commercialization support as well as market uptake mechanisms, we find that relative advantages and disadvantages in terms of resource availability and industrial mix play an important role in how regional decarbonization occurs. For instance, regions with inexpensive local fossil fuels and ready geology suitable for CO2 storage have a high uptake of carbon capture and storage. Regions with access to abundant hydroelectricity rely more on electrification as a decarbonization pathway. Regions with no relative resource advantages are at greater risk for industrial shutdown due to the higher cost of decarbonization. Achieving national deep decarbonization of EITE industries in Canada or elsewhere is highly unlikely without global climate action due to competitiveness concerns. Policymakers interested in addressing competitiveness concerns might do so either through policy mechanisms that support the uptake of low emission technologies, mechanisms that penalize regions without decarbonization policy, or both. Policymakers should consider relative regional advantages and disadvantages to EITE decarbonization by designing policies that account for industrial heterogeneity and regional resource availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in addressing climate change. While the UN Panel on Climate Change emphasizes the importance of CCS in limiting global warming, there are concerns about its cost-effectiveness and ability to significantly reduce emissions. Despite this, countries like the UK and the US are showing support for CCS through government initiatives and funding. The article emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks and financial support from governments to encourage private investment in CCS. It also discusses the current state of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology and the need for increased government support to promote its widespread use. The article provides a balanced perspective on the opportunities and challenges associated with CCUS. [Extracted from the article]

This study contributed to the environmental research by analyzing the nexus between innovation in climate change mitigation technologies and carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, with the gross domestic product per capita, international collaboration in green technology development, renewable energy consumption, the labor force, and trade openness as control variables from 1990Q1 to 2018Q4. First, the results suggested that renewable energy consumption, innovation in climate change mitigation technologies, and international collaboration in green technology development are significant mitigating and determining factors for carbon dioxide emissions. Second, the findings also indicated that trade openness and gross domestic product per capita were positively associated with carbon dioxide emissions. Third, the Granger causality test results validated the presence of a bidirectional nexus between innovation in climate change mitigation technologies and carbon dioxide emissions, renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, and international collaboration in green technology development and carbon dioxide emissions. Fourth, the results validated a one-way causality between gross domestic product per capita and carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of court cases are being brought against governments, administrations, and corporations in support of enhanced climate action. This is the first of two articles that examine climate litigation as a social process and potential driver of deep decarbonisation from a perspective that combines legal, social, and political science. Contributing to an emerging interdisciplinary research agenda on the dynamics and effects of climate litigation and on its societal embeddedness, we present and test two analytical tools, the Social Plausibility Assessment Framework and the Global Opportunity Structure for Climate Action. The first article introduces these analytical tools, and applies them to assess the overall evolution of climate litigation and identify developments in its legal and societal context that enable or constrain future driver dynamics. Based on this assessment, we conclude that climate litigation constitutes an important but on its own insufficient driver of deep decarbonisation, which is shaped by, and continuously shapes, legal, socio-political, economic, and scientific scripts and repertoires that enable novel forms of societal agency. The second article further operationalises and illustrates the approach by zooming in on a case-specific level and examining two recent landmark decisions in the Netherlands and Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists have reached a consensus that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C necessitates achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across all economic sectors. Numerous research institutes have prepared decarbonization strategies for the global and regional chemical industries, utilizing modeling and systems analysis to identify decarbonization pathways with different combinations of low-carbon technologies. However, technology choices and scenario designs vary widely across studies, which precludes generalizability and complicates the use of data and results by the broader decarbonization scenario modeling community. Given the varied scopes and objectives inherent in different system models, there is no standardized set of technology data for use in decarbonization pathways analysis. A systematic literature review of 27 relevant studies was performed, which found opportunities for improving technology representation, technology readiness, scenario consistency, demand factors, and policy interventions, among other quantitative elements. Only 7 out of 27 reviewed studies investigated all types of mitigation technologies, and only 3 studies included all data elements aligning with the proposed rubric in this paper. Considering these opportunities, this review proposes a comprehensive dataset structure and consistent scenario definitions that can enable more comprehensive, comparable, robust, and replicable net-zero decarbonization scenarios by modelers of the chemicals industry moving forward. [Display omitted] • Gaps in included technologies, data, and scenario