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This article searches the effects of tourism development onemission pollutants in Malta using (1) the autoregressivedistributed lag approach and (2) two datasets which are annualdata from 1971 to 2018 and quarterly data from 1990Q1 tı2018Q4 as per data availability. Findings confirm that tourism,energy usage, and carbon dioxide emissions are in a long-termequilibrium relationship; carbon emissions converge rapidlytowards the long-term equilibrium path through tourism andenergy consumption channels. Findings also reveal that growthin tourism results in significant changes in energy consumptionand, therefore, in CO2emissions. Tourism has positive effects oncarbon emissions in shorter periods. Still, these effects turn out tobe harmful in the more extended periods beyond the peak pointof carbon emissions which correspond to 1,063,213 milliontourists. Therefore, this study strongly confirms the existence ofan inverted U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesisfor Malta.

This article searches the effects of tourism development onemission pollutants in Malta using (1) the autoregressivedistributed lag approach and (2) two datasets which are annualdata from 1971 to 2018 and quarterly data from 1990Q1 tı2018Q4 as per data availability. Findings confirm that tourism,energy usage, and carbon dioxide emissions are in a long-termequilibrium relationship; carbon emissions converge rapidlytowards the long-term equilibrium path through tourism andenergy consumption channels. Findings also reveal that growthin tourism results in significant changes in energy consumptionand, therefore, in CO2emissions. Tourism has positive effects oncarbon emissions in shorter periods. Still, these effects turn out tobe harmful in the more extended periods beyond the peak pointof carbon emissions which correspond to 1,063,213 milliontourists. Therefore, this study strongly confirms the existence ofan inverted U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesisfor Malta.

Abstract Latest trends in the photovoltaic sector see the use of innovative photovoltaic technologies with extended spectral responsivity ranging from 300 to 1200 nm for non-concentrating terrestrial applications, and to 1800 nm for concentrating PV and space applications. As a consequence, an update of the IEC 60904-9 standard is ongoing with a definition of new spectral ranges for the assessment of the spectral match. This poses new challenges to laboratories and research centers on whether or not they still are able to accurately measure the spectral mismatch of their sun simulator in the newly-defined spectral regions. Prior to that, there is a need to understand if the commercially available spectroradiometers are ready to extend their measurement range as prescribed by the forthcoming new standard. This paper analyses two options for an extension of the spectrum characterisation of solar simulators to 300–1200 nm and compares them in terms of spectral match of global normal irradiance (GNI) spectra acquired under natural sunlight by eight spectroradiometers during the 6th European Spectroradiometer Intercomparison. The acquired spectra are also compared in terms of an index of consistency of the spread of the measured spectra with the estimated measurement uncertainty, hereafter named as performance statistics E n . Results show that all investigated laboratories assure the equivalence of the spectral match classification well below the 25% limit corresponding to class-A simulators. When considering the more stringent class-A+ corresponding to a 12.5% limit, one of the two considered options that rearranges the 300–1200 nm spectral range into 6 bands appears to still assure the equivalence of the class A+ limits among considered instruments. The E n performance index analysis highlights some inconsistencies with the estimated measurement uncertainty or instrument drifts from the expected performance, and the need of further improvements in calibration, set up and measurement procedures.

Abstract Latest trends in the photovoltaic sector see the use of innovative photovoltaic technologies with extended spectral responsivity ranging from 300 to 1200 nm for non-concentrating terrestrial applications, and to 1800 nm for concentrating PV and space applications. As a consequence, an update of the IEC 60904-9 standard is ongoing with a definition of new spectral ranges for the assessment of the spectral match. This poses new challenges to laboratories and research centers on whether or not they still are able to accurately measure the spectral mismatch of their sun simulator in the newly-defined spectral regions. Prior to that, there is a need to understand if the commercially available spectroradiometers are ready to extend their measurement range as prescribed by the forthcoming new standard. This paper analyses two options for an extension of the spectrum characterisation of solar simulators to 300–1200 nm and compares them in terms of spectral match of global normal irradiance (GNI) spectra acquired under natural sunlight by eight spectroradiometers during the 6th European Spectroradiometer Intercomparison. The acquired spectra are also compared in terms of an index of consistency of the spread of the measured spectra with the estimated measurement uncertainty, hereafter named as performance statistics E n . Results show that all investigated laboratories assure the equivalence of the spectral match classification well below the 25% limit corresponding to class-A simulators. When considering the more stringent class-A+ corresponding to a 12.5% limit, one of the two considered options that rearranges the 300–1200 nm spectral range into 6 bands appears to still assure the equivalence of the class A+ limits among considered instruments. The E n performance index analysis highlights some inconsistencies with the estimated measurement uncertainty or instrument drifts from the expected performance, and the need of further improvements in calibration, set up and measurement procedures.

