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SummaryEnvironmentally extended multiregional input‐output (EE MRIO) tables have emerged as a key framework to provide a comprehensive description of the global economy and analyze its effects on the environment. Of the available EE MRIO databases, EXIOBASE stands out as a database compatible with the System of Environmental‐Economic Accounting (SEEA) with a high sectorial detail matched with multiple social and environmental satellite accounts. In this paper, we present the latest developments realized with EXIOBASE 3—a time series of EE MRIO tables ranging from 1995 to 2011 for 44 countries (28 EU member plus 16 major economies) and five rest of the world regions. EXIOBASE 3 builds upon the previous versions of EXIOBASE by using rectangular supply‐use tables (SUTs) in a 163 industry by 200 products classification as the main building blocks. In order to capture structural changes, economic developments, as reported by national statistical agencies, were imposed on the available, disaggregated SUTs from EXIOBASE 2. These initial estimates were further refined by incorporating detailed data on energy, agricultural production, resource extraction, and bilateral trade. EXIOBASE 3 inherits the high level of environmental stressor detail from its precursor, with further improvement in the level of detail for resource extraction. To account for the expansion of the European Union (EU), EXIOBASE 3 was developed with the full EU28 country set (including the new member state Croatia). EXIOBASE 3 provides a unique tool for analyzing the dynamics of environmental pressures of economic activities over time.

Consumer interest in farmers’ markets (FMs) has dramatically increased during the past decade. The number of FMs in the United States has grown from 1755 in 1994 to 8140 in 2019 (USDA, 2019). To evaluate the economic impacts (EIs) of FMs in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, we collected FMs’ consumer data and used IMPLAN-based social accounting matrices to evaluate the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of FMs. The empirical results from IMPLAN provide the direct gross sales, income figures, and an estimate of the number of jobs in the study region. The results show the average total output of USD 36,181,059, total employment of 663 people, total value-added creation of USD 19,019,226, and total labor income created of USD 8,653,350 in the region. The FM average income multiplier is 1.51, which indicates that a USD 1 increase in personal income (PI) for an FM translates into USD 1.51 in PI across the economy of the region. We also highlight the impact of FMs as an important component of the circular economy (CE). To this end, we present a qualitative approach examining the potential of a CE as applied to the farmers’ markets in the Washington, DC metropolitan area using qualitative data from focus groups. The goal of the circular economy is to provide more sustainability in the local economy.

Results-based financing (RBF) programmes in the clean cooking sector have gained increasing donor interest over the last decade. Although the risks and advantages of RBF have been discussed quite extensively for other sectors, especially health services, there is limited research-documented experience of its application to clean cooking. Due to the sheer scale of the important transition from ‘dirty’ to clean cooking for the 4 billion people who lack access, especially in the Global South, efficient and performance-proven solutions are urgently required. This paper, undertaken as part of the work of the UKAid-funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, aims to close an important research gap by reviewing evidence-based support mechanisms and documenting essential experiences from previous and ongoing RBF programmes in the clean cooking and other sectors. On this basis, the paper derives key strategic implications and learning lessons for the global scaling of RBF programmes and finds that qualitative key performance indicators such as consumer acceptance as well as longer-term monitoring are critical long-term success factors for RBF to ensure the continued uptake and use of clean cooking solutions (CCS), however securing the inclusion of these indicators within programmes remains challenging. Finally, by discussing the opportunities for the evolution of RBF into broader impact funding programmes and the integration of energy access and clean cooking strategies through multi-sector approaches, the paper illustrates potential steps to enhance the impact of RBF in this sector in the future.