elements in net-zero pathway modeling of the chemical sector are identified. • 80 % of the reviewed studies lack consideration of demand changes and policy implementations in their scenarios • 67 % of the reviewed studies overlooked technology readiness levels in deployment assumptions • Best-practice dataset structures are proposed to improve future modeling studies • Best-practice elements for more robust designs of decarbonization scenarios are proposed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers three instruments to effectively mitigate climate change in the context of the Conference of the Parties (COP)26 and beyond. The first is the interaction between the climate and trade regimes. To that end, this article presents a thought-provoking premise - that mega-regional trade agreements (RTAs) can take a significant role in climate change mitigation. It argues that mega-RTAs can go further to galvanize climate change mitigation, in particular in the energy sector. The energy sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the majority of energy consumption being supplied by fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil. As such, there are two main arguments made herein. First, mega-RTAs, as tangible indications of what is acceptable to major economies, are the impetus to influencing greater coherence on energy efficiency standards. This contributes to climate action by creating, even if to some extent, the harmonization of an otherwise fragmented status of energy governance. Second, mega-RTAs can create substantive provisions that redirect support from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This is the very essence of the energy transition. It is envisaged that these two roles conveyed effectively through mega-RTAs can substantially support the energy transition and amounts to action that mitigates climate change and promotes sustainable energy. The second instrument to effectively mitigate climate change is the role of two major Asian countries that are key in the fight against climate change, namely India and China. Both countries can play a major role in effectively mitigating climate change in the future, following the agreement at COP26 that coal must be phased down. Lastly, the third instrument is visualizing what a decarbonized future would look like. Two of many possible pathways for decarbonization are examined: clean-energy technologies and shale gas as a bridge to sustainability. The article argues that these pathways can be meaningful for effective climate action and are in alignment with the Glasgow Climate Pact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct Air Capture (DAC) offers a promising pathway for combating climate change by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. Here, we discuss Heirloom's approach to DAC, which uses naturally occurring minerals, namely, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), in a cyclic process that leverages warehouse automation systems previously developed for large warehouses. The integration of DAC with warehouse automation systems unlocks a degree of manufacturability, scalability, operational efficiency, and financial viability. For successful scaling, DAC technologies and project developers must think through key scalability constraints, including modularity, constructability, supply chains, and leveraging existing infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2015, the prevailing challenges of gender inequality and climate change have garnered attention from the United Nations. While gender equality represents the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5, climate action is listed as Goal #13. Gender equality is a saturated area in the extant literature of gender studies while the literature on the nexus between the climate change and gender mainstreaming are in short supply. Apart from the environmental hazards created by climate change, vulnerable groups, especially women, are facing higher risks and greater burdens from its impacts. The effects of climate change have led to a global quest for decarbonization, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the use of low-carbon power sources. Despite the global quest for decarbonization, the effects of climate change are alarming. The impact of climate change has widened the gap of gender inequality. Empirical studies show that women in agriculture are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change compared to their male counterparts. It is also evident that women and men experience climate change impacts differently due to their socially constructed roles and responsibilities in developing countries. Because climate change affects the availability of surface water, rural women, who are usually given the task of fetching water, have to travel greater distances to collect water, increasing their already substantial workloads. This study assesses the National Action Plan on Gender and Climate Change for Nigeria and its impact on gender mainstreaming in Nigeria. The study adopts methodological triangulation. The primary data were generated through key informant interviews (KIIs); the secondary data were sourced from textbooks, journal articles, and web-based materials. The data generated were analyzed using inductive methodologies and thematic analysis. The study recommends more gender-sensitive climate actions and the proper formulation of structures and processes toward the full realization of gender mainstreaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Countries are implementing CO2 emission reduction targets in order to meet a globally agreed global warming limit of +2°C. However, it was hypothesised that these national reduction targets are not translated to regional or state level planning, and are not considered through Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in order to meet emission reduction obligations falling on the transport, energy, housing, agriculture, and forestry sectors. SEAs of land use plans in the German state of Saxony, and the English region of the East of England were examined for their consideration of climate change impacts based on a set of criteria drawn from the literature. It was found that SEAs in both cases failed to consider climate change impacts at scales larger than the boundary of