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Given the devastating effects of global warming, the problem of human-induced climate change, and in particular carbon dioxide emissions, has been high on the global policy agenda. In this study, we examine the relationship between national culture, carbon dioxide emissions, and economic growth in the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). Applying system GMM panel estimator across 69 developed and developing countries, we confirm the existence of EKC and show that culture significantly affects the income-emission relationship. Moreover, the effects of the six cultural dimensions on EKC can be collapsed into two: (i) masculinity, power distance and indulgence move the EKC upward and shift the income turning point to the left; and (ii) individualism, uncertainty, and long-term orientation move the EKC downward while shifting the income turning point to the right. The impact of culture on EKC remains also robust for alternative specifications. Future policy and global initiatives in sustainable development should incorporate the multidimensional impact of culture on national behavior towards environment and economic growth, a relationship that has been largely ignored in economic decision-making models.

This study assesses the socio-economic impacts in terms of value added, imports and employment of sugarcane-derived bioethanol production in Northeast (NE) Brazil. An extended inter-regional Input–Output (IO) model has been developed and is used to analyse three scenarios, all projected for 2020: a business-as-usual scenario (BaU) which projects current practices, and two scenarios that consider more efficient agricultural practices and processing efficiency (scenario A) and in addition an expansion of the sector into new areas (scenario B). By 2020 in all scenarios, value added and imports increase compared to the current situation. The value added by the sugarcane–ethanol sector in the NE region is 2.8 billion US$ in the BaU scenario, almost 4 billion US$ in scenario A, and 9.4 billion US$ in scenario B. The imports in the region will grow with 4% (BaU scenario), 38% (scenario A) and 262% (scenario B). This study shows that the large reduction of employment (114,000 jobs) due to the replacement of manual harvesting by mechanical harvesting can be offset by additional production and indirect effects. The total employment in the region by 2020 grows with 10% in scenario A (around 12,500 jobs) and 126% in scenario B (around 160,000 jobs). The indirect effects of sugarcane production in the NE are large in the rest of Brazil due to the import of inputs from these regions. The use of an extended inter-regional IO model can quantify direct and indirect socio-economic effects at regional level and can provide insight in the linkages between regions. The application of the model to NE Brazil has demonstrated significant positive socio-economic impacts that can be achieved when developing and expanding the sugarcane–ethanol sector in the region under the conditions studied here, not only for the NE region itself but also for the economy of the rest of Brazil.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are widely regarded as cost-effective responses to climate change and environmental degradation that also provide numerous co-benefits. However, despite significant policy attention, NBS plans often fail to materialize due to public budget shortfalls. Alongside traditional public finance, the international debate increasingly urges the mobilization of private capital for NBS through alternative financing (AF) techniques. In this scoping review, we examine the literature on a) the AF models connected to NBS and b) the drivers and barriers associated with these AF models in terms of their financial technicity and their embeddedness in the political, economic, social, technological, legal/institutional, and environmental/spatial ("PESTLE") context. Although many models are discussed, the results indicate that none can be considered full substitutes for traditional public finance. Barriers and drivers converge around seven overarching tensions: new revenue and risk distribution vs. uncertainty, budgetary and legal pressure vs. political willingness and risk aversion, market demand vs. market failures, private sector engagement vs. social acceptance and risks, legal and institutional conduciveness vs. inertia, and upscaling potential vs. environmental risks and land use. Future research should focus on a) how to further integrate NBS monitoring, quantification, valuation, and monetization into AF models, b) systemic and empirical approaches to improve the understanding of the applicability and transferability of AF models, and c) an exploration of the potential qualities and social risks of AF models in NBS governance arrangements.

There is a growing literature examining global energy governance that recognises the importance of actors, institutions, and processes in addressing diverse challenges including security, climate change and environmental sustainability. But there has been a more limited focus on the issue from the perspective of the poor. This omission is significant in view of the sheer scale of energy service deprivation – billions of people still lack access to modern energy services with consequences for economic development, health, education, environment, and gender equality. We briefly examine how elements of the issue of energy poverty are governed across different scales (global, regional, and local), and how effectively these energy governance systems are addressing the needs of the poor. Focusing primarily on sub-Saharan Africa – due to the pervasive energy governance challenges in the region – we consider the role for both governments and the international community in strengthening related tools, regulatory environments and institutions.

