• Energy Research
• Closed Access close
• Open Source close
• Embargo close
• political science close
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• 2. Zero hunger close

Abstract Biogas from waste and residues is a renewable transportation fuel, which can contribute directly to the fulfillment of several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this paper, we address the question of how biogas value chains, and the respective actor networks, emerge at the local level. The purpose of the paper is to empirically assess the development of local biogas transport systems in three Swedish regions, and how policy – including so-called network management – can support this development. The analysis draws on an analytical framework describing how emerging actor networks can be strengthened, and multiple data collection methods (personal interviews, workshop, and secondary sources). The results indicate that four factors explain the success of developing effective local biogas systems: (i) a clear political vision and an adequate basis for decision-making; (ii) a reliance on green public procurement giving priority to biogas vehicles (including follow-up); (iii) integrated actor networks, facilitating knowledge development and sharing of information; and (iv) strategies to deal with an uneven system growth.

Limits on greenhouse gas emissions would raise the prices of the goods and services that require such emissions for their production, including electricity. Looking at a variety of emission limit cases and scenarios for selling or allocating allowances to load-serving entities, the authors estimate how the burden of greenhouse gas limits are likely to be distributed among electricity consumers in different states.

Abstract One of the repercussions of the increasing price of oil in the 1970s was an increase in the size of balance of payments disequilibria throughout the world, and a rise in the need for recycling. The mechanisms through which this has been achieved are deficient in a number of ways. The introduction of a new recycling instrument — a long-term bond with the rate of interest index linked to the rate of inflation denominated in SDRs and issued by groups of developing country borrowers — would have advantages for both borrowers and leaders, would give greater stability to the international financial system, and would enhance economic development.

Abstract Public participation has been a critical factor to seriously affect the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in China, especially since the 21st century. However, as an important intermediary, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) in China did not actively play the expected role in facilitating and promoting public participation in EIA, due to various political reasons. The key purpose of this research is to carefully analyze these political reasons in China, through political opportunity structure (POS) which is an analytical framework usually applied to scrutinize the initiation and development of social movements. There were three variables within the framework of POS constructed in this research, including the openness of political regimes, the changes of repression and the splits within the elite, respectively. In order to further illustrate the impacts of external variations on ENGOs to participate in EIA, diverse measurement indexes for each variable were also assembled to reflect the evolution of social, economic and political status. As demonstrated in this research, more and more ENGOs are paying greater attentions to the gradually opened and friendly institutional channels of participation, resulted from the openness of political regimes. However, there is also a trend to indicate that ENGOs’ strategy for social political movement has been turned into conservative. It is of significant importance for ENGOs to understand that through active and concrete participation in EIA and decision making, the capacity of ENGOs would be highly elevated, the social status of ENGOs would be affirmatively recognized and the public image of ENGOs as the founder and pioneer of green society would be firmly established.

In Tunisia, the rural people have the smallest amounts of energy available. Their energy is used mainly for basic needs, and it often comes from noncommercial fuels, especially wood. Therefore, the rural areas are facing severe and interrelated problems of energy and environment. The environmental impacts of intensified production processes aggravate the degradation of ecologic systems. The analysis of the energy situation in rural areas of Tunisia has shown that a growing energy consumption can be expected over the entire spectrum of economic and social activities. To cope with this crisis, technologies for energy requirements should not only meet energy needs; they must also be geared to particular economic, social and environmental conditions. Technically efficient, decentralized systems for the utilization of new and renewable energy can help in this by meeting the demand for higher quality energy. This article attempts to propose precepts upon which a strategy can be formulated for a rational use of renewable energy in the rural areas.