The chemical and petrochemical sector is by far the largest industrial energy user, accounting for 30% of the industry's total final energy use. However, due to its complexity its energy efficiency potential is not well understood. This article analyses the energy efficiency potential on a country level if Best Practice Technologies (BPT) were implemented in chemical processes. Two approaches are applied and an improved dataset referring to Europe has been developed for BPT energy use. This methodology has been applied to 66 products in fifteen countries that represent 70% of chemical and petrochemical sector's energy use worldwide. The results suggest a global energy efficiency potential of 16% for this sector, excluding savings in electricity use and by higher levels of process integration, combined heat and power (CHP) and post-consumer plastic waste treatment. The results are more accurate than previous estimates. The results suggest significant differences between countries, but a cross-check based on two different methods shows that important methodological and data issues remain to be resolved. Further refinement is needed for target setting, monitoring and informing energy and climate negotiation processes. For the short and medium term, a combination of benchmarking and country level analysis is recommended.

The chemical and petrochemical sector is by far the largest industrial energy user, accounting for 30% of the industry's total final energy use. However, due to its complexity its energy efficiency potential is not well understood. This article analyses the energy efficiency potential on a country level if Best Practice Technologies (BPT) were implemented in chemical processes. Two approaches are applied and an improved dataset referring to Europe has been developed for BPT energy use. This methodology has been applied to 66 products in fifteen countries that represent 70% of chemical and petrochemical sector's energy use worldwide. The results suggest a global energy efficiency potential of 16% for this sector, excluding savings in electricity use and by higher levels of process integration, combined heat and power (CHP) and post-consumer plastic waste treatment. The results are more accurate than previous estimates. The results suggest significant differences between countries, but a cross-check based on two different methods shows that important methodological and data issues remain to be resolved. Further refinement is needed for target setting, monitoring and informing energy and climate negotiation processes. For the short and medium term, a combination of benchmarking and country level analysis is recommended.

Due to climate change, the frequency and intensity of droughts are expected to increase. To improve resilience to droughts, proactive drought management is essential. Economic assessments are typically included to decide on the drought risk-reducing investments to make. The choice of both methods and scope of economic assessments influences the outcome, and thus the investment choice. This paper aims to identify how comprehensively economic assessments are applied in practice. Through a systematic literature review, 14 actual economic assessments are identified and their methods are evaluated based on seven criteria for economic assessments as derived from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The results show that in practice, economic assessments rarely address all criteria. Applying a limited number of criteria reduces the scope and narrows the approach, possibly leading to the underestimation of drought risk reduction approaches' related benefits. Applying the seven criteria in practice will improve the results of economic assessments of drought risk reduction measures, allowing for optimal investment selection. Based on the different criteria, a Framework for Economic Assessments of Drought Risk-Reducing Applications (FEADRRA) is proposed. Applying the criteria of the framework can support decision-makers in drought risk management and in carrying out the most fitting drought interventions.

Due to climate change, the frequency and intensity of droughts are expected to increase. To improve resilience to droughts, proactive drought management is essential. Economic assessments are typically included to decide on the drought risk-reducing investments to make. The choice of both methods and scope of economic assessments influences the outcome, and thus the investment choice. This paper aims to identify how comprehensively economic assessments are applied in practice. Through a systematic literature review, 14 actual economic assessments are identified and their methods are evaluated based on seven criteria for economic assessments as derived from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The results show that in practice, economic assessments rarely address all criteria. Applying a limited number of criteria reduces the scope and narrows the approach, possibly leading to the underestimation of drought risk reduction approaches' related benefits. Applying the seven criteria in practice will improve the results of economic assessments of drought risk reduction measures, allowing for optimal investment selection. Based on the different criteria, a Framework for Economic Assessments of Drought Risk-Reducing Applications (FEADRRA) is proposed. Applying the criteria of the framework can support decision-makers in drought risk management and in carrying out the most fitting drought interventions.