En los países del sur de Asia, incluidos Bangladesh, India y Pakistán, el escenario energético actual se considera no sostenible debido a diversas cuestiones, como las opciones económicas, ambientales, geopolíticas y tecnológicas para la explotación de la energía y el volumen insignificante del comercio regional de energía. Sin embargo, dentro de la región, India está liderando una fase de transición energética y transformación económica a través del desarrollo de energías renovables. Los países deben mostrar buenos resultados en el desarrollo de sus fuentes renovables siguiendo el rápido ritmo de las energías renovables en todo el mundo. Este artículo ofrece una visión general del escenario energético, el crecimiento de las energías renovables, la evolución y el enfoque de la política energética al resaltar los desafíos y barreras clave para la combinación energética ecológica de los países. Es importante destacar que el documento evalúa la combinación energética actual en el sur de Asia, destacando la anomalía de sus perspectivas futuras basadas en combustibles fósiles, sus ambiciones de avanzar hacia una menor contaminación ambiental y una combinación energética sostenible a través de un análisis FODA de herramientas estratégicas; fortalezas, debilidades, oportunidades y amenazas (FODA). En particular, este estudio examina las políticas gubernamentales para expandir la implementación de fuentes renovables con una visión de la estructura regulatoria existente del sector energético. Los hallazgos de la investigación presentada sugieren que para lograr el ambicioso objetivo de reducir la descarga de emisiones hasta en un 30% para el año 2030 en el marco de las Contribuciones Previstas Determinadas a Nivel Nacional (INDC), los gobiernos de los tres países deben tomar medidas preventivas. Incluye la reducción gradual de los subsidios a los combustibles fósiles, la integración del mercado dentro de la región y la rápida realización de las iniciativas existentes a través de una fuerte voluntad política, una buena gobernanza, la adopción de las últimas tecnologías y un plan de acción pragmático, y la cooperación energética en toda la región. Dans les pays d'Asie du Sud, y compris le Bangladesh, l'Inde et le Pakistan, le scénario énergétique actuel est considéré comme non durable en raison de divers problèmes tels que les options économiques, environnementales, géopolitiques et technologiques pour l'exploitation de l'énergie et le volume négligeable du commerce régional de l'énergie. Bien que, dans la région, l'Inde mène une phase de transition énergétique et de transformation économique grâce au développement des énergies renouvelables. Les pays doivent bien montrer dans le développement de leurs sources renouvelables à la suite du rythme rapide des énergies renouvelables dans le monde entier. Cet article offre un aperçu du scénario énergétique, de la croissance des énergies renouvelables, de l'évolution et de l'approche de la politique énergétique en soulignant les principaux défis et obstacles pour le mix énergétique écologique des pays. Il est important de noter que le document évalue le bouquet énergétique actuel en Asie du Sud, en soulignant l'anomalie de ses perspectives d'avenir basées sur les combustibles fossiles, ses ambitions de réduire la pollution environnementale et son bouquet énergétique durable grâce à une analyse SWOT d'outil stratégique ; forces, faiblesses, opportunités et menaces (SWOT). En particulier, cette étude examine les politiques gouvernementales visant à étendre la mise en œuvre des sources renouvelables avec un aperçu de la structure réglementaire existante du secteur de l'énergie. Les résultats de recherche présentés suggèrent que pour atteindre l'objectif ambitieux de réduire les rejets d'émissions jusqu'à 30 % d'ici 2030 dans le cadre des contributions prévues déterminées au niveau national (CPDN), les gouvernements des trois pays doivent prendre des mesures préventives. Il comprend la réduction progressive des subventions sur les combustibles fossiles, l'intégration du marché dans la région et la réalisation rapide des initiatives existantes grâce à une forte volonté politique, à une bonne gouvernance, à l'adoption des dernières technologies, à un plan d'action pragmatique et à une coopération énergétique dans toute la région. In the South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, the current energy scenario is considered non-sustainable due to diverse issues such as economic, environmental, geopolitical, technological options for energy exploitation, and negligible volume of regional energy trade. Though, within the region, India is leading a phase of energy transition and economic transformation through renewable energy development. The countries need to exhibit well in the development of their renewable sources following the rapid pace of renewable energies worldwide. This article offers an overview of the energy scenario, growth of renewable energies, evolution, and approach for energy policy by highlighting key challenges and barriers for the ecological energy mix of the countries. Importantly, the paper assesses the current energy mix in South Asia, highlighting the anomaly of its fossil fuel-based future outlook, its ambitions to move towards less environmental pollution, and sustainable energy mix through a strategic tool SWOT analysis; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). In particular, this study examines the government policies to expand the implementation of renewable sources with an insight into the existing regulatory structure of the energy sector. The presented research findings suggest that to achieve the ambitious target to reduce emission discharge by up to 30% by the year 2030 under Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), the Governments of the three countries must take preemptive measures. It includes the stage-wise reduction of subsidies on fossil fuels, market integration within the region, and swift realization of the existing initiatives through strong political will, good governance, adoption of the latest technologies, and a pragmatic action plan, and energy cooperation across the region. في بلدان جنوب آسيا، بما في ذلك بنغلاديش والهند وباكستان، يعتبر سيناريو الطاقة الحالي غير مستدام بسبب قضايا متنوعة مثل الخيارات الاقتصادية والبيئية والجيوسياسية والتكنولوجية لاستغلال الطاقة، وحجم ضئيل من تجارة الطاقة الإقليمية. على الرغم من أن الهند، داخل المنطقة، تقود مرحلة انتقال الطاقة والتحول الاقتصادي من خلال تطوير الطاقة المتجددة. تحتاج البلدان إلى أن تظهر أداءً جيدًا في تطوير مصادرها المتجددة بعد الوتيرة السريعة للطاقات المتجددة في جميع أنحاء العالم. تقدم هذه المقالة لمحة عامة عن سيناريو الطاقة، ونمو الطاقات المتجددة، والتطور، ونهج سياسة الطاقة من خلال تسليط الضوء على التحديات والحواجز الرئيسية لمزيج الطاقة البيئية للبلدان. والأهم من ذلك، تقوم الورقة بتقييم مزيج الطاقة الحالي في جنوب آسيا، مع تسليط الضوء على الشذوذ في توقعاتها المستقبلية القائمة على الوقود الأحفوري، وطموحاتها للتحرك نحو تلوث بيئي أقل، ومزيج الطاقة المستدامة من خلال تحليل SWOT الاستراتيجي للأداة ؛ نقاط القوة والضعف والفرص والتهديدات (SWOT). على وجه الخصوص، تبحث هذه الدراسة في السياسات الحكومية لتوسيع تنفيذ مصادر الطاقة المتجددة مع نظرة ثاقبة على الهيكل التنظيمي الحالي لقطاع الطاقة. تشير نتائج البحث المقدمة إلى أنه لتحقيق الهدف الطموح المتمثل في الحد من تصريف الانبعاثات بنسبة تصل إلى 30 ٪ بحلول عام 2030 بموجب المساهمات المقررة المحددة وطنيًا (INDCs)، يجب على حكومات البلدان الثلاثة اتخاذ تدابير وقائية. ويشمل ذلك التخفيض التدريجي للإعانات على الوقود الأحفوري، وتكامل الأسواق داخل المنطقة، والإدراك السريع للمبادرات القائمة من خلال الإرادة السياسية القوية، والحكم الرشيد، واعتماد أحدث التقنيات، وخطة عمل عملية، والتعاون في مجال الطاقة في جميع أنحاء المنطقة.