INTRODUCTION The Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-4) was held from 2nd to 13th November 1998 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.1 With representatives from about 180 countries, numerous Non-Governmental Organisations and the press, more than 5000 participants struggled and argued about climate change and how the Kyoto follow-up-process should be organised. COP-4 brought no significant progress for the mitigation of climate change. For real breakthroughs to take place to occur, the meeting took place too shortly after COP-3 (Kyoto, December 1997) There was not enough time (and only one meeting of the official Subsidiary Bodies to the Convention in June 1998 in Bonn) to prepare further decisions. Moreover, COP-4 threatened to fail after the opening of the conference by the Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development of Argentina who was elected President of COP-4. With support of the United States Argentina had launched an initiative to invite non-Annex I Parties to establish voluntary commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC).2 Voluntary commitments by non-Annex I Parties had already been discussed amidst much controversy in Kyoto and afterwards, with most developing countries opposing this idea. After intensive discussions during the opening session of COP-4 Argentina was forced to withdraw this proposal and the conference could take up its work. In Buenos Aires, delegates discussed items on a long agenda including Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ), ‘Flexible Mechanisms’ and commitments of non-Annex I-Countries. All these items were subject to very controversial arguments between industrialised and developing countries, but within these groups as well heavy debates took place and it was not possible to reach consensus on the different positions. The remaining open questions were summarised in the so-called “Buenos Aires Action Plan” which was adopted by delegates at the end. With this plan the parties demonstrate their will to reach substantial progress on the questions of financial mechanisms, the development and transfer of technologies, the adequacy of commitments, Activities Implemented Jointly under the Pilot Phase and the Mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol no later than COP-6 at the end of the year 2000.

Growing demand for transport biofuels in the EU is driving an expansion of the industry in developing countries. Large-scale production of energy crops for biofuel, if mismanaged, could cause detrimental environmental and social impacts. The aim of this study is to examine whether the newly adopted EU Directive 2009/28/EC and its sustainability certification system can effectively ensure sustainable production of biofuels outside the EU. Mozambique, a least developed country with biofuels ambitions, is selected as empirical case. The effectiveness of the EU policy in analysed employing ideal models of external governance (hierarchical, market and network governance) as analytical framework. The findings show that the EU attempts to impose its rules and values on sustainable biofuels using its leverage through trade. The market approach adopted by the EU is expected to produce only unstable (subject to abrupt changes of market prices and demand) and thin (limited to climate and biodiversity issues) policy results. Stronger emphasis on a network oriented approach based on substantial involvement of foreign actors, and on international policy legitimacy is suggested as a way forward.

This paper is a summary of a project changed into a book named by "Changing Environment, City and Identity in Soma with the Geographical Evaluations" issued on May 2005. In this research, Soma, which is one of the most remarkable districts in Manisa in the West Anatolia from the point of economical figures, is assessed with its physical environment potential, improving economical activities and changing socio-economical structure. Owing to the open coal basins in the northeast and southwest of the district where lignite is produced and the impact of the thermic power plant near the city centre, Soma has changed on a large scale. This change has introduced some environmental problems into the district such as the devastation of the forestry land; the infertility of farming land; and soil, water and air pollution. Even though the change under discussion has led to many problems to deal with, it has also influenced its socio-economical structure to a large extent and revealed new type of inhabitants having different life expectations and aims. In conclusion, in this article, changing environment and city structure after lignite processing and thermic station establishment in Soma are discussed through the effective geographical factors. The new city profile formed by the local dynamics in question is evaluated according to the data obtained by the studies made in the neighbourhood.

Certification schemes respond to increasing environmental and social concerns about sustainability by encouraging consumer demand for ‘sustainable’ products. Such schemes have been a focus of much media coverage and the seafood sector is no exception with many seafood sustainability issues, including those related to both fisheries and aquaculture management, being widely reported on. This paper analyses how the certification schemes of the two best-known seafood sustainability standards organizations, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification, were presented in news media coverage during a period of conflict surrounding the sustainable production and management of seafood in Australia. Employing a content analysis of Australian online and print news media published between 2015 and 2018, we find that the MSC label was used to highlight the sustainability of fisheries all around Australia, while the ASC label was mainly used in the context of the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry, with both labels presented as ‘gold standards’. While we also find that ASC certification was used by ENGOs to attack the Tasmanian salmon industry and to question the validity of the ASC label, our data highlight that ASC and MSC certification was primarily used by industry as a tool to demonstrate its sustainability credentials, with the specifics of the certification schemes themselves receiving very little media attention.