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Abstract Biofuels have been promoted as a renewable energy option in many countries, but have also faced extensive scrutiny over their sustainability. Food security is perhaps the most debated sustainability impact of biofuels, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa that experience high rates of malnutrition and have been a major destination for biofuel-related investments. This study assesses the local food security impacts of engagement in biofuel crop production using a consistent protocol between multiple crops and sites. We use standardized metrics of food security related to dietary diversity and perceptions of hunger, and focus on feedstock smallholders and plantation workers in four operational projects: a large-scale jatropha plantation (Mozambique), a smallholder-based jatropha project (Malawi) and two hybrid sugarcane projects (Malawi, Eswatini). Collectively these reflect the main feedstocks, modes of production and land use transitions related to biofuel projects in Sub-Sahara Africa. Inverse Probability Weighting analysis indicates that involvement in sugarcane production improved household food security for plantation workers and feedstock smallholders. Conversely, involvement in jatropha production does not have a statistically significant positive effect on household food security for both workers and smallholders. Regression models indicate that the factors driving food security indicator levels vary between study sites. Wealth indicators influence food security indicators in several sites, but the absolute level of income plays a smaller role, while income stability/regularity, access to credit and stable markets for selling sugarcane be important drivers as indicated by the strong effect of proxy variables on indicators.

Abstract This study analysed the problem of energy intensity determinants in Nigeria based on the fully modified OLS and canonical cointegration regressions. These methods were preferred since they are able to deal effectively with the second-order bias problems, an often characteristics of time series data. The impacts of price of crude oil, FDI, trade openness and industry structure are asymmetric which suggests the presence of structural effects in parameters. The impact of crude oil price is negative but becomes stronger post-1989 saving .126% more in energy consumption relative to pre-1989. Also, the impacts of FDI and trade openness are negative and significant but become stronger post-1989 saving 11.2% and 0.8% more in energy consumption relative to the baseline, respectively for every one percentage point increase in FDI and trade openness. The impact of industry value-added is positive and significant but weakens after 1989 consuming 1.8% less in energy for every one percentage point increase in industry value-added relative to the baseline. The energy reducing effect of industry value-added post-1989 reflects improvements in the technical characteristics of industrial sector in Nigeria. Last, the result showed that the absorptive capability and industry characteristics of Nigeria are important determinants of how FDI affects energy intensity. This implies that a more integrated FDI programme (considering the country characteristics) rather than a ‘one-fit-all’ programme is preferable.

Abstract There are reasons to believe that improved energy efficiency still is an important energy development policy, despite stable oil prices, abundant oil supplies and end of the Cold War. The political reasons are uncertainty of the current Gulf situation and prevalent wars in the former Eastern bloc countries. Increasing concern over global environmental problems, the existence of imperfect energy markets and the desire for rapid economic growth in developing countries are the other reasons. This paper analyses the effects of energy management policies on the Kenyan economy using a computable general equilibrium model. Simulations show that an increase in energy efficiency leads to reduced dependence on foreign energy sources, promotion of reliable domestic energy sources, promotion of conservation of all forms of energy, saves scarce foreign currency and preserves the environment.

Abstract In most countries people are urged to change their pattern of consumption and lifestyle in a less-energy consuming and more environmental-friendly direction. But gains in ecoefficiency are likely to be annihilated by a larger consumption — the so-called rebound effect — resulting in an increased throughput in the economy. Here is an obvious contradiction. Another contradiction entails from the fact that most governments strive to promote economic growth which includes increased consumption. The paper takes a look at various means to handle these contradictions in order to avoid or balance the rebound effect. Environmental policies (including such measures as green taxes) may redirect consumption from one kind to another but this demands that the alternative spending is less harmful than the one dissuaded from. Two other tested means are to alter the sector mix of the economy and to shorten the working hours — work sharing — to match the increasing efficiency.

The need to increase energy security and promote development, especially in rural areas has forced many developing countries in southern Africa, like Mozambique to take several actions toward development of several infrastructures and legislations for production and use of liquid biofuels. The main objective of this study is to present the energy situation in Mozambique and assess the potential for energy generation from widely available renewable sources including residues from agricultural crops and forest industry. The country is endowed with great potential for biofuels, solar, hydro and wind energy production. The energy production today is, however, far from fulfilling energy needs of the country, and the majority of people are still not benefiting from these resources. The potential of total residues from agricultural sector and forest industry is estimated to be around 128 PJ. This amount of energy covers almost half of the combined production of charcoal and firewood which amounted to approximately 298 PJ in 2006. However, such amount of energy resources is wasted and is not visible on national energy statistics.