Abstract The literature and policy base for fuel poverty in the UK and Ireland is well established, and there is a growing body of single country studies beyond these two EU member states (for example Brunner et al., 2012 , Dubois, 2012 , Robine et al., 2008 ), however, on a European level, the last analysis of fuel poverty was conducted in 2004, prior to the enlargement of the EU. Using survey data this paper presents an updated overview of the prevalence of European fuel poverty in the context of the accession of numerous former social states, and rising fuel prices. Analysis reveals the phenomenon of fuel poverty is occurring across the EU, with particularly high levels of fuel poverty found in Eastern and Southern European states. It is argued that there are both EU and national policy frameworks in place that address climate change and these could be used as a starting point for countries to address fuel poverty through improved domestic energy efficiency measures. This paper reflects research undertaken in 2011, supported by eaga Charitable Trust, within the umbrella of work examining issues of poverty and social exclusion across the EU, which has enabled access to the EU-SILC dataset.

Abstract Dirty cooking fuels are a significant source of indoor air pollution in developing countries, resulting in millions of premature deaths. This paper investigates the health impacts of household access to cleaner fuel using a nationwide fuel-switching program, the largest household energy transition project ever attempted in the developing world, affecting more than 50 million homes in Indonesia. This program focused on replacing a dirty cooking fuel (kerosene) with a cleaner one (liquid petroleum gas). The difference-in-differences estimates and within-mother estimates suggest that the program led to a significant decline in infant mortality with the effects concentrated on the perinatal period. The program also reduced the prevalence of low birth weight, suggesting that fetal exposure to indoor air pollutants is an important channel. These findings elucidate how a policy that combines a subsidy on the use of cleaner-burning fuel with a restriction on the dirty fuel can pay public health dividends.

Abstract With climate change mainly originating from the extensive use of fossil fuels and having impacts on many aspects of life, changing the way energy is utilised constitutes a challenge that the world collectively must tackle. In this respect, all countries should implement a variety of measures focusing on energy efficiency and use of sustainable energy sources towards decarbonising their economies and achieving effective greenhouse gas emission reductions and sustainable development. Technological innovations, economic growth, societal compliance, and the regulatory and institutional frameworks constitute prominent factors that could promote, hinder or shape energy transitions as well as indicate the capacity of energy systems to be transformed. Therefore, investigating energy transitions and the extent to which countries are prepared to carry out such transitions requires the consideration of insights into multiple dimensions. This study outlines a multicriteria analysis framework to assess a country's sustainable energy transition readiness level, drawing from four pillars—social, political/regulatory, economic and technological—comprising a consistent set of eight evaluation criteria. The proposed decision analysis framework builds on the PROMETHEE II and AHP methods. Fourteen countries of different profile and level of progress towards sustainable development are evaluated and ranked, in an effort to highlight areas for improvement, and to support policymakers in designing appropriate pathways towards a greener economy.

Circular bio-economy is a significant approach to resolving global issues elevated by environmental pollution. The generation of bioenergy and biomaterials can withstand the energy-environment connection as well as substitute petroleum-based materials as the feed stock production, thereby contributing to a cleaner and low-carbon-safe environment. Open discarding of waste is a major cause of environmental pollution in developing and under developed countries. Agricultural bio-wastes are obtained through various biological sources and industrial processing, signifying a typical renewable source of energy with ample nutrients and readily biodegradable organic substances. These waste materials are competent to decompose under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The projected global population, urbanization, economic development, and changing production and consumption behavior result in bounteous bio-waste production. These bio-wastes mainly contain starch, cellulose, protein, hemicellulose, and lipids, which can operate as low-cost raw materials to develop new value-added products. Thus, this review discussed specifically the agricultural waste and valorization processes used to convert this waste into value-added products (biofuel, enzymes, antibiotics, ethanol and single cell protein). These value added products are used in the supply chain and enhance the overall performance of agriculture waste management, execution of circular bio-economy has attained significant importance and it explains a closed-loop system in which the potential resources remain in the loop, allowing them to be sustained into a new value.

Sustainability is an important concept for the whole world. Generally, in order to measure the sustainability of the environment, carbon dioxide emissions and ecological footprint indicators are used. However, these variables do not reflect the supply side of natural resources. Therefore, load capacity factor is an important environmental indicator for a sustainability. Environmental assessment based on the load capacity factor is more meaningful. Besides, improved access to financial services can contribute to environmental sustainability. The effect of financial inclusion on the load capacity factor in Türkiye has not been examined in the current literature. In this context, this study analyzes the impact of financial inclusion, hydropower energy consumption, and life expectancy at birth on environmental sustainability from a different perspective by focusing on load capacity factor. To this end, this study used the newly developed Augmented ARDL method to determine the cointegration relationship between the series and measure the values of the long-term coefficients. Based on the Augmented ARDL method, there is a cointegration relationship between the series. In the long run, hydropower energy consumption reduces pollution, while financial inclusion decreases load capacity factor. The effect of life expectancy at birth on pollution is not significant. Moreover, the results reveal that the load capacity curve hypothesis is valid in Türkiye. As a result, the Turkish government should promote renewable energy sources, especially hydropower energy consumption, align financial services with pollution reduction measures, and contribute to the creation of an environmentally conscious society.