Millions of tons of textile waste are landfilled or incinerated in the world every year due to insufficient recycle value streams and the complex composition of textile end products. The goal of this review is to highlight pathways for simplifying and separating textile wastes into valuable raw material streams that will promote their recovery and conversion to useful products. The discussion focuses on advances in sorting, separation, decolorization and conversion of polyester and cotton, the two most common textile fibers. Sorting processes are gaining automation using spectroscopic methods that detect chemical composition differences between materials to divide them into categories. Separation, through dissolving or degrading, makes it possible to deconstruct blended textiles and purify polymers, monomers and co-products. Waste cotton can produce high quality regenerated cellulose fibers, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) or biofuels. Waste polyester can produce colored yarns or can be chemically converted to its starting monomers for the recreation of virgin polymer as a complete closed loop. The current strategies for decolorization are presented. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies found that recycling polyester/cotton blended fabrics for subsequent uses is more sustainable than incineration, and research on producing biomass-based poly-ester also offers feasible avenues for improving textile sustainability and promoting circular processing.

Abstract Eradicating poverty and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are core issues of global sustainable development goals (SDGs), and China is struggling in realizing these targets. The poverty reduction that leads to popualtion structure and lifestyle changes would have an impact on GHG emission changes. However, few studies have assessed the historical and future impacts of the poverty allevation on China's emissions. Here by linking Chinese Multi-Regional Input Output (MRIO) database to the global MRIO database EXIOBASE, and using provincial household consumption data, we identified the distribution of Chinese household greenhouse gas footprints (HGFs) by income groups in 2015 at the national and provinical levels. Moreover, we focused on the historical impact of poverty alleviation on HGFs during 2010–2015, and developed four scenarios to project future HGFs changes due to poverty alleviation by 2030. We find that eradicating extreme poverty in the secanrio S2, i.e., bringing people to an income above $1.9 daily, does not cause a large emission impact with current technological level. However, lifting people from a higher poverty line of $5.5 per day in the sceanrio S4 results in a 1.6% increase in emissions compared with the scenario S1 without any poverty reduction goals. Furthermore, realizing a higher poverty reduction target will result in an increase of emissions contribution from internatioanl supply chains due to the differences in consumption patterns among different income groups. Our study highlights the conflict between the high poverty alleviaition goal and emission reduciton in China, and reminds us of the need to make more technological efforts for avoiding the large emissions embodied in international supply chains.

Abstract Even though renewable energy development has gained momentum in China, thermal power generation still accounts for approximately 70% of the county's total power generation serving as the major source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in China. Facing the challenges of meeting 2030 peak target of CO2 emission and realizing the coordinated development of thermal power generation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, this paper applies generalized Divisia Index Method (GDIM) to decompose the dynamics in the relevant CO2 emission. The effects of five factors including electricity demand, energy consumption, technology, energy efficiency and energy-mix are considered. The decomposition suggests that electricity demand is the primary factor driving the CO2 emission up, whereas technology effect decreases CO2 emission the most. Given the significant roles of technology, energy-mix and energy efficiency in CO2 emissions reduction, seven scenarios are designed to identify the optimal coordinated development pathway for thermal power generation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Through upgrading energy structure and/or enhancing energy efficiency, the thermal power generation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region can achieve coordinated development and realize the 2030 peak target under four scenarios. The detailed development pathways for CO2 emissions and specific policy implications for Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei are provided to further govern CO2 emissions and maintain sustainable development.