Abstract Empirical studies of the relationship between GDP per capita and country-level CO2 emissions tend to focus on the direct effect of per capita GDP growth, rarely taking political institutions into consideration. This paper introduces theoretical insights from environmental political science research, which suggests that CO2 emission models would gain explanatory leverage if moderators gauging political institutions were considered. We test these theories by estimating the potentially moderating effects of democracy, corruption, number of veto points and players, and civil society activity. We find that the per capita CO2 elasticity of GDP becomes non-monotonic and diminishing as GDP per capita increases in countries with democratic non-corrupt governments and high civil society participation. The moderating impact of this political-institutional configuration is relatively small, suggesting only limited support for theories in environmental political science. However, the results are robust and add an important specification to the studies in environmental economics that find positive and monotonic GDP-CO2 relationship: the adverse effect of GDP per capita on CO2 emissions is not profound in rich well-governed countries with active civil societies.

The prognosis of electricity potential using Landfill Gas Emission Model (LandGEM) and Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC) method with emphasis on methane gas in Lesotho is exemplified in this paper. The study is based on landfill Gas to Energy (LFGTE) technology based on anticipated waste from 2020 to 2045. Four districts were selected with their waste assumed to be disposed at one landfill site. Determination of electricity from landfilled MSW is analyzed by mathematical model from annual landfill methane emissions. In 2045, the highest theoretical methane emissions and energy potential for LandGEM is $56.98\mathrm{E}+06\ \ \mathrm{m}^{3}/\text{year}$ and 133.1 MWh/year respectively while for IPCC is $134.96\mathrm{E}+06\ \ \mathrm{m}^{3}/\text{year}$ and 315 MWh/year. In conclusion, LFGTE technology has the capability of contributing to the energy mix of Lesotho thereby supplementing the existing electricity generation, thus improving local supply. Furthermore, the resultant projection outlook and technology can be applied in developing countries with similar terrain.

Dengue fever is the most important viral vector-borne disease with ~50 million cases per year globally. Previous estimates of the potential effect of global climate change on the distribution of vector-borne disease have not incorporated the effect of socioeconomic factors, which may have biased the results. We describe an empirical model of the current geographic distribution of dengue, based on the independent effects of climate and gross domestic product per capita (GDPpc, a proxy for socioeconomic development). We use the model, along with scenario-based projections of future climate, economic development, and population, to estimate populations at risk of dengue in the year 2050. We find that both climate and GDPpc influence the distribution of dengue. If the global climate changes as projected but GDPpc remained constant, the population at risk of dengue is estimated to increase by about 0.28 billion in 2050. However, if both climate and GDPpc change as projected, we estimate a decrease of 0.12 billion in the population at risk of dengue in 2050. Empirically, the geographic distribution of dengue is strongly dependent on both climatic and socioeconomic variables. Under a scenario of constant GDPpc, global climate change results in a modest but important increase in the global population at risk of dengue. Under scenarios of high GDPpc, this adverse effect of climate change is counteracted by the beneficial effect of socioeconomic development.

Abstract Billions of people use traditional renewable energy (wood, charcoal and dung) to cook in and heat their homes. These traditional methods create serious health and environmental hazards, leading to renewed efforts to bring cleaner, more efficient stoves to people around the world but particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia where poverty is highest. Through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and voluntary markets, carbon finance is emerging as an attractive option to help scale-up cookstove projects. However, there is little understanding of how carbon-financed projects can help transform markets. This article begins to fill that gap by examining the role of carbon finance in cookstove projects in Kenya. Data was gathered through a review of project design documents for carbon-financed cookstove projects in Kenya and 26 interviews with stakeholders in the cookstove sector. Our analysis shows that carbon finance can help build a vibrant market for improved cookstoves by attracting international actors and technologies, helping establish standards for monitoring stoves and facilitating better follow-up and after-sales support. However, we highlight risks, such as potential mismatch between cheap and efficient technology and meeting user expectations and preferences. The study shows the need for further research on impact of carbon finance on improved cookstove project implementation across a broader range of contexts.