the spatial plan, and that CO2 reduction targets were not considered. This suggests a need for more clarity in the legal obligations for climate change consideration within the text of the SEA Directive, a requirement for monitoring of carbon emissions, a need for methodological guidance to devolve global climate change targets down to regional and local levels, and a need for guidance on properly implementing climate change protection in SEA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A rapidly expanding number of companies have pledged to contribute towards the Paris Agreement's goal by establishing 2050 net-zero emissions targets. However, the literature lacks an in-depth analysis of firms' strategies to reach those targets and their underlying assumptions. Scholars increasingly use time and space as functional constructs to theorise what motivates different business responses to climate change. Organisational boundaries represent an additional critical dimension when analysing companies' climate actions. Hence, we adopted a novel tri-dimensional framework (time, sense of place, and organisational boundaries) to analyse the link between the targets companies set and their proposed decarbonisation strategies. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of self-reported and tertiary data from 45 European manufacturing companies rated as leaders in climate action. By investigating how time, sense of place, and organisational boundaries substantiate companies' decarbonisation strategies' present and possible future impact, we delineate how different approaches to the three dimensions enable or constrain the comprehensives of net-zero strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decisions by states to cancel oil and gas licenses in the transition to net-zero emissions can trigger investment arbitration claims. Given the massive damages that arbitration tribunals can award to investors, investment arbitration is increasingly being criticized as an obstacle to climate change mitigation and the just energy transition. Under the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method, tribunals have based their valuation on the expected production volumes during the remaining lifetime of oilfields and forecasts of international oil prices, essentially requiring states to compensate companies at market conditions for all energy left underground. With an increasing number of carbon neutrality pledges at the global level and states' due diligence obligation to reduce emissions, this article argues that tribunals can no longer ignore decarbonization considerations in the application of the DCF method. Damages decisions must instead account for the price, production cost and risk expectations under net-zero pathways. Significant downward adjustments to the estimated future income of hydrocarbon assets can be achieved by using the lower oil price forecasts in net-zero emissions scenarios, instead of current market conditions. Adjusting future cash flow projections and the discount rate to reflect carbon pricing and other climate policy risks can significantly lower the present value of hydrocarbon assets. As arbitration tribunals have so far ignored decarbonization in their oil damages calculations, legal reforms are needed to require the alignment of investor compensation to decarbonization and ensure a just energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important climate report in the world, conducted by the IPCC, has been diluted by lobbies and governments during its drafting process. The summary for politicians and managers does not reflect the seriousness of the climate crisis or the necessary solutions. Proposals such as drastic emission reductions and the closure of gas and coal plants within a decade have been eliminated. Additionally, other aspects of the report have been softened. Countries like Saudi Arabia have pressured to remove recommendations and tone down the report, eliminating references to the responsibility of the top 10% richest in pollution and mentions of direct emissions from aviation, the automotive industry, and meat consumption. The complete report highlights the need for a revolution in our energy and socio-economic systems, and mentions the concept of "degrowth" as a possible solution. It also warns about the obstacle posed by the Energy Charter Treaty for climate change mitigation policies. [Extracted from the article]

To achieve the Paris Agreement's goals of keeping the global temperature rise well below 2 °C, or even better below 1.5 °C, relative to pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, countries need to make fair and ambitious contributions to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Here, three clusters are proposed that encompass fourteen approaches derived from three main equity principles to determine equitable national emission allocations in the year 2030 for the seventeen countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region. The allocations are compared with the Nationally Determined Contributions of each country in order to assess the degree to which current EMME climate change mitigation targets are sufficient. The results suggest two approaches that may be considered both realistic and fair, although with the caveat that both rich and poor EMME countries may still have reason to resist the allocations indicated by these approaches. One of these two approaches relates to the principle of responsibility and the other relates to a combination of capability and responsibility. Both require emissions in the EMME region to drop by nearly 50% by 2030 as compared to 2019 levels so as to be in line with a 1.5 °C warming scenario. The fairness of global decarbonisation efforts is foundational to climate change mitigation discussions. Achieving equitable emission reduction targets requires consideration of factors such as realism, which are less often discussed than those that are purely socioeconomic. Realistic and fair emissions abatement targets that reflect the equity principles of responsibility and capability should be identified and country-specific responses taken accordingly. The significant heterogeneity among EMME countries makes it particularly challenging to allocate emissions abatement targets in a fair and politically acceptable way. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of EMME countries are not aligned with required emissions abatement targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation scenarios generated by integrated assessment models have been extensively used to support climate change negotiations on the global stage. To date, most studies exploring ensembles of these scenarios focus on the global picture, with more limited attention to regional metrics. A systematic approach is still lacking to improve the understanding of regional heterogeneity, highlighting key regional decarbonisation measures and their relative importance for meeting global climate goals under deep uncertainty. This study proposes a novel approach to gaining robust insights into regional decarbonisation strategies using machine learning techniques based on the IPCC SR1.5 scenario database. Random forest analysis first reveals crucial metrics to limit global temperature increases. Logistic regression modelling and the patient rule induction method are then used to identify which of these metrics and their combinations are most influential in meeting climate goals below 2 °C or below 1.5 °C. Solar power and sectoral electrification across all regions have been found to be the most effective measures to limit temperature increases. To further limit increase below 1.5 °C and not only 2 °C, decommissioning of unabated gas plants should be prioritised along with energy efficiency improvements. Bioenergy and wind power show higher regional heterogeneity in limiting temperature increases, with lower influences than aforementioned measures, and are especially relevant in Latin America (bioenergy) and countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Former Soviet Union (bioenergy and wind). In the future, a larger scenario ensemble can be applied to reveal more robust and comprehensive insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing climate change mitigation policies are particularly concerned with the reconciliation of two seemingly conflicting aims: environmental protection and economic efficiency. The normative principles underlying these policies meanwhile focus on two central ideas: fair burden-sharing and agents' responsibility. However, both existing policy instruments and their supporting philosophical principles are highly problematic in terms of intergenerational justice and truly effective climate change mitigation. Three competing conceptions for allocating and distributing the burdens of climate change mitigation (cap-and-trade schemes, carbon emission taxes, and personal ecological space quotas) and their compatibility with principles of intra- and intergenerational justice are analysed and evaluated. None of the proposed instruments is able to satisfy the demands of effective mitigation and egalitarian justice on its own, which suggests that existing proposals for the distribution of emission rights and climate change-related costs need to be supported by a thicker account of intergenerational justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation and its related reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is one of the most important challenges facing society. The major cause of the problem and the key to its solution are GHG‐intensive firms that emit vast amounts of anthropogenic GHG emissions. The study reported herein aims to increase our understanding of the climate change mitigation strategies of these firms, in particular their antecedents and effects. A comprehensive conceptual model is proposed and tested empirically based on a survey of 247 firms that participated in the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme in the first two trading periods. We find that market pressures for reducing GHG emissions, perceived GHG‐related regulatory uncertainty and environmental strategy focus are important determinants of corporate GHG reduction strategies which, in turn, enhance GHG‐related performance. We also show that the results vary depending on the type of emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a global perspective, climate change mitigation requires countries to consider Low-Carbon Development (LCD) policies, including "Low-Carbon Transport (LCT)" and decarbonization options, which should be ideally developed within a place-based scope. Due to the complex structure of the transportation sector, mitigation actions require not only technological but also behavioral shifts, which can be challenged by the existing legislative and socio-economic structure of a region. Therefore, it is essential to identify and assess barriers and opportunities (B&Os) as a necessary initial phase in the development of national mitigation strategies. Turkey voluntarily started climate change mitigation by preparing the legislative and political infrastructure as a part of the European Union Harmonization Process. Detection of B&Os in other dimensions required an in-depth evaluation of existing LCT barriers and instruments (B&Is) in the IPCC literature in terms of their applicability and priority for Turkey. A focus group study with transport sector representatives was conducted to evaluate 15 barriers and 19 instruments (proposing 285 B&I matrix combinations), followed by a brain-writing exercise that revealed 12 main barriers (i.e., a lack of measurable targets, an imbalanced modal split, a lack of institutional coordination and data archiving, etc.). Various opportunities have been identified, such as the increased utilization of Intelligent Transportation Systems and the timely adoption of vehicle and fuel technologies in the EU region. These opportunities would not only contribute to the development of a national climate change mitigation strategy but also facilitate the implementation of place-based action plans, including climate change action plans and sustainable urban mobility plans at the city level. • Detection of barriers and opportunities is crucial for decarbonization in countries. • A five-step methodology was developed. • Survey, brain-writing and roundtable discussions were performed. • Major barriers included lack of measurable targets, imbalanced modal split and lack of coordination. • Intelligent transportation systems, new vehicle and fuel technologies were